2005 Porsche 911 Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 996, 997 and 991 Porsche 911 between 1998 and 2016 as a used buy.

All-wheel-drive has significant benefits for all the above.In the early 1980s, Porsche let its engineers loose on an all-wheel-drive system and came up with a cracker. The car was so good the 911 sports coupe won Paris Dakar against a swag of off road vehicles.A road version called the Carrera 4 appeared in 1989. Since then, a succession of Carrera 4s has been produced, most, significantly better than the model they replaced. Porsche learned plenty along the way resulting in its latest all- wheel-drive models being absolutely brilliant in all dynamic functions.Not only do they look impressive, they offer blistering performance in a straight line, under brakes and around corners.Better than a rear wheel drive Carrera ?No question.It's measurable against the clock and is evident in the extra security and stability felt on the road.Porsche's, new Carrera 4 has just arrived in four versions – two coupes and two cabriolets: Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S, in each body type.The "lesser" models run a 3.6-litre flat six cylinder engine with 239kw/370Nm while the S scores a 3.8-litre flat six with 261kW/ 400Nm. Both engines are naturally aspirated and have a six speed manual transmission as standard with optional five speed Tiptronic auto available.The Carrera 4 has a wider body than the standard Carrera with a wider track, bigger wheels and larger diameter brakes thrown into the equation.It isn't as aerodynamic as the Carrera but still cuts the air efficiently at 0.30Cd.Minor changes are effected throughout the car including front chassis mods' to accommo- date the front drive system and the suspension is also upgraded including active suspension in the S. Drive split front to rear gives a maximum 40 per cent to the front on demand.An optional system called Sport Chrono alters numerous setting throughout the car to deliver sportier performance and feel.On an extensive test drive of the new Carrera and Carrera 4, it was immediately evident how much more grip the "four paw" cars have compared to the rear drivers.Simply sensational things to drive hard the Carrera 4s are incredibly forgiving and stable. Engine performance is outrageously strong accompanied by the customary wail of the flat six.Porsche has even developed a system to move the brake pads lightly against the discs in expectation of heavy braking if the driver's foot is lifted quickly from the accelerator. That underlines the level of detail used by Porsche engineers.They are seriously quick cars with the manual 4S putting down a 4.8 second 0-100kmh pass.From the driver's seat, you feel totally in control and well informed all the time.Safety is at a high level and the cars are beautifully finished.They cost a bomb, starting at about $210K for the Carrera 4 coupe manual (my choice of the bunch) rising to about $264K for the auto Cabrio 4S with everything.Half of all 911s sold are Tiptronic and yes, all are luxuriously equipped.

The Porsche Carrera 4 may be safer, more comfortable and ever-so-slightly slower than the rear-wheel-drive version, but it is no less thrilling to drive.And no, Porsche hasn't lost the plot with its Cayenne, Cayman, Panamera and 20 per cent purchase of Volkswagen. But more of that later.Let's get back to the real issue. The iconic 911 now has double the range and half of those are all-wheel-drive.Porsche has made a series of AWD models before, so the technology is not new to the famed Stuttgart brand.But does it look, sound, handle and feel like a 911? That's what fans and potential buyers of the most revered car in the automotive world want to know.The answer is yes and no.The 997 version of the 911 is broader than the 996 and the C4 and C4S in Coupe and Cabriolet body types is wider again.This makes the vehicle look even more muscular in the shoulders with an almost horizontal rear wheel arch protrusion.Apart from that, plus some badging and 10mm wider tyres, there is no discernible difference.But does it handle and feel like a rear-wheel-drive 911?No. A 911 Porsche requires a certain driving style that is challenging and brings out the talent in a real driver and slaps a bad driver in the face.It's a stop-and-go car, requiring late braking, slow corner speed to avoid heavy understeer, then a brutal fire out of the corner, accompanied by a tail snap that will send some drivers directly to the naughty corner.The C4 and C4S are different. There is simply no need to brake as late, nor to wash off so much corner speed, as there is nowhere near the understeer.And because you are carrying so much corner speed, there is no need to fire it out