Porsche 911 Turbo

porsche1 There’s something about the words ‘German Supercar’ that have never added up to me. The Germans, as we all know, play by the rules. They’re disciplined and sensible. Two things supercars should absolutely, categorically not be. A bona fide supercar in my eyes has to be just that little bit crazy. If you’re paying 100 grand for a set of wheels, it has to look like a stealth bomber, go like a WAG with an unlimited budget in the Harrods sale and most importantly it has to make you feel like a God. So does the 911 Turbo work? Well first off, there’s the styling. By sports car standards, the 911 is a common sight on our roads and to be honest, they all pretty much look the same…911, 911 S, Carrera 2, 4…who can tell? But you don’t have to be a Porsche anorak to spot the Turbo version – with its gaping intakes, extended rear wing and fin-like front LED indicators – it looks like a 911 on steroids. Second there’s the performance. The acceleration is simply mind-blowing, at any speed in any gear. 0-60mph is spat out in 3.9 seconds but it’s the engine’s flexibility that impresses the most. Even at low revs in sixth gear, there is no need to change down. You can be cruising at continental speeds, pump the throttle, and accelerate quicker than most cars do in 2nd or 3rd. And thanks to the engine’s position, namely over the rear axles, the 911 is perfectly balanced. It has incredible grip and body control. Then there’s the unbelievably good brakes and the fabulous gearbox. I am getting rather tired of flappy paddle shifts so it was a pleasure to drive such a perfectly weighted manual shift. I actually only have one major criticism and it’s specific to the Turbo model and that’s the steering. porsche3 It’s direct but it lacks real feel and it doesn’t have the precision of other supercars, including cheaper 911’s. It almost makes the car feel off balance at times. However you do get used to it and this gripe aside, the 911 is a superb car. It’s lightning quick, has awesome amounts of grip (so much so I’m hard pushed to think of anything that could keep up with it on the road) and has the kudos of being the Turbo. However, there’s something missing. Drama. It just doesn’t make you want to wet your pants every time you drive it. It’s an awe-inspiring piece of technology but then if you think about it, so is a photocopier. Take the interior. The standard seats come with electric adjustment and offer exemplary comfort and support, while the driving position is hard to fault and all the controls are beautifully weighted and ideally located. What’s more, it’s quite practical for a supercar. There’s a surprisingly spacious boot in the nose, and the tiny rear chairs can be folded flat to make room for luggage. But it lacks any excitement. Supercars should have nozzles and lots of carbon fibre and a small boot. So as a technical exercise, then the 911 Turbo is unbelievably impressive. And it is a proper supercar in every single way, other than its spirit. However, if you don’t want a silly supercar but would rather have something a bit more sensible… a bit more German, the 911 Turbo is as good as it gets.