2024 Porsche 911 GT3 RS

　　

2024 Porsche 911 Review

byMichael CantuCorrespondent

　　Michael Cantu has worked in the automotive industry since 2014. He has written over 800 car-related articles and tested and reviewed over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Michael is a contributor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Digital Trends and InsideEVs. Michael was featured on a few InsideEVs YouTube channel videos on the topic of electric vehicles. Michael was a MotorTrend Car of the Year judge for 2019 and was a driver in MotorTrend's World's Greatest Drag Races 7 & 8.

　　, rating written byMichael CantuCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　Automakers like to claim that their car, truck or SUV is the best, but in most cases that claim falls short. But when it comes to the Porsche 911, calling it the best luxury sports car couldn't be more accurate. Other sports cars are more luxurious, offer better technology and are more affordable, but the 911 does the sports car part the best. It's a driving enthusiast's dream come true. In today's new car market, few cars feel like they are an extension of the driver. If the 911 could talk, it would urge you to drive it harder and faster, and you'd gladly comply thanks to the confidence it instills in you.

　　

zzdcar spotlight: The 911's extensive lineup

There's a version of the 911 for just about everyone. You have a choice of a coupe, a convertible or a Targa with a power-retractable roof panel. Once you decide on the body style, there's a long list of trims to choose from. The base Carrera and Carrera S models are great for those who want a comfortable and quick daily driver. The GTS is more powerful and capable, but the Turbo models are the way to go if you want physics-defying acceleration. If you enjoy the occasional track day, go for a GT3 model. And there's the rally-inspired Dakar version with a lifted suspension and all-terrain tires. Porsche is even adding another model to the 911's lineup for 2024. The new 911 S/T combines bits of some of our favorite 911 models, namely the GT3 Touring's manual transmission and sleek styling with the 518-horsepower engine from the 911 GT3 RS. The 911 S/T will also be the lightest 911 in the lineup thanks to features like carbon-fiber bodywork, magnesium wheels and thinner windows.

　　

Competitors to consider

If the Porsche 911 is out of your price range, or if you prefer a sports car with more luxury, tech and cargo space, check out one of its rivals. The larger BMW 8 Series provides more comfort and superior tech. If you want a more affordable sports car that drives exceptionally well, the Chevrolet Corvette should definitely be considered. Then there's the Aston Martin Vantage. It's not as good as the 911, but it's more exclusive and packs an amazing-sounding V8. For our test team's take on the Porsche 911, check out the thorough review in the zzdcar Expert Rating below.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.2

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

9.5/10

　　How does the 911 drive? We tested the 911 Carrera S with the PDK eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Acceleration is impressively rapid in any situation. The launch control mode is easy to activate, and with it we observed a 0-60 mph sprint of just 3.2 seconds. This car feels as if it can run at full throttle and high speeds all day.

　　The brakes are similarly impressive. Our test vehicle had the optional carbon-ceramic brakes, and they stopped our test car from 60 mph in a scant 97 feet. The brake feel and pedal effort are excellent for both casual and high-performance driving. Around turns, the 911 is so quick and precise that it feels as if it's tapped directly into the driver's mind. Even with all this capability, the 911 is an easy car to drive in everyday conditions thanks to its best-in-the-business PDK automatic transmission. The breadth of the 911's capabilities is nearly unrivaled at this price.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the 911? Overall comfort is impressive considering how much performance the 911 provides. The optional ventilated adaptive sport seats are agreeable even after several hours of driving, for instance. Our test vehicle had the optional sport suspension. With it, you'll feel every flaw in the road, but impacts are never harsh even when you're driving in Sport mode.

　　Road noise is more noticeable than in some rival sports cars, but it's not grating. The engine sounds rough and surprisingly unrefined at cold startup and doesn't really start sounding like a proper 911 flat-six until you get the revs high. Buyers new to the 911 might not mind, but returning customers will pine for the sound of older 911s.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below