Porsche 911 Carrera 4S

SPECIFICATIONS

1. The 3.8L flat-6 engine produces 400 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. 2. Available transmissions include a 7-Speed PDK dual-clutch automatic of an industry first 7-speed manual with a rev-matching feature. 3. The C4S will hit 60 mph in 4.3 seconds with the manual or as little as 3.9 seconds with the PDK and Sport Chrono package. 4. Priced from $105,630, our test car was optioned up to $124,455.

PREVIEW

If you weren’t born into wealth, aren’t on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list or have yet to purchase a winning lottery ticket, it is time for plan B. Maybe you can be the next Youtube sensation to go viral, or maybe you have a hidden talent that could win the next X Factor? Whatever it takes, there may be no better reason to amass a moderate amount of wealth than the vehicle featured here; the 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S.

If you’re like the  porsche members, the 911 Carrera 4S is something attainable only in dreams. Starting at $105,630, our car was optioned up to an as tested price of $124,455. This puts it firmly beyond the realistic means of most people not willing to subscribe to the school of Bernie Madoff economics.

INTERIOR

Inside it’s all business behind the wheel. The seat can be adjusted 18 ways and is both comfortable and supportive. The pedals are laid out perfectly and the 7-speed manual gear shifter is set high and easily in reach of the right arm. Below it are all the buttons that matter to a 911. There is the sport, sport plus, sport suspension, sport exhaust, stability control, spoiler adjustment and start/stop buttons. They can all be turned on and off independently and some should always remain on, while others should always be off (Recap: exhaust on, sport plus on, spoiler off).

The 911 features a five-pod gauge cluster with the second pod from the right being completely customizable. Here, information like AWD distribution, g forces, lap times, navigation, audio information or vehicle fluid temperatures can be shown. The 4.41 cu- ft frunk (front trunk) can hold quite a bit thanks to its rectangular shape. We were able to fit a whole week's worth of groceries for two up there. If more space is needed, there are the two mostly-useless rear seats that can store more cargo. Finally, the Bose audio package must be included when equipping this vehicle as it nearly rivals the engine for audio nirvana.

UNDER THE HOOD

But this doesn’t mean constant improvements are made to the legendary 911. Last year brought an all new Carrera and this year all-wheel drive models have been added.  Designated by the number 4 on the trunk, the all-wheel drive Carrera 4 comes in the same flavors as the rear-wheel drive Carrera; regular or S, and as either a cabriolet or a coupe.

Sending all this power to the Porsche Traction Management (Porsche speak for all-wheel drive) system is a choice of either a dual-clutch 7-speed PDK automatic or the world’s first 7-speed stick shift.Being a Carrera 4S, our test vehicle dumps the 350 hp 3.4-liter flat-six motor found in lesser Carreras, for a fire breathing 3.8-liter version that produces 400 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque.

Our test car came equipped with the latter, as any Porsche should. It is rated at 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway, and during a heavy footed week of driving returned an average of 20.3 mpg – not bad for a 400 hp sports car.

However, fuel efficiency is clearly not what the Carrera 4S is about; performance is. Porsche claims this car can reach 60 mph from a standstill in 4.3 seconds, and continue all the way up to a top speed of 185 mph. The Flat-6 doesn’t provide the instant torque felt in some larger or boosted engines, but get it above 5,000 rpms and it comes alive. Making this velocity all the more glorious is the sound that emits from the 3.8 L engine.