of the corner, but if you do, there is no violent tail snap, just forward motion.If it's wet, then the experience is even quicker.That does not mean you can't play the tail-wagging game in the C4. Porsche understands the need for fun and provides plenty of latitude, but with a safety net called PSM (Porsche Stability Management), which is standard on all 911s, but in AWD it has two new braking functions.Lift off the accelerator quickly and the system "thinks" you are about to slam on the brakes, so it brings the pads up to lightly brush the discs in preparation.The second function brings the braking up to ABS threshold.The all-wheel-drive system uses a viscous multi-plate coupling with varying degrees of drive, split between front and rear. Minimum front drive in normal conditions is 5 per cent, but this can increase to 40 per cent in certain situations, so the inherent feel is of rear-wheel bias.With PSM turned off, there is a fair amount of "play" in the rear.While both have PSM, the C4S also has PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) which can flick between comfort (I use the term loosely for a 911) and sports settings at the touch of a button. It is available as an option in the C4.Both are available with a sports "chrono" package which includes such computer niceties as a stop watch, lap counter and specific mapping to suit your driving style.As for Porsche losing the plot over Cayenne, Cayman, Panamera and its VW buy-in, Porsche Cars Australia managing director Michael Winkler said: "Porsche will remain Porsche and . . . we are focusing on what we do best. Nothing is going to change."That means more Cayennes, which have dramatically lifted Porsche sales. Fans can also expect the Cayman in February, a 911 turbo and GT3 in the middle of next year, but no sign of the four-door Panamera until 2009.

The switchbacks are tighter than the sharpest turns of the Great Ocean Rd, the tarmac can be rough and low, and the often-dilapidated brick walls and flimsy steel barriers don't provide much reassurance.That's where the all-wheel-drive Porsche 911 Carrera 4 and 4S come in.The Carrera 4 AWD system uses a viscous coupling that feeds 95 per cent of power to the rear wheels in normal driving conditions. When needed, up to 40 per cent can be sent to the front wheels.Both models have the Porsche Stability Management stability and traction control system, which can be switched off.With windows down we tear up to a tight corner. The flat six engine hits the sweet spot from 5500 revs and the exhaust note is amplified by the rock walls.Just before the engine hits the cut-out of 7300 revs it is time to brake and change down into first gear.The road is so steep there is an unpleasant scraping from the nose as we turn, which we are relieved to find is only a plastic guard on the front wheel arches.It's time to feed on the power and the 911 shoots out of the corner so fast the next corner is suddenly upon us. With the AWD system, the 911 pulls itself out with power shifted to the front wheels. But there is still enough grunt being fed through the rear wheels for the back to step sideways slightly under acceleration – a nice feeling.The traction is impressive, even on the dry tarmac and at corners where road workers have left loose gravel. We can only imagine it would also work well in the wet.The Porsche is not prone to push its nose on through corners, as do some AWD cars, and is incredibly well balanced.Both C4 cars come standard with a six-speed manual. The five-speed Tiptronic automatic, with gear change buttons on the steering wheel, is optional.The brakes have a new brake-assist for when you need to stop suddenly, even if you don't push the pedal to the floor.Porsche's hefty anchors use cross-drilled vented discs with four-pot calipers. They are also available with ceramic composite discs that are lighter and have superior stopping power.The Carrera 4S comes standard with active suspension, which allows the driver to select between "comfort" and the firmer "sports". This system is an optional extra on the Carrera 4.The bodies of the AWD cars are slightly different. The rear guards are out an extra 44mm to house 305mm tyres.The interior of the 911 C4 picks up all the improvements of the new 997 series, including a mix of metal and leather that matches the expectations of the pricetag.Some Porsche drivers may prefer to stick to the regular two-wheel-drive 911 and save about $23,000.For former World Rally champion Walter Rohrl (above) there is no question which 911 he prefers."It is more difficult to drive a two-wheel-drive car but, for me, without four-wheel drive it is not a perfect car," Rohrl says. "This feeling of maximum traction is something that makes me crazy."

