I bought a yellow German thing

"BadMotorScooter" (badmotorscooter) 01/05/2019 at 16:45 • Filed to: 911T, Carrera, Porsche, Porsche 911

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I decided it was time to get back into a sports car. I didn’t want a muscle car, or a sports sedan, or a sporty truck or SUV. I didn’t want something over or underpowered. I’ve had those types of cars before and while fun in their own way, are not the experience I want now.

I wanted something fun to drive, and don’t care about blistering Nurburgring lap times or 0-60 in 2.1 seconds. I wanted something that makes every jaunt to the store fun. I wanted a manual, because it is more fun. See the theme here? Fun, fun, fun, with enough practicality and utility to be used as a regular car in 4-seasons.

For perspective, I’ve had a wide spectrum of performance cars, including a couple AP1 S2000s, C5 Z51 and Z06, C6 7L Z06, TT inline 6, TT V6, NA V6, supercharged V8s LSA and LT4 in CTS-Vs, turbo 4s inc a FiST, NA boxer 4 in FR-S, some TDIs and trucks with turbo-diesels (Cummins and Duramax) and NA gas V8s. Each car has certainly had its strengths and weaknesses, some overpowered, some underpowered, some too heavy (none too light), some conflicted in purpose, some razor sharp focused. I like cars (and trucks) that are good at what they do, and their intended purpose. I like cars (and trucks) that have character and personality - that makes them fun and enjoyable to drive.

So I found a Carrera T spec’d very close to how I would order a car. If you aren’t familiar, the T is supposed to be a more driver focused, back to basics interpretation of the 911. The idea is less is more (which in Porsche terms might mean less is more money), and simpler is better. The T is based on the already very good base 991.2 Carrera with a 3.0 twin turbo flat six, making 370HP. It includes a mechanical LSD, shorter final drive, short shifter, standard lightweight Gorilla glass in the back, SporTex seat material, sport exhaust, sport suspension (lowered 20mm), torque vectoring, less sound deadening and a few other tidbits

This car is lightly spec’d, with manual, sport chrono, 18-way seats, T interior package and a few other bits. The Carrera T unlocks some unique options - lightweight bucket seats from the GT cars (~$6000), carbon ceramic brakes (~$9000), and rear wheel steering (~$2000). This car has none of those, and I’m perfectly OK with that. I think part of the T ethos is simplicity and lightly optioned to keep a relatively low price, otherwise it gets too close to other 911 models. To my surprise, I got this car with a significant discount. I had looked at the Carrera T about a year ago when it was announced and there were no discounts, and some markups at the time. Waiting a year made a difference.

This car will be used as my primary driver, with my wife’s SUV serving as the people/stuff hauler. My kids also have cars that can be used for utilitarian purposes if needed. I traded a full-size pickup for the 911. Since I’ll be using this car for routine use in four seasons, and it is winter now, I had the dealer fit the car with Porsche approved Pirelli Sottozero winter tires. Not only does Porsche have approved winter tires, but the dealer makes this super easy by storing the off-season tires to mount in the Spring/Fall when needed. This is a simple thing, but hugely beneficial and a strong deciding factor in choosing this car. Could I get winter tires for a Corvette or Camaro or Mustang? Well, probably, but I’d have to deal with the hassle of storage and transport and/or a different set of wheels and TPMS for winter use. Having manufacturer approved winter tires, in the right sizes, and a dealer that makes swapping them as easy as coming in for an oil change is super convenient. Other manufacturers should take a lesson from Porsche here.

So how does it drive? I’ve driven only two 911s before, a 996 and 991 GT3. There is something unique or different about a 911. The visibility is great. There is a sense of sitting forward, low but upright so you can see in front of the car. The sound from the back, and the characteristic mechanical rasp of the flat six is still there. The turbos in the T mute the exhaust a bit but you gain some turbo and blowoff valve action. You can hear the induction when opening the throttle. Torque is plentiful and early with full torque at 1750rpm. Turbo lag is minimized and really only noticeable if you go look for it (say normal mode in 6th gear at low rpm and step on it). The manual is notchy and slick, except when cold when it’s a bit clunky. The clutch is weighted very nicely. Steering is electric but has lots of feedback, even on winter tires. The gauges are perfect - analog and clear with center tach. The gearing is close and feels right - the car will pull in every gear with the flat torque curve. Even with only 370hp, it feels like more. The car is very quick and feels light.

I admit that 370hp is a low number today, and actually was something I had to overcome considering how much this car cost. I literally could get twice the power for less money in something like a Hellcat. But this car is not about drag times, 0-60 or even lap times. It is about fun and an engaging drive. It’s about the old school enjoyment of good handling, manual shifting, and balance. I love it, and am beginning to understand why the 911 has such a cult following.

Gerry197 > BadMotorScooter 01/05/2019 at 16:48

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G reat choice!  

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > BadMotorScooter 01/05/2019 at 16:50

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Beautiful. Congrats!

CB > BadMotorScooter 01/05/2019 at 16:53

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Nice buy! I'm jealous.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > BadMotorScooter 01/05/2019 at 17:11

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Sweet car. One thing to consider when it comes to winter tires. It’s handy that the dealer swaps and stores the tires for you in the off-season. The thing to consider is that salt will destroy your wheels when driving them year round. I’ve got a truck that I’ve used the OEM  wheels year round on and they are completely trashed. For my wife’s vehicles I’ve always had a separate winter wheel tire combo and that keeps the OEM wheels looking like brand new.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > BadMotorScooter 01/05/2019 at 17:23

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Congrats; very very nice choice!

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > BadMotorScooter 01/05/2019 at 17:31

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That is undeniably a very nice car,  go rip around now!

