It’s finally time, you have dreamed about buying a Porsche 911 for most of your life and its finally time for you to make the leap and buy the car of your dreams. Did you know the 911 comes in 22 different model choices? If you have followed this car closely over the years you probably do know this, but if your attention has been elsewhere and it’s really just time to finally realize that childhood fantasy of yours you might not be quite as in tune with what this car has to offer. With this number of trim levels you are going to need some help deciding so let me lend you a hand.
911 Carrera – C+ – This is the least expensive way to get into a 911 and is fine if that is your goal, but you should really upgrade from this model to another version that will make things fun. If you are stuck in this budget area you should consider the Cayman which is fun but costs less.
911 Carrera 4 – B- – This is the lowest priced AWD version of the 911 and is an impressive car to drive for the price you pay, but it still doesn’t fit the bill when you really want to have a 911 that can give you the ride you want to experience. Once again the Cayman with AWD will be a better buy if this is what you are looking at.
911 Carrera Cabriolet – C – As an average player (hence the C letter grade) the cabriolet can be a way you will have a fun car to drive in convertible form. This is a car you can enjoy when touring around and enjoying the ride, but you might be let down a bit if you take it out to the track.
911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet – C- – This one loses points because of the added weight that the AWD system adds to a car that has one of the worst power to weight ratios in the entire lineup. If this is what you want to drive that’s fine, but there are many choices that are so much better than this one.
911 Targa 4 – C+ – You can instantly see the difference in the body style and the partial convertible setup of this car. This is a great looking car but the power is on the lower end because of the added weight this car carries, making it a touring car more than one you want to take to the track.
911 Carrera S – B – The S model offers the performance and power that makes the name of the Porsche 911 sing. This is a car that you can enjoy paying less than the GTS and having power that is similar to on the road or on the track. The torque is actually higher in this car than the GTS due to the turbocharging.
911 Carrera 4S – B+ – You should expect a higher grade when you have more power and the advantage of AWD to make this a car that is easy to love and one that you can certainly see yourself driving. The price increase over the base model isn’t a major factor when you consider what you get to drive.
911 Carrera S Cabriolet – B- – This shouldn’t come as a surprise either. Keep in mind if you want power and performance you should probably stay away from the convertible versions, but if you want a great touring car that gives you the open air feeling, this is a good choice to make.
911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet – C+ – Once again the added weight of the AWD makes this a poor choice overall and one that is ok for showing your friends, but don’t take it to the track unless they don’t have anything that can come close. You can have a lot of fun in this car, but there are better models.
911 Targa 4S – B – This car offers a powerful turbocharged engine, the beautiful Targa body style and the AWD that you might need. Unfortunately this is still a car that is heavy because of the roof and AWD which makes it a difficult car to give a higher grade, but you can still have a lot of fun.
911 Carrera GTS – B- – This is a traditional car and if you are a driving purist that doesn’t want turbocharging this is the right car for you to enjoy. If you don’t mind a turbo you should look at the Carrera S which has similar power for less money.
911 Carrera 4 GTS – B – Do you want AWD and a track ready performer? This is a great car to choose, but it still doesn’t have the turbocharging needed to get the most power from the engine. Even so this is a car you can enjoy and have a great drive on any road or track.
911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet – C+ –Taking a tack car and removing the roof is a sin in the racing world, but it does offer a gorgeous appearance and still has plenty of great performance even if it loses some of its rigidity in the process. This is a car worth the money, but meant for cruising.
911 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet – C – A similar issue with this convertible as the others, especially when AWD is added which simply adds weight to the vehicle. This is where you can have a great ride and a touring car while winning at the track over lesser cars, but many 911s will beat this car.
911 Targa 4 GTS – B- – Yes it has the added weight the same as the others but this is a car that will give you the performance you want and offers you a power ratio that makes you excited. This stylish car is a way to get the Targa body with the naturally aspirated engine.
911 GT3 – A – The first car in this lineup to reach the alpha grade on this scale, this is a car that offers the power and the performance you want to make use of and drive. If the price is not an issue for you this is where you should be on the 911 scale.
911 GT3 RS – A+ – The top grade that can be given to this car is earned at the RS level. This car is lighter by more powerful than most other cars on the track and is one of the meanest vehicles you can ever take out to a track to whip your friends and their tuned up versions of what they drive.
911 Turbo – A- – Not a bad grade at all and certainly a car that is worth the discussion, the Turbo receives a respectable grade and has the power and prowess to back it up. When you want your Porsche to be a rocket on the road, this is one of the best choices you can make.
911 Turbo Cabriolet – A- –This is the first time we see the Cabriolet version not drop a letter grade. This is an ultimate driving car that you can have as a weekend cruiser or one that you will enjoy on the track as it does both equally well.
911 Turbo S – A – This is the fastest Porsche on the market and you can easily see why. With massive power from the turbocharged engine in a lightweight build this car will make every other car feel ashamed to have even shown up at the same track as this beauty.
911 Turbo S Cabriolet – A – You will give up a little bit of speed, but you will still enjoy some amazing turns on the track and be able to ride through the countryside with the wind whipping through your hair. Let this be the car of your choosing if the price tag doesn’t make you faint.
911 R – A++ – Why does a car that isn’t the most powerful car in the lineup get the best rating? Because it’s the most fun to drive. This is the GT3 RS with a manual transmission which so many want to have and this car delivers to give us a car that we can love.
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