“The Porsche 911 C4 GTS Cabriolet is one of the best all-around, all-season, all-wheel drive drop top performance cars on the market today.”Michael Taylor, Co-founder, Co-president, TrackWorthy Group, Ltd.
Gone for the new 2017 991.2 911s are naturally aspirated engines. Porsche is now turbocharging the whole 911 range, including the base models. The prior generation 911 offered turbocharged engines on the Turbo and GT2 models. The evolution of the turbo, especially in the case of the 911, has come a very long way. The turbocharger in the first generation 911 Turbo, which was introduced in 1975, had a reputation for providing power in the form of an on-off switch. This was particularly challenging to handle when applying power exiting corners. In the hands of the average driver, the original 911 Turbo would often decide to exit a corner tail-first, much to the dismay of its passengers.
Rear Axle Steering is an available option for $2,390. This is a great feature to have on the car and was previously reserved for the Turbo models. It is very useful for daily driving because, at low speed, the system moves the back wheels in the opposite direction of the front wheels to reduce turning radius which makes parking and tight turns easier. As subtle as this is, it is quite noticeable.
Perceptive onlookers would notice another special feature about our car: Yellow brake calipers, front and rear. These 6-piston aluminum monobloc fixed calipers in front and 4-piston calipers in the rear, signify the potent Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) system. A $9,730 option, the Ceramic Brake System includes carbon fiber reinforced, internally vented and cross drilled ceramic brake discs, 410 mm up front and 390 mm in the rear. Their fadeless braking power is as impressive as the car’s acceleration.
On the other hand, our car’s Burmester High-End Surround Sound System is, perhaps, a bit overkill. It will set you back $6,040. It is impressive with total output of 821 watts and 12 individually controlled loudspeakers. In this car, however, the engine and centre-mounted exhaust system’s soundtrack should provide the only music your ears will need. We prefer to keep the roof down, the radio off and the sport exhaust on. Our Carrara White Metallic exterior is an $820 option, but our red cabriolet top is a no cost option, and looks great. The leather Interior in Bordeaux Red, conversely, comes at a price: it will set you back $4,890.
Audi and Lamborghini also offer all-wheel drive convertibles, but they cost a lot more. The Audi R8 Spyder starts at $198,100. Its 540 hp V10 will take you from 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds. At the even higher end of the scale is the all-wheel drive Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4 Spyder. Its MSRP is $289,400 LP 610-4, but Lamborghini air freight their cars to Canada from Italy, which adds $15,000 to the cost of each car. The average LP610-4 Spyder leaves the showroom floor in the $350,000 range. Its exotic mid-mounted 5.2 litre V10 engine produces 610 hp and rockets its passengers from 0-100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. But the Lamborghini is the price of two Porsche 911 C4 GTSs. That’s a big price to pay for exotic exclusivity with similar performance. But for some, it’s worth it.
If you’re looking for sporty European engineering open air all-wheel drive on a budget, the Audi TT Quattro Roadster starts at $63,790 and will hit 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds with 220 hp and a 6-speed S-tronic dual-clutch drivetrain.
With each generation and evolution of the iconic 911, Porsche faces stiffer competition and increasingly tougher regulatory environments. Demands for increased fuel efficiency and reduced emissions risk the erosion of emotion in the driving experience. But, time and again, Porsche masterfully innovates in the face of such pressures. With the help of a smaller 6-cylinder engine and turbocharging, this 911 incarnation is no exception. The new 991.2 Porsche 911 C4 GTS Cabriolet is extremely easy to drive and offers all of the creature comforts of any high-end luxury car. Most importantly, it delivers an exhilarating and rewarding driving experience.
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