Unsung Hero: Porsche 911

Described as "simply astounding," the Porsche 911 is quite possibly one of the coolest cars on the planet. It's been considered an icon in the automotive world since its introduction in the 1960s. Most people recognize the 911 as a high performance vehicle that you'd find on the racetrack, and (yes, it is all of that) but it's also great with day-to-day usability. I know, you must've raised an eyebrow with that one... Porsche a daily driver? Well, along with its Porsche siblings, the Boxster and Cayman, the 911 is an unexpected, but very welcome addition to our Unsung Heroes of Fuel Efficiency list.

There's a long list (15 in total) of 911 model variations to choose from. Here's the basic breakdown: base Carrera (starting at $73,500), Carrera S, GT3, Turbo and GT2. You also have your choice of body style (either standard coupe or convertible Cabriolet), and rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. Checkered Flag Porsche's Brian Bowers, a sales representative, showed me a Turbo version of the 911 (pictured here). All 911s have rear mounted horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engines. With the engine in the rear, Brian says the vehicle is more stable and delivers better traction. The Turbo Brian and I looked at produces an incredible 480 hp. The Carrera gets 325 hp. Hp numbers vary on the other models.

Brian says the 911 performs like a race car, but it also drives like a "normal" car. For a vehicle of its class and capability, the 911 gets great gas mileage.  It's rated at 26 miles on the highway, and 18 city (numbers reflect Carrera model). That's about 442 highway miles with its 17 gallon tank. Brian also points out that even with a huge difference in hp, the Turbo gets around the same mpg as the Carrera. The Turbo is capable of 25 highway miles on a gallon of gas. 

While performance and exceptional driving experience and feel are major highlights, the 911 is also equipped with an array of comfort features. It seats four passengers and comes standard with: air conditioning w/automatic climate control; tilt/telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel; and Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system. A front trunk compartment also offers ample cargo space. Visit here for the full list of features.

Standard on the 911 is a superior braking system consisting of Anti-lock braking (ABS) and 4-piston monobloc fixed alloy calipers and ventilated brake discs. Other safety features include: Bi-Xenon headlights with dynamic range control; Porsche Stability Management; and dual front Advanced Airbags and head and thorax side airbags.

For the fashion conscious driver, the 911 is a dream. Brian tells me you can customize a 911 down to stitch color of the seat upholstery! Porsche offers several exterior color options for the 911, but if a customer came in requesting a specific color, a customized paint match is possible.   

The 911 is one of those vehicles that truly speaks for itself, so it's best to see it in person. If you're interested visit Brian and the Checkered Flag Porsche sales team at 2865 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach or call (757) 490-1111 for more information.