Used 2018 Porsche 911

As the unique and premier sports car in the world, the 2018 Porsche 911 is an automotive and cultural icon. Just as it has since the mid-1960s, it remains the German automaker’s flagship, its showcase for style, technology and ultimate performance. Today the new Porsche 911 is available in three body styles and eight distinct models, some with all-wheel drive and powerful turbocharged 6-cylinder engines, which are mounted in the rear. While most sports cars only seat two, the Porsche 911 has a small back seat that is surprisingly useful, as well as a sizable front trunk or “frunk.” Prices start around $92,000 for a 911 Carrera Coupe with 370 horsepower and top out at almost $295,000 for the 700-horsepower 911 GT2 RS. The 911 competes with the Chevrolet Corvette, Jaguar F-Type, Aston Martin Vantage, Mercedes-AMG GT, as well as supercars from Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren.

The 2018 Porsche 911 is fast enough to get you arrested anywhere in the world, but comfortable enough to be driven every single day. Last year Porsche replaced its naturally aspirated engines with twin-turbo versions that deliver even greater thrust and improved fuel efficiency. Sure the purist porschefisti protested, but the benefits are undeniable and the engines sound as sexy as they should. A 7-speed manual transmission is available in most models, but the 7-speed PDK twin-clutch automatic is equally enjoyable, thanks to its lightning-quick shifts and easy drivability. The standard Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system uses active dampers to both smooth out the ride and tackle corners, without compromising its famous precision. Optional rear-wheel steering helps to both increase maneuverability in parking lots while improving stability at high speeds. And the Sport Chrono package includes a Drive Mode Selector on the steering wheel to select different performance settings.

The new-for-2018 911 Carrera T boasts thin glass, reduced acoustic insulation, and minimalist lightweight racing pull straps (instead of traditional door handles) to save weight. The diet sheds about 40 pounds, but dynamically it drives nearly identical to the standard Carrera. Some may note a more vocal engine soundtrack, which is credited to standard Sport Exhaust. Expert drivers will be able to wring more performance out of the Carrera T, thanks to more aggressive transmission gearing (with the manual gearbox) and a limited-slip differential.

The new-for-2018 GT3 Touring is a street-legal racecar with a high-revving 500-horsepower non-turbocharged engine — the only naturally aspirated engine in Porsche’s model range. Mated to a standard 6-speed manual gearbox (standard Carrera models have a 7-speed manual, but Porsche drops the overdrive ratio on the GT3), the powerplant is an absolute turbine-like jewel. With rear-wheel drive, sport-tuned suspension, aggressive tires, and oversized brakes, the GT3 Touring delivers impressive levels of performance without sacrificing too much in terms of ride quality. Unlike the standard GT3, which boasts a massive rear wing that blocks much of the view to the rear, the Touring model accomplishes similar aerodynamic tricks with discreet appendage tweaks and an active rear spoiler that drops out of sight when not needed. The GT3 Touring is a high-performance sports car for those who like to travel in stealth mode.

Lastly, the new 911 GT2 RS is one of the quickest street vehicles the automaker has ever built — it laps the famed Nürburgring racetrack quicker than Porsche’s 918 supercar. With 700 horsepower, it accelerates from 0-60 mph in just 2.7 seconds — validating its nearly $300,000 asking price. Limited production numbers and a lofty window sticker make the GT2 RS one very rare sports car.

In most sports cars you feel like you’re sitting on the floor, looking up at the world. Not in the 911. In the Porsche you sit upright, in a very natural driving position, with excellent visibility in all directions. It’s one of the reasons the Porsche 911 can be driven every day as well as comfortably cross-country. Build quality is exceptional. Some find the Porsche’s control layout a bit button-heavy, but you soon realize the ergonomics is simple and the controls are exactly where they should be, although Porsche still places the 911’s ignition to the left of the steering wheel, which takes some getting used to.

Some people think the Porsche 911 has looked the same since 1965. Some people think this is a good thing. Some people think the evolution of the 911’s shape has created the most recognizable sports car in the world. As other supercars have become vulgar, often pornographic and at times caricatures of themselves, the new Porsche 911 remains simply aspirational. It’s a sexy machine with wide hips and a sinister stance, but retains an unmistakable understated elegance lost on the Porsche’s more radically styled competitors. It turns heads, but never draws a sneer. And the valet always keeps it up front.

FRONT AXLE LIFT SYSTEM
Although the Porsche 911 is less prone to scraping over driveways and speed bumps than other cars in this class, it’s still a low-slung sports car. This optional hydraulic system, which costs $2,590, raises the front axle 1.5 inches at the push of a button to increase ground clearance at speeds up to 37 mph.

PORSCHE CERAMIC COMPOSITE BRAKES
The power of Porsche brakes is legendary, but this optional system is the ultimate and it’s one of the 911’s most expensive options at $8,520. It’s worth it. Porsche replaces the 911’s cast-iron brake rotors with larger cross-drilled and vented carbon-fiber-reinforced units, which are almost impossible to overheat, even on the racetrack.

