You can spark off a rather long debate at the pub on a car like a Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet GTS. A group of non-enthusiasts will say that it's all about pose while the handful of purists will bang their beer mugs on the table and argue that this car is more about poise.
It's a tough job keeping up with the debate, really. These two very different opinionated groups aren't wrong. They've got ample logical and emotional reasons to justify their arguments, which makes it that much harder to disagree with either.
Truth is, after a few pints and more than a few harsh words used to get the points across to each other, there really isn't much to debate about the car. Simply because the 911 Cabriolet GTS that you see here is, suffice to say, one machine that's all about pose and poise.
Up close and Personal
The car looks wonderful in the flesh. With a menacing stance that's lower and wider than the Carrera S and an aggressive frontal appearance that will scare the driver in the Jaguar F-TYPE in the next lane, the soft-top GTS is every bit eye-catching without coming across as a typical attention-seeking sports car.
It's a tough job keeping up with the debate, really. These two very different opinionated groups aren't wrong. They've got ample logical and emotional reasons to justify their arguments, which makes it that much harder to disagree with either.
Truth is, after a few pints and more than a few harsh words used to get the points across to each other, there really isn't much to debate about the car. Simply because the 911 Cabriolet GTS that you see here is, suffice to say, one machine that's all about pose and poise.
Up close and Personal
The car looks wonderful in the flesh. With a menacing stance that's lower and wider than the Carrera S and an aggressive frontal appearance that will scare the driver in the Jaguar F-TYPE in the next lane, the soft-top GTS is every bit eye-catching without coming across as a typical attention-seeking sports car.
Of course, many will disagree with this, considering how many eyes it attracts with the test car dressed in bright yellow, accompanied by the Martini livery outfit. But as choices go, we wouldn't have this car in this colour, even if it brings out the black bits of 'GTS' moniker at the back or goes perfectly well with the sporty red on the wing mirrors, front air intakes and the rear diffuser.
Bigger kids and smaller adults will be able to fit at the back bench when the sky is the roof but with the top in place, it's best left for your casual briefcase and smaller grocery items. Up front the driver is faced with an array of buttons, allowing the driver to choose its different driving modes, damper stiffness as well as the usual air-conditioning temperature and fan speed.
You'll be able to slot yourself in without fuss, thanks to the highly adjustable steering wheel and electric seat. You sit high enough to have a clear view of the road ahead, which is vital especially when more attention is needed to gauge through narrow carparks.
Bigger kids and smaller adults will be able to fit at the back bench when the sky is the roof but with the top in place, it's best left for your casual briefcase and smaller grocery items. Up front the driver is faced with an array of buttons, allowing the driver to choose its different driving modes, damper stiffness as well as the usual air-conditioning temperature and fan speed.
You'll be able to slot yourself in without fuss, thanks to the highly adjustable steering wheel and electric seat. You sit high enough to have a clear view of the road ahead, which is vital especially when more attention is needed to gauge through narrow carparks.
The Drive
Despite having a massive amount of 430 horses and 440Nm of torque sent to the rear wheels from the word 'go', the GTS Cabriolet is spectacularly sharp and comfortably composed on the move. We say this with conviction because there are cars that are seemingly overwhelmed by their own performance output, which makes them feel utterly controlled and less fun than they ought to be.
In this case, Porsche seems to have found a sweet spot that will let the driver enjoy every last drop of power and torque from the 3.8-litre engine without feeling like an inexperienced imbecile. Perhaps the fact that there is barely a hint of rattle or flex from the roofless shell enhances the car's stability, even at illegal speed limits. As a result, the cabriolet doesn't feel any less of a driver's car from the coupe.
Of course, it does lose the rigidity that's allied with a coupe, but that's a quibble you'll be willing to overlook when you know that the cabriolet is capable of handling itself with absolute ferocity and confidence. The steering is just as crisp, accurate and well-weighted as the coupe, making every drive assuring every time.
Despite having a massive amount of 430 horses and 440Nm of torque sent to the rear wheels from the word 'go', the GTS Cabriolet is spectacularly sharp and comfortably composed on the move. We say this with conviction because there are cars that are seemingly overwhelmed by their own performance output, which makes them feel utterly controlled and less fun than they ought to be.
In this case, Porsche seems to have found a sweet spot that will let the driver enjoy every last drop of power and torque from the 3.8-litre engine without feeling like an inexperienced imbecile. Perhaps the fact that there is barely a hint of rattle or flex from the roofless shell enhances the car's stability, even at illegal speed limits. As a result, the cabriolet doesn't feel any less of a driver's car from the coupe.
Of course, it does lose the rigidity that's allied with a coupe, but that's a quibble you'll be willing to overlook when you know that the cabriolet is capable of handling itself with absolute ferocity and confidence. The steering is just as crisp, accurate and well-weighted as the coupe, making every drive assuring every time.
This distance devourer also makes itself known. The raucous soundtrack from the quad tailpipes will see to that, with pops and crackles as the gears from the seven-speed PDK dual-clutch auto box shifts through rapidly.
Conclusion
We aren't going to lie about it. The Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet GTS is an excellent car that doesn't compromise on pose or poise. At $628,488 (as of 24th December 2015, without COE), the car does come across as an expensive deal.
But you and I both know we get what we pay for, no?
Conclusion
We aren't going to lie about it. The Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet GTS is an excellent car that doesn't compromise on pose or poise. At $628,488 (as of 24th December 2015, without COE), the car does come across as an expensive deal.
But you and I both know we get what we pay for, no?
