Porsche hasn't retained the 911's basic powertrain configuration for so long without reason. Very simply, it works. The powerful engine is smooth all the way to redline, the skilled chassis makes a better driver of anyone who climbs behind the wheel, and the driver inputs - steering, shifting and braking - are as direct and responsive as any mechanical connections can be.
Remarkable for a car that can hold a full "GO" on the skid-pad is its level of comfort during the daily grind. The suspension feels pure sports-car through tight corners and sweeping on-ramps, yet it handles rough surfaces without the hopping that plagues many so-called sport suspensions.
No less terrific is the power-assist rack-and-pinion steering. It translates the driver's hand movements into precise directives to the front wheels without a hint of ambiguity. There's still a little of the traditional kickback through the steering wheel when the front tires encounter bumps, but it is accepted more as part of the communication process than as an annoyance.
Know this going in: The 911 not a quiet car, but the noises are wonderful. There's no other sound in the world like the air-cooled flat 6-cylinder winding up; the sensation from the driver's seat of being pushed easily through the barriers of wind and time can only be described as exhilarating.