Along with the new turbocharged engines, every 2018 911 comes with Porsche Active Stability Management suspension and a year of scheduled maintenance. The 911 Carrera and Targa 4 and Turbo models offer all-wheel drive (AWD) as standard fare. There are also eight airbags, a wide array of electronic stability aids, and high-performance brakes comprising 4-piston calipers and 13-inch ventilated rotors. Other standard features on the new Porsche 911 include 4-way-power front seats with manual fore/aft adjustment, partial leather upholstery with a faux-suede headliner, xenon headlights for high and low beams, dual-zone climate control, new touch-screen LCD infotainment (with Apple CarPlay), and a 9-speaker audio system with USB input and Bluetooth phone connectivity.

It’s not possible to get into every option available for the 2018 Porsche 911. There’s a rear-wheel steering system that enhances low-speed maneuverability and high-speed stability, and a front-axle lift system that lifts the nose of the car 1.5 inches to clear low-speed obstacles like steep driveways. Other optional features include multi-adjustable ventilated front seats, 12-speaker Burmester audiophile system, ceramic-composite brakes, Sport Chrono package that includes launch-control programming (PDK transmission only) and overboost function, and Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC), which essentially eliminates body roll through a multitude of sensors and hydraulic motors while also providing a more compliant ride in normal driving conditions.

The 911’s classic flat-6 "boxer" engine comes in three sizes, but in different power outputs. The 911 S models get more power, while 911 4 models get all-wheel drive, unless it’s already standard as it is on the 911 Turbos. It all breaks down like this: 370-horsepower 3.0-liter for Carrera, Carrera T, Carrera 4, Carrera Cabriolet, Carrera 4 Cabriolet, Targa 4; 420-horsepower 3.0-liter for Carrera S, Carrera 4S, Carrera S Cabriolet, Carrera 4S Cabriolet, Targa 4S; 540-horsepower 3.8-liter for 911 Turbo, 911 Turbo Cabriolet; 580-horsepower 3.8-liter for 911 Turbo S, 911 Turbo S Cabriolet; 500-horsepower 4.0-liter for GT3, GT3 Touring; and 700-horsepower 3.8-liter for GT2 RS. The Turbos are all all-wheel drive (AWD), while the GT3 and GT2 RS are rear-wheel drive (RWD) only. Premium fuel is required for all models.

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged flat-6 (911 Carrera, Carrera T, Carrera 4, Carrera Cabriolet, Carrera 4 Cabriolet, Targa 4)
370 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
331 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/30 mpg (RWD/automatic coupe), 22/28 mpg (RWD/automatic cabriolet; AWD/automatic coupe & Targa), 21/28 mpg (AWD/automatic cabriolet), 20/29 mpg (RWD/manual coupe & cabriolet), 20/28 mpg (AWD/manual coupe), 19/28 mpg (AWD/manual cabriolet & Targa)

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged flat-6 (911 Carrera S, Carrera 4S, Carrera S Cabriolet, Carrera 4S Cabriolet, Targa 4S)
420 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
368 lb-ft of torque @ 1,700-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/29 mpg (RWD/manual coupe), 22/28 mpg (RWD/automatic coupe & cabriolet), 21/28 mpg (AWD/automatic coupe & cabriolet), 20/28 mpg (RWD/manual cabriolet; AWD/manual coupe), 21/27 mpg (AWD/automatic Targa), 19/28 mpg (AWD/manual cabriolet & Targa)

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged flat-6 (911 Carrera GTS, Carrera GTS Cabriolet, Carrera 4 GTS, Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet, Targa 4 GTS)
450 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
405 lb-ft of torque @ 2,150-5,000
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/26 mpg (RWD/automatic coupe & ; AWD/automatic coupe & Targa), 20/25 mpg (AWD/automatic cabriolet), 18/26 mpg (RWD/manual coupe & cabriolet; AWD/manual coupe, cabriolet & Targa)

4.0-liter flat-6 (911 GT3)
500 horsepower @ 8,250 rpm
339 lb-ft of torque @ 6,250 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/20 mpg (automatic), 13/21 mpg (manual)

3.8-liter twin-turbocharged flat-6 (911 Turbo, 911 Turbo Cabriolet)
540 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
486 lb-ft of torque @ 1,950-5,000 rpm (523 lb-ft w/overboost)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/24 mpg (AWD/automatic coupe & cabriolet)

3.8-liter twin-turbocharged flat-6 (911 Turbo S, 911 Turbo S Cabriolet)
580 horsepower @ 6,750 rpm
516 lb-ft of torque @ 2,100-4,250 rpm (553 lb-ft w/overboost)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/24 mpg (AWD/automatic coupe & cabriolet), 17/23 mpg (Turbo S Exclusive)

3.8-liter twin-turbocharged flat-6 (911 GT2 RS)
700 horsepower @ 7,000 rpm
553 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/21 mpg