Driving a Porsche. It is a rite of passage only available to a fortunate few but advisable to all.
You don’t forget your first time. Palms sweaty with anticipation and nerves jangling but an overwhelming need for speed coursing through your veins.
Al Nabooda Automobiles in Dubai was the scene of this scribe’s first encounter, a first date with the Porsche 911 Turbo S.
The fastest-accelerating road car Porsche has ever placed into production, the Turbo S boasts 412 KW of horsepower, its 3.8 litre turbo-charged engine able to cover 0-60mph in 2.9 seconds.
Its appearance is as appealing as its vital statistics, an impressive body upgrade from previous 911 models making for a much sleeker look. The rear haunches are Kardashian-esque in their curves, a classy but unsubtle show of flamboyance from Porsche.
Then there is the performance.
With four-wheel drive to thank for its incredible traction, the Porsche Turbo S has the speed of a Godolphin Stable thoroughbred but all the comfort of a sheikh’s casbah.
On terrain as divergent as the meandering roads around Dubai Marina and Sports City up to the open, isolated desert motorways out of town: In every scenario the performance is blindingly fast and fluid with complete control around corners.
The low driving position allows for great visibility and all controls are easily within reach so you can concentrate on enjoying the ride; even a 6ft 4in chap with legs like spaghetti doesn’t feel cramped.
In a city where you are unlikely to ever go on one journey without seeing at least five cars that cost in excess of Dhs300,000 on any one trip, the Porsche remains in a class of its own for sheer elegance.
Perhaps the ultimate ‘everyday’ supercar with its superb combination of speed, comfort and drivability, the 911 Turbo S can be found in the new Porsche showroom in Dubai, open now.
VERDICT: 9/10
The 911 Turbo S achieved a top mark after providing a day of elegance and excitement but failed to hit a ten due to the size of the price tag attached to such a beast.
COST: AED 659,500
