2004 Porsche Carrera 4S Test Drive

The 2004 Porsche Carrera 4S may be the best handling high-speed automobile in the world. It’s not for everyone, however. It’s not even for every rich guy. For one thing, the extra firm suspension – essential for control at high speeds – can be hard on the backside at commuter speeds. For another, the spectacular good looks may attract unwanted attention from, well, the IRS for instance. MSRP: $93,200; Warranty: 4yr/50,000 mi.

First Glance

The Porsche legend took root in the popular consciousness in 1964 when production of the 911 began in Zuffenhausen. The Carrera name first appeared in 1973 on the Carrera RS (Rennsport). The first 911 Cabriolet appeared in 1983-4. In 1989 came the first-ever 4WD system in a production 911. It featured an air-cooled 3.6L turbocharged flat-6 or “boxer” engine producing 360 hp. In 1993, the hugely successful “Type 993” was introduced to the world. The 993 represented the most radical change up to that time in the basic 911. With the new, wider track both handling and ride were significantly improved. A new 6-speed manual and a simplified 4WD system were introduced. The rear suspension architecture was also changed from semi-trailing arm to multi-link. The completely new Type 996, introduced in 1999, brought even more momentous changes – the first ever liquid-cooled six in a 911, for example. This 3.4L generated 300 hp @ 6,800 rpm. The flat-6 in the latest C4S has been bored out to 3.6L. For 2004, it produces 320 hp and 370 lb-ft of torque. Over the years, the 911 Carrera has bulked up considerably. Although it weighs almost 3,300 lbs. the 2004 Carrera 4S sports the lean, yet heavily-muscled look of an NFL halfback.

In the Driver's Seat

The Carrera 4S’ signature “coke bottle” shape showcases the powerful haunches. The rear fenders bulge out noticeably from the doors principally to accommodate the immense 295 series Michelin Pilots. From the rear the 911 is distinctive and demonstrates clearly to awed onlookers that this is one seriously quick, very expensive automobile. This impression is reinforced by the gurgling basso profundo from the sports tuned exhaust – a near $3000 option and worth every penny. Speaking of wretched excess, a glassfiber doorsill with the embossed name “Carrera” will lighten your wallet by $900 and the glassfiber and alloy shifter and handbrake trim by about a grand. In for a penny in for a pound, eh? From the rear and side, the Carrera 4S looks to be worth the price of a house. From the front you might begin to doubt you’re getting full value for your dollar. Head on, it looks a lot like the Boxster S. I’ve been assured by those in a much higher tax bracket than myself that this is simply not acceptable. While I’m on that subject, the stock interior is also much too Boxster-like. Not that you or I would care but folks who’ve got 100 large to blow on a car do, I’m told. No worries though. Word is it gets a complete makeover in '05.

On the Road

On a flight back from Stuttgart recently, I chatted with a youngish, affluent-looking chap who owns a Carrera 4S, which he keeps at his second home near Dortmund. He casually mentioned he recently drove it for over 30 minutes on the autobahn at speeds between 250 and 290 kph. Even though the road was nearly deserted, he remarked it was very involving to drive at that speed. Should you find yourself in over your head at normal speeds the electronic stability control (PSM) will keep your Porsche between the lampposts in most situations. The real problem with a car like the Carrera is every time you climb aboard, you’re sorely tempted to drive over the posted double nickel. The other day, my enthusiast pal and I took one for a spin in the mountains just outside Vancouver (BC). On the way there, we happened on a chap driving a beautifully restored BMW 635Ci coupe. As we came up on him, I dropped back to 2nd gear and floored it. The owner had his windows open and got the full effect of the glorious noise from the Porsche’s twin pipes. That Bimmer guy looked like he was having an orgasm. He chased us for the next 20 minutes smiling and gesturing for us to do that to him one more time. I thought about calling the cops.

Journey's End

The 2004 Carrera 4S makes everyone’s short list of the best sports cars in the world. With its all-wheel-drive and super-fat bespoke Michelin Pilots, it can handle almost all roads and driving conditions. It’s a wonderful machine but – and this is an important “but” – it’s not for just any rich guy. It’s not, for example, for those past a certain age; it can be a bitch to get in and out of. Nor is it for anybody who has bulked up beyond a certain point or who regularly has to schlep around bulky people. Not to say bulky people won’t fit. They will I guess, but they sure won’t like having to pull themselves up from 4 inches off the ground to get out. While the price alone excludes all but a tiny fraction of the population, the Carrera 4S is really for people who care enough about driving to pay full attention to the job. You’re not likely to enjoy driving this thing unless you’re completely involved. Call me shallow but I loved the optional sport exhaust system. Its sound – quite unlike the throaty rattle of past 911s – has a stunning effect on bystanders. The Carrera 4S is not cheap but its impact on the folks in the cheap seats as you shift from 1st to 2nd with your foot in it is alone worth the price of admission. Almost.