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Reviews & Test Drives

Thoughts on Owning Two GTS Models: Boxster (981) and 911 (991 Pre-Facelift)

Two Beloved Cars I want to keep every Porsche I own forever, but there are two in particular that I especially want to hold onto. Those are the Boxster GTS (981) and 911 Carrera 4 GTS (991 pre-facelift), both made around the same time. Both are the ‘GTS’ grade, standing for Grand Touring Sport, and both feature naturally aspirated flat-six engines from before noise and environmental regulations became as strict as they are now. The...

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Porsche Boxster

Driving a Porsche MT Becomes So Much More Fun! Finally Mastered Blipping.

A Long-Awaited Boxster Drive Yesterday, I drove the Boxster (981 GTS) for the first time in a while. Whenever I get behind the wheel of our Porsche, I always write “It’s been a while…,” but this time, I honestly couldn’t even remember the last time I drove the Boxster—it had been that long. Usually, I drive my beloved Swift Sport (MT). It’s been a year since I took delivery, and I drive it almost every...

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Reviews & Test Drives

Genuine Ducktail Installed on Porsche 911!

The Ducktail on the Porsche 911 Recently, Porsche unveiled the limited edition 992 model 911, the 911 Sport Classic, which is still fresh in our memories. This Sport Classic is based on the Turbo body and features a ducktail spoiler, paying homage to the 1973 Carrera RS (commonly known as the ’73 Carrera’). The very first production Porsche to feature a ducktail was this ’73 Carrera, developed to generate downforce on the 911’s body, which...

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Our Car Life

The Joy of High-Performance Cars Like Porsche Grows with the Driver’s Skill

Back When I Couldn’t Drive a Manual About five years ago, I could barely drive a manual transmission car. Every time I got behind the wheel of the only manual car we had at home, the Boxster GTS (981), I thought, “There’s no way I’ll ever be able to drive a manual car.” My sense of defeat just kept growing. My feet wouldn’t leave the accelerator or clutch pedals, and I half-wondered, “Does the Boxster’s...

ポルシェ911 カレラ4GTS
Touring Reports

Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS Touring in Heavy Rain

Porsche in the Rain is Also Great I’m well known as a touring enthusiast, but I actually enjoy driving not only on sunny days but also in heavy rain. So, when I see a forecast for heavy rain rather than just a drizzle, I sometimes get an irresistible urge to go somewhere. Why do I like driving in heavy rain? I can’t quite explain it well myself, but I love the atmosphere—the rain hitting the...

カレラSカブリオレ(991前期)
Reviews & Test Drives

Test Drive of Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet (991 Early Model)|Insights Gained by Compa...

Eleven 991 Early Model Grades Reported So Far So far, the 991 early models I have reported on this blog are as follows. I’ve experienced as many as 11 different grades. I believe very few people in the world have compared this many 991 early models not just on short city drives but on winding roads like I have (laughs). Carrera 4S Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet Carrera GTS Cabriolet Targa 4S Carrera Carrera 4 GTS...

911 カレラ4GTS(991前期)
Reviews & Test Drives

Testing the Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS on the Circuit: How Does the AWD 911 Differ from th...

Testing the 911 Carrera 4 GTS on the Circuit Recently, I participated in a driving event hosted by the magazine ‘911Days.’ The venue was Fuji Speedway, a track I have driven many times before during driving schools and other events. This time, I brought out the early 991 Carrera 4 GTS. It’s the last naturally aspirated 3.8L engine Carrera combined with all-wheel drive in the GTS model. While I’ve driven RR and mid-engine Porsches on...

911カレラ4S(991前期)
Reviews & Test Drives

Test Drive: Porsche 911 Carrera 4S (991 Early Model) – A Fully Loaded Masterpiece

The Early 991 Carrera 4S Lately, many people around me have been buying early 991 models. What everyone consistently praises is the NA engine’s sound and rev feel. While Porsche may still produce NA 911s in the future, this generation represents the last NA engine 911s from an era before stricter noise regulations and without GPFs. That makes many eager to get their hands on one now. I’m one of them, having purchased an early...

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Porsche 911

The Allure of the Porsche 911 as I Feel It

A Long-Awaited Drive in the Porsche 911 A few days ago, I wrote an article titled, “Why I Don’t Feel Like Driving the Porsche 911 or Boxster We Have at Home.” At home, we have Porsches that my husband purchased, but since he cherishes these cars deeply, I felt hesitant to drive them. Then, just recently, when I was going to renew my driver’s license, my husband said, “Since it’s a special occasion, why not...

ポルシェ911 カレラ4GTS
Touring Reports

Year-End Touring in a Porsche 911: Crossing Shikoku

Crossing Shikoku on Route 194 The morning in Saijo City marked the final day of our touring adventure. Although the snow clouds that brought a cold wave to the Japanese archipelago had eased somewhat, there was still a risk of snow in the mountainous areas of Shikoku. Checking the weather forecast, I confirmed the route. The 911 was quite dirty, its body sticky from road salt. Washing it now would be pointless since it would...