Porsche 911 Carrera T (2019) review: A more accessible 911 for driving enthusiasts
While some regard the Porsche brand and indeed its flagship 911 range as elitist, an argument can be made for the brand as a relatively high volume seller locally, with around 100 units sales a month with a respectable percentage of those being attributed to the 911 range.
The sales volume is secured through the brand’s rather diverse model line-up, but as with most manufacturers, the introduction of a more attainable model can mean increased sales and improved brand equity.
Back in 1968, Porsche claimed its first of many Monte Carlo Rally victories with Vic Elford and David Stone piloting a 911 T. In 2018 the 911 T was introduced again, and in very basic terms, it is a basic 911 Carrera with slightly less weight (around 20kg less) and a host of cosmetic and performance-based optional extras included. I recently collected a Jet Black example from Porsche Centre Johannesburg for review purposes.
Related: Which Porsche 911 is better: one with a turbo, or one without?
Styling
Cosmetically, the T comes with a few distinctive design features such as a new front spoiler lip, 20-inch wheels and side mirrors both finished in grey, a “911 Carrera T” logo on each door, black tailpipes and new slats on the rear lid grille. Aside from this, visually, it is very similar to the standard Carrera on which it is based, cutting a classic 911 silhouette.
An important consideration about the T though is the fact that is may just be the last narrow-body Porsche 911 made. The new generation 992 variants all have a uniform body width whereas previous-generation Carrera and Carrera S models are considered ‘narrow-body’ and models such as the Carrera 4, Turbo and GT-variants feature the so-called ‘wide-body’. This may just make the 911 Carrera T a rather collectable piece in future.
Interior & Space
Inside, four-way sports seats are standard and covered in Sport-Tex fabric with the 911 logo stitched on the headrests. There’s also a GT sports steering wheel, fabric door loops instead of handles and what is called the T interior package, which added GT Silver interior accents to the seat belts, 911 logos, door loops and seats in the press example.
In terms of practicality, Porsche market the 911 as a 2+2 sports car, however, the rear seats are only suitable for small adults and children over shorter journeys. In terms of boot space, well, there is an engine where one might hope to find a boot, however, the now-iconic Porsche 'frunk' provides a respectable 145-litres of luggage space, enough for an overnight bag.
Comfort and convenience
The “T”, which stands for Touring, takes the successful formula of the 991.2 Carrera and puts a GT-car spin on it with lightweight glass used in the rear and side windows, less sound-deadening, the option of having no rear seats, the removal of the Porsche infotainment system and no air-conditioning, all at the owner’s request.
It is important to note that the press vehicle featured rear seats, the PCM infotainment system and air-conditioning, meaning that its weight-saving versus a regular Carrera was closer to 5kg. While not exactly fair to compare a previous-generation model to newer products, the age of the 991.2 Carrera T can be felt inside, with its infotainment system lacking more modern connectivity options.
The T comes as standard with the Porsche Active Stability Management (PASM) adaptive suspension, the Sports Chrono Package, a mechanical Limited Slip Differential, 20-inch Carrera S wheels and a sports exhaust system.
Performance
The real magic with any Porsche 911 is in the driving experience and with a rear-mounted twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre flat-six motor and exceptionally quick PDK gearbox sending 272 kW and 450 Nm to the rear wheels, the 911 T is certainly not short on performance. There is also a seven-speed manual gearbox available in the 911 T, which suits the character and ethos of the package more, however, I cannot dispute how incredibly effective the PDK is in just about every driving situation.
In terms of engine sound, with the sports exhaust activated, the 911 T provides just about enough aural drama, but falls well short of the symphonic GT-cars, and so does its price point, so I will forgive it this minor infraction.
The engine and gearbox provide wonderful elasticity, allowing the car to be left in a higher gear through corners and dynamic situations with the low-down torque pulling the car along. The turbocharged motor gives the car very different characteristics to the likes of the GT3, which always demands to be kept on the boil.
It is the more subdued and usable powertrain coupled with the superb transmission options that make the T a great sports car to tackle everyday driving scenarios with. It still provides the GT-Porsche characteristics, even if these are watered down, and combines them with what makes a standard 911 such a good all-rounder.
The addition of the Sports Chrono package to the test car allows the PDK-equipped car to get to 100km/h in 4.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 290km/h. In addition to the superb feel and feedback of the steering, despite it being an all-electric set-up, the aforementioned PASM allows for the vehicle to ride over less than perfect road surfaces at speed far better than you’d anticipate.
Fuel economy
The 911 range has never been about absolute fuel economy, being a sports car and all, however, the turbocharged motor in the previous and current generation 911 models can provide respectable consumption, with an extended drive resulting in 8.1L/100km and my five-day tenure resulting in 11.2 L/100km with some spirited driving included.
Safety
The 991.2 Porsche 911 range has not been subjected to a crash safety test, so it is not possible to provide official safety information, however, if other Porsche products such as the Taycan, Macan and Cayenne’s safety credentials are anything to go by, the 911 should provide 5-Star safety.
Pricing
At the launch of the Carrera T, the PDK model retailed for R1 586 000 without options, however, upon viewing several low mileage examples available locally, these cars can be had for similar money now in 2020.
Verdict
Looking at the way vehicle pricing has gone during 2020, the low-mileage examples of the Carrera T appear to provide a relative performance car bargain, considering that many a small performance car, with options, can quickly approach the price of one of these. It is most certainly worthy of consideration then when shopping for your next sports car if driver engagement is high on your list of priorities.
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