About the Porsche 911 (992)

When test drives for the current 911 (992) first began, I occasionally came across less-than-favorable reviews saying things like, “The 992 is so easy to drive it’s become just a passenger car” or “The 992 isn’t fun anymore.”

But is that really the case?

The first time my spouse and I test drove a 992, it was a 911 Carrera 4S. It was indeed very easy to drive, with a comfortable ride and excellent drivability. It’s almost too well-behaved, which might be why some say it’s “too much like a passenger car and not exciting.”

It’s now been four months since the bare-bones 992 Cabriolet arrived at our home in September 2020. I want to share my thoughts on whether the 992 has truly been reduced to just a passenger car…

My Husband’s Perspective as a Porsche Enthusiast

As I’ve written many times on this blog, the 992’s performance is incredibly high. To get straight to the point, I firmly believe the 992 is undeniably a super high-performance sports car.

Sure, if you only drive it in heavy city traffic during a test drive, its ease of use stands out. But once you hit mountain roads or the highway, you’ll be amazed by its incredible capabilities.

My husband often says,

It’s like the nutrition joke from the comedy duo Milk Boy’s “Cornflakes” bit — the 992 has a great pentagonal balance, and the size of that pentagon is quite large.
On the other hand, something like the GT3 has one category that really stands out, making its characteristics easy to understand.
Because the 992 is well-balanced across all categories, it might be a car that’s “so well-rounded that its features are hard to pinpoint.”

I have to agree…

If I were to compare it to a five-point grading scale from school days, the 981 might have “music” and “art” at a 5 but “math” at a 3, or the 991 GT3 might have “PE” and “physics” at a 5 but “language” at a 2. Meanwhile, the 992 seems to get 4s or 5s across the board in “language,” “world history/Japanese history,” “PE,” and so on.
(I know, it’s a weird analogy, lol)

Also, having driven the 992 on winding roads and circuits, my husband says,

The 992 is a super high-performance sports car and a versatile all-rounder.
Everyday driving and circuit racing are basically opposite scenarios, but it excels in both.
Of all the Porsches I’ve driven, it’s the most forgiving car, and if I had to keep just one, it would be the 992.

He also says,

It’s easy to drive in the city with plenty of low-end torque, and you can hear the engine even at low revs, so it’s fun in town.
Take it on a winding road, and you’ll be amazed at “how precise the handling is.”
Experiencing the fantastic PDK control makes you wonder, “do I even need a manual transmission?” because it’s that enjoyable.
On the circuit, its potential is shockingly high and easy to handle.
With “stability, drivability, and a deep reserve of capability,” you can fully concentrate on driving.
Even in amateur battles, it can keep up with a GT3 in corners, and I’ve surprised myself with lap times.
And this is despite our 911 being a Cabriolet.

Indeed, I think it’s rare to find a car that performs so well and is so enjoyable in every situation.

He continues,

Some people say “the 992 isn’t fun,” but I really don’t understand why.
Of course, it’s a matter of personal preference, and some might judge it just from a short city test drive.
But once you own it and drive it in various situations including the circuit, you realize it’s an incredibly well-made, amazing car.
At this level, it’s not even a matter of comparing it to old 911s anymore.
I remember Masataka Matsutoya from Car Graphic TV praising the 992 Carrera, saying something like, “I had prepared negative comments before even test driving it based on prior info, but when I actually drove it, it was such a great car that I was at a loss.” (laughs)
If the base model is this amazing, I can only imagine what the GT3 is like.