Porsche’s Sports Seat Plus

The other day, my husband had the chance to test drive a 911 Carrera S (992 model) on a circuit, and when he came home, he said this:

This time, I drove the 911 Carrera S, and I kept wondering, “Why is the ride comfort so different between our base 911 (992 model) and the S?” After some thought, I figured it out. The difference in seats plays a big role. Of course, there are differences in suspension and tuning, but I really realized how much the seat alone can change the ride comfort.

He said.

I had previously written an article about the importance of car seats, but it’s clear they greatly affect ride comfort as well. He continued,

The seats on the 911 Carrera S were Sports Seat Plus, and you might think, “Since it’s called ‘Plus,’ it must be a sportier seat, right?” But actually, compared to the regular Sports Seat, the cushion is thicker and much more luxurious. If you want to enjoy the 911 in a more luxurious way, choosing the Sports Seat Plus is probably the way to go.

He said.

Our 992’s Sports Seat

Our 992’s Sports Seat is also neither too firm nor too soft, and not too thin—just comfortable. Personally, I find seats like full carbon bucket seats, which wrap tightly around the shoulders and waist, a bit restrictive, and I’m not a fan of thick, soft, sofa-like seats because I can’t find a good seating position. So, I think the current Sports Seat is just right.

However, my husband said about this seat,

I’m not really a fan of this Sports Seat. If I had to point out a complaint about the 992, it would be the seat. Unlike the Sports Seat Plus, it doesn’t have much side bolstering, so the seat surface is large and probably better suited for bigger people. But the cushion is thin and firm. It reminds me of seats in older Mercedes coupe models. By the way, mine is the standard partial leather seat, but recently I sat in a full leather version of the same Sports Seat. The leather was a bit softer and the seating comfort was somewhat better. Still, it can’t beat the Sports Seat Plus. It was the same with the Panamera—recently, Porsche’s more expensive sporty seats offer better comfort. Especially with the 992, if you prioritize ride and seating comfort, Sports Seat Plus is the way to go.

He said.

Since the seat can change ride comfort so much, it’s definitely a point to focus on. But if you start thinking that way, considering budget and all, it feels like you can never finalize your specs when ordering a new car (laughs), and it’s also hard to find the right one when looking for a used car…

Next time I get a chance to test drive a car, I’ll be sure to pay attention to the differences in seats as well.