911 Carrera T, 1600km.

It’s been a month and a half since delivery. I’ve been driving the 911 Carrera T (MT) almost every day, but since most trips are just around the neighborhood, I’ve only just passed 1600 km on the odometer.

The engine sound has gotten noticeably louder, and I’ve gotten quite used to shifting and pedal operation, so I’m now able to enjoy a more relaxed and nimble driving experience.

Before buying the Carrera T,

“With the sports chassis (in the 992 Carrera T, it’s the only option) and the low ride height, the ride must be stiff. Plus, it’s left-hand drive. Can it really be used daily? Can I even go to the supermarket or convenience store? Won’t I end up not driving it because it’s just not practical for everyday use?”

I was worried about these things, but I’ve come to realize it’s actually quite usable for daily driving.

911 Carrera T for Everyday Use

If I rate the everyday usability of my previous Swift Sport as a 10, then the Carrera T is about a 7…

The Swift Sport was compact and could go anywhere—there was practically nowhere it couldn’t go—so compared to that, the Carrera T isn’t a perfect 10 (laughs). But it’s definitely not a 5 either.

In other words, as long as certain conditions are met, it’s perfectly fine for everyday use.

The low ride height isn’t as much of an issue as I thought

I think the fact that I opted for the Front Axle Lift System plays a big role, but in the month and a half since delivery, I haven’t scraped the underside even once. (In fact, I scraped more often when I had lowered suspension on my Swift Sport.)

I’m cautious when driving and try to avoid steep angles on bumps, but it’s been much easier than I expected.

I’ve been to convenience stores, supermarkets, and even parking garages with steep ramps at shopping malls, and even in places where I thought, “This might be impossible…!?” I’ve managed to get in without trouble.

That said, I don’t know how it would be without the Front Axle Lift System since I haven’t tested that, but I’m really glad I opted for it (even though it was an expensive option).

Left-hand drive narrows the range of usable parking lots

Because it’s left-hand drive, I now only go to parking lots where the ticket machines are designed for left-hand drive cars.

My husband once used a grabber tool to get tickets from right-hand drive-only machines when he had the left-hand drive Boxster (which surprisingly worked well, lol), but I don’t really want to go to such lengths.

So even at nearby supermarkets, I only go to those with left-hand drive ticket machines or parking lots that don’t require tickets at all. That said, I’ve noticed more parking lots with license plate recognition systems recently, so it’s not too much of a problem. Then again, since we live outside the city, it might be a bit more difficult in urban areas.

Left-hand drive driving gets easier with practice

Once you get used to it, left-hand drive isn’t hard to drive. It’s actually easier to judge distances on the left side, and it seems to reduce the risk of clipping pedestrians or cyclists when turning left. Right turns can be a bit trickier to see, but with practice, it’s manageable.

Regarding the issue of “difficulty seeing the right rear when merging,” my Carrera T doesn’t have privacy glass, so visibility is pretty good. This wasn’t intentional—I actually forgot to add the privacy glass option—but now I’m glad I didn’t.

Convenience stores I visit have become limited

I used to be able to go to any convenience store, but now I avoid those with steep entrance bumps or very few or tight parking spaces. In that sense, there are more occasions where I think, “I really wanted to stop by the convenience store, but better not.”

The 992 (2023 model) sports chassis offers a comfortable ride

I had imagined the sports chassis would be stiff and harsh, but the ride quality is better than expected.

It’s not harsh, but on uneven roads you do feel some shaking, so if you’re used to a luxurious ride, it might feel uncomfortable. However, for those experienced with sports cars—domestic or imported—the ride is totally acceptable. This might also be because I have the Sports Plus seats (18-way electric) with thick cushioning.

Parking options in Osaka city (especially Kitahama) are limited

For those unfamiliar with Osaka, you might wonder, “Where’s Kitahama?” (laughs)

There’s no problem parking in the suburbs, but finding parking in Osaka city can be quite a challenge. Recently when I went to Kitahama, all the parking spots were too tight to park confidently, and when I tried to enter the Osaka Securities Exchange parking lot, I was told, “Porsches are not allowed to park here.”

I avoid parking lots with locking plates (because I’m afraid of scratching the wheels), so when I look for alternatives, only extremely expensive parking options remain.

Umeda, Temmabashi, Yodoyabashi, Honmachi, Shinsaibashi, and Namba all have large underground parking lots, so those areas are fine, but Kitahama is really a no-go zone for me (sorry for the local trivia).

In the end, it’s all about getting used to it.

Writing this, I realize that compared to regular cars, there are definitely inconveniences. But you get used to it in about a week (laughs). So maybe it’s just a matter of familiarity…

That said, my impression is that the 911 is easier to use daily than the typical sports car image suggests.

Ah, I can’t wait to finish the break-in period at 3000 km!