Crossing Shikoku on Route 194 Morning in Saijo City marked the final day of our road trip. The snow clouds that had brought a cold snap to Japan had eased a little, but snow was still forecast in the mountains of Shikoku. I checked the weather and reviewed the route. The 911 was filthy, and the road salt had left the bodywork grimy. Washing it now would be pointless—it was bound to get dirty again—so...
Exploring Okayama’s Scenic Farm Roads from Tsuyama Following on from the previous road trip report, this installment takes us along the scenic farm roads of Okayama and Hiroshima. Mornings in Tsuyama are often foggy. It was thick with fog on our last visit, and this morning was no different. By the time I’d gotten ready and was set to leave the hotel, the fog had lifted and the sun was peeking through. The freshly washed...
A Sea of Japan Drive from Tsuruga to Cape Kyōga It was bitterly cold in Tsuruga that morning. Fortunately, the snow from the day before had stopped, and there didn’t appear to be any accumulation. I climbed into the 911, frozen solid, and took it easy as I warmed up the engine, PDK and suspension components—more carefully and slowly than usual. Both my 981 Boxster and this 991.1 Carrera 4 GTS take a long time...
Setting Off on My Annual Year-End Road Trip At the end of last year, I headed out on my annual year-end road trip. It’s become a family tradition: my wife and kids visit their family, while I hit the road solo with my beloved Porsche. At this time of year, snow and icy roads usually mean heading south—to Shikoku or Kyushu. But this time, I was taking my 991.1 911 Carrera 4 GTS on winter...
The story behind this blog began when a 970 Panamera Edition (the base model) arrived at our home. My wife was captivated by the way it drove and talked to me about the Panamera’s virtues almost every day. I’ve always loved the 970 Panamera, too. The Edition, in particular, is a beautifully balanced car that makes driving a real pleasure. I recently had the chance to test-drive a Panamera GTS, and I’d like to share...
Three 981 Boxster GTS Models I own several Porsches, so I rotate between them from week to week, and I often get to drive the latest models, too. But there’s one Porsche that still ranks number one in my book: the 981-generation Boxster GTS. When I’m planning a tour, I often find myself weighing up whether to take my 964 or my 981. More often than not, I end up choosing the Boxster. Its engine...
911 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet The car I got to test-drive this time was a 991.1 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet. It’s a bit of a mouthful, so to simplify: it’s an all-wheel-drive GTS with an open top—think of it as the convertible version of my own Carrera 4 GTS. It’s a rare model to begin with: the Carrera 4 GTS is uncommon, and the combination of all-wheel drive and a GTS badge makes it rarer...
Continuing from Autumn Touring in a Porsche 911: A Journey Through Shinshu, Noto, Hida and Mino (Part 1), here’s the second installment of the trip. Hakusan Shirakawa-go White Road On the morning of day three, I checked the day’s route in my Touring Mapple road atlas. With the autumn leaves at their peak, I spent quite a while debating whether to take the Hakusan Shirakawa-go White Road. But since it was a weekday and still...
A Solo Porsche 911 Road Trip I’d brought the Cayenne and 911 (991.1 Carrera 4 GTS) to Yokohama with my family for a visit to the Porsche Experience Center Tokyo. The next day, however, our family trip came to an end at our Yokohama hotel, with everyone going their separate ways. As soon as I’d finished breakfast, I hurriedly loaded my bags into the 911, checked out, and left my family behind. Barely able to...
Since buying a 991.1 Carrera 4 GTS, I’ve become completely smitten with the first-generation 991. Recently, I had the chance to drive a base 991.1 Carrera, so I’d like to share my impressions—and explore what makes a standard 911 so appealing. Why Do Experienced Porsche Owners Come Back to the Base 911? Even before I owned a Porsche, I’d heard this time and again: respected automotive journalists and people who have owned several Porsches often...
