Reviews & Test Drives

2022.04.10Reviews & Test Drives

Bentley Continental GT Convertible Review: The Effortless Power of the W12

The Continental GT I previously test-drove a Bentley Continental GT while considering a replacement for my Panamera. That was a W12 coupe, and I drove it around town. This time, I had the chance to take a W12-powered convertible for a drive on winding mountain roads. My first impression of the Continental GT in the city was that it felt sportier than I’d expected from a Bentley. Its basic driving character was very similar to...

2022.04.10Reviews & Test Drives

Reviews & Test Drives

2022.04.06Reviews & Test Drives, Porsche 911

Test-Driving the Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet (991.1): What Comparing It with Other 99...

I’ve Tested 11 Different 991.1 Models Here are the 991.1 models I’ve covered on the blog so far. That’s an impressive 11 different versions. I doubt many people anywhere in the world have compared this many 991.1s on winding roads—not just on quick drives around town! (笑) Carrera 4S Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet Carrera GTS Cabriolet Targa 4S Carrera Carrera 4 GTS Turbo Targa 4 GTS Carrera S Cabriolet Carrera S GT3 This time, I...

2022.04.06Reviews & Test Drives, Porsche 911

Reviews & Test Drives

2022.03.30Reviews & Test Drives, Porsche 911

Testing the Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS on Track: How Does the AWD 911 Compare with the Rea...

Taking the 911 Carrera 4 GTS to the Track The other day, I took part in a track day hosted by 911Days magazine. The venue was Fuji Speedway, a circuit I’ve driven many times before at driving schools and track events. This time, I brought along a pre-facelift 991 Carrera 4 GTS. It pairs all-wheel drive with the last naturally aspirated 3.8-liter engine offered in the Carrera. I’d driven rear-engine and mid-engine Porsches on track...

2022.03.30Reviews & Test Drives, Porsche 911

Reviews & Test Drives

2022.03.24Reviews & Test Drives, Porsche 911

2022 Porsche 911 GT3 (992) Review: An Out-of-This-World Driving Experience

The day had finally arrived: time to get behind the wheel of the latest 992-generation 911—and not just any 911, but the latest GT3. I used to own a 991.2 GT3 Touring, and I currently own a 992 Carrera. With those experiences as a reference, I’ll take a closer look at what makes the new GT3 special, comparing it with its predecessor and the Carrera along the way. Porsche 911 GT3 (992): First Impressions The...

2022.03.24Reviews & Test Drives, Porsche 911

Reviews & Test Drives

2022.03.19Reviews & Test Drives, How to Buy a Porsche, Porsche 911

A Pristine Air-Cooled Porsche 964 | Delivery Day Drama and a Test Drive Review

My good friend TAKURO has finally taken delivery of his Porsche 911 (Type 964). Here’s how the whole buying-a-Porsche journey unfolded—and what I thought after getting behind the wheel. Taking Delivery of the 964 One autumn morning last year, I was casually browsing Instagram when I spotted a story from a dealership announcing that a manual-transmission 964 had just arrived. I took a screenshot and immediately sent it to TAKURO, who had been looking for...

2022.03.19Reviews & Test Drives, How to Buy a Porsche, Porsche 911

Reviews & Test Drives

2022.03.05Reviews & Test Drives, Recommended Car Accessories

Replace Your Boxster’s Factory Navigation with a Display Audio System | DMH-SZ700 Review

Why I Was Unhappy with the Factory Navigation Japanese-market 981 Boxsters and early 991s came with a factory navigation system made by Clarion. In other markets, these cars were equipped with Porsche’s own navigation system, similar to the PCM found in later 991s and the 718. The Clarion setup was specific to Japanese-market models. The drawbacks were more significant than you might expect. First, the system looked like an aftermarket addition. And, while the factory...

2022.03.05Reviews & Test Drives, Recommended Car Accessories

Reviews & Test Drives

2022.02.28Reviews & Test Drives, Porsche 911

Test-Driving the New Porsche 911 Carrera (992): The Appeal of the Pure, Base Model

The Porsche 911 Carrera (992) It’s been about a year and a half since we bought our new Porsche 911, a 992-generation Carrera Cabriolet. Since then, we’ve driven it more than 8,000 km on touring trips, around town, on the daily commute, and even on the track. It’s wonderfully easy to live with, and the 992’s comfort and usability in everyday settings—especially in town, on the commute, and while running errands—outshine those of its predecessor,...

2022.02.28Reviews & Test Drives, Porsche 911

Reviews & Test Drives

2022.02.21Reviews & Test Drives, Porsche 911

Test-Driving a 991.1 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S: A Fully Loaded Gem

The 991.1 Carrera 4S Lately, I’ve noticed quite a few people around me buying 991.1 models. Ask them what won them over, and they all say the same thing: the sound and rev-happy character of the naturally aspirated engine. Porsche may build naturally aspirated 911s again someday. But for many buyers, the 991.1 represents the last generation of naturally aspirated 911s from an era before stricter noise regulations and gasoline particulate filters (GPFs). It’s easy...

2022.02.21Reviews & Test Drives, Porsche 911

Reviews & Test Drives

2022.02.03Reviews & Test Drives, Volkswagen

Test-Driving the Volkswagen Golf R (Golf 7): What Sets It Apart from a Standard Golf?

Volkswagen Golf There’s a car we used to own that I deeply regret selling. Even now, my wife and I sometimes say, “That really was an exceptionally well-made car.” It was a Volkswagen Golf. Ours was a special-edition Golf 7 ALLSTAR, an early-model version. It was based on the entry-level 1.2-liter model, but came with a few extra touches. It was brilliant at everything from the daily commute and grocery runs to family road trips....

2022.02.03Reviews & Test Drives, Volkswagen

Reviews & Test Drives

2022.01.19Reviews & Test Drives, Porsche 911

Test-Driving the Porsche 964 Carrera RS Touring: How Different Is It from a Standard Carr...

The Porsche 911 Carrera RS (Type 964) It’s been about three and a half years since an air-cooled Porsche 911 (Type 964) Carrera 2 came home with us. I’ve fallen for its analog controls and handling that reflect your driving skill so directly. Even now, the 964 never feels old to me; every drive still feels fresh. It’s fun even when you’re not pushing hard, and it’s enjoyable at any speed, whether you’re driving around...

2022.01.19Reviews & Test Drives, Porsche 911