Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Porsche 911 coupe (2004-2011)

"The Porsche 911 is a motoring icon, and rightly so. No other sports car can match its combination of build quality, performance and driver appeal."

Carbuyer Rating

4.0 out of 5

Owners Rating
Be the first to review
Price
£99,405 - £124,405

Pros

  • Crisp steering, excellent brakes, flexible performance
  • GT3 and GT3 RS are about as much fun as you can have on four wheels
  • Surprisingly practical and useable for a supercar

Cons

  • It’s far from exclusive
  • Intrusive road noise from the tyres
  • Big running costs of faster models

Porsche’s 911 is the sports car by which all others are judged. Continual enhancements have turned it into a car with an incredible depth of talent. Even in entry-level guise it’s adept at delivering thrills on road or track, while it’s just as easy to drive to the shops. That’s true even of the high-performance models. The flat-six petrol engine is 3.6-litres in capacity in the Carrera, or 3.8-litres in the Carrera S; and both models can accelerate from 0-62mph in less than five seconds. In Turbo, GT2 and GT3 guises, the 911 is simply faster and even more sensational to drive.

MPG, running costs & CO2

Cheaper than most supercars

The 911 comes with a two-year unlimited mileage warranty and while servicing will cost more than your average family hatchback, it’ll be cheaper than most other supercars. Insurance groups are high, but fuel consumption is surprisingly manageable if you drive it sensibly. The Carrera can return nearly 30mpg on the combined cycle, and it emits 225g/km of CO2. Obviously the greater the performance the greater the running costs, but they’re all worth it.

Engines, drive & performance

Utterly brilliant in every respect

It doesn’t matter if your 911 is rear or four-wheel drive, has a 3.6 or 3.8-litre engine, an automatic or manual gearbox, a metal or glass roof, as all are exciting to drive. The steering is superb, with beautiful weighting and quick accurate responses. That’s particularly true of the track-focused GT3 and GT3 RS models, which offer an extremely pure and involving driving experience. All variants have strong brakes, while optional carbon ceramic brakes are offered if you plan on taking your 911 regularly to the track. Porsche’s PDK automatic gearbox is super quick and makes driving in traffic easier. However, the clutch and gearshift in the manual is so delightfully crisp that it’s difficult to recommend the automatic. The 341bhp of the standard Carrera is plenty, but the S’s 380bhp adds more pace. The GT3 and GT3 RS use engines derived from motor racing, and deliver their power instantaneously. The massive surge from the turbocharged Turbo and GT2 RS models - the latter having 612bhp - delivers incredible performance figures, with the Turbo S accelerating from 0-62mph in just 3.3 seconds.

Interior & comfort

Comfortable enough for everyday driving

For a car with such performance potential, the standard versions of the 911 are comfortable enough to be used on a daily basis. The seats are supportive and the view out clear. There’s little noise from the engine unless it's pushed, but all 911s suffer from intrusive tyre noise. The track-focused GT3, GT3 RS and GT2 are noisier due to less sound deadening, while the stiff suspension can be tiring in town or over longer distances.

Practicality & boot space

Spacious boot for soft bags only

The 911 is rightfully billed as a practical supercar, and the deep front luggage compartment can swallow a surprising amount of luggage. It’ll need to be in soft bags though, as the space is an awkward shape. There are small rear seats, but these are best left for very occasional use or for small children. They fold to create a large luggage area behind the driver and passenger - which can be accessed on the Targa model by a handy glass hatchback. Given the 911 in its many guises can compete with anything from a Nissan GT-R to a Ferrari 458 Italia, its ability to carry people and luggage is impressive.

Reliability & safety

Well built, reliable, and safe

Electronic stability control, driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags are standard, while the 911’s mighty brakes should help avoid an accident in the first place. Reliability is proven, with Porsche engineering its 911 to last. The build quality can’t be faulted, but some of the plastics used inside feel a little low-rent given the 911’s premium price tag.

Price, value for money & options

Stunning performance, relatively budget price-tag

Across the entire range the Porsche 911 looks like a good value purchase. It’s likely that most buyers will spend more money on satellite navigation, phone connection and better audio systems, but that’s true of all its rivals. The Turbo looks good value when you consider it has the performance to match exotic supercars, as do the GT3 models. All versions come with a decent base level of equipment, but it’s the 911’s performance relative to its price that makes it such good value.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Which Is Best?

Cheapest

  • Name
    2dr PDK
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £97,000

Most Economical

  • Name
    2dr PDK
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £97,000

Fastest

  • Name
    GTS 2dr PDK
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £122,000

Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Porsche 911 coupe review
Porsche 911 coupe rear 3/4 tracking
In-depth reviews
17 Aug 2023

Porsche 911 coupe review

Most Popular

New Polestar 4 coupe SUV – how is the £60k EV shaping up?
Polestar 4 Prototype drive front quarter
News
22 Mar 2024

New Polestar 4 coupe SUV – how is the £60k EV shaping up?

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
22 Mar 2024

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
26 Mar 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide
Public EV charge point
Tips and advice
11 Jan 2023

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
The best electric cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024