If this was all Porsche did to improve its 911, I would have been happy. After all, the 996 was one of the best handling cars on
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| The German brand's engineers left nothing untouched in the hopes of improving the new car above and beyond its predecessor. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
the planet and reliability has never been a problem. Nevertheless, the German brand's engineers, being German engineers, left nothing untouched in the hopes of improving the new car above and beyond its predecessor. Now, the 911's ride is noticeably better and handling enhanced considerably, with more precise turn-in and unflappable stability, especially over rough pavement at high speed. I should also mention that base models get a bump in horsepower too, up from 320 to 325. While nothing to write home about, the combination of a slicker shifting six-speed transmission makes the car's overall driving experience a great deal more engaging. Porsche
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| Base 911 models get a bump in horsepower, up from 320 to 325. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
offers a more potent 355-horsepower 3.8-litre engine in S trim, but I'll review it once I've been behind the wheel. An optional 5-speed Tiptronic automatic is also available, but I haven't driven it in 997 guise either, so again, no comment. The base car, however, has an entry price of $101,400, which seems like a bargain after spending a week jetting around town or better yet, across hill and dale. The 2005 model is the most impressive version of the venerable 911 to date, and will go a long way to bolster Porsche's sports car sales, which were eclipsed last year by the Cayenne SUV.
