2008 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Convertible Review & Road Test at Automotive.com
»Locate a Dealer»Find a Used Car»Get Financing
Porsche
911
2008
Carrera 4 Convertible

2008 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Convertible Review

Below is a full, detailed review and road test of the 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Convertible written by either the experts at New Car Test Drive or by one of Automotive.com's very own. A full evaluation of the driving experience, price, equipment, and ...     read more
Find a Car
 

2008 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Convertible Review

The quickest, fastest Porsche 911 ever.
Introduction
Porsche has been refining, redesigning and updating the basic shape of the 911 sports car for more than 40 years, with versions such as the removable-roof Targa, the cabriolet (convertible), the four-wheel-drive 4S, the awesome Turbo, and high-performance versions called GT2 and GT3. The engine has gone from a VW-based four-cylinder opposed air-cooled engine in the first 911 to a Porsche-designed, liquid-cooled six-cylinder, twin-turbocharged in some models, but always nestled behind the rear window.

The 2008 Porsche 911 GT2 is the latest model added to the 911 model range, already the broadest ever offered. The addition of the GT2 marks the third time the 911 has been offered in GT2 form.

The 2008 GT2 is the quickest and fastest Porsche 911 ever built, capable of 0-60 mph acceleration times under 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 204 mph.

It also offers race-car agility. But the most amazing thing is there's no down side (other than the price, of course). It's quite easy to live with this car and it could even be a daily driver. That's in a car with performance that would have been competitive at Le Mans not too long ago.

Unlike some other models, like the GT3, which is intended for and homologated for, track racing, the 911 GT2 is a completely equipped, luxury-laden road car that just happens to be lighter, quicker, faster and more agile than the other 911 models.

In essence, the GT2 is a slightly stripped-down 911 Turbo with more power, lightweight components and without all-wheel drive. Its closest competitors in price would be a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera or an Aston Martin V8 Vantage, both of which it can outrun easily. The GT2 costs a less than the Ferrari F430 and the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione.

The 911 GT2 comes with a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter flat six that generates 530 horsepower, 50 hp more than the Turbo, with 505 pound-feet of torque available from just above idle to 4500 rpm, making it extremely flexible and willing in any of its six gears. It gets the extra 50 hp by using its two turbochargers with a very clever new intake system. While most other 911 models are offered with a choice of transmissions, the GT2 is manual only. Next Page


2008 Porsche 911