The last drive of the year, or rather yesterday. The meeting place was the Royu Driveway. I had the incredibly luxurious opportunity to ride in the Carrera Ts of TAKURO, a Carrera T owner who my spouse and I are very grateful to, and Mr. K, who recently took delivery of his Carrera T, on the final day of 2024.

As someone who tends to be hit by rain or storms whenever I go somewhere, including Royu, I was a bit worried, thinking, “Will it rain again this time…?” But fortunately, yesterday was clear and sunny.

Under the warm sunlight for this season, it was a long-awaited reunion with the Carrera T.

Reunion with the Carrera T

The Carrera T was the first Porsche I ever purchased, a car filled with special memories. I ordered it new, carefully choosing the specifications with my own preferences, and bought it with the determination of “I’m willing to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu Temple and break a bone if I have to!”

However, with three children to ferry around daily, it became difficult to keep driving it, and after about 8,000 km, I reluctantly let it go. (I knew this from the start… but I really wanted to buy one myself.)

Having the chance to drive that Carrera T again, I was reminded once more:

“The Carrera T really is the best.”

Its lightness, smoothness, and power feel were all wonderful, and the handling and engine sound were top-notch.

Also, driving a manual transmission is fun. Shifting gears and operating the clutch with my own hands gave me the real feeling of “I’m driving with my own hands, on my own timing.” Before I knew it, I was repeatedly saying, “I want one again, I want one again, I want one again!”

That said, for everyday use, the Taycan is overwhelmingly easier to drive… but for special weekend drives or when I want to go on a spirited long drive, this Carrera T is the perfect partner.

And the Carrera T’s lightness is, of course, a given. Compared to other 992 models, it’s clearly lighter. But that lightness isn’t a negative—it’s the kind of lightness that makes driving more enjoyable.

Since I drove a 964 to Royu that day, having just come from an air-cooled Porsche, I was struck again by how the 992’s engine sound reminds me of the air-cooled engine’s tone. I’ve heard that the 992’s bonnet and dashboard pay homage to the air-cooled era, but the engine sound somehow feels air-cooled too.

The Taycan I usually drive is also an amazing car. Its EV-specific acceleration, road-hugging feel, and smoothness are truly outstanding, and if I were to replace it, I’d want another Taycan—it’s that wonderful.

Still, the 911, especially this manual Carrera T, offers the joy of “experiencing it with all five senses.” That’s something you can’t really get from the Taycan. The engine sound, the tactile feedback, and the kind of fun that makes you smile without realizing it.

Wow, it really is a fantastic car—I felt that again deeply.

The Depth of Driving and the Road Ahead

Driving a manual again after a long time, I honestly felt my driving skills had declined. I even stalled once (laughs). I can still drive, but I wasn’t as smooth or in sync as I used to be… To fully enjoy driving a high-performance Porsche, the driver’s skill really matters.

At one point, I let my husband and TAKURO-san take over driving, and seeing the car come alive like a fish in water was quite a shock (laughs).

Right now, my days are packed with parenting and work, but when I have a bit more breathing room someday, I want to focus more on honing my driving skills.

I’m grateful to TAKURO-san and Mr. K for letting me drive their precious cars. I was able to rediscover the charm of the Carrera T and the joy of driving. I dream of one day buying back the Carrera T I once sold and holding its wheel again.

I’ll give my all at work this year!

Thank you for continuing to follow “Welcome Home, PORSCHE” in 2025!