Starting to Learn About the 911

After visiting Fuji Speedway the other day, I started taking a little more interest in the 911. I like to think I know a reasonable amount about the Panamera, but when it comes to the 911, I know next to nothing. (Though, honestly, most people probably know it the other way around!)

So I was looking through the 911 lineup on Porsche Japan’s official website…and there were so many models that I couldn’t make heads or tails of it (-_-)

The lineup is broadly divided into these categories:

・911 Carrera Models
・911 Carrera T
・911 Targa 4 Models
・911 Turbo Models
・911 Turbo S Exclusive Series
・911 GTS Models
・911 GT3 Models
・911 GT2 RS

But then I noticed that the Carrera models include Cabriolets, the Turbo models include Cabriolets, and the Targa 4 GTS appears under “GTS Models” rather than “Targa Models”…

I’m totally lost!! ( ﾟдﾟ )!!

I’m amazed by owners who can look at all these choices and say, “That’s the one—I’m buying it!” I don’t even know the difference between rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. In fact, I’d reached the point where I wasn’t even sure what I didn’t understand anymore, and my head was about to start smoking, so I asked my husband.

How the 911 Lineup Is Organized

When I said, “There are so many 911 models—I can’t figure them out. Can you explain them to me? (-_-)” my husband replied:

That’s true. The 911 lineup is huge, and it gets pretty complicated because the categories change depending on what you’re looking at.

Then he got up and disappeared somewhere. A moment later, he came back with a blank sheet of paper and started writing. Peeking over, I saw that he was making a chart. Ah, so he was putting together a 911 lineup guide.

“I only asked a quick question…” I thought, as I waited for 15 minutes.

A Porsche 911 Cheat Sheet, Complete

“Done! Here you go!” he said, showing me this diagram.

The handwriting is terrible (lol). Later, I made my own version in Keynote, shown below. (For the record, I left out the Carrera T.)

I must have been wearing a face that said, “Hmm…I still don’t really get it just by looking at this. (-_-)” because he explained:

It’s not necessarily the only right way to look at it, but I’ve split the vertical axis into two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. For the horizontal axis, I’ve thought about whether you want something for everyday use or something sportier, perhaps for track driving.

I looked at the chart again with that in mind.

Ah, I see…(-_-)

…

…So? (ﾟ∀ﾟ;)?

Some people choose based on design, others based on price, so this isn’t the only way to divide them. It’s just one way of looking at the lineup.

I looked at the chart again.

I see…

…

…So? (ﾟ∀ﾟ;)?

Personally, I want to drive long distances and enjoy mountain roads, so I don’t think a GT3 would be the right fit. But when it comes to what would be perfect for me, I’m still not sure.

That made sense. The more I looked at the lineup, the more I felt I was beginning to understand it.

Which 911 Would Suit Me?

“By the way, if I were to buy a 911 (not that I can afford one yet), which one do you think would suit me?” I asked.

Well, four-wheel drive gives you more stability, so a Turbo could be a good choice. But a Porsche is plenty stable even with two-wheel drive. Our previous Panamera Edition was rear-wheel drive, and it felt very stable at highway speeds. You never felt nervous driving it, did you?
So after that, it really comes down to design and personal preference. The four-wheel-drive models have a slightly wider rear body, but some two-wheel-drive models have a wide rear body, too… The rear lights on the 4 models run all the way across and look great, but who knows if the new generation will have that feature on every model? At that point, honestly, I don’t know which one I’d choose either.

That’s what he said.

I know people who say things like, “I want to buy a 911, but I don’t know which one to get,” or “After considering everything, maybe the standard 911 is all I need.” I think I understand why.

This is just wishful thinking, but I’d love to see a feature on Porsche’s official website that works like a personality quiz and tells you, “Here’s the 911 that’s right for you!”

✓ Do you want a convertible?
✓ Do you drive on the highway often?
✓ Do you want to take it to the track?

It could ask around 20 questions, then give you the answer: “There you go! This is the perfect 911 for you!” That would make things so much easier.

Of course, that’ll never happen (lol).

Anyway, this has made me want to learn a lot more about the 911.