Khris Bharath

You know that saying "built like a brick"? You often associate that saying with old Mercs from the ‘80s and ‘90s. But it appears that Porsche apparently took that literally. J.D. Power just dropped their 38th Initial Quality Study results, and guess who’s leading the chart when it comes to premium and luxury car brands? Well, it’s none other than the Stuttgart-based automaker. The study surveyed 100,000 U.S. new car buyers between July 2023 and May 2024, covering over 20 brands and 200 models. Buyers were asked about 227 possible quality abnormalities across 10 different categories. Porsche came out on top as the leading premium brand with a score of 172 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100). Now for context, 195 PP100 is the industry average, which is, well, not great (the Lower the score, the better). It ranked seventh overall in the rankings.

The Porsche 911 GT3 RS is probably the last car that comes to mind when you think about practicality. But the owner of this particular 992.1 example (as seen in the Reddit post below) based out of Dubai seems to think otherwise, as he or she has clearly tried to improve the usability of this track toy by mounting a Porsche-branded roof box, made by Swedish company, Thule. The GT3 RS does not have a frunk like other 911s, because additional aero elements have taken its place. So adding a roof box should help in maximizing space and the amount of stuff you can carry, however, it comes at a huge cost to the car’s capabilities and intended use. Regardless maybe, (and I’m just assuming here) this owner is stuck with a weird predicament, where this is their only daily driver. Let’s explore some of the pros (yes, there is one) and cons of mounting a roof rack on your GT3 RS.

Be it road cars or motorsports, Porsche is a brand that is steeped in tradition and there are certain things about models like the 911, that the German marque should be very careful about changing or altering, or it could leave the Porsche faithful reaching for the pitchforks. Think stuff like the five-gauge instrument cluster with the big analog tachometer in the center, or the twist-and-turn Le Mans-style starter that sits to the left of the steering wheel.

With Automobili Rimac taking over Bugatti in 2021, the world expected the Chiron’s successor to be a rebadged Nevera. However, the French automaker just defied expectations and has instead stuck with internal combustion. Forget, turbocharged hybrids; Bugatti has ditched the W16 and in its place has worked with Cosworth to develop an all-new, naturally-aspirated V16 engine that revs to 9,000 rpm. It produces 1,000 horsepower. Additionally, there’s a tri-motor setup with 800 horsepower and a 37-mile all-electric range. Combined, this is an analog hybrid supercar with 1,800 horsepower on tap. For the first time, we actually have a modern-Bugatti that actually sounds good. This move begs the question: with Porsche holding a fat 45% stake in the recently formed Bugatti-Rimac, could we see a similar surprise approach from the upcoming flagship Porsche, i.e. the 918’s successor?

Remember YouTuber Danny Z’s budget Porsche that we featured recently? Danny and his crew bought a beat-up 996 911 from Copart Auctions for $10,000. They completely transformed the looks of the stock car by throwing on a GT3 body kit. But the driving experience left something to be desired. It was time to make the car handle better, on a budget, of course. While this isn’t a full-blown tune to unlock more performance from the flat-6, the Copart Porsche did receive a few vital upgrades to improve its handling and more crucially, the way it sounds.

The 2024 Le Mans served up quite a spectacle in the brand new LM GT3 class, with Porsche’ #91 Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R taking the win. Piloted by Richard Lietz, Morris Schuring, and Yasser Shahin, the race-spec 911 GT3 R took the checkered flag, etching Porsche’s and the Nürburing-based tuner’s name into the history books as the first manufacturer to win Le Mans with a GT3 car.

The Porsche 718 Boxster, alongside its hardtop sibling, the Cayman, has evolved into a performance powerhouse in the Porsche lineup over the past two decades. Even with the base 2.0-liter 300-horsepower turbo Boxer-four engine (which sounds similar to a Subaru Boxer four, in my opinion), the 718 not only offers performance that’s useable on a day-to-day basis but also has enough potential to carve corners with precision.

The Porsche 996 generation, produced between 1998 and 2005, remains a controversial model in the 911 history. While it’s celebrated for being one of the most affordable ways to enter the 911 family, often priced below $30,000, it’s also garnered a reputation for its divisive design and reliability concerns. Many purists criticize the "fried egg" headlights, a radical departure from the classic round lights of previous generations, and early examples were plagued by engine issues related to the intermediate shaft (IMS) bearing.

The Porsche 911: a sports car so ubiquitous, it’s as common as the Toyota Camry in some cities. For over six decades, this iconic model has held a steadfast position as the most recognizable sports car, captivating enthusiasts and status seekers alike. The 911 is a paradox, both a driver’s car revered by purists and a symbol of affluence coveted by many. Among Porsche 911’s model palette, the Carrera S serves as the perfect middle ground between the base Carrera and the bonkers Carrera GTS. But what if you crave the unbridled power of a Turbo S without having to spend a ridiculous amount of money? Well, the owner of this 2022 992.1 Carrera S had aspirations along similar lines, and with a tune, his 911 now produces almost 600 horsepower!

Porsche recently debuted the 2025 992.2 Carrera and the Carrera GTS models, with the latter sporting motorsport-derived hybrid technology. However, both forego the seven-speed manual gearbox option, at least for now. Even if you configure a pre-facelifted 992.1 GT3 and GT3 RS on Porsche’s website, you’d have no option but to choose the seven-speed PDK automatic gearbox. The only manual-equipped 911 Porsche currently available is the limited-edition 911 S/T, which debuted back in August 2023.

Remember the Porsche 930 Turbo, that 80s icon with a whale tail that earned the title of widowmaker? Well, U.K.-based tuner, Lanzante has cranked things up to 11 with their latest Porsche restomod creation, dubbed the TAG F1 Porsche. They took a featherweight Porsche 930 shell and injected a hefty dose of 1980s F1 fury – right in the middle of this whole "smaller engines are better" era. But this isn’t just any F1 mill, it’s the same unit that took the formidable McLaren-TAG-Porsche team to three straight F1 World Championships back in the 1980s.

Porsche recently introduced its first electrified 911 with the Carrera GTS as part of the facelifted 992.2 generation Porsche 911. It comes at a time when there are only a few two-door hybrid sports cars available in the market, and one of them is the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray. Now, it is worth noting that neither of the two cars mentioned here are not plug-in hybrids and only feature very compact battery packs. This is why Porsche doesn’t refer to the new 911 Carrera GTS as an E-Hybrid (PHEVs in Porsche world) but instead calls it a T-Hybrid, which means Turbo Hybrid.