Used 2023 Porsche 911

Yes, apologies for using the well-worn i-word, especially so early in this review. But if anything qualifies as an icon, it’s a 911. In the automotive landscape, it’s Mount Everest.

Anyone who has driven a 911 knows what the fuss is all about; anyone who hasn’t is missing out. There’s nothing else like it. Over the years, it has become a driver’s dream car. There are flashier machines, like Ferraris and Lamborghinis, but the Porsche 911 always holds a certain sway.

There’s a rhythm to driving the 911 that’s different from driving cars whose engines are up front. When cornering, it’s slow in, fast out. Once past the apex, ease back on the throttle, let the mass of the engine help plant the rear wheels for traction, then blast away. It’s addictive.

The steering doesn’t have any weight over it, so it’s light, fast and tingling with feedback. Choose the manual transmission or the automatic. It doesn’t matter, they’re both great in their own way, and there will be plenty of enthusiasts willing to accept a stick-shift should you ever decide to sell your precious Porsche 911.

The brakes are similarly well-engineered and confident. That’s especially true of the ceramic composite brakes that won’t warp or fade after a hard day on the track.

One of the many clichés regarding the 911 is that it’s a supercar you can drive every day. Clichés come about because they’re true. Although the new and hardcore GT3 RS might be a tad too focused for some tastes.

We won’t criticize the 2023 911 for having two small seats in the back. It’s been like this since the early 1960s when the original 911 came out, so it’s hardly a terrible surprise. They won’t accommodate anyone over 5 feet tall, but they fold to create extra luggage space.

Porsche keeps the cabin uncluttered yet with sufficient luxury and design flair to help justify the pricing. The materials and build quality are also suitably beautiful. The company offers a wide range of color schemes, including the seat belts.

Naturally for a driver’s car, it’s easy to find an ideal position behind the perfectly sized steering wheel. The 2023 911 can be a car for quick, big-thrill blasts yet is comfortable enough for long trips as well.

For those longer journeys, there’s also a storage area under the hood, since the engine is in the back.

The 2023 911 comes in coupe, convertible (Cabriolet), and Targa body styles. The Cabriolet has a power-folding fabric roof. The Targa has a power-operated roof panel that folds into the back of the car, for a predominantly convertible-like driving experience.

The non-hard-top versions add some weight, which won’t please the purists, but it’s good to have the choice.

911 Carrera
Yes, the “basic” model. There’s a purity to it. No one really needs greater engine power for public roads, rear-wheel drive is the classic layout anyway, and things like 18-way power-adjustable front seats just add weight. It’s just you and the car and the road.

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Cable-free integration saves taking the phone out of a pocket or purse and means it’s not moving around inside the cabin. Standard in every new 911.

ParkAssist
Parking sensors at both ends are standard in the base 911 Carrera. A good thing, because it’s not always easy to gauge distances when both the hood and tail dip down.

Sport Chrono package
Optional in some 2023 911 variants, standard in a few others, this adds a clock/stopwatch to the center of the dashboard and a launch mode to the transmission.

Burmester audio
If the sound from a 911’s exhaust system is not musical enough (and it has become a little more subdued since Porsche has adopted turbocharging across the lineup), then this optional 13-speaker/855-watt surround-sound system should get those eardrums dancing.

911 Sport Classic
Yes, the most expensive 2023 911. So many desirable features in something that’s going to be a collector’s item down the line.

Every new 911 has a turbocharged 6-cylinder engine configured in the traditional Porsche flat-6 arrangement. And keeping with another tradition, each is located in the trunk.

Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is the basic setup, with all-wheel drive (AWD) fitted to the Carrera/Carrera S 4 models, the Targa versions, and the Turbo/Turbo S variants.

A 7-speed manual transmission is mostly standard, although the 8-speed automated transmission (known as PDK) is an excellent complement to any engine and comes with shift paddles mounted behind the steering wheel for when the driver wants to get more involved — which will probably be quite often.

Premium gasoline is required throughout.

911 Carrera, Carrera T, Carrera 4
3.0-liter turbocharged flat-6
379 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
331 lb-ft of torque @ 1,950-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/25 mpg (RWD, manual), 18/24 mpg (RWD/AWD auto),

911 Targa 4
3.0-liter turbocharged flat-6
379 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
331 lb-ft of torque @ 1,950-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/24 mpg

911 Carrera S, Carrera 4S, Targa 4S
3.0-liter turbocharged flat-6
443 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
390 lb-ft of torque @ 2,300-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/23 mpg (RWD), 17/25 mpg (AWD, manual), 17/24 mpg (AWD, manual, Cabriolet), 17/23 mpg (Targa 4S, manual)

911 Carrera GTS, Carrera 4 GTS, Targa 4 GTS, Edition 50 Years, Dakar
3.0-liter turbocharged flat-6
473 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
420 lb-ft of torque @ 2,300-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/23 mpg (RWD/AWD, manual), 17/22 mpg (Targa 4 GTS, auto), 16/23 mpg (Targa 4S, manual)

911 Sport Classic
3.7-liter turbocharged flat-6
543 horsepower @ 6,750 rpm
442 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000-6,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/21 mpg (manual)

911 Turbo
3.7-liter turbocharged flat-6
572 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
553 lb-ft of torque @ 2,250-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/20 mpg

911 Turbo S
3.7-liter turbocharged flat-6
640 horsepower @ 6,750 rpm
590 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/20 mpg

911 GT3
4.0-liter turbocharged flat-6
502 horsepower @ 8,400 rpm
346 lb-ft of torque @ 6,100 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/18 mpg (auto), 14/18 mpg (manual)

911 GT3 RS
4.0-liter turbocharged flat-6
518 horsepower @ 8,500 rpm
342 lb-ft of torque @ 6,300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: N/A

More Porsche 911 fuel economy information is available on the EPA’s website.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Typically for a luxury marque, Porsche’s new-vehicle warranty lasts for four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. This includes 24-hour roadside assistance.