Used Porsche 911 for sale: everything you need to know
The Porsche 911 could be considered the ultimate sports car. It has spectacular performance but is a pleasure to drive even at sensible speeds, looks good without being excessively flashy, has a pretty good reputation for durability and reliability (Porsche reckons a good number of the 911s it’s ever built are still on the road), and with a 2+2 layout in most models, you might even call it practical.
Better still, Porsche offers the 911 in a huge variety of models, from simple tin-top sports cars to Targas and Cabriolets, with rear and four-wheel drive, straightforward road cars or mad track-focused semi-racers, and there’s even a hybrid on the way in the next few years. All this choice can be confusing though, so below we’ll hopefully clear up a few of the things you need to know.
Should you buy a Porsche 911?
Sports cars come little better than the Porsche 911, and even if you haven’t had your heart set on one for some time already, its broad talents and famous badge might be enough to draw in sports car buyers who haven’t quite settled on another model just yet. The 911 has always been an all-rounder but the latest model, which arrived in 2019, is probably more usable than ever.
It goes without saying that the 911 is a quick car. Even the least powerful models can cover the 0-62mph sprint in just over four seconds, and they get a lot quicker from there, as power goes up and all-wheel drive traction becomes a factor. The good news is that if you haven’t got an unlimited budget to work with, you can still get something fast and exciting, and something that handles brilliantly too - and of course, they all have that famous 911 silhouette.
The latest interior took a big step up in luxury and quality over previous cars, though both these facets vary depending on how the car was originally specified too - Porsche’s options list is truly vast, so no two models are likely to be exactly alike. Refinement has improved over the years, and while the 911 is no luxury saloon, sports cars rarely come so usable every day. On a motorway cruise, fuel efficiency well into the 30mpg range is entirely possible too.
The 911 hasn’t been without its challengers over the years. Not least from within - the smaller Porsche 718 Cayman is a very real 911 alternative in some specifications. Looking outside the Porsche brand, the Audi R8, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, BMW i8, Jaguar F-Type, and the McLaren 570S are cars to consider depending on which 911 you’re looking at.
What’s the best used Porsche 911 model to buy?
There are certainly versions of the 911 that stand out, but the best 911 will ultimately be the one that fits your expectations and budget. That might be a PDK-equipped Carrera 4 Targa in Miami Blue for some, and a GT3 Touring with a manual gearbox in Oak Green for another - there’s really no right answer. Keen drivers would be advised to look towards models like the Carrera T and Carrera GTS, and opting for a manual gearbox doesn’t just mean a bit of three-pedal fun, but further down the line the manuals tend to command a little more money when you sell on, too. All-wheel drive models meanwhile are ideal for those who intend to keep using their 911s all through winter.
Used Porsche 911 fuel economy and performance
- Porsche 911 Carrera, Carrera T – The base 911 engine is a 3-litre turbocharged flat six, making 385PS. All Carrera models are PDK automatic only and has the option of all-wheel drive, while the T also gets a manual option and is rear-drive only. 0-62mph takes 4.2 seconds depending on the model, with official economy of up to 27.4mpg.
- Porsche 911 Carrera S – The S gets a more powerful 450PS version of the 3-litre, cutting 0-62mph to 3.7 seconds, and economy is up to 28mpg. Manual, automatic, two- and four-wheel drive versions are available.
- Porsche 911 Carrera GTS – With 480PS this is the most powerful of the regular 3-litre models, with a 3.4-second 0-62mph sprint and economy of 27.2mpg in manual form - PDK, plus all-wheel drive, are both available (though the Targa models are PDK and all-wheel drive only).
- Porsche 911 Turbo – With a 3.8-litre turbocharged flat six the Turbo gets a mighty 580PS, and a 2.8-second 0-62mph time to go with it - aided by standard four-wheel drive. Economy is up to 23.5mpg.
- Porsche 911 Turbo S – The Turbo S gets even more power, at 650PS. 0-62mph falls again, now only 2.7 seconds, but economy is no worse (though also no better) than the regular Turbo.
- Porsche 911 GT3, GT3 Touring – It’s another different engine for GT3 models, with a 4-litre, naturally-aspirated flat six. It develops 510PS and is rear-wheel drive only, but it does have manual and PDK options. 0-62mph is over in 3.4 seconds (3.9 for the Touring with the manual), and economy is 21.9mpg.
- Porsche 911 GT3 RS – RS models get a small power increase to 525PS, but also standard PDK and rear wheel drive, and a more track-biased focus. 0-62mph takes 3.2 seconds, and economy is just a shade over 21mpg.
What used Porsche 911 trim levels are available?
- The Porsche 911 Carrera kicks off the range with a generous equipment list, but one that Porsche is only too happy to embellish with even more features.
- The Porsche 911 Carrera T gets the option of a manual gearbox, but otherwise is much like the Carrera, with a few option boxes ticked, such as uprated suspension.
- The Porsche 911 Carrera S has the more powerful 3-litre engine, plus a wider body, larger wheels, and a few more standard features.
- The Porsche 911 Carrera GTS builds upon the S with some driver-focused features that you’d normally have to tick option boxes for.
- The Porsche 911 Turbo really steps up the performance but also the luxury, as the Turbo has more of a grand-touring focus than the GT models further down this list.
- The Porsche 911 Turbo S gets the even more powerful turbocharged engine, and again a few more features and toys.
- The Porsche 911 GT3 is quite different from other 911s, not just in its engine and body styling (deeper front and rear bumpers, a rear wing, and extra vents) but also different wheels and tyres, uprated suspension, and several racy interior features.
- The Porsche 911 GT3 Touring tones down the GT3 a little, ditching the rear spoiler and having a slightly less stripped-out cabin.
- The Porsche 911 GT3 RS goes in the other direction, with the most extreme aerodynamics, a completely different front suspension layout, and of course the most powerful of the naturally aspirated engines.
Used Porsche 911 dimensions and boot size
The Porsche 911’s exterior dimensions are:
- Length: 4,519-4,573mm (depending on model)
- Width: 1,852-1,900mm (depending on model)
- Height: 1,293-1,322mm (depending on model)
The Porsche 911’s boot capacity is:
Used Porsche 911 road tax
As the ‘992’ generation 911 arrived in 2019, all models are subject to a flat rate of VED or ‘road tax’. For most cars this is £190 a year, but as all 911s are also quite expensive to buy new, they attract a surcharge that currently lifts the annual bill to £600. This returns to the lower rate for the car’s seventh year on the road.
How much is it to insure a Porsche 911?
While there will be some variations in insurance costs between the individual models, all 911s fall into the maximum group 50 category. This is to be expected for a high-performance sports car though, and a 911 need not necessarily be any more expensive to insure than other high-end sports and supercars.
