Skip advert
Advertisement

Revealed the greatest Porsche 911

Four decades of supercar legends come together as we pick the finest-ever Porsche.

Porsche

Porsche has built numerous groundbreaking performance cars in its time, but none has remained so consistently at the top of its game as its most famous model: the 911.

The rear-engined coupé has legions of loyal fans and owners across the globe, while its unique shape, chassis layout and racing pedigree are at the heart of the firm’s brand image.

Advertisement - Article continues below

To celebrate Porsche’s rich history, bosses are opening a new museum at their plant in Germany.

It will hold 80 of the most significant models – many of which will no doubt be 911s. But which version is the best? To find out, we’ve brought together six models from the past 40 years that we think are the epitome of the 911. We start with the Sixties original, before working our way through the Seventies with two race specials.

Then, we enter the modern era by looking at the influential 993 and 996 generations, and finally the latest 997 model.

All six were given a workout at the all-new Porsche driver training centre, at Silverstone, Northants.

E-mail chris_thorp@dennis.co.uk to let us know whether you agree with our selection.

Get a taste of a porsche
This summer, Porsche opened its superb driver training centre next to the Silverstone circuit in Northants. It uses 3.1 miles of track, and offers dynamic test areas, off-road courses and low-friction surfaces. A range of experiences is available to owners and the general public alike. The main building (above) incorporates a restaurant, showroom, shop, roof-top viewing gallery and gym.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

911

2024 Porsche

911

34,863 milesManualPetrol3.0L

Cash £89,000
View 911
911

2019 Porsche

911

7,000 milesAutomaticPetrol4.0L

Cash £169,995
View 911
911

2024 Porsche

911

21,446 milesAutomaticPetrol3.0L

Cash £104,500
View 911
911

2024 Porsche

911

20,238 milesManualPetrol3.0L

Cash £94,995
View 911

Roll back the years
on 31 January, the doors open to Porsche’s new museum at its factory in Zuffenhausen, Germany. In addition to the 80 vehicles on display, there is an extensive archive, and you’ll be able to view historic cars being prepared in the workshop. All exhibits will be fully functioning. The museum will be open from Tuesday to Sunday, and entry costs 8 Euros, with children under 14 getting in for free.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Verdict
With a history stretching back more than 40 years, the 911 is one ofthe most recognisable models on the planet. Such is its amazingevolution that, despite the gulf in technology between the generations,the car’s feel and image remains as strong as ever.

Therear-engined layout continues to defy the laws of physics, and thePorsche remains the performance benchmark by which every classcontender is judged.

This car has more race and rally victoriesthan any other machine, and thousands of enthusiasts enjoy theirPorsche every day. So although we have featured only six of the great911s here, nearly every model to wear the badge is tough to beat.

Best to drive
997 Carrera S
Pickinga winner is tough, but the current 997 has a huge spread of talents.The Carrera S is one of the best performance cars around.

Most desirable
RS lightweight
sportingpedigree makes the 2.7 RS one of the most appealing 911s ever. That’swhy people are willing to pay £250,000 to own one!

Best value
996 GT3
Currentlyworth around £45,000, the GT3 is far from cheap – but this is aguaranteed future classic. Its race-bred powerplant delivers stunningpace.

Best Classic
Pre-1974 911
With a classicshape and stylish image, the original 911 oozes style. Good examplesare hard to find, yet even bad ones are cool.

Most inventive
1978 911 Turbo
pioneeringtechnology ensured original 911 Turbo was one of the Seventies’ mostexciting supercars. It’s still a strong performer.

Verdict

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Porsche 911

Porsche 911

RRP £146,891Used from £87,000
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £3,576 off RRP*Used from £11,895
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £5,330 off RRP*
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £37,230Avg. savings £3,788 off RRP*Used from £11,795
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Have you considered?

New Aston Martin Vanquish Volante review: stunning GT just got even better
Aston Martin Vanquish Volante - front

New Aston Martin Vanquish Volante review: stunning GT just got even better

Road tests
22 Jul 2025
Used MINI Convertible (Mk3, 2014-2024) buyer’s guide: cheap fun in the sun
Used MINI Convertible Mk3 - front

Used MINI Convertible (Mk3, 2014-2024) buyer’s guide: cheap fun in the sun

Used car tests
6 Jul 2025
New Aston Martin Vanquish 2025 review: a proper British bruiser
Aston Martin Vanquish - front tracking

New Aston Martin Vanquish 2025 review: a proper British bruiser

Road tests
11 Apr 2025

Most Popular

Skoda Elroq and Enyaq get Electric Car Grant approval
Skoda Elroq - front cornering

Skoda Elroq and Enyaq get Electric Car Grant approval

Despite some models costing over the £37,000 threshold, Skoda has secured the government grant on its mid-size electric SUVs
News
2 Sep 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Enjoy Scandinavian style with the Volvo XC40 for just £296 a month
Volvo XC40 - front full width

Car Deal of the Day: Enjoy Scandinavian style with the Volvo XC40 for just £296 a month

Swedish company’s popular compact SUV is still effortlessly cool, and great value with our Deal of the Day for 31 August
News
31 Aug 2025
New Fiat Grande Panda goes on sale with tiny price and big ambition
Fiat Grande Panda La Prima - front cornering

New Fiat Grande Panda goes on sale with tiny price and big ambition

The newly crowned Auto Express Supermini of the Year is available in hybrid or pure-electric form, with the EV offering 199 miles of range
News
1 Sep 2025