911 Dakar: Jay Leno's Latest Porsche Obsession

Here’s Why Jay Leno Is A Fan Of The 992 Dakar

Jay’s acquaintance with the 911 Dakar began a year ago when he and Donald Osborne did their video on the 911 Dakar for the Audrain Museum Network YouTube channel. Jay compares the stress-free driving experience of the Dakar as a stark contrast to the sometimes harrowing experience of driving a low-slung exotic like his Carrera GT. You do not have to be worried about damaging Dakar while you enjoyably drive it on dirt roads, where even dirt chips are "badges of honor". Jay wholeheartedly appreciates the rally-inspired 911 for its indestructibility and daily driveability.

The Dakar is one of those cars you cannot find fault with. With 7.5 inches of ground clearance and skid plates, you can take this 911 anywhere. It’s no slouch either, with a twin-turbo 3.0-liter flat-six making 473 horsepower and 420 foot-pounds of torque, the 911 Dakar is as fun on the pavement as it is off of it. Donald and Jay claim that the 911 Dakar with its pliant suspension and the exclusive Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain tires is more comfortable than the standard Carrera S with its stiffer sport-tuned suspension.

"People always buy what they think they want, and not what they want, and this is what most people really should have" - Jay Leno

In a more recent Jay Leno’s Garage episode, Leno is joined by Jeff Zwart, veteran Pikes Peak Champion and lifelong Porsche enthusiast. Jeff owns one of the 2,500 911 Dakars made, and he brings his ownership perspective to the video. He calls the 911 Dakar the ’most practical 911’, using his car as a daily driver and canoe transporter. Clearly, Porsche has got the formula down just right.

Jay takes the 911 for some gentle off-roading on some dirt roads and the car gets a little more ’tail happy’. Jeff who was competing at Pikes Peak when it was still just a dirt road feels like the Dakar is as rally-ready as any modern car can be. That is tall praise from a man fortunate enough to drive 14 different Porsches at Pikes Peak.

The rear wheel steering and the suspension lift system of the Dakar add to its fun factor. And in case you are adventurous, Porsche also offers a whole range of additional equipment like a roof rack with auxiliary lights, a rooftop tent, and even a Porsche-branded shovel to get you out of sticky situations.

"I gotta get one of these" - Jay Leno

Although Porsche only made 2500 of these special 911s, you can find several for sale currently in the pre-owned market, with prices hovering in the $3,50,000 range. What you get for the price is one of the most fun, and versatile 911 special editions ever made, with enough firepower under the hood to hold its own with the best sports cars on the road, and not be afraid to hoon around a dirt track if that’s what you love.

The Dakar offers something for everyone to love, and that’s not something you can say about every 911. To answer the question, has Jay Leno found his next Porsche? In the video, you’ll hear him yell out "I gotta get one of these" as he pushes the car on some dirt roads, so I think we have our answer.