The Porsche 911 Carrera T is far from the most expensive, fastest or hardcore model in the range, but with a select few options fitted over the regular Carrera, this could be the one to go for.....
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We understand if the pricier and more heavily-dressed Dakar and GT3 RS versions of the Porsche 911 range have been stealing all the limelight in recent times, but the firm hasn’t forgotten about the more affordable end of its sports car range. This Porsche 911 Carrera T might make the most sense, after all. It sits just one tier above the entry-level Carrera and comes with a few attractive goodies included, with a list price costing around 10% more.
The letter T stands for Touring, by the way, and it promises a more agile and focussed driving experience than the regular version. Engine power remains the same, but a number of small tweaks might make you consider the extra outlay.
First of all, this is the cheapest 911 available with the seven-speed manual gearbox. Take a look inside and you’ll notice the rear seats have been removed, too, while there’s less sound insulation, thinner glass and a lighter battery. All of these add up to a total weight saving of 35kg over the standard Carrera. Meanwhile, a sportier adaptive suspension setup which sits the Carrera T 10mm lower takes care of business when it comes to cornering.
In terms of styling, you get grey exterior highlights (such as the door mirror caps), Carrera T logos on the doors, larger 20- and 21in wheels (for front and rear) painted in grey and oval exhaust pipes to differentiate this from the standard Carrera. One option that you don’t get in the Carrera T is a convertible version with a folding soft top roof.
Considering the entry-level Carrera is our pick of the 911 range, is the Carrera T able to steal that crown?
What’s the Porsche 911 Carrera T like to drive?
You get the same 380bhp turbocharged 3.0-litre engine in the Carrera and that’s no bad thing. With plenty of muscle at low revs, it’s extremely flexible, should you want to bumble around effortlessly. However, if the mood strikes, you can rev it all the way to the 7,500rpm limiter with a consistently strong power delivery.
You can still have the eight-speed automatic as a no-cost option, which lowers the manual’s 0-62mph time of 4.5sec down to 4.0sec, but being able to shift through the seven gears yourself is arguably more appealing. The shift itself is precise, easy to slot into gear and has a short enough throw (if not quite as snappy as the GT3’s).
Indeed, the more powerful Carrera S and GTS options provide lower 0-62mph times, but the Carrera T feels like you can make the most of what’s available more often.
Where the Carrera T shines is down a twisting country road, with sweeter handling than the regular Carrera. The beautifully weighted steering that’s precise and responsive in all 911s is present and correct, but with the optional rear-wheel steering system providing a keener turn-in to corners, tighter body control and high levels of grip, the driver very quickly builds up confidence.
Soon enough, you’ll be encouraged to maintain a high rate of momentum for as long as possible. Traction levels remain high, with the Carrera T further benefitting from a limited-slip differential to boost traction when powering out of a corner.
With that sports adaptive suspension left in its Normal setting, the ride remains settled and does a good job taking the sting out of most bumps. It’s a little firmer than the standard Carrera, but you’ll hear it thump over cats-eyes and sharp-edged ridges on the road, rather than feel it.
Switching to the suspension’s firmer, sportier setting in its Sport Plus drive mode and its low speed ride deteriorates; transmitting potholes and scarred surfaces through to occupants. Thankfully there is a dedicated button on the dash that lets you select which setting to have, but unless you’re on smooth roads, there isn’t much benefit to be had in its most aggressive setting.
Despite a reduction in sound deadening, the removal of the rear seats and thinner glass, refinement hasn’t taken a huge hit. Inside, you can hear a little more turbo whistle filtering through from the back of the car, but the standard 911 suffers from a fair amount of road noise from the wide tyres anyway.
As a result, the slight increase in resonance at motorway speeds in the Carrera T is still tolerable. And despite the standard-fit sports exhaust, it’s not particularly loud inside with very little drone when you settle down to a cruise. In fact, some may expect a bit more theatre from those rear pipes under acceleration.
What’s the Porsche 911 Carrera T like inside?
The Porsche 911 Carrera T’s interior is pretty much the same as the Carrera when sitting up front. You get sports front seats as standard with four-way electric adjust (for height and recline) and a sports steering wheel.
The Carrera T also benefits from the Sport Chrono package, fitting a rotary control dial on the steering wheel to conveniently cycle through drive modes, and a dash-mounted clock that also functions as a stopwatch.
Perhaps the biggest difference is the absence of rear seats. You can have them fitted as a no cost option, otherwise the Carrera T isn’t quite as practical as the standard models, which you can read about in our full Porsche 911 review.
Keyword: 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera T review