| There's a lot of strong feeling tied up with the Porsche | | | | the Carrera 4 Cabriolet will be able to balance power |
| 911. The vehicle that many hold as the world's finest | | | | delivery to all four tyres and use more of its engine |
| all-round sportscar has a loyal following of ardent | | | | power. |
| enthusiasts who collectively train an eagle eye on | | | | Today's models get the more advanced PTM |
| anything and everything that emerges from the | | | | Porsche Traction Management system that was |
| Porsche production line. The 911's legacy and heritage | | | | developed for and previously only available on the 911 |
| are key to these fans and some aren't too keen on | | | | Turbo. The system, which has been modified for use in |
| any model that might dilute the car's uncompromising | | | | the Carrera 4 models, uses an electronically controlled |
| focus. Sawing off the roof, then, is a big no no. The | | | | multi-plate clutch and features a mechanical limited-slip |
| purists might baulk at the very thought of a 911 | | | | differential on the rear axle. It's designed to feed |
| Cabriolet, viewing removal of the coupe's top as a | | | | optimum amounts engine torque to each wheel in any |
| heinous crime akin to shaving-off Des Lynam's | | | | situation enhancing traction and stability in the process. |
| moustache but Porsche being Porsche, they make a | | | | With the Carrera 4 using a 3.6-litre 345bhp flat-six and |
| very good job of it. | | | | Carrera 4S powered by a 385bhp version of the |
| There have been some dodgy 911 Cabriolets in the | | | | same engine, there's plenty of power for the PTM to |
| past that have given the Porsche fanatics grounds to | | | | dole out. |
| view subsequent models with suspicion but the recent | | | | The engine still sits way out at the back of the 911 and |
| record is good. The Porsche engineers go to great | | | | nowadays it's a DFI unit featuring Porsche's Direct Fuel |
| lengths to re-engineer the trademark rigidity and poise | | | | Injection system. This utilises a sophisticated engine |
| of the Coupe model back into the Cabriolet once the | | | | management computer and high pressure injectors to |
| extra bracing provided by the roof has gone up the | | | | fire a fuel and air mixture directly into the combustion |
| swanee. Here, we're looking specifically at the Carrera | | | | chamber. This mixture is constantly adjusted according |
| 4 Cabriolets and the all-wheel-drive set-up on these | | | | to the demands being placed on the engine at the time. |
| cars is another factor with the potential to put noses | | | | The results are said to include a more efficient |
| out of joint amongst Porsche aficionados. For them, | | | | combustion cycle, superior engine response and more |
| the only proper 911 is a two-wheel drive coupe and | | | | power. |
| here we're dealing with the exact opposite. Drive it, | | | | The other major technological innovation on the latest |
| however, and you have to wonder what these people | | | | 911 is the PDK gearbox. This is a conventional |
| are harping on about. There seems to be very little by | | | | seven-speed manual gearbox automated by a |
| way of compromise in any aspect of the Carrera 4 | | | | hydraulic control mechanism which is divided into two |
| Cabriolet but fine margins between excellence and | | | | separate units. There's one clutch looking after the |
| perfection are what the 911 is all about. | | | | even gears and one taking care of the odd ones. It |
| That most controversial of components, the ‘997' | | | | means that the clutches can work in unison, producing |
| 911 Cabriolet's hood system, is a good deal slicker than | | | | super fast shifting marshalled by buttons mounted on |
| the old 996 soft top, featuring, as it does, an improved | | | | the steering wheel. Each gearchange is around 60 per |
| folding mechanism. A button can open or close the | | | | cent more rapid that that of a conventional automatic |
| roof in twenty seconds, the hood now folding into the | | | | transmission. |
| roof compartment with the heated glass rear window | | | | Although the cabin of the 996 was a big leap forward |
| facing upwards for added protection. One of the best | | | | in terms of fit and finish over the 993 series car, it was |
| parts about the hood is that it can be raised or | | | | still prone to a few squeaks and rattles. The 997 takes |
| lowered at speeds up to 31mph which means that, | | | | its quality cue form the Cayenne 4x4 and features a |
| should the traffic lights change while you're half way | | | | three-spoke wheel and an in-dash LCD monitor. Some |
| through raising or lowering, you won't need to wait with | | | | aspects are pure 993, however, such as the location |
| a queue of laughing/swearing drivers behind you. | | | | of the air vents and the roll top along the upper dash. |
| \"…the fine margins between excellence and | | | | Porsche know their history and so do their customers |
| perfection are what the 911 is all about\" | | | | and the design of the 997's cabin pays homage to |
| Improved guide ducts above the doors direct rainwater | | | | Porsches of the past. The quality of materials, |
| into a specially developed channel in the windscreen | | | | however, is like no 911 built to date. Expensively |
| pillar and an improved wind deflector reduces buffeting | | | | slush-moulded fascia materials make a welcome |
| in the cabin while cruising. In order to ensure torsional | | | | change to the hard plastics seen in the 996 and it's |
| rigidity, soft-top conversions need a degree of | | | | possible to specify leather trim. The front seats are |
| additional reinforcement and this often adds to the | | | | bigger and the driver sits 20mm lower and there's a |
| weight to such a degree that performance is blunted. | | | | choice of four different seats depending on how racy |
| No such issues with the latest 911 Cabriolet. It tips the | | | | you want to feel. Another neat option is the dash |
| scales at a mere 85kg more than its hard top sibling. | | | | top-mounted Porsche Sport Chrono, a stopwatch that |
| Even accounting for all the strengthening and electric | | | | can time laps. |
| motors for the roof, that's less than the weight of an | | | | If you don't happen to have £106,000 kicking around |
| average chap. | | | | you bank account, the 911 Turbo Cabriolet is going to |
| The all-wheel drive system in the Carrera 4 models | | | | be out of your price range and the next most striking |
| features a multi-disc viscous coupling and transfers | | | | drop-top in the Porsche stable is the 911 Carrera 4 |
| between five and ten per cent of drive permanently to | | | | Cabriolet. Many convertible cars make you pay a |
| the front wheels. You'll be able to feel the benefit of | | | | penalty for the wind-in-your-hair experience but this is |
| this additional traction when accelerating out of | | | | a notable exception. It isn't a rear-wheel-drive 911 |
| corners, especially if the surface is damp. Whereas a | | | | coupe and the purists will probably never forgive it for |
| Carrera will blink its traction control light at the driver as | | | | that but that fact shouldn't detract from its essential |
| power is cut to the rear in an attempt to regain grip, | | | | appeal. It's still a Porsche 911 after all. |