2005 Porsche 911 Review

Specifications

Classic Shape and Quality Interior Improve Venerable Sports Car

Why does Porsche still build its retro-styled 911 while rivals regularly come to market featuring new shapes, sizes and drivetrains? Because its customers demand that the classic shape remains, and voice their opinions with their wallets.

Making this point crystal clear, when Porsche launched its modernized 911 (996) in 1998 as a 1999 model, those faithful to its more classically penned predecessor, the 993, didnt immediately accept its Boxster-like headlamps, slab-sided flanks and more refined ride. The new 2005 model (997) goes a long way to rectify this problem, and in so doing takes the 911 back a number of years to when circular headlamps were thought sacrosanct.

And I cant help but agree with the Porschephiles that snubbed the 996. The new model looks more like the original 911, and despite my having a penchant for contemporary design, is more appealing to my tastes.

As important in this class, Porsche has upgraded the cars interior to premium levels… finally. It always offered a decent assortment of upscale features, but the base 911 used to have as much tactile appeal as a low-rent economy car. The cheesy plastic surfaces that covered the dash and console made it necessary to buck up thousands for an all-leather interior, but switchgear was still below par. The 2005 911 is top-tier in every way, even better put together than the already impressive Cayenne. Plastics are high-grade, fit and finish top-rate and controls among the best in its class. Being that Im a stickler for tactile quality, I now have no reservations about buying a 911; other than a sizable lack of funds to do so that is.

If this was all Porsche did to improve its 911, I would have been happy. After all, the 996 was one of the best handling cars on the planet and reliability has never been a problem. Nevertheless, the German brands engineers, being German engineers, left nothing untouched in the hopes of improving the new car above and beyond its predecessor. Now, the 911s ride is noticeably better and handling enhanced considerably, with more precise turn-in and unflappable stability, especially over rough pavement at high speed.

I should also mention that base models get a bump in horsepower too, up from 320 to 325. While nothing to write home about, the combination of a slicker shifting six-speed transmission makes the cars overall driving experience a great deal more engaging. Porsche offers a more potent 355-horsepower 3.8-liter engine in S trim, but Ill review it once Ive been behind the wheel. An optional 5-speed Tiptronic automatic is also available, but I havent driven it in 997 guise either, so again, no comment.

The base car, however, has an entry price of $69,300, which seems like a bargain after spending a week jetting around town or better yet, across hill and dale. The 2005 model is the most impressive version of the venerable 911 to date, and will go a long way to bolster Porsches sports car sales, which were eclipsed last year by the Cayenne SUV.

Rather than bore you with details about standard and optional features, take a glance over a more detailed preview I wrote about the car when it was introduced last year. Many additional improvements have been omitted from this road test, so its worth a read.

As for me, Im going to go back out to the little red 911 and take another run up the mountain.