Porsche 911 Carrera Type 992

It’s been about a year and a half since I purchased the new Porsche 911, the 992 Carrera Cabriolet.

Since then, I’ve driven over 8,000 km on tours, city drives, commuting, and even on the circuit. It’s very easy to use, and I feel that the 992’s usability and comfort in city driving, commuting, and shopping scenes surpass those of the previous 991.

Also, the 992’s performance at the limit on the circuit is astonishing.

The excellent road holding, intense torque feel, and natural steering response make driving very enjoyable. Having driven the 991.2 GT3 before, I believe the 992’s fighting capability is very high, and for amateurs especially, the 992 might even be faster.

On the other hand, when it comes to touring, mountain roads, or winding roads, I personally find the more sensual and emotional 991.1 more fun, so when it comes to long-distance touring, the 992 tends to see less use—that’s a fact.

GT Silver Porsche 911 Carrera

Regarding the 992, this time I had the opportunity to test drive the latest MY 2022 basic, pure 911 Carrera. Since it was just delivered and not yet broken in, I didn’t test the engine at high revs.

So for impressions at high speed or high revs, please refer to the review articles of the 992 we have at home.

This GT Silver Metallic model looks very cool. GT Silver is a color originally introduced with the Carrera GT, a very metallic silver that, personally, I like more than any other silver on any car.

The wheels are optional black-painted Carrera S wheels, 20/21 inches front and rear, matching the silver very well. The rear features the “911” logo. The interior is black, with Sports Seats Plus installed.

This is exactly what “simple is best” means.

Just sitting in the driver’s seat gives off a strong vibe that this would be a partner you wouldn’t get tired of and could drive for a long time.

The seat cushion is thicker than the standard seat, making it feel more comfortable. The side supports of the cushion are just right.

Regarding the Presence of GPF on the 992

When starting the engine cold, the sound is quite loud. This model is equipped with the Sports Exhaust, but the volume is almost the same as our home’s 992 with a normal exhaust without GPF.

Some blog readers have mentioned that the MY 2021 and 2022 992s are very quiet, but this Carrera is definitely not “quiet.” It has a boldly spirited exhaust note. While it does quiet down once the idle stabilizes, when driving, the cabin is filled with a nice exhaust sound and mechanical noise.

It’s hard to describe it as “quiet.”

I thought the GPF should be installed from around this model year, but looking underneath, it seems this one does not have a GPF. This is a visual judgment, but based on overseas sources, it appears that the MY 2022 911 Carrera does not have a GPF.

Source: 「https://www.sohu.com/a/426716683_372774」

Comparing with the above illustration, it seems no GPF is installed.

Even with the Sports Exhaust off, it sounds good, and when turned on, the burbling sound increases, giving a very sporty impression.

Compared to our home’s 992 with a normal exhaust, the startup sound and the sound with the Sports Exhaust off are almost identical in tone and volume. When on, the Sports Exhaust sounds slightly deeper and the burbling is more pronounced.

992 Handling

Regarding handling, the steering response at the start of the turn is sharper on the coupe than the cabriolet. It quickly points the nose inward, with about half a beat better response on the coupe. Compared to previous generations, the difference between the cabriolet and coupe in the 992 is quite small, but when directly compared like this, there is a slight difference.

Once the steering is turned and the car enters the cornering phase, there’s little difference between coupe and cabriolet. Both feel very stable as they carve through corners. I think the 992 is one of the few cars that offers such a strong sense of security mid-corner.

There are cars that corner more solidly without body roll, but in terms of the “sense of security” that comes from feeling the car is truly in the driver’s hands, the 992 is the strongest.

Even when pushing the pace a bit, nothing unexpected happens. Electronic controls work smoothly behind the scenes, but this setup is perfect for driving fast and comfortably on public roads. You can focus on driving without unnecessary worries.

The Charm of the Pure 992 Lies in the Engine

As mentioned earlier, I didn’t rev the engine this time, but the pure 3.0 turbo engine is truly excellent. Turbo lag is really minimal. The 450ps S engine is incredibly fast when revved high, but in driving that moves between low and mid RPMs, its response is slightly delayed, causing some jerkiness.

For example, if you fix it in 3rd gear and floor the accelerator from about 50 km/h, it’s obvious: the pure Carrera’s engine pushes forward smoothly, while the S accelerates with a one-second delay and then surges.

Therefore, I strongly recommend the pure Carrera for Japanese city driving with frequent stop-and-go and for typical mountain winding roads.

On the other hand, if you want to blast down the overtaking lane on the new Tomei Expressway or prioritize acceleration on straightaways, the S is a better choice.

19/20 Inch or 20/21 Inch Wheels?

Next, about ride comfort. This Carrera has 20/21-inch Carrera S wheels front and rear. My Carrera Cabriolet has 19/20-inch Carrera wheels.

Comparing the two, the 20/21-inch wheels did not feel less comfortable at all.

In fact, the moderate weight gives a more composed, refined feel on the 20/21-inch wheels. On the other hand, the lighter unsprung weight of the 19/20-inch wheels gives a more nimble feel.

The 992’s suspension has a higher spring rate than the previous generation, making it firmer. Compared to the 991 generation, it feels like a much stiffer, more supportive suspension.

So on normal roads, the tires roll and grip with a high-quality feel, firm but comfortable. However, on uneven surfaces with height differences or large bumps, the side-to-side shaking is more noticeable than before.

Highly Recommended Personally

After driving, I really liked this coupe 992 Carrera. The simple, personal-preference styling is part of it, but more than that, the ride and handling are superb, and its dynamics feel like the cabriolet’s performance with a little extra spice, which is very refreshing.

If I were to buy another 992, I would definitely choose the GT Silver coupe pure Carrera or pure Carrera 4. This test drive reaffirmed the beauty of this car and the excellence of the basic Carrera’s performance.