2008 Porsche 911: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

The 2008 Porsche 911 adds a turbocharged convertible model to its roster but is largely unchanged otherwise. This is Porsche's flagship sports car. It's available as a coupe, the Cabriolet convertible with a power soft top, and as the Targa, which has a power sliding translucent roof panel. Several models are offered. Carrera, Carrera S, GT3, and GT3 RS have rear-wheel drive. Carrera 4, Carrera 4S, Targa 4, Targa 4S, and Turbo have all-wheel drive. All 911s have rear-mounted horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engines. Carreras and the Targa have 325 hp. Carrera S and Targa S versions have 355 hp. The racetrack-ready GT3 and GT3 RS have 415 hp. Turbos have 480 hp. A 381-hp Power Kit is available for the Carrera S, Carrera 4S, and Targa S. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard. A 5-speed automatic is optional except on the GT3. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags. The GT3, GT3 RS, and Turbo have specific suspension tuning, brakes, and styling.

COMPETITION

Consumer Guide Automotive places each vehicle into one of 18 classes based on size, price, and market position. Offering more power and style than typical Sporty/Performance vehicles, Premium Sporty/Performance Cars usually cost much more and have more comfort and convenience equipment. Two-passenger convertibles and four-seat coupes rule the roost in this class.

Our Best Buys are the BMW Z4 and Chevrolet Corvette. Our Recommended picks are the Jaguar XK Series, Porsche Boxster, and Porsche Cayman.

New or significantly redesigned models include the Audi A5, Audi R8, and Audi TT.