Porsche 911 (991)

Model Years Produced: 2012-2019

Summary

Unlike the 997-generation 911 which came before it (which was based on the 996-generation 911), the 991 was a new design rather than a heavy facelift of the previous car. It featured a brand new interior design which found its way to the rest of Porsche’s lineup, a more sleek exterior, and a raft of updates to the direct injection engines which Porsche had introduced in the 2009 911. Arguably the most controversial change was not the increase in size over the 997, but rather the shift from hydraulic to electric power steering, which many enthusiasts felt removed one of the core elements of what made the 911 great. In hindsight, this ended up being a minor issue as Porsche’s electric power steering tuning improved over the years, and the 991 generation is remembered fondly as being the last of the naturally-aspirated 911s.

Although the 991 has been out of production since the end of model year 2019, they have aged well and have also maintained their values quite well. Both the naturally-aspirated and the turbocharged engines have no pervasive reliability issues, nor does the PDK transmission, and the electronics and interior generally hold up to the years without too many issues or excessive wear. They’re more comfortable to daily drive than the earlier 997 due to better noise insulation and suspension tuning, but they have a sharper edge than the later 992 – especially the naturally-aspirated versions – even if the 997 still ultimately provides a more raw experience in that regard.

The 991 generation can be split up into two sub-generations:

• 991.1 or 991 I, which stretches from 2012-2016
• 991.2 or 991 II, which stretches from 2017-2019

991.1 Carrera models were the last naturally-aspirated non-“GT” (e.g. GT3) 911s. For some enthusiasts, that makes them more desirable than the later turbocharged engines in the 991.2 and 992.

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Base / 4

The base 911 is known as just the Carrera or C2 in RWD form, or Carrera 4 or C4 in AWD form. It is the softest of the 991 lineup, with the fewest performance features standard or optional, but it’s still a fun car to drive and a comfortable grand-tourer.

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T

The Carrera T is the most pure experience of the 991 generation. It’s only available as a RWD coupe, and it comes standard with a manual transmission.

The T also comes standard with a limited-slip differential, PTV (Porsche Torque Vectoring), PASM, PSE, and thinner glass.

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S / 4S

The S is a more powerful version of the 911, and it makes either 400 or 420hp depending on the model year.

Includes as standard:

• PASM
• PTV (Porsche Torque Vectoring) or PTV+ with mechanical limited-slip differential (if manual) or electronic limited-slip differential (if PDK)
• 20″ wheels

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GTS / 4 GTS

The GTS trim level is traditionally thought of as the “sweet spot” for Porsche vehicles, and on the 911, it includes several performance options as standard: PSE, PTV/PTV+ with limited slip differential, Sport Chrono, and PASM with sport tuning. It also has wider rear fenders to accommodate larger tires and a stiffer rear sway bar.

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Turbo

The 911 Turbo is a bonefied supercar. While all 911s (save for the GT3) now have turbochargers, the Turbo used to be, traditionally speaking, the only one that did. In the 991 generation, that means it has a 3.8L engine in both 991.1 and 991.2 guises with two turbos bolted to it, producing either 520 or 540 horsepower. It is only available with AWD and Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch transmission, but it can still be had in both coupe and convertible body styles.

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Turbo S

The Turbo S doesn’t just turn up the boost from the Turbo. It has larger turbos, giving the engine a higher overhead for power and enabling greater aftermarket tuning potential than the Turbo. It also comes standard with PCCB (Porsche Carbon Ceramic Brakes), PDCC with active anti-roll control, Sport Chrono, 18-way Adaptive Sport Seats, and larger center-lock wheels.

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