Porsche 911 Carrera

The 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera ranks 1 out of 8 Super Luxury Sports Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 87 published reviews and test drives of the Porsche 911 Carrera, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

The Porsche 911 Carrera continues into the 2011model year with plenty of refinement and speed.

The Porsche 911 Carrera has a reputation as one of the best performing luxury sports car on the market, and that reputation hasn’t changed for the 2011 model year. In fact, with the introduction of the 2011 Carrera GTS, test drivers are more impressed with the Carrera lineup. The GTS has a 3.8-liter V6 engine that makes 408 horsepower, 63 more than the base Carrera. More than one reviewer has tested a GTS with a Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK), and some call it one of the best transmissions on the market.

The 911 Carrera is more about performance but standard features for the 2011 model year make it a little more luxurious. New features include Bluetooth and a universal audio interface that connects your MP3 player to Porsche’s Communication Management System.

Other Sports Cars to Consider

If you’re in the market for a luxury sports car, you’re probably not worried about a budget. If that’s the case, consider the Nissan GT-R. It starts at nearly $90,000, but its 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine produces 530 horsepower and 448 pound feet of torque -- a lot more horsepower than the 911 Carrera GTS. The GT-R also comes with more standard features like heated power driver and front passenger seats, a Bose sound system, XM radio and Navigation. All of these features are optional on the 911 Carrera, making the GT-R a better value for the money.

The 911 Carrera is available as a soft-top cabriolet, hardtop and a panoramic targa roof. If you’re looking for hardtop convertible, check out the Mercedes-Benz SL. It comes standard with a 5.5-liter V8 engine that makes 382 horsepower. This engine is larger than the GT-R and Carrera’s engine, but the SL is not the best performer in the class; reviewers still prefer the Carrera and GTR. You should, however, consider the SL if you’re after luxury. You can equip your SL with an AIRSCARF heating system that makes driving with the top down more enjoyable on cool nights. However, the SL starts at nearly $103,000, which makes the 911 Carrera look inexpensive.

Details: 2010 Porsche 911 Carrera

The 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera is available as five models: the base Carrera, the Carrera 4, the Carrera GTS and the Black Edition and the Targa. The base Carrera, Carerra 4 and Targa 4 are available as S trims, which means they get a more powerful engine. All models but the Targa 4 come as coupes or soft top cabriolets. The Targa has a glass roof.

The Porsche 911 starts at about $78,000 for the coupe and about $88,800 for the cabriolet. Prices reach about $113,000 for the GTS Cabriolet.

• "The 911 has always exuded a unique charm, and that's equally true of these new ones."
• "If you've spent a quality day with a three-spoked steering wheel between you and a Porsche 911, we can assure you this 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS is as good as it gets. It retains the exemplary traits of every 911, like the legendary steering feel and unflinching brakes, and adds to it an impressively capable engine and one of the best transmissions on the planet."
• "Its looks haven't changed much over forty years, but it's the subtle improvements that make each new 911 so great. And if you still haven't driven one after all this time, you're probably one of those misguided souls who think the horizontally opposed, shoved-up-the-wazoo engine makes the 911 nothing more than an overhyped, overpriced VW Beetle derivative. But you're wrong. Drive a 911, and you'll want to buy it. If you can't afford a new one, get a used one."
• "Few cars…deliver the 911's thrilling balance of precision steering and handling with daily-driver livability."

911-Carrera Performance - 9.3 (Excellent)

As a Porsche, the 911 Carrera automatically gets top performance reviews from the automotive press. This year, there’s an unusual comment in the mix: Test drivers like the Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) transmission. “Yes, even fitted with the PDK transmission, the GTS bludgeons you with the full 911 experience,” says Car and Driver.

911-Carrera Exterior - 8.5 (Very Good)

The 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera’s exterior hasn’t changed much since it first hit the market in 1960, but reviewers don’t mind. “Nearly devoid of extraneous trim, the low, smooth-bodied 911 looks the part of a serious performance machine," says Cars and Driver.

911-Carrera-Interior - 8.2 (Very Good)

Most test drivers get so distracted by the 911 Porsche Carrera’s performance capabilities that they forget to address its interior. "Because the 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS's driving experience is so rewarding, we didn't even cover the minutiae of seat comfort/support (excellent, as usual, but there are no rear jump seats), the new hard-drive-based navigation system (curiously complex, as usual) and classic Porsche instrument cluster and left-side ignition (charming, as always)," says Edmunds

911-Carrera-Safety - NA

The 2011 Porsche Carrera hasn’t been tested by the federal government or the insurance industry, and it’s likely that it won’t be. However, the Carrera comes with several assuring safety features.

911-Carrera Reliability - 10.0 (Excellent)

The 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). Porsche protects the 911 Carrera with a four-year/50,000-mile warranty. A warranty of this length is typical of the class, but the Nissan GT-R. has a longer warranty that lasts for five-years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first.