Porsche 911 Carrera S 2012 Test Drive
AllCarCentral.com's Test Drive
& First Showing of the 2012 Porsche 911/991
Fletcher Jones Motorcars Fremont CA
Porsche 911 Carrera S 2012 Test drive February 2012
Fremont, California Porsche dealer, Fletcher Jones Motorcars sent us an invitation to join them at the Northern California's first showing and drive of the 2012 911/991. So we accepted and threw ourselves fully into the task, which involved sparkling wine, shrimp, and other tasty appetizers. Oh yes, and there was the Porsche. Fletcher Jones Motorcars went an extra bit and did something which was in my opinion a step above other 'showing off the new model' events. They really did show off the new 991. After the black cover was removed from the 991 on the showroom floor, we all moved to the back and had a look at one which was up on the rack with the rear bumper assembly and rear wheels removed. This allowed us all to have a look at the underside and the suspension parts. All was to show-off the Porsche engineers work on the redesigned car. Everything was light weight, even fragile looking, I thought. Taking weight off a 'lightweight' car is no easy task, and the Porsche engineers had gone to some extremes. Interestingly the structural bits were slimed down but the electric seats were still there. I guess we all need our speed and performance while still adjusting the windows and seats with a touch of a button.
First Showing of the 2012 Porsche 911/991 Fletcher Jones Motorcars Fremont CA
First Showing of the 2012 Porsche 911/991 Fletcher Jones Motorcars Fremont CA
Descriptive Poster For This Car - JPG file
The 2012 Porsche 911/991 Carrera , Porsche's latest revision of the original 1964 901/911.
Porsche has had a long run time with a car that was originally demonized, in some circles in 1964, as being an insult to the timeless 356. Most every major up-grade to the 911 model has had it's critics. The previous change, when the 1998 911/996 came out with its completely re-styled body and water cooled engine, received the loudest criticisms since the introduction of the 1964 911.
Porsche 911 Carrera S sn-WP0AB2A95CS120649 2012
First Showing of the 2012 Porsche 911/991 Fletcher Jones Motorcars Fremont CA
Keeping the 'Line'.
The Porsche styling engineers have always been able to keep that only-a-Porsche-911-outline and 911 look for each 911 restyling. The latest 2012 911/991 Carrera is no different. My hat is off to the styling department as they have done, consentingly over 50 years, what no other manufacture has been able to do. You know it is a 911 when you see it.
Porsche 911 Carrera S sn-WP0AB2A95CS120649 2012
First Showing of the 2012 Porsche 911/991 Fletcher Jones Motorcars Fremont CA
The reports from the 911/991 stats are that it is wider, lower, longer, and has a stretched wheel base, which was accomplished by moving the rear wheels toward the back, not unlike Porsche did in 1968-1969 to improve straight line stability. The new rear wheel location in effect, moves the engine weight forwards providing a more neutral position. With a casual look the 911/991 Carrera looks like the previous 2005-2011, 911/997, Carrera, but no parts are the same. It is all new.
Porsche 911 Carrera S sn-WP0AB2A93CS120861 2012
First Showing of the 2012 Porsche 911/991 Fletcher Jones Motorcars Fremont CA
Porsche 911 Carrera S sn-WP0AB2A93CS120861 2012
First Showing of the 2012 Porsche 911/991 Fletcher Jones Motorcars Fremont CA
Porsche 911 Carrera S sn-WP0AB2A93CS120861 2012
First Showing of the 2012 Porsche 911/991 Fletcher Jones Motorcars Fremont CA
Porsche 911 Carrera S sn-WP0AB2A93CS120861 2012
First Showing of the 2012 Porsche 911/991 Fletcher Jones Motorcars Fremont CA
Porsche 911 Carrera S sn-WP0AB2A93CS120861 2012
First Showing of the 2012 Porsche 911/991 Fletcher Jones Motorcars Fremont CA
Porsche 911/997 Carrera S 2005
We arrived at the Fremont California Porsche dealer of Fletcher Jones Motorcars in my daily driver, a low mileage 2005, 911/997, 3.8L, 355 HP Carrera S, with a 6 speed manual transaxle, which made for a good base line comparison.
Porsche 911 Carrera S sn-WP0AB2A95CS120649 2012
Test Drive 2012 Porsche 911/991 Fletcher Jones Motorcars Fremont CA 2012
The first person I encountered was leaving the 991, and said with smiles "fantastic, unbelievable".