BadMotorScooter > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much 01/05/2019 at 17:37

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Good point. I hope to keep use in the really messy crap minimized, and will need to use the spray wash bays when needed. Could  look for a set of factory takeoffs, which would solve that problem!

BadMotorScooter > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle 01/05/2019 at 17:38

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Thanks, it’s like a fancy beetle!

wafflesnfalafel > BadMotorScooter 01/05/2019 at 18:06

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sweet - jealous as heck.  

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > BadMotorScooter 01/05/2019 at 18:45

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Congrats! Love that color. So jealous.

One day...

MUSASHI66 > BadMotorScooter 01/05/2019 at 18:57

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Amazing! I love the T models. I might get the same color combo, but on a $15k Abarth :)

Poor_Sh > BadMotorScooter 01/05/2019 at 19:02

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Welcome to the club! Don’t have a 911, but I daily my Cayman S and have a set of winter wheels and Sotozeros as well. In rain, they’re pretty good, in snow, they’re good enough but not exactly Blizzak level, but in the nice but just COLD weather... amazing. I’m much happier having “performance” winter tires in this car rather than strictly snow tires. At least for my purposes.

Also, agree with the great color! I was very close to going in for yellow but in the end I couldn’t overcome my anxiety parking it in some of the surrounding cities and such. It’s a stunner though.

Mike > BadMotorScooter 01/05/2019 at 19:54

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Was this car new or low miles used? My dealer says five percent discount ordering new. What is the mark up on a new 911? I got four percent off on our Macan. Thanks

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > BadMotorScooter 01/05/2019 at 19:59

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Congrats, nice choice on the yellow and manual!

412GTI > BadMotorScooter 01/05/2019 at 20:18

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Beautiful car, enjoy it. The Carrera T quickly became one of my favorite non GT Specs. 

NYankee1927 > BadMotorScooter 01/05/2019 at 21:18

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Congrats. Love the car, I am super jealous. I hope enough people buy the T to keep it going long enough for me to be in the market for one. I just got told by the CEO of the house I can only own one two door car at a time.

BadMotorScooter > Poor_Sh 01/05/2019 at 21:36

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Cool, the Cayman is awesome. I’m actually looking forward to a little light snow to see how it does. We have had a very mild winter so far, so no snow. In fact, it was near record high today in the upper 50s, warm enough for summer performance rubber. We’ll see how it goes, but after the summers are worn out I could see looking at the Bridgestone RE980 all seasons. Blasphemy, I know, but they are reportedly very good and would eliminate the tire swap issues.

One weak spot on the T is color choices. Basically red, black, white, silver, or yellow. Lava orange and Miami blue are $4000 options. 75% of the Ts are white, silver, or black. I didn’t order this car, and if I did yellow would ave been choice 1 or 2, probably 2, because I would have convinced myself white is a safer choice for routine use. But the yellow does look good, if a bit showy!

BadMotorScooter > NYankee1927 01/05/2019 at 21:39

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Well, it was a hard sell to the CEO of my  house to trade my full size truck for a small 2-door sports car. I could see in a few years adding a Taco or Canyon to the fleet for truck duties. Some of that depends on how this does in routine use (by that I mean how much inconvenience from a small sports car - sorry I can’t bring home the xyz or pickup abc because I don’t have room).

Spasoje > BadMotorScooter 01/05/2019 at 21:41

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C o n g r a t s , m a n ! W e l l c h o s e n . H o p e y o u e n j o y i t f or a long time!

BadMotorScooter > MUSASHI66 01/05/2019 at 21:45

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Looks great! I like the unusual colors. Rage against the dying of the colorful cars!

BadMotorScooter > Spasoje 01/05/2019 at 21:47

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Thanks, I hope so too! Love it so far

BadMotorScooter > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 01/05/2019 at 21:48

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Took it out today and more tomorrow. I’m still in break-in period, which is my own construct, since Porsche doesn’t provide any break-in guidance. I guess that means I should drive it like I stole it!

And unfortunately and completely coincidentally, I got a speeding ticket yesterday... in a different car!  I haven’t had a ticket in decades. Fortunately, there is a deferral program which I will certainly participate. 

BadMotorScooter > 412GTI 01/05/2019 at 21:53

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Thanks, I like what they did with the T. It isn’t perfect, but I am glad they offered this option. GT cars are out of my range for now, and the T is a nice blend of driver’s focus with base Carrera pricing.

Interesting fact - they made more GT3s than Ts. Only about 900 Ts in North America. Racing yellow is about 8% of cars.

Poor_Sh > BadMotorScooter 01/05/2019 at 22:49

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This is what I did in our first snow:

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/fun-in-the-white-garbage-1830479728

Otherwise, nothing the rest of the season here either. Mid 40s is borderline for winter/summer tires but they are still fine.

I gotta say, I really love the idea of the T. It’s almost the 911 I’d definitely get for similar duties. But, I can’t take that 20mm lowering around where I live. :(

NojustNo > BadMotorScooter 01/05/2019 at 23:49

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Meh. That's why truck rentals are a thing :)

Maxima Speed > BadMotorScooter 01/06/2019 at 12:05

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Thats really really nice dude. If I was going to buy a new Porsche thats the one I would get.

Bad C.O.P.S. > BadMotorScooter 01/06/2019 at 12:51

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I love it. I just traded  my yellow 911 last month for a grey 911. Had a blue one before that. I’m one of the cultists :) Enjoy the feeling that very few other cars can give you.

MUSASHI66 > BadMotorScooter 01/06/2019 at 21:11

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I’m not helping much right now - white WRX and my old Abarth was silver. But if I get the new Abarth, I want yellow or baby blue. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > BadMotorScooter 01/07/2019 at 09:23

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Congrats! Beautiful car. Looking forward to some photos of that yellow out playing in the snow.