Have we hit peak supercar here? A car that you can use every day, one that does 0-60mph in under 3 seconds and is unfazed by anything you throw at it. Ladies and gentleman, behold the 992 Porsche 911 Turbo S.
The sheer pace of evolution in the supercar realm is something that never ceases to amaze me. It was while executing my umpteenth hard launch in the Turbo S, that it hit me just how absolutely crazy this car is. Crazy in a good way.
The 911 Turbo has evolved from a vehicle that was a real challenge (read: danger) to drive fast, to the epitome of the everyday supercar. It doesn’t matter if you use it to commute, get your groceries, drop your kids off at school or do laps at Fuji Speedway – the 992 Turbo S is unable to put a foot wrong.
I recently spent a week with a Turbo S Cabriolet – the party version that’s so sure of its abilities, it can do it all without a roof.
After a few days with the car in Tokyo, using it as my daily driver, I set off over Tokyo Bay and into the beautiful Chiba countryside. It’s not every day that I have a car like the 911 Turbo S at my disposal, so I really wanted to experience it as a new owner likely would.
The car’s natural home is the highway; it has the ability to cruise at any speed, returning semi-decent fuel consumption figures and generally being comfortable.
On the latter, it’s amazing how much comfort Porsche manages to inject into these cars. You’re always aware that there is a perfectly-honed sports car underneath you, but the fact that you ride on 20-inch and 21-inch wheels front and rear respectively, yet there’s still an element of refinement in it all, speaks volumes for the work that has gone into the fine tuning.
However, the moment you find the right sort of road, that changes.
In a very video-game-like manner, you engage Sport mode and everything around you gets sharper. When these sort of drive modes were first introduced in cars they felt a little gimmicky to me, but in the Porsche it really is like having a few distinctly different versions of the same car in one.
And what does 641hp being deployed through an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive feel like? Violent first of all – the 800Nm of torque from the twin-turbocharged 3.7-litre flat-six engine makes sure of that. There’s so much urgency in the way boost – and thus acceleration – picks up. It’s not instant mind you, but once it hits it’s explosive.
Through the corners the Turbo S is untouchable. It may lack the surgical precision of a GT3, but it makes up for it with unsurpassable traction and grip. You need to drive it with respect though, because during weight transfers and on slippery surfaces the Turbo S will wiggle its tail. I really love this about the car; it’s not dumb-fast, but it still has a little 930 Turbo ‘Widowmaker’ feel about it.
The 911 Turbo S stops extremely well too, thanks to the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) setup as standard. This system comprises of 10-piston aluminium monoblock calipers and 420mm ceramic composite brake discs at the front and a 4-piston/390mm package at the rear.
As someone who drives a near on 30-year-old 911, I’m so impressed by how the current model looks and feels.
Comparing my car’s interior to this one is night and day; the 911 has matured beautifully. From that classic purity of the 964/993 interior to the 991’s refined and well-appointed cabin, the 992 has only further evolved things.
The win for me is that anyone would be able to tell it’s a 911. There’s that underlying feel about it, yet it’s mixed with all the modern tech you would ever need.
The much-criticized, stubby shaver-like gear selector may seem strange at first, but after a few days it blends in and you never notice it again.
The Sport Chrono stopwatch atop of the dash is the only thing that still looks out of place to me. I just don’t get it and probably never will.
The red leather option was a wise choice for this press car; it pops in pictures and brings the message of quality across far better than if it were black. I found the leather itself to be a little too delicate though. It’s very easy to mark, and if you have young kids like me you’d probably have a heart attack every time they get out of the rear seat and scuff their shoes against the backs of the front seats.
Exterior design is much like the interior – a great fusion of classic and modern. Is it just me, or do 911s always manage to look just as good in drop-top form as they do a coupé?
My only criticism would be directed towards the front bumper, as I would have loved to see more aggression here. To me, the fitted bumper looks a tad bland and the angular sections of the lower grills don’t seem to fit. In comparison, the GT3 looks spot on.
Oh, and those LED matrix headlights are like having a midday sun-like level of light at night. 964, keep dreaming!
As the afternoon wore on in Chiba, it was time to head back.
The return trip to Tokyo was just as fun. It took it easy, let Apple CarPlay do its thing, and left the transmission in auto, surfing the 800Nm wave of torque that is always in waiting.
One final photo on the coast was a must.
Having experienced the all-round ability of the 992 Turbo S, I have to say that it’s the perfect companion for central Tokyo.
