What do you get in a 911? Premium performance, for starters, plus a pedigree that's matched only by such brands as Ferrari. This version is more civilized and easier to handle than older 911s, but still demands more driving skill on wet roads than tamer sports cars. Is it noisy? Definitely--but it's the kind of sound that's music to the ears of the discerning driver. Ride quality, too, is less than genteel but wholly satisfying to enthusiasts. Plain Porsches made do with a normally aspirated 3.6-liter horizontally opposed engine, mounted at the rear. Initially rated at 270 horsepower, the basic engine's output rose to 282 in 1996. The engine in a Turbo is identical in displacement, but twin turbochargers help push output to a whopping 400 horsepower. The Turbos S of 1997 got a 424-horsepower version of that engine. Turbos came only with 6-speed manual shift, but regular 911s could have Porsche's Tiptronic automatic transmission instead.

Value for the Money
For this level of performance blended with such a renowned heritage, Porsche is practically in a league of its own. Yes, they're expensive; and yes, they require a certain level of skill to drive properly. But 911s also hold their value well and are known for durability.