Driving Around Omura Bay We arrived at the hotel much later than expected yesterday, so we got a slightly later start today. After getting ready and checking out, we set off to explore the roads around Omura Bay. As soon as we left the hotel, we lowered the roof and pointed the 911 toward the Omura Rainbow Road. Perhaps because it was still morning, traffic was light, making this a wonderfully flowing road through the...
Taking the Ferry from Shikoku to Kyushu in a 911 I’d set my alarm for 5 a.m., but woke up even earlier. It must have rained hard overnight, but the skies had cleared by morning, leaving the air wonderfully fresh. I got ready and set off with plenty of time to catch the 6:20 a.m. ferry. The hotel was right in the middle of a residential neighborhood, so firing up the 911’s engine early in...
Starting the Day at Katsurahama Beach Day two begins in Nankoku City. The skies are clear again. I’d planned to get up earlier and take a morning stroll along Katsurahama Beach, but I overslept. I hurried to get ready and check out. First, I drove the 911 to Katsurahama. Ever since I visited Watatsumi Shrine (Ryuo-gu) at Katsurahama, I’ve felt that my luck has been on the rise, so I wanted to go back and...
This Trip’s Companion: The 992 With a 10-day Golden Week holiday this year, I decided it was time for a proper long-distance tour. Right up until departure, I couldn’t decide which Porsche to take along. The 981? The 991? Maybe the 964? In the end, I chose the 992. The reason was simple: I’d taken it on long drives and to the track, but had never given it a proper touring trip. To be honest,...
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...
First Up at PEC Tokyo: Driving the 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 The other day, I visited the Porsche Experience Center Tokyo (PEC Tokyo). In today’s article, I’m sharing my impressions of the “drive two cars back-to-back” program I tried there. I signed up for the 90-minute “Mid vs Rear” program, designed to explore the differences between mid-engine and rear-engine layouts—and what makes each Porsche unique. The first car I got to drive was the 718...
Until this spring, my husband owned a 911 GT3 Touring (991.2 generation). He was particular about its options and specification, and spent months debating whether to sell it. This spring, though, he finally decided to let it go. Then, the other day, he showed me his configurator choices and said, “If I were buying the new 911 GT3 Touring Package (992), this is how I’d spec it.” His choices are, of course, a matter of...
Why the Air-Cooled Porsche 911 (964) Is So Special For a long time, my husband would drive our 992-generation 911 and say, “The 992 really is fantastic,” then take the air-cooled 964 out and say, “The 964 really is something else.” But lately, even he’s started to sound a little different. These days, I definitely prefer the 964! If I had to keep just one—the 992 or the 964—I’d choose the 964 without a second...
I recently had the unexpected chance to experience the new Porsche 911 Targa 4 (992 generation), and I’d love to share what it was like. Porsche 911 Targa 4 (992) The car I drove was the latest 992-generation Targa 4. As many of you will know, the Targa is neither a cabriolet nor a coupe. It has a bar at the center of the body, in the position of a B-pillar, known as the Targa...
Porsche 911 Turbo S and Cayenne GTS Coupe: The Owner’s Story A reader of this blog got in touch to say, “I’ve bought a Porsche 911 Turbo S and a Cayenne GTS Coupe. They’re my first Porsches, and I’d love to share my impressions as a newcomer.” Thank you! Of course, those impressions may evolve as the cars cover more miles and tackle a wider variety of roads. For now, though, we’re delighted to share...
