Performance Review: Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet 997 - [2008]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Porsche 911 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet 997 is the 7 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2008. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2008 Ariel Atom V8 500 and the 2008 SSC Ultimate Aero TT.This particular Porsche 911 has a 3800cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 6 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St6's includes the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965

The 911 shares its Petrol St6 engine configuration with the likes of the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965 and the . If you're looking for other fast cars which share the 911's Rear Wheel Drive, Cabriolet combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1510 kgs (3328 lbs) this makes the Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet 997 in the same weight category as the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Circuit Edition 1.6 Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The Porsche 911 shares the same bhp with the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (369 bhp)

In terms of power the 3800cc 24V St6 engine produces 380 bhp (283 kW) @ 6500 rpm similar to the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (369 bhp) or the 2023 Lotus Emira First Edition i4 2.0 Turbo (360 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated St6 throws out 310 lb-ft (420.3 Nm) @ 4400 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (295 lb-ft) or the 2023 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (310 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Porsche 911 you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2010 BMW 3 Series M3 E92 GTS (276.6 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Porsche 911.

The Porsche 911 has a Power to weight ratio of 251.6 bhp per ton and 205.2 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2008 911 competing with the 2010 BMW 3 Series M3 E92 GTS (276.6 bhp per ton) or the 2017 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS Targa PDK (276.6 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Porsche 911 generating around 205.2 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1995 Bentley Continental R 6.8 V8 Turbo (230.2 lb-ft per ton) or the 2016 Maserati Quattroporte 3.0 V6 Turbo Diesel (230.1 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 4.80 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 5.0 secs, this made the Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet 997 as fast as the 2021 Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo (4.80 secs) the 2020 Audi TT S Turbo 50 TFSI (4.80 secs) the 2018 Rolls-Royce Cullinan 6.7 V12 Turbo (4.80 secs) the or the 2017 Dodge Charger Daytona 392 (4.80 secs). This Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet 997 is also faster than the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (4.90 secs) the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 2.0 Turbo (4.90 secs) the 2021 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 (4.90 secs) the and the 2020 Honda Civic Type R 2.0 16V Touring (4.90 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the 911 and the 2016 Maserati Quattroporte 3.0 V6 Biturbo

When talking about the performance of the Porsche 911 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 12.94 secs @ 105.7 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2016 Maserati Quattroporte 3.0 V6 Biturbo (12.88 secs), the 1970 Ford Torino 2nd Gen Cobra SportsRoof Boss (12.89 secs), and the 1989 Ferrari 348 tb (12.89 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2008 version of the Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet 997 has a maximum speed of 188mph.

Top Speed of the 2008 911 equals the 2023 Ferrari SF 90 XX Stradale 4.0 V8 Hybrid (199 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet 997 then how about the 2023 Ferrari SF 90 XX Stradale 4.0 V8 Hybrid (199 mph), the 2023 Ferrari SF 90 XX Spider 4.0 V8 Turbo (199 mph), or the 2023 Ferrari Roma Spider 3.9 V8 Turbo (199 mph).

Related Links:

2008 911 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Porsche

Car Comparison