This time around the 911’s cabin has received little attention, and in places the lack of development is starting to show. The dashboard is not the most elegant structure, but more disappointing are the fake aluminium door handles and steering wheel spokes.
The eccentric markings of the 200mph speedo fail to highlight the UK-critical speeds of 30, 60 and 70mph, making the additional digital speedo vital, and the plastic used for much of the centre console is sub-standard.
The Sport Chrono pack’s Sport buttons, designed to line up with the transmission stick in manual, are consequently further away too. Porsche’s insistence on a paddle-shift logic consistent with the old Tiptronic gearbox means that both can be used for up and downshifts, running counter to the ‘left for down, right for up’ used by everyone else, and the transmission lever functions in the opposite sense too.
But so many essentials are right. The driving position is excellent, visibility good and the car less intimidating than many because it’s smaller.
The upgraded infotainment system is clear and intuitive to use too. Less impressive were the squeaks and creaks from the cabin of one of a pair of test cars we tried.
This car is excellent value. It is also legendarily tough – creaks and squeaks notwithstanding – and holds its value fairly well. Many option prices, including the £2338 for the PDK transmission and the £729 for the Sport Chrono/launch control pack, are strong value too.
Servicing costs are slightly reduced (intervals are at 18,600 miles or two years) and oil consumption is down; in combination with strong economy for a car so potent, these factors make 911 ownership less pricey than it might be.
