Feature: Porsche 911 Cabriolet

The Porsche 911 is not a refrigerator. Never has been and probably never will be. But looking at the direction Porsche is going these days, nothing is certain. The 911 has really evolved in the last 20 years. It has gone from an evil-handling elemental sports car, to a luxury sports car with civil handling. While this has disappointed some purists, it has gotten more customers interested. Luxury here, isn't like Lexus luxury.

Today the 911 is an expensive high-performance machine in every sense of the word performance. It does have enough electronics to keep you out of some trouble unless you're really stupid. It is interesting that if you drive it on the track it seems to want to leave the track and go through the fence nose first. That is very much unlike older 911s that insisted on going through the fence tail first.

The interior of the newest 911 will be familiar to someone getting out of the 1966 version. Yes, it has been updated in many ways, but it still evokes the same "look" with everything upgraded. The outside, too, evokes the impression of the older car, but in much more of a modern idiom.

The engine is still in the rear, still a boxer (flat-6), it is just that it is 180% bigger in displacement and double the power.

It was expensive then and is expensive now. The 911 Cabriolet stick in the picture lists at $79,165 freight included. For that, you'd think that you'd get everything included, wouldn't you? Well, you don't. Keep the Lexus SC430 in mind when you see the Porsche option list. The Lexus has exactly six options, with the total price of $2131 if you extravagantly add them to the base price of $62,800. What are the options you can order on your new 911 Cabrio? Here's the list without any explanation taken from the Kelly Blue Book. Note that paint is extra, unless you like white, black or red:

Aluminum/Chrome Package $ 2,015
Aluminum Look Package, Large $ 3,440
Aluminum Look Package, Small $ 1,080
Carbon Package, Interior $ 6,220
Carbon Package, Small $ 2,120
Dark Wood Package, Interior $ 6,220
Dark Wood Package, Small $2,120
Leather Package, Interior $2,980
Leather Package, Small $1,200
Light Wood Package, Interior $ 6,220
Light Wood Package, Small $2,120
Power Kit, 345 HP $ 13,990
Seat Adjuster, Power Driver's Lumbar $385
Seat Adjuster, Power Passenger's Lumbar $385
Seat Adjusters, Dual Power $1,550
Brake/Shifter, Aluminum Look/Chrome $ 2,015
Brake/Shifter, Leather w/Aluminum Look Inlays $885
Brake/Shifter, Carbon/Aluminum $880
Brake/Shifter, Dark Maple Burr Wood/Aluminum $880
Brake/Shifter, Lt Maple Burr Wood/Aluminum $880
Carpeting in Deviating Color $ 295
Chassis, Sport $ 705
Communication System, Navigation II $2,630
Console, Front in Interior Leather $ 495
Console, Rear Carbon Fiber $ 1,625
Console, Rear Aluminum Look $ 735
Console, Rear Dark Wood $ 1,625
Console, Rear in Interior Leather $ 1,260
Console, Rear Light $ 1,625
Console, Rear Painted Exterior Color $ 730
Dashboard in Deviating Color, Lower $ 80
Dashboard in Deviating Color, Upper $ 135
Door Sill Parts/Release, Inner in Leather $585
Exhaust Pipes, Stainless $895
Exhaust System, $2,400
Floor $115
Floor Mats w/Embroidered Porsche Logo $ 425
Hard Top Delete, Removable $ -1,465
Headlamps, Xenon $ 1,090
Headrests w/Porsche Crest $ 220
Instrument Dials, $855
Instrument Dials, Painted Interior Color $ 860
Instrument Hump in Deviating Color $165
Interior Trim in Color to Sample, Leather $ 5,030
Lights, Footwell $735
Luggage Rack $ 540
Mirrors, Inside & LH O/S Automatic Day/Night $ 705
Mirrors, Leather Covered Dual Illuminated Visor Vanity $ 560
Model Designation Delete N/C
Model Insignia, Carbon Door Sill $780
Model Insignia, Stainless Steel Door Sill $425
Paint, Metallic Color to Sample $ 4,315
Paint, Non-Metallic Color to Sample $4,315
Parking Assist System $530
Radio Equipment, Bose High End $ 1,625
Radio Equipment, Hi-Fi Sound $830
Radio Equipment, Remote Control 6-Disc CD Changer $715
Rocker Panels, Flared $ 1,76
Seat Adjuster Knobs, Leather in Matching Interior Color $820
Seat Backrest, Leather in Matching Interior Color $ 1,610
Seat Backrest, Painted to Match Exterior Color $1,495
Seat Belts in Special Colors $ 540
Seat Trim Insert in Deviating Color $1,795
Seat Trim Insert, Supple Leather $ 395
Seat/Interior Trim, Full Leather $3,280
Seat/Interior Trim, Leather/Leatherette $1,520
Seat/Interior Trim, Natural Leather $ 4,790
Seat/Interior Trim, Special Leather $ 3,700
Seats, Sport $ 760
Leather Seat/Interior Trim Optional or Color to $400
Seats, Heated Front $410
Seats in Deviating Color, F&R $ 280
Seats, Lowered $705
Spoiler, Rear $3,42
Stability Management System $1,235
Steering Column, Leather in Matching Interior Color $315
Steering Wheel, Aluminum $1,410
Steering Wheel, Leather/Carbon $ 1,535
Steering Wheel, Leather/Dark Wood $1,535
Steering Wheel, Leather/Light Wood $ 1,535
Steering Wheel in Deviating Color $95
Steering Wheel, Leather in Matching Interior Color $ 1,260
Stitching, All Exclusive Options in Deviating Color $ 290
Stitching, Door & Dashboard in Deviating Color $ 290
Stitching in Deviating Color, F&R Seat $ 230
Wheel Rim Caps in Matching Exterior Color $1,550
Wheel Rim Caps w/Colored Porsche Crest (4) $ 175
Wheels, Light Alloy $1,435
Wheels, Sport Classic $2,940
Wheels, Sport Design Radial $2,940
Wheels, Turbo Look II $1,435
Wind Deflector $ 250

Paint:

A1 Black N/C
Z4 Black, Basalt Metallic $825
56 Blue, Cobalt Metallic $ 3,070
J2 Blue, Lapis Metallic $825
E9 Blue, Midnight Metallic $825
53 Green, Forest Metallic $ 3,070
Y1 Grey, Seal $ 825
59 Grey, Slate Metallic $3,070
X2 Meridian, Metallic $ 825
G1 Red, Guards N/C
L1 Red, Orient Metallic $825
63 Red, Zanzibar Metallic $3,070
X1 Silver, Arctic Metallic $ 825
58 Silver, Polar $ 3,070
G4 Teal, Dark Metallic $ 825
B4 White, Carrera N/C
X4 Yellow, Speed N/C