Porsche 911 Carrera S sn-WP0AB2A95CS120649 2012
Test Drive 2012 Porsche 911/991 Fletcher Jones Motorcars Fremont CA 2012
I had a short review of the workings of the insides prior to moving off on the test run that would take me over lightly trafficked streets, onto the freeway and then back on to the normal streets, and turning onto clear back roads, giving me ample opportunity to experience acceleration and shifting response.
Porsche 911 Carrera S sn-WP0AB2A95CS120649 2012
Test Drive 2012 Porsche 911/991 Fletcher Jones Motorcars Fremont CA 2012
I was seated in a 2012 911 Carrera S with a 3.8L, 6 cylinder boxer engine with 400 HP / 235 lb.-ft. of torque, and a 7 speed PDK transaxle, 0-60 MPH (PCNA rated) in 3.9 sec for the US model. Looking about, the interior was similar to the 997 Carrera but not really. Just about every thing had been move. The hand brake was now under the dash-US style, and electrically operated. The dash was the same but totally different with a second GPS map showing on the right-most round dial behind the steering wheel. There was also a GPS map on the center screen which was in the new redesigned center console taken from the larger Porsche 4 door model.
Porsche 911 Carrera S sn-WP0AB2A95CS120649 2012
Test Drive 2012 Porsche 911/991 Fletcher Jones Motorcars Fremont CA 2012
My highly qualified guide for this test drive, Tomasz Kaliski, gave me the rundown on the interior and operations. The one thing that was pointed out is a new feature for the all-petrol powered car. When the car is stopped the engine stops running, however it will instantly restart once the footbrake-peddle is released. Porsche refers to this as "Auto Start Stop Function". This feature was also introduced into the US cars some time ago but discontinued.
Porsche 911 GTS 2011 and Porsche 911 Carrera S sn-WP0AB2A95CS120649 2012
Test Drive 2012 Porsche 911/991 Fletcher Jones Motorcars Fremont CA 2012
Moving off I left the gear selector in manual to experience the newest PDK wheel mounted paddle shifters. This was a great improvement fore me as I did not like the previous thumb-driven ones. On problem, which I did not like, but it did not really bother me during the drive was, the steering wheel control stocks were WAY too close to the shifting paddles. Old stocks used with new paddles? Shifting with the paddles up and down was great fun, as was enjoying the unbelievably quick gear change.
The first stoplight brought the distinct Porsche engine sound to a vibrating stop. If this were my car I would have to have it into the repair shop, but Tomasz had warned me so it was all-right, just strange to have all the 'music' stop. Hybrid cars do this, but when on battery power there is no sound to have go-away.
Performance. Yes there is the rush of speed that has become the norm with Porsche cars. The 0-60 MPH in 3.9 second acceleration comes on quickly and then the rate of acceleration increases as the engine management software seems to understand that there is more road ahead and you want to get there quickly. Switching on the 'Sport' or better still the 'Sport Plus' makes things happen even more quickly. These options also makes performance changes to the suspension.
Halfway through the test loop Tomasz pulls his 2011 911/997 GTS, 3.8L, 408 HP, 0-60 in 4.0 sec, lead car over and we change cars. I am now in more familiar 997 soundings except this car has the 6 speed paddle shifting PDK transaxle. I switch on the Sport Plus and start all over again. The first thing I noticed with the 991 and what was again conveyed to me in the 911/997 is that the 991's new "Electromechanical Power Steering" system is a bit different than the previous steering system and to me 991 felt heaver. Something like a 997 Carrera 4 feels like. I like the lighter feel. My 1969 911 was just right.
The new 991 is a lighter car than the 997, said to be the results of special attention by the Porsche engineers and their heavy use of aluminum and other weight saving tricks. Looking at the disassembled 991 that was on the lift back at the dealer, it was clear that 'racecar' thinking went into every part of the undercarriage and suspension parts to maintain lightness. Driving the 997 GTS however, gave me the impression that the GTS was lighter and more responsive. The people in the know say at on the track the 991 outperforms all previous models. Total engineering is more effective than driver sensations I presume. Something like taking a corner in the 1960's style of the 4-wheel drift and the modern car taking the bend like-on-rails comparison. The 4 wheel drift feels and looks fast but the modern car is faster.
So what do I think after comparing the 997 Carrera S, the GTS, and the 2012, 911 Carrera S?
Nice cars! My testing partner who finds the 997 Carrera S manual clutch a bit intimidating loved the PDK. As expected the 2011 GTS and the 2012 Carrera S were much quicker than the 997 Carrera S, but that goes with out saying given the engine(s).
Which is the best? They are all a perfect progression of the Porsche 911. The path to perfection with an enthusiastic engine pushing from the rear.
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