Porsche 911 Carrera GTS (2010 – 2012) Review

Porsche 911 Carrera GTS (2010 – 2012) At A Glance

5/5

+The best 911 Carrera in the range, adds even more enjoyment to the great driving experience, reasonable economy considering the superb performance it offers.

-Doesn't look very different from a standard Carrera.

On average it achieves 89% of the official MPG figure

While Porsche has branched out into new markets in recent years with models like the Cayenne and more latterely the Panamera uber saloon, it's the core models that most people still associate the Porsche badge with. And for many, the 911 remains the ultimate Porsche and a name that, despite the emergence of supercars like the Audi R8, still holds plenty of sway.

It may not turn heads like other high performance sports cars, but the fact it's a common sight on our roads is down to one simple fact - the 911 is bloody good. It manages that rare feat of combining great performance with driving enjoyment, refinement and everyday useability. So while the basic shape has remained unchanged since the 911 first came along in the 1960s (a running joke among many...) the years of evolution have produced a near perfect sports car.

And sitting at the top of the 911 Carrera range is the Carrera GTS. Available as both a coupe and convertible it uses the same 3.8-litre six-cylinder engine as the Carrera S but power is boosted to 408bhp thanks to a host of engine changes including a new intake system, closing the gap on the 911 GT3 which has 435bhp. The engine has been optimised to deliver its torque lower down and the result is that it feels noticeably quicker when accelerating from low speeds.

But the GTS isn't just about more power. It has a wider rear body - the same as the Carrera 4S - but retains the standard rear-wheel drive layout, along with unique 19-inch black centre-mount RS Spyder wheels, which gives it more grip and stabilty in corners. Inside there are unique touches too including plenty of Alcantara trim, including on the steering wheel, plus the removal of the back seats to save weight. It also gets uprated brakes.

It's a car that's genuinely more than the sum of its parts, so while the individual changes may not seem that substantial, the end result is a real joy to drive. The Carrera GTS is certainly special enough to deserve its place as the ultimate model in the 911 Carrera range. At a shade more than £78k, it's an expensive buy of course, but at roughly £2000 more than the Carrera S is relatively good value considering all the extras it gets as standard.

Later in 2011 Porsche introduced the four-wheel drive Carrera 4 GTS.

Real MPG average for a Porsche 911 Carrera GTS (2010 – 2012)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

89%

Real MPG

24–25 mpg

MPGs submitted

9

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

Moving to Dubai and leaving my Porsche behind - store it or sell it?

"My son has a 2011 Porsche Carrera S but is moving to Dubai for two to five years. He cannot take the car with him as it is right-hand drive, which apparently is not allowed there. Is there any merit in putting the car into secure storage for this length of time, or will it be best to sell and accept the loss? "
It will be the old 997 model Carrera rather than the current 991. But watercooled Porsches don't take kindly to storage. The best thing to do is to sell, but he will have to take a deep bath - maybe as much as £20,000.
Answered by Honest John

Is it reasonable to accept 50 per cent goodwill from Porsche towards repairing a blown engine on my C4S?

"I bought a 2004 Porsche C4S with 10,000 miles on the clock (40,000 now) from a Porsche main dealer in 2007. Two weeks ago the engine blew up, which Porsche diagnosed as an intermediate shaft failure. I have looked this up on the web and it seems that many people have suffered from this, so Porsche knows about this problem but has not admitted to there being any fault. They have offered me 50 per cent towards the repair bill of £13,000, because although I have had all the services carried out by a Porsche specialist (genuine Porsche parts used by Porsche-trained technicians) it was not by the main dealer. Should I go for the 50 per cent or try and push for more?"
As you have had it serviced elsewhere, a 50 per cent offer seems reasonable.
Answered by Dan Harrison
More Questions

What does a Porsche 911 Carrera GTS (2010 – 2012) cost?