Porsche 911 - page 180

My Instagram feed rarely disappoints, and today, it seriously delivered. Jonny Lieberman from MotorTrend.com dropped a bombshell on Instagram from what appears to be a private event: The twin mad scientists and automotive designers, Iliya & Nikita Bridan behind California-based Oil Stain Lab are going to build 25 limited-edition examples of an ultra-lightweight mid-engined hypercar and they’re calling it the HF-11.

From your average Joe on Pimp My Ride to Celebrity builds, I’ve seen a fair share of some truly outrageous creations from West Coast Customs over the past two decades. But this one is special. Why? Because it involves a Billionaire, yes, with a capital ’B’. But this is not just any Billionaire, but Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, yes the same dude who runs the likes of some of the biggest tech / social media companies on the planet in the form of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Zuckerberg along with his wife Pricilla Chan, posted some pictures of a stretched Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT and a Porsche 911 GT3, on the very platforms that Mark runs, indicating that he may be a Porsche guy.

The Porsche 911 is widely regarded as the ultimate high-performance daily sports car. Porsche people certainly believe this and for a good reason. The German automaker has seemingly perfected the formula of the rear-engine layout, creating one of the most versatile platforms in the business. It’s no wonder, that there is a 911 for every taste, need, and (almost every) budget. Between the different body styles, engines, and drivetrain options, there are over 30 variants of the 992-generation Porsche 911 that you can choose from.

Porsche introduced the 911 S/T, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the iconic sports car. Limited to 1963 units, a tribute to the launch year of the original 911, the S/T is a driver-focused special edition model. Porsche has designed the ultimate 911 combining the best technologies and features from other stalwarts in their line-up. Every review of the 911 S/T that I’ve read or seen has unanimously called it the greatest 911 if not, one of the greatest road cars ever. Now, I have compiled the best reviews from some of my favorite channels and presenters on YouTube, where each one of them has presented a unique perspective on the brilliance and historical significance of the 911 S/T.

The Porsche 911 Turbo S is at the top of the food chain when it comes to fast Porsche sports cars, suited for daily use. The 992 Turbo S is mind-bendingly fast and able to embarrass plenty of more expensive models. The rear-engine sports car has always had a reputation for being relatively lightweight, refined, and usable as far as sports cars go. While the company continues to adhere to the same philosophy (for the most part), there is one dreaded aspect of the Porsche experience – the Porsche tax.

Porsche’s sports cars are rich in heritage and go back in time even beyond the iconic 911. While models like the Porsche 911 have always had a multitude of variants, meaning there is a version of the car for everyone, depending on what power levels, drivetrain options, or body style that you are after. The rear-engine Porsche is not the only high-performance model. In more recent times, the entry-level Boxster and Cayman models have been the go-to Porsche sports car for everyone who isn’t quite ready to part with 911 money. Some would even go as far as saying that the mid-engine Porsche is actually the better sports car and that the mid-engine layout is the superior platform.

Every car owner projects a certain image or lifestyle, and owning a certain model or brand comes with certain preconceived notions or stereotypes. We’ve all heard of the more popular ones like how BMW owners are unaware of turn signals or how Subaru owners are outdoorsy. Some stereotypes are weirder than others, like how every Mini Cooper owner must be a vegan, who knows where that got started?

The Porsche 911 Turbo S is, by no means, an affordable car.... or is it? It all depends on the context and when that includes hypercars from the likes of Bugatti and Koenigsegg, the perception of value can drastically change. While the build process of most exotics typically employs the best and most exotic materials, this doesn’t always guarantee a million-dollar, 1,000-plus-horsepower hypercar’s position at the top of the automotive food chain. Then you have other cars that despite the lack of these sci-fi materials, are still built to be overachievers and the Porsche 992 Turbo S is certainly a great example of that.

The Speedster is one of the purest forms of the 911 and the nameplate actually dates back to the early ‘50s when Porsche sold the likes of the 550 and 356 Speedsters. While the Speedster body style is all about open-top motoring, it does have a few stand-out elements that set it apart from Cabriolets and Targa models. The Speedster is known for its stripped-down design and lightweight body, often featuring a smaller windshield, no rear seats, a distinctive double-hump on the rear deck lid, and a tonneau cover instead of a full roof.

For many, the 997-generation 911 is the last old-school Porsche. Essentially, an evolution of the controversial 996, the 997 (eventually) fixed all of the 996’s problems while exploiting the chassis to its full potential. It is the 997 generation that spawned some of the most iconic Porsche 911 variants. While the example featured here is one of the more mainstream versions of the rear-engine sports car, it has been tastefully modified. Now I know that adding forced induction to a naturally aspirated Carrera is not that uncommon, and many owners are opting for it, especially with tuners like RUF offering specially developed kits that enhance performance.

What is the definition of a true sports car? Well, to me at least, it means a car that looks sharp, offers decent performance, handles right, and, most importantly, is lightweight. The 911 S/T, introduced in the third quarter of 2023, fits that narrative perfectly and takes inspiration from the classic 911 S/T lightweight competition package sold between 1969 and 1972. Commemorating the 60th anniversary of the iconic German sports car, the S/T sits at the top of the current 911 lineup and only 1963 examples will be built, a nod to the year that the original 911 launched. But sitting at the higher end of the price spectrum, Porsche has done something unique here. Beyond the cosmetic elements, the S/T combines some truly desirable bits from various 911s. Porsche has, in my opinion inadvertently created the ultimate 911 of the decade with the S/T. A bold claim I know, especially when you have some truly astonishing models come out over the past 10 years, like the 911 R from the 991 generation and more recently, other limited-run models like the 911 Sport Classic and the 911 Dakar from the 992 generation. Priced at $290,000, the S/T also costs supercar money. So how do I justify this bold claim? Let’s find out.

Only one car can give you the feel of a Porsche 911 and that’s a 911. Altering any aspect of this iconic sports car can dramatically change the driving experience, but that hasn’t stopped people from taking out the boxer engine and replacing it with something that at first glance, doesn’t belong there. The rear-engine Porsche sports car is considered one of the most refined and usable high-performance cars, that you can daily-drive. At least, in most of its iterations. Despite much praise, however, the 911 is not a perfect car, and certain generations are known to suffer from a few major issues.