2005 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Test Drive

Let's begin with bit of history: Porsche introduced the hugely successful Type 993 Carrera in 1993. The 993 represented the most radical change up to that time in the familiar (and by then) 30-year old 911. With a much wider track, both handling and ride benefited immensely. The design also featured the first coke-bottle or pinched waist shape on a Porsche. The completely new Type 996 introduced in 1997 brought more momentous changes, including the first ever liquid-cooled six-cylinder engine in a 911 - a 3.4L flat-six generating 300 hp at 6,800 rpm. For the 2004 model year, this engine was bored out to 3.6L to produce 320 hp and 370 lb-ft of torque. The Type 996 Carrera S models continued to feature the wasp waist, broad-shouldered look introduced in the Type 993. But the (base) Carrera Coupe was changed so much that to some it looked like the skinny "before" guy in the Max Weider muscle ads. Not surprisingly, buyers tended to avoid it in droves. All this has been corrected in the Type 997, which has been introduced to North America as a 2005 model. The base Carrera has re-assumed the profile of the 12-year old Type 993. This is to say it now has the same heavy shoulders and clearly defined waistline. Even its oval headlights are a throwback.