Porsche 991 Carrera Cabriolet: the best everyday 911?
Think of the Porsche 911 and two unique selling points immediately spring to mind. First is the sportscar’s unrivalled (and ongoing) 52-year production life that’s the envy of the entire automotive industry, and the second is the marque’s sheer availability through a variety of different iterations and body styles. Particularly with the latter in mind, there really is a 911 out there for anybody who’s willing to part with the necessary funds.
I’d previously decided that a 991 Anniversary would be my perfect everyday new 911 purchase, where ‘everyday’ is defined as not being a track-focused GT or fuel-slurping Turbo. You can’t order a 991 Anniversary now, of course, and though the majority of my prerequisites for a new 911 remain the same (wide body, 3.8-litre ‘S’ powerplant, Big Red brakes) I have now decided that any 991 purchase would have to start with a change in body style to a Cabriolet.
That statement may well grate with a few, but after a weekend at the wheel of this exquisitely-specced Guards red 991 C4S from Porsche Centre Bournemouth, I’m certain the Cabriolet takes my vote as the best everyday Porsche 911. Here’s four reasons why:
1. As we’ve discovered in Total 911 magazine, the roof on a 991 Cabriolet is has been heavily revised to ensure that, for the first time, the Porsche 911’s iconic Coupe silhouette has been upheld – a crucial development in boosting the Cabriolet’s appeal to purists. The timeless, uninterrupted silhouette is achieved thanks to the new, highly sophisticated roof system featuring four solid panels (one of which houses the heated rear screen) that electro-hydraulically lifts out at the push of the button – be it from inside the car or remotely via the key. As well as being aesthetically pleasing, the better build quality of the roof also means there’s a reduction in rolling tyre noise filtering through into the cabin when on the move with the roof up, so much so that the Cabriolet is now no worse than a Coupe in the real world.
2. Let’s face it, there’s no better way to savour the aural delights of Zuffenhausen’s ubiquitous flat six being worked hard than when it’s sitting in the back of a 911 Cabriolet with the roof down. The soundtrack is gloriously loud and unfiltered, something a sound symposer in a 991 Coupe just can’t touch.
3. The 991 Cabriolet is a better open-topped experience than the 991 Targa. After piloting examples of both on numerous road trips, I am unequivocal that the Cabriolet deals with airflow into the cabin much better than the over-engineered Targa. Thanks to the standard-specification wind deflector available in the Cabriolet, a sedate conversation can be had with your passenger even at motorway speeds with the roof down, whereas reasonably civilised conversation in the Targa is soon drowned out by buffeting wind past 40mph.
4. The roof of the Porsche 991 Cabriolet can be deployed while you’re on the move (up to 30mph), which proves immeasurably useful when residing in a country such as the UK, where the weather is temperamental at best. This is a luxury not extended to the Targa, as its entire rear panel extends over the rear lights when removing or replacing the canvas roof top.
Sure, there are one or two gripes to be had with the Cabriolet, not least that when pushing on you’ll soon realise its chassis is slightly compromised in terms of performance over a Coupe, and those who regularly like to pedal quickly will undoubtedly prefer the litheness of the tin-topped 991. The Coupe also boasts much better rear vision for the driver than a Cabriolet with the roof up, but these are only small blotches on the 991 Carrera Cabriolet’s copy paper in what is an otherwise supremely capable 911 as both an ideal boulevard cruiser and an assertive sportscar. Porsche Bournemouth, I need that 991 C4S Cabriolet in my stable.
Do you agree? Comment below or tweet us @Total911 with your thoughts.
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