What Do We Really Want from a Car?

Since starting this blog, my husband has had the chance to test drive not only the Porsches he owns but also many others owned by friends and dealers.

“I wonder, how many Porsches have I actually driven so far…” When he counted, the number was over 50 cars.

He often says things like this:

“A car isn’t just about having power or being fast.”

I used to admire powerful, fast cars. I thought they were cool and dreamed of owning one someday. But after driving many cars, including test drives, and especially since owning a GT3, I’ve come to think that a car isn’t just about speed. What matters more to me is balance.
A car that feels natural to drive, with just the right amount of power, and a well-balanced engine and suspension… a car that’s harmoniously put together and enjoyable to drive. Those are the cars I never get tired of and can have fun with for a long time.
For example, the Swift Sport has about 140 horsepower, but it’s light and surprisingly powerful and fun. Of course, it’s slower than a Porsche, but it’s really enjoyable.

At the same time, he often says this:

But you can’t just say “it’s fun because it’s well balanced” and leave it at that.
Take the 992 (911 Carrera Cabriolet), for example. It’s an incredibly well-balanced, well-engineered car. Its performance, handling, acceleration, and firm yet smooth ride quality are all superb and perfectly balanced.
Driving this 992 on the highway for my commute is truly amazing. It feels so good that sometimes I want to take a longer route to work instead of going straight there.
So, at first, I’m amazed and thrilled by its incredible performance, but on long tours, depending on the road, it can start to feel a bit dull.
It’s a bit too much of a model student… it doesn’t really stir your emotions.

In that sense, the Boxster (981 Boxster GTS) or the 911 Carrera 4 GTS (991 early model) offer a more emotional driving experience.
So, it’s tricky because you can’t simply say that good balance equals fun.

Everyone has their own criteria for what makes a car fun.

For my husband, who loves touring and driving,the key point is whether a car remains enjoyable even after driving for long hours on various roads. That’s what really matters to him.

The Porsche Obsession Runs Deep

That same husband recently drove a friend’s GT3 (991 late model) and said this:

The GT3 really is something else. The handling is completely different. It reminded me again that this car is on another level.
It’s insanely fast, and it feels like it can keep going and going — the car almost challenges you, making it an exciting and fun experience.
My own GT3 (991 GT3 Touring late model) has a manual transmission, but the one I drove this time had a PDK, and I have to say, I prefer the PDK for the 991 late GT3.
It’s incredibly difficult to fully unleash that amazing engine with a manual unless you’re a professional racer, so I think the PDK suits me better.
Ah, the GT3 was fantastic. I wish I could rent one every few months or so…

So basically… powerful, fast cars are fun, well-balanced cars are fun, high-performance cars are fun, manual cars are fun, convertibles are fun, air-cooled Porsches are fun…

In other words, they’re all fun (laughs).

Each Porsche model has its own unique charm.

The car you own is wonderful, but when you get to drive a friend’s car, that’s wonderful too. That’s why I often hear from owners who say, “I won’t buy another car for a while” but then immediately start browsing used car sites online.

The Porsche obsession really runs deep… w