[DougMcL]

Borrowed one of these while a warranty job is being sorted out on my base Macan. Picked it up on Friday afternoon and have spent the weekend doing all sorts of stuff from motorway to city, including some single lane rough little country roads.

All that I can say is that I'm blown away. I really thought I wouldn't like it but I love it. Some impressions:

Performance is ballistic. It feels like you are being kicked from behind when you floor the throttle. Kind of electric car quick, but with a glorious petrol wail from the flat 6 turbo. Turn the steering wheel dial into Sport Plus and the PDK 8 speed is amazing. Not so much fun in sport or normal but at least that wheel gives you instant access to modes.

Handling is also amazing despite having all that weight behind the rear axle. I don't know what Porsche have done but it is just so fluid. I had the 4S model but apparently the 2S is the purer car. Steering does give feedback despite it being electric.

I'm not sure that I would spend much on options. Probably four in total - Porsche's worst customer. Something like this maybe.

Base Carrera 2 (I don't care about the 50bhp extra that the S has)

A metallic colour probably combined with an extra cost leather option like Truffle Brown, Aventurine green maybe, much better than the silver car with black that I had, example below.

The sports chrono pack just to get that mode control and sport plus with the auto blipping (as you hit the brakes, the car changes down, blipping the throttle as it does so with a wonderful noise). You need to be able to flick the control back to sport though to get the revs down thought if you are not using them, that control makes it a necessity for the instant switching.

Glass sunroof. Extra air and light in the cabin. The targa looks sweet but it and the convertible add far too much extra weight.

Total £5k of options....

Downsides. About 15mpg when driving it on country roads in Sport Plus. You might see high 20s on a run.

Best car I have ever driven, period, if you want, it is a quick refined hot hatch type car. It is easy to place on the road because it is small enough. You can see the rear haunches in the mirror and the front headlights. But put it into Sport Plus and it takes on a supercar type personality, howling and wailing. The noise is fantastic. Not sure that the Sports Exhaust is necessary though the test car had it...

I'm 5'10 and would even tolerate a half hour back seat journey. I can't sit behind myself but could sit behind the passenger with the seat moved forward.

[mikeoz]

Nice review thank you and it looks great in that colour too..

"I don't know what Porsche have done but it is just so fluid"
They have been refining it since 1963 in typical German fashion...it should be shit with the weight over the rear axel instead of great.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/m...icture-special

[DougMcL]

Try playing with the configurator. Much more interesting than the BMW one.

https://www.porsche.com/uk/modelstart/all/

Guards red and crayon might be nice. Much cheaper too... (ditch the £1k leather for half price and no metallic surcharge)

Or white and red leather with deviated stitching for no extra cost.

£85k anyone?

[kzg1969]

I test drive the 718 2.5T and didnt like it......would love to try one of these, but realistically out of my price range. Maybe one day...........

[davyk31]

How did you wangle one of those out of Belfast? Any time I ask they never have a demo.

Drove a 992 Carrera S at Silverstone last year and it was a fantastic car and a great day out. Have you had your day yet at PEC Doug as you can request to drive something other than the Macan you own or have on order. Can even pay extra to get the real special cars, think a GT3 is an extra £250.

[AlRex]

The new style 911s all look very special!

I’ve not drove one since an old 996 and was left very underwhelmed..... the new ones look a totally different league though.

[DougMcL]

Originally Posted by davyk31

How did you wangle one of those out of Belfast? Any time I ask they never have a demo. .

They do have a demo Davy. Agnew's special plate - DXI 1 - Dolomite Silver Carrera 4S. Maybe you need to buy more cars from them (3 so far). I asked and it was no problem. The DP winked at me as I was handed the keys and said "That's gonna be expensive!"

Loan Friday noon till tomorrow noon. Complimentary full tank of fuel... They would probably have died if they had seen it this morning. The passenger side was covered in cowshit after taking it down the coast road from Comber to Whiterock.

They probably know that I am a real car nut and that I will buy one. Tomorrow is not that time. Brexit needs to be done and Northern Ireland needs to have found its place in the New Europe (hopefully a better place). There also needs to be as Sars-Cov-2 vaccine. And I need to be 60. Then I'll buy.

[DougMcL]

I've done two days at Silverstone. Haven't got the third one yet!

