Iconic Porsche 911 Carrera longs for the track

• By STEVE WHEELER
• Advocate WHEELS editor
• Published: Aug 21, 2009

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My wish for all the lucky owners of the Porsche 911 Carrera is that they get to drive their cars on a race track.

There are simply no other places where drivers can safely and legally experience the performance capabilities of this legendary sports car. 

I’ve driven two versions of the 2009 Carrera, one with the standard 6-speed manual transmission and one with Porsche’s brand new PDK automatic transmission.

Which one is better? Depends. Do you like filet mignon or prime rib?

The automatic 911 can shift gears quicker and more accurately that I ever could thanks to the optional 7-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung transmission — PDK for short. The dual-clutch transmission, which replaces the tiptronic, combines two gearboxes using separate clutches. When a gear is selected, the separate gearbox readies the next gear in sequence. As a result, each gearshift is nearly instantaneous, with no interruption in power delivery. Porsche officials say shifts in the PDK transmission are 60 percent faster than those in the previous model.

But if you want to be more intimately involved with the 911 driving experience, the 6-speed manual transmission can accommodate you nicely. With a short throw and a smooth, precise clutch, the manual offers purists a chance to stretch the car’s legs.

The 2009 model year features two new direct fuel injection engines and a new communication management system. 

The newest generation Porsche boxer engine in the 911 Carrera is a 3.6-liter direct fuel injection power plant that generates 345 horsepower and 288 lb.-ft. of torque.

The 911 Carrera S has a 3.8-liter engine with 385 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque.

When equipped with the PDK transmission, the Carrera 911 S will rocket from zero to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, and has a maximum track speed that tops 180 mph. Combine the PDK with the optional Sport Chrono Package Plus, which is a drivetrain and chassis synchronization enhancement, and the 0-60 time drops to  4.1 seconds.

The Carrera with the 3.6-liter engine is rated at 18 miles per gallon in the city and 25 mpg on the highway, and the Carrera S sacrifices very little in the way of fuel economy compared to the Carrera.

The ride in the 911 is stiff, and Porsche has kept the hydraulic steering so drivers really get a feel for the road. The anti-lock brakes are excellent because they have to be.

On the inside, the 911 is sports car sized with a back seat that only Wal-Mart bags will love. The trunk, located under the front hood, is big enough for one large piece of luggage or a stack of smaller bags.