Did Richard Hammond Get The Wrong 911?

Richard Hammond Puts The 911 Dakar Through Its Paces To Answer A Simple Question

To find out, Hammond comes up with a challenge. But before that, he takes the 911 Dakar for a spin off-road, gleefully describing the experience as "mud-wrestling a nun." Now as far as I can remember, while Clarkson wasn’t a fan of the 911 often dismissing it as a glorified Beetle,

Hammond and May, on the other hand, have always praised the rear-engined sports car for its versatility and everyday usability. Two normal doors (by normal, I mean the non-scissor Lambo kind), great visibility all around, and decent luggage room up front. What more can you ask for? It’s no different with the Dakar, taking that narrative even further with the optional camping gear designed for this off-road sports car.

As for performance: Picture this: a luxurious sports car pushing its limits on unforgiving terrain. Sounds absurd, right? But that’s the beauty of the Dakar. Based on the Carrera 4 GTS, this high-riding 911 boasts a 480-horsepower flat-six tucked under a wider body, complete with underbody protection and a jacked-up suspension. On paper, it’s a monster both on and off the pavement.

As Hammond puts the Dakar through its paces, a playful yet genuine sense of "buyer’s remorse" creeps in. His Turbo S Cab might be a speed demon, but the 911 Dakar’s unique blend of performance and practicality makes him question his choice. Is the open-air luxury of the Cabriolet worth the sacrifice of off-road prowess?

Here’s where I’d like to bring in what Jay Leno had to say about the 911 Dakar in a video by the Audrain Museum Network. Leno, a renowned car guy himself, has sung the Dakar’s praises for its surprising comfort and undeniable off-road chops. Just like Hammond, he felt that he might not like the Dakar, but that soon changed once he got behind the wheel.

Jay sees it as one of the most versatile 911s ever built, highlighting how the added ground clearance really comes in handy in the real world, where you don’t have to worry about scraping the low chin, like on a 911 GT3 RS. Leno’s endorsement underscores the fact that the Dakar isn’t just a marketing gimmick where you’ve got a 911 with some slap-on cladding. It really is a serious contender for drivers seeking a broader range of experiences from the 911 format.

The real test comes when Hammond pits the Dakar against a familiar and notorious pothole-infested road, which he avoids taking is precious his beloved 911 Turbo S on, given its low clearance and performance tires. But can the Dakar handle the punishment?

The Dakar is a compelling evolution, blurring the lines between a sports car and an off-road warrior. Throw in Leno’s comfort seal of approval, and the Dakar becomes a serious contender for the "do-it-all" sports car crown. But as I see it, there’s just one small problem. Price, and availability, given Porsche only made a limited number of the Dakar. (2,500 to be more specific).

Used examples cost a fortune these days. But there may be a hack to a more attainable 911 Dakar, which I shall soon reveal in another post. But coming back to Hammond, the question lingers: Did Hammond truly mess up? Navigating the chopped-up pavement with growing enthusiasm, a confession escapes his lips: "I think I bought the wrong 911."