[DougMcL]

Originally Posted by kzg1969

I test drive the 718 2.5T and didnt like it......would love to try one of these, but realistically out of my price range. Maybe one day...........

I had a 718, hated it...

[davyk31]

I had a 718 GTS out on loan last year and hated it as well. Too cramped and very unpleasant noises. Wasn’t for me at all.

[RickLS7]

I have a 981S, really impressive car but damn loud with the sports exhaust (even with it off).

I tried the 718S too and didn't like it, sounded like a Beetle when cold and idling.

[DougMcL]

The Ackermann effect when slow manoeuvring was dire on the 718. Not present at all on the 911.

[Sennen]

Lovely car OP

Got me playing around on that Porsche configurator again

Did you find it substantially bigger than the Cayman on the road as this is the only thing that would put me off. Like most cars the 911 seems to keep on getting bigger.

[gangzoom]

Originally Posted by DougMcL

Try playing with the configurator. Much more interesting than the BMW one.

https://www.porsche.com/uk/modelstart/all/

Guards red and crayon might be nice. Much cheaper too... (ditch the £1k leather for half price and no metallic surcharge)

Or white and red leather with deviated stitching for no extra cost.

£85k anyone?

Looks nice.

Am 95% sure a Taycan will be my next car, given its more practical than a 911 + cheaper to run, with a few essentially options its around £90K it almost seems 'good value' compared to a 911 .

Am not even going to entertain the idea of sitting in one though till we are ready to buy, nothing worse than having a go in a car you really want but than have to give it back.

[JD6]

Originally Posted by gangzoom

Looks nice.

Am 95% sure a Taycan will be my next car, given its more practical than a 911 + cheaper to run, with a few essentially options its around £90K it almost seems 'good value' compared to a 911 .

Am not even going to entertain the idea of sitting in one though till we are ready to buy, nothing worse than having a go in a car you really want but than have to give it back.

Having felt (from pictures) that the front of the Taycan was a let-down, I have changed my view now I have seen one in the metal. It has a real presence. It's the only EV I would consider, but it would take man maths to a whole new (Fields Medal winning) level to get there

[DougMcL]

Originally Posted by Sennen

Lovely car OP

Got me playing around on that Porsche configurator again

Did you find it substantially bigger than the Cayman on the road as this is the only thing that would put me off. Like most cars the 911 seems to keep on getting bigger.

No felt small ish. I know it isn't but all the pillars are slim and it is easy to see the extremities. Maybe not the tail end but the haunches and the headlights are always in your field of view. Video reviews call it a wide car and it is, but it is easy to place and park.

[Sennen]

Originally Posted by DougMcL

No felt small ish. I know it isn't but all the pillars are slim and it is easy to see the extremities. Maybe not the tail end but the haunches and the headlights are always in your field of view. Video reviews call it a wide car and it is, but it is easy to place and park.

Thanks for that Doug, i have had a GT4 as a possible option on the cards for a while now but i am really thinking if i got rid of the M2 and replaced it with the following it might be a better and cheaper option.

I bet not many will like this colour combo but it would be my spec. Need to get up to Reading i think for a test drive and a nosey about.

It doesnt seem to like the link but i would go Carrera S 2wd in Python Green with the red leather and black dash and of course 7 speed manual.

[

[Isow]

Just sold my wife’s Cayman 981 manual.
7 years old next month, 33,000 miles
It was a difficult decision to sell it.

[Isow]

Originally Posted by DougMcL

No felt small ish. I know it isn't but all the pillars are slim and it is easy to see the extremities. Maybe not the tail end but the haunches and the headlights are always in your field of view. Video reviews call it a wide car and it is, but it is easy to place and park.

It’s as wide at the rear as an S Class Mercedes !

[JD6]

Originally Posted by Isow

It’s as wide at the rear as an S Class Mercedes !

Sounds pretty narrow to me

[DougMcL]

I know it IS wide, however it simply doesn't feel it. The mirrors are well placed. I did find myself keeping an eye on where the rear haunches were when I was flying down country lanes.

[Sennen]

I need to go and get a test drive I think.

I really want to get away from that 'Big Car' feel, I suspect the GT4 will be a better fit for me if the 911 is as wide as a Merc S Class