It carries the essence of 911s of old, but is right up to date in every other way. I really don’t think other supercars are able to match the 911 when it comes to this.
At its price point though, it is truly a dream car. That Turbo badge really lives up to its lineage.
On my last day with the car, I hit up the Apple Store in Ginza.
And then on to a quick meet-up with a few car friends.
I experienced the Taycan very soon after the 992 Turbo S, but they are both such perfect executions of the cars they each need to be, that it’s simply impossible to choose between them.
But ask me in the comments and I’ll tell you which one I’d keep and why.
Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: dino_dalle_carbonare
dino@speedhunters.com
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So Dino, which one and why?
It will have to be the Turbo S, it’s just that more involving and the soundtrack of a great engine is something I think I want to keep hearing for years to come. Actually, I’d take both… use the EV as the family car lol
If only us mere mortals had the opportunity to own these dream cars but that’s a just a frame of reference. Thankfully some of this technology trickles down. And dreams are pretty cool too.
To answer your question: Yes, 911 GT3 Touring. I would easily trade some performance for that glorious, high-revving 4.0l NA experience. You also have an option for a manual if you're brave enough
Need to try that asap!
When it has a roof, no.
Roof or not, makes no difference these days
It's a mental thing for me. My brain is still stuck in the mode of doctors and secretaries drive convertibles. If I had the means it would have to be a fixed roof 911 for me.
Such a shame it really is "dream" car price. Something like half a million dollarydoos (AUD)... I'll take my fatasy garage example in Miami Blue thanks
Silly money indeed
To answer the question in your title, yes it does. A three-pedal GT3. But not much else...
Need to sample the 992 gt3!
I'll take the Mazda haha
Lol can’t fit in those things
Nice article
Thanks!
Will be interesting to see the genius of Porsche pitted against the genius of Musk if/when he does a Tesla supercar.
Elon musk is an investor who is barely affiliated with tesla anymore. Not to mention his cars aren't exactly known for quality in any flavor. Can't even get actual leather in a 150K vehicle.
Short answer: no
Long answer: no, but coupe over cab any day
Is it camera angle or does the 992 look like a Chev Suburban behind the FD?
Dino,
It's a Porsche dude! Of course, it's fantastic! And it's German. My favorite Porsche is the 2016 GT3. $200,000 is alot but if you've got it, get it! Drove a GT3 in Vegas. Unreal! Don't wreck it!
Shame these cars (and GT3) are basically not available. Even with the money in hand - can’t be bought unless you have some sort of ‘in’ with Porsche or dealer.
That is silly indeed. You're basically forced to get an used/vanilla Porsche beforehand. Or look elsewhere...
Good read, Dino. Sounds like an amazing machine. I've never driven a Porsche for the same reasons I've never tried heroin but I've been warming up to them as of late.
Brandon
It's kinda funny how small and delicate the RX7 looks next to it in the last two photos. The 911s are great cars, but for some reason I never really felt them as a convertible. I'd love it as a Targa, though.
A 911 Turbo S? Now we're talking! That's a proper GT car right there!
A tin top 992 Turbo S = nothing better. I'd settle for the cab though!
Hi Dino ,
I think you have become desensitised if you think 0-100 in less than 3 second for a factory produced road car is not “dumb fast” - makes you wonder what the limits are for street cars if that figure starts becoming “normal”.
As impressive as those figures are, there has to be a point where less is more - you can’t just keep increasing power because it will never be enough. I think your 964 with human level power and all its flaws is just where we need to get back to - back to basics, back to the joy of driving. My 100hp 1960s alfa gives me more joy than any latest M car or AMG offering - I digress.
Happy new year Dino!! Just love the Porsche.
Dino I've road tested and raced over 400 or 500 cars at this point in my life and I have to say very few cars can do it all like a 911 turbo when it comes to road cars. You can lug them around very slowly and make moves in traffic, they have a relatively short wheelbase which makes them fun to drive fast and slow. It's a hard car to beat as an all rounder.
I coached for them for a while and driving them every day was fun, but it's not the greatest thing in any one area. It just does them all good. After a while I think you start to prefer specifics. Drive an open wheel car and this will feel slow. Drive a real luxury car and it wont feel as nice. You can substitute a lot of cars for each component a 911 does with another car that does it great. That's my problem with them.
For each thing the 911 does really well I can think of a car for 1/4 the price that does it good. Add it all up and I can have a masterpiece in each specific area for much cheaper than the asking price of "look at me I'm in a Porsche" which I have learned is why 80% of people own these cars!