The Porsche 911 Legacy
BY FALCON CAR RENTAL
In 1979, Porsche was on the verge of replacing its 911 with the new V8 front-engined 928. Despite winning over the motoring press with its refined driving dynamics, chief executive of Porsche, Peter Schutz, wasn’t enthusiastic about the 928 effectively eliminating the rear-engined flat-6 powered icon that had become the 911.
During a meeting, Schutz noticed that the 911’s production cycle was set to end in 1981. He stood up from his chair, walked up to the chart, black marker in hand, and extended the 911’s production timeline past the end of the chart and onto the wall, solidifying its place in the Porsche lineup for good.
Making the Porsche 911 More Special
Given its decades-long legacy, the Porsche 911 has been and is constantly being refined. In the mid-70s, the addition of turbocharging changed the original 911 so drastically, it became its own separate designation; the 930. By the late 80s, all-wheel drive arrived via the 911 Carrera 4, as did automatic transmission, and by the 1999 model year, all 911s became water-cooled, allowing for dramatic increases in both power and reliability.
From there, more variants appeared to appeal to different driving needs. The GT3 provided track-ready handling and braking, and the GT2 stunned drivers with its explosive twin-turbo powerplant. Traditional automatics gave way to dual-clutch transmissions, offering faster and smoother shifting than any driver could achieve with a traditional manual.
Today, 911s represent the pinnacle of handling prowess with predictable, confidence-inspiring behavior even when pushed to their upper limits.
Everyone Should Try a 911
Falcon Car Rental believes every car enthusiast should experience a 911 at least once, but with such variety regarding the 911 sub-variants, it’s important to know which one you’re most interested in.
With that being said, before you rent a Porsche in Los Angeles (or go looking for a similar luxury convertible rental in Miami), check out the 911s we keep in stock:
911 Carrera Cabriolet
Enjoying uncompromised speed and performance with the top down is a fairly modern experience. Convertible performance cars were always heavier and less rigid for decades, but advanced materials and construction techniques have made those non-issues.
For a luxury convertible rental in Miami that fits the “no compromises” mold, you’ll want the Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet. You have the wind in your hair, hitting 60 mph in just over four seconds, thanks to its 379 hp twin-turbo flat-6 engine. The real miracle, though, may be its combination of tenacious grip and stopping power with the perfect amount of comfort for daily driving.
911 Targa 4 GTS
Porsche pioneered the “Targa” concept to give owners a fair balance between convertible open-air driving, coupe rigidity, and wind-noise reduction. Instead of the entire roof folding down, only the portion above the occupants’ heads gets pulled back.
As for the other benefits of the Targa 4 GTS, it also adds all-wheel drive, allowing for drama-free G-force-filled acceleration. Knocking almost a second off the 911 Carrera Cabriolet’s 0-60 time isn’t just due to the addition of two extra driven wheels, though: The GTS designation indicates a bump in horsepower up to 450!
911 GT3
A four-wheeled scalpel meant to carve up racetrack pavement, the GT3 is the ultimate track weapon. It’s also one of the few non-turbo 911s still in production, instead relying on stratospheric redlines and good old-fashioned displacement to garner its 500 hp.
The GT3 was once a bare-bones, spartan vehicle intended for racers who wanted a car that was just well-mannered enough to get to the racetrack without sweating to death or having their fillings shaken loose. The current GT3 is a more refined vehicle, but just barely so, which means, if you’re renting an exotic car in Miami for the comfort and tech, the GT3 isn’t the vehicle for you.
Still, if you don’t plan on interacting with an infotainment screen, turning on massaging seats, or setting mood lighting, and you’d rather feel as though you’re one with the car as you hear a racecar-like 9,000 rpm wail coming from the tailpipes, the GT3 is a perfect choice.
911 GT2 RS
When the 911 GT2 debuted in the early 2000s, its 456 hp was intimidating, especially since turbo lag meant power came on suddenly and explosively. The current 911 GT2 RS laughs at the original GT2, and it certainly has earned the right to with its 690 hp.
It’s as close as you’ll get to a racecar on the street. Sure, it has air conditioning, power steering, anti-lock brakes, and a few other niceties, but you won’t confuse the GT2 RS for a “rational” vehicle. Its 2.8-second 0-60 time should indicate how good this particular 911 is at flinging its occupants back into their seats. If your goal is to rent a Porsche in Los Angeles that, while terrifying, keeps you in control, the GT2 is it.
Falcon Car Rental Makes Renting an Exotic Car in Miami Simple
Stir your soul with the quintessential sports car, the Porsche 911. Whether you prefer an open-air grand touring cruise or a blood-pumping, eye-opening track carver, Falcon Car Rental has the 911 for you.