A $192,560 Sports Car?
In the automotive world, Porsche is practically synonymous with the term "sports car." The company's 911 model has been produced since 1963, when it was introduced as a 1964 model. Since that time, this icon has been continuously refined and improved to the point where today it is among the finest cars available for the serious sports car enthusiast.
Pushing the concept of niche marketing to its limit, Porsche offers 14 distinct 911 variants. The "entry level" 911 Carrera, with 325 hp and 273 lb.-ft. of torque, can scoot to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, which is fast enough for most sports car aficionados. The base MSRP for the 911 is $73,500, which can increase quickly with the wide range of customized options that Porsche offers.
If that's not enough to satisfy your cravings, try the 911 Turbo for $126,200 (base price). With 480 hp and 460 lb.-ft. of torque, this rear-wheel drive/rear engine fun machine can get to 60 mph in a scant 3.7 seconds and continue to a top speed of 193 mph.
And if even the Turbo won't do, try the ultimate 911, the GT2. It uses the same basic 3.6-liter engine as the Turbo, but with larger turbochargers and some fine tuning of the intake manifold and boost pressure. Weighing only 3,200 lbs., this model kicks out 530 hp and 505 lb.-ft. of torque, and can deliver warp-speed trips to 100 from rest in 7.4 seconds. It completes the quarter mile in 11.5 seconds and can achieve a top speed of 204 mph. Talk about fast.
So, when someone asks you how much the best sports car costs, you can tell them the Porsche GT2 is a hair under $200,000. When they ask you why it costs so much, you can tell them about its best feature and how launch control works. Step 1: floor the accelerator with the clutch disengaged; Step 2: the computer determines the optimal revs for launch; Step 3: release the clutch for maximum acceleration without mechanical abuse; and Step 4: suffer from uncontrollable laughter after you go from 0-60 mph in less than 3.4 seconds.
Is the GT2 worth nearly $200,000? Only you can decide, but I can tell you that it's less expensive than the 2008 Ferrari F430 Scuderia (list price $220,000; 510 hp; and 0-60 in 3.5 seconds) and more expensive than the 604 horsepower Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG, which isn't quite a sports car but delivers stunning performance nonetheless (604 horsepower and 738 lbs. ft of torque!).
