Porsche 911 (992) Carrera S Cabriolet: How It Compares to the 991

The delivery date was pushed back twice, but in mid-2019 the 992-generation Porsche Carrera S Cabriolet finally stood in our garage. We picked up the new version with the old one, namely a Porsche 911 Carrera T of the 991.2 generation, so the conditions for a back-to-back comparison were perfect.

Want to get behind the wheel yourself? On our website you can rent the Porsche 911 Carrera S and many other variants online – quick and hassle-free.

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For the nerds, the key 911 specs: horsepower, 0 to 60 and top speed

Honestly, we went for the S because the base model wasn't available at launch yet. We're not sad about it, though - the S is, after all, a good bit quicker than the base 911.

So what exactly can the Stuttgart sports car do? 443 hp propels the Cabriolet from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds (3.3 s with the Sport Chrono package). Acceleration ends at 190 mph. Is that accurate? We're not entirely sure. The first videos are already circulating on YouTube showing the Stuttgart convertible doing over 199 mph, at least according to the speedometer.

All that massive power goes to the rear wheels only. An all-wheel-drive version is available as an alternative, but of course it costs a good deal of extra weight, and money. For the first time, though, the body doesn't get wider with the all-wheel-drive option, as has traditionally been the case with the 911. Even the rear-wheel-drive variant comes with the wide body, to further standardize production.

Porsche 992 design: classic, but not without criticism

As you can see in the pictures, we configured the Porsche Cabriolet in Agate Grey Metallic with black wheels and a black top. Overall, the car looks noticeably wider than the previous model. At the rear, that now shows in the continuous, wide LED light bar. The engine lid is more angular, and its lines hark back to the older generations.

All in all, though, the changes are so minor that everyone will probably have to decide for themselves whether they find the design prettier or "less pretty." We ran a little poll on Instagram in which we put a 991 and a 992 side by side and asked which version our followers liked better. The community was just as divided as we are: exactly 50/50.

Inside, the picture gets a little clearer. At the latest when you see the familiar (and terribly inelegant) mass-market buttons and switches from the VW Group parts bin, the majority will probably opt for the 991. The 991's interior conveys the feeling of driving a unique car - and a Porsche - far better.

The part that matters: how does the 992 drive?

First things first: the new Porsche 911 drives perfectly. Whether in everyday life, for which it has become even more of a grand tourer; on back roads, where the new buttery-smooth 8-speed transmission shifts like silk; or on the racetrack, where the transmission becomes an absolute weapon of dynamics and nails every gear. As if it could read the driver's mind.

Everything else is basically already familiar from the 991 generation and has been praised to the skies often enough. But unfortunately, for us, that perfection also costs a little more emotion. Sure, the car is one of the best in the world. But compare the engine sound and you notice that the guys at Porsche sadly weren't able to extract a good soundtrack despite the Euro-spec particulate filter. Where even the 991 still rasps with some grit, in the 992 you get more of a feeling of hearing a software-controlled sound from a speaker. And that's with the sport exhaust in Sport mode. (US cars don't get the filter, so if anything, yours will sound even better than ours.)

The typical Porsche gauges with an analog tachometer and iconic orange needles have been replaced by large screens with all sorts of useful readouts. That's great and modern. But is that what we want when we're driving a Porsche?

Next example: you no longer insert the key to start the engine. It can now be placed quite conveniently on the center console. That may be easier. But the question remains: is that what we want when we're driving a Porsche?

It's no coincidence that prices for all old 911s have practically exploded. Most of those cars don't even have power steering. This shows that fans of the 911 legend value the really fundamental things – the flat-six, the unique shape, the sportiness and above all the feeling of driving the car yourself. Still, the Porsche will no doubt sell like hotcakes among the world's managers and executives, and rightly so… as mentioned at the start, it is a perfect car, after all.

Drive a Porsche 911 yourself – our verdict

You're welcome to experience the Porsche 911 legend and even compare the latest generations yourself. With us you can rent both the previous-generation Porsche 911 (991) and the brand-new model, the Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet in 992 guise. Treat yourself to something for next summer's vacation and drive top-down through Tuscany, for example.

Still missing inspiration for your next road trip? Our road trip overview offers the perfect outing for every car lover.