No headaches, no drama, nothing to worry about.You can hit the Friday-afternoon commute in the latest 911 Carrera and know you will be more relaxed when you get home than when you left the office.And you can drive it without switching your brain from cruise mode to full-on concentration.The latest 911 will still crack along brilliantly when you're in the mood and on the right road, but it does not force you to play its game all the time.It is a major breakthrough for a car that has always been one of the very best in the world – and a first-choice pick for Tattslotto winners – but was a very acquired taste.It was a car you had to commit to owning and driving.But times change, Porsche owners have become older and roads have become crowded and confrontational. The renowned German sports car company has responded.It still talks the talk and walks the walk, but does not have to shout or stamp its feet.It's more than a facelift but short of a total model change, coming just after the 40th birthday of the 911, now known in-house as the 997 series.The car is a ground-up rework, even if a lot of parts (up to the roof) are the same as they were in the 996 that arrived in 1998.That car was done at a time when Porsche was strapped for cash and so a lot of the latest improvements have been ready to go for more than five years.The biggest visual change is the return to traditional round headlamps. Yet the new-look cabin, which finally gets a reach-and-tilt adjustable wheel and sensible switches, is the thing you really appreciate from the driver's seat.The newer look will impress friends and 911 fans, but the cabin makes life considerably better.The overall appearance is a little sharper. There is more space for people and luggage. The car's weight has stayed the same despite extra equipment, which now runs to standard satnav, electric seats, 18-inch alloy wheels and PSM stability control.The new 911 range currently has two models, the Carrera and Carrera S, though they will soon be joined by the Cabrio.Porsche plans the usual fast-car additions, including the GT3 road warrior and a Turbo.The biggest mechanical change is two engine capacities, 3.6 and 3.8 litres, though both come with either a six-speed manual or five-speed Tiptronic auto gearbox.The options include a track-pack suspension system with 19-inch alloys and a built-in stopwatch, as well as the usual stuff including sunroof, custom paint and fully customised cabins.ON THE ROADA PORSCHE 911 is not the best choice for Melbourne in Grand Prix week.This is particularly the case when you consider tiredness, changeable weather, crowded roads and the gawk factor you always have in a Porsche.I wondered if the car would live up to the first impression from a drive in Germany last year, especially as I was driving a Tiptronic five-speed and not the preferred manual.But it flew through the test. And it rocked through a Monday-night fun run on some favourite back roads.What's great is that the Carrera we drove is the best for both worlds.The 239kW engine is more than enough to snap away from the traffic lights in a signature of flat-six engine bark, and the suspension and brakes are all that you expect in a 911. But the car is also comfortable, quiet and relaxing.But put your foot down, or shift across into the manual mode and change with the steering wheel buttons, and it is as rewarding to drive as any car on the road.It holds the road as if magnetised, but still provides an incredible amount of feedback through the steering and seat. And it will get up and go as soon as the tachometer has 3000 revs on the dial.Our Carrera test car (not pictured) was loaded with plenty of optional equipment, including a sunroof and the track pack, which took the total price to $220,755. But the starting number of $203,225 is pretty reasonable for this type of car and one that's as good as the 911. And the fuel consumption was only 11.8 litres/100km on premium unleaded.The new cabin still looks and feels like a 911, but the seat sits lower and you get adjustment on the wheel.It's still tough to get into the tiny back bucket seats, which are only for youngsters.The only other complaint is the Tiptronic, because Porsche doesn't give you the chance to touch-change the auto through the gearlever. It's buttons only. We don't like it, because there is something rewarding about crisp changes with your left hand.We missed the signature movement of the steering wheel on broken surfaces, which has been eliminated with new suspension settings, but love the brakes, the power and the all-round response.The car runs up against rivals such as the Jaguar XK-R and Benz's CLK55 in a class that is becoming more competitive. But a Porsche 911 still stands out from the crowd, and has a driving feel that is unique and unmatched by anything short of a Ferrari.There is no doubt the new Carrera is a 911. It has supercar pace and precision on demand. But, by refining everything else about the car, Porsche has created a 21st-century star.THE BOTTOM LINETHE first 911 that is both a luxury cruiser and a red-hot sports car, and gives you the choice. This is a 911 that is right for the times.