Cars are, in many ways, like houses – you know instinctively whether they are right for you.
There is always a huge selection to choose from and they might all be excellent but there is always one that ticks all the boxes and stands out from the rest.
Usually, it is also the one you can’t afford.
For me, no matter how many sensational cars I drive I always come back to the Porsche 911.
I loved this car when I was a kid, dreamed of owning one and was lucky enough to own three over the years, and never lost my affection for what is and always will be the quintessential Porsche.
But, like property, there are affordable 911s and those that are beyond the financial reach of all but the seriously wealthy.
My dream 911 was always the turbo but I either couldn’t afford one or thought that for the price of a reasonable second hand model I could buy a much newer, less powerful 911, which was plenty fast enough.
Having driven the new 911 Turbo S, courtesy of Ali & Sons in Abu Dhabi, I can say, without any hesitation, that remains the case, well, sort of.
I still can’t afford it and I know I could buy a cheaper 911 that would be excellent but, once driven, this latest turbo becomes a musthave.
Its spellbinding allure has you thinking up outrageous sacrifices that would enable you to raise the money to buy one, like sell the house and live in a tent… well, perhaps not, but you get my drift.
Yes, the GT2 and GT3 might be more extreme but, for me, the Turbo S is mental enough.
For starters the design is a masterpiece.
The car looks sleek, yet aggressive and retains that all important aesthetic link to its 911 bloodline.
It is perfectly proportioned from all angles, with the signature turbo air intakes in the rear wings and magnificent wheels.
Inside, the turbo is typical Porsche with lots of quality leather, carbon fibre and polished metals.
The instrument cluster is dominated by the rev counter, the infotainment and driver assist systems are amongst the best on the market and the comfort level couldn’t be much higher.
It is snug and as with all 911s the drive is intimate and thrilling.
The car is powered by a 3.8 litre twin-turbo boxer engine with considerable muscle power and a glorious sound.
It has 560bhp and torque of 700nm which can catapult this beast from 0-100kmh in 3.1 seconds, putting the power down via the magnificent seven-speed PDK gearbox and a four-wheel drive system.
Keep your foot in and you will reach a sight-blurring speed of 160kmh in just 6.8 seconds.
The turbo is obviously built for high-performance and the handling remains rock solid at high speeds taking with almost anything you throw at it in its stride, thanks to Porsche’s Dynamic Chassis Control and traction management system.
However, that does not mean this car will tolerate stupidity – push it too hard and you will find yourself in big trouble very quickly as it spits you off the road.
It is precisely because you have to show this car respect, and have a decent degree of driving ability which makes it ultimately appealing and exciting to drive.
This new turbo also has rear-axle steering which improves agility and stability.
You might think this would feel a bit odd but it is hardly noticeable, even at slow speeds.
I also put it through its paces on the track, where again it was impossible to fault and confirmed my belief that this, as an everyday car, is truly the dream 911.
Why Buy It
Why Not
911 Turbo S – Specifications
Manufacturer : Porsche
Production : 2013 onwards
Class : Supercar
Body style : Two plus two
Layout : All wheel drive
Engine : 3.8 litre twin turbo
Transmission : Seven-speed PDK automatic with manual rocker switches
Output : 560bhp
Torque : 700nm
0-100km : 3.1 seconds
Kerb weight : 1,605kg
Top speed : 318kmh
Price : Dh659,500
Rating out of 10: 9.5
Here is the official advert for the Porsche Turbo 911 S
