2005 Porsche 911 Carrera S Review

Written By: MyRide.com
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Introduction

Porsche Carrera 911 S -- 2005 Review: For more than four decades, the Porsche 911 has dominated the streets of North America as one of the most desirable sports cars on the market. Arguably, in this time it has garnered more accolades from the public, racecar drivers and the automotive media than any automobile in history. This vehicle, without a doubt, has become the icon by which all sports cars are judged.

However, Porsche has gone through some unflattering days. There was a time when Porsche drivers where identified more by their gold chains and arrogant attitudes than by the prowess of the vehicle. Sports car enthusiasts around the world, along with Porsche, are thankful that those days are long gone. Fortunately, only good memories of earlier 911s remain.

Part of that change has come about because of the transformation within Porsche itself. Re-evaluating its place in the market and developing new manufacturing techniques has given Porsche a financial edge. And, not only are they known for producing fantastic performance automobiles, those vehicles are an equally good value in their respective classes. Perhaps nothing exemplifies this more than the 2005 Porsche 911 Carrera S.

Model Mix

The 2005 Porsche Carrera S model lineup is pretty simple. Available as either a coupe or a soft-top cabriolet, the only other distinction between models is whether you pick the six-speed manual or the five-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. Of course, there are numerous options available to personalize your Carrera S, but otherwise that sums it up for model designations.

Everything the 2005 Porsche 911 Carrera S Coupe can do the Cabriolet (convertible) can do just as well, except it can lower its power operated top to let the sun and wind become part of your driving experience. And today, the Carrera S is a better value than ever, featuring more standard equipment with virtually no increase in price.

Design

Taking a cue from earlier 911s, the restyled 2005 Porsche Carrera S returns to oval headlamps with separate turn signal indicators placed below and close to the bumper. The front air inlets not only provide cooling air for the engine, but direct fresh air to the front brakes.

The front fender design is more prominent than before. From the driver's seat, they appear as bulging frames for the steeply sloped hood while allowing the eye to flow directly to the road ahead. The exterior side mirror design is derived directly from Porsche's super car, the Carrera GT, shaped to reduce a major source of wind noise, which on the 911 is non-existent until you reach high speed.

The interior is refined with firm, supportive seats aiding in the reduction of fatigue. The layout of the dash and instrument panel is typically old-school German, making it easy to negotiate through the individual controls - unlike a modern BMW or Benz. The trademark five-gauge instrument panel has larger needles and dials that are easier to read. And the switches and controls are easily manipulated.

Seating is cozy without feeling confining, yet able to hold you firmly in place even during very aggressive cornering. This is what a sports car should be, with the added benefits of comfort and luxury.

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