2005 Porsche 911 Carrera

I once read an interview with a car reviewer who said he got tired of any car in a week. Didn’t care if it was a Ferrari or a Suzuki Forenza, he was ready to move on. Not me. Leave this new Porsche 911 Carrera in my driveway ad infinitum and I’m a happy traveler.

Sure, I might get a little perturbed when it came time to haul a load of something that won’t fit. My aging knees might complain at the low positioned ingress and egress over time, and I likely wouldn’t be too happy with the tab for or frequency of new tires. But all that would be well worth the sheer joy of driving this machine on a daily basis.

The 911 has been redone ground up for ’05. Just because they could and maybe – just maybe – to generate massive attention from the media. I’m more than happy to do my part.

Porsche introduces the ’05 Carrera and Carrera S. I had the former. Cabriolets, Turbos and other lusty temptations to follow down the road. I hope to have them, too.

The good news
As mentioned, the ’05 911 represents significant update, even if it’s hard to tell by looking at it. It looks much like the previous 911, the one that debuted in ’99. But the roof panel is the only exterior part that carries over.

A more discerning look reveals a 911 that is slightly shorter and higher, but noticeably wider. It gives the coupe a beefier stance. I like it.

Oval headlamps are back. That and a new air dam update the front view and finally distinguish it from the less-expensive Boxster. Wheel arches widen out. Bigger 18-inch wheels (19 on the S). Hefty twin oval pipes on the Carrera; two pairs of round pipes on the Carrera S. A subtle touch here and there. It’s beautiful.

Inside the Carrera remains designed for driving. Instruments still cluster right in front of the driver for one of the best setups in all of automotivedom. It reeks of top-dollar with absolutely no fuss. Firm seating for two with a laughable “backseat” that’s great for your briefcase or weekend bag. I actually stuffed one of my 14-year-old son’s smaller friends back there for a ride home. “Happy as a clam” aptly describes his trip. But few grownups would be such good sports, even if it is a Porsche.

Beneath the beauty lies a mixture of old and new engineering. The standard Carrera’s 3.6-liter engine produces 325 horses, more than enough to do whatever it is you want within and beyond legal limits. But there are always those who want more. For them, the S displaces 3.8 liters, producing 355 horses and even more mayhem.

My Carrera claims 0-60 in 4.8 seconds, top speed 177 mph. Accounts of crazed journalists testing these limits on Germany’s autobahn (I was not among them, sadly) confirm this is no idle boast. Porsche says 0-99 takes 11 seconds. Nothing idle, period. Variable ratio power steering is new in this model and turning radius has been tightened. It’s even more maneuverable, if that was possible.

Choices for shifter include Tiptronic automatic and six-speed manual. I was blessed with the latter. The precision is remarkable, the clutch formidable. It’s not as heavy as some I’ve driven, but it’s definitely not for the delicate.

The brakes? Unflinching. And thoroughly prepared for the punishment that comes with being the part of Porsche saddled with stopping it.

What I adore about this new 911 is it strikes the perfect balance between true sportscar and refined ride. The ’05 changes impress me as more back-to-the-roots sport. Some of the soft edges have been filed down a little, but not at the expense of the ride. I have no qualms about long-distance rides in this car. The ride remains more forgiving than imaginable, given you can fling this car all over the place at speed without it ever losing composure. Its grip is like Velcro; its speed, cathartic.

The bad news
Some would be put off by manual seats in a $75,000 car. Others won’t like the heavy clutch. For them, there’s Tiptronic. Or another kind of car entirely.

Is it worth it?
You’re asking me? If you love to drive – I mean really drive – this new 911 is bliss. Sure, there are less costly ways to get your racing kicks – and some very good ones, I might add. The new Corvette comes to mind for thousands less. But to me Porsche remains the benchmark, an opinion further confirmed by this new model. Its rich in everything I expect in a sports car of this price, especially adrenaline.

Particulars
Two-door, two-passenger-plus-two-munchkins coupe
Price
Base: $69,300;
As tested: $74,450 with destination
Engine
Type: water-cooled rear-mounted 3.6-liter 24-valve horizontally-opposed boxer six-cylinder
Power: 325 horsepower @ 6800 rpm; 273 lb-ft torque @ 4250
Drivertrain
Transmission: six-speed manual
Rear-wheel-drive
Dimensions
Wheelbase: 92.52 in.
Overall length: 175.63 in.
Curb weight: 3075 lbs.
Gas mileage
EPA rated at 18 mpg city/26 highway

During her 16 years reviewing new vehicles, Beth Stein has written for Nashville's dailies (circ. 185,000), national magazines and BestStuff.com. She appeared coast-to-coast on-air for Road Test Magazine, Car And Driver Television and Motor Trend Television.