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The raw figures for the new 911 are: 0-62mph in 4.8 and 5.0secs and a top speed of 177mph and 182mph for the Carrera and Carrera S respectively. What these deeply impressive figures can't convey, though, is the sensational manner in which the numbers are generated. Nudge the manual six-speed gearbox into first and let the clutch up gently, then nail the throttle and listen to the exhaust note harden from a menacing rumble to a diamond-edged yowl as the revs pass 5000rpm and the variable valve timing (VarioCam Plus, in Porsche-speak) creates and even more vicious noise. All of this with quite savage acceleration, aided by a close-ratio gearbox that barely gives you time to catch your breath before demanding yet another upshift. Glorious.
On paper, the Carrera S offers more power and torque than the standard Carrera, but on the road, few will find the standard car's pace wanting. The Carrera S sounds a little more raucous, and its standard PASM might appeal to the harder core driver, but 4Car reckons the regular Carrera is the one to go for.
We can't, though, recommend the Tiptronic S five-speed automatic gearbox. The system can be left in drive and operated as a normal automatic, or the driver can use shift buttons on the steering wheel spokes. In either mode, the 'box feels slow and clumsy unless you're absolutely caning it, and even then it's not foolproof. In the end, Tiptronic masks the brilliance of Porsche's legendary flat-six engine, so give it a miss unless you just want to ponce about on the King's Road.
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