What would you do to save $30,000 on a car? Even if you're making a healthy six-figure salary, that's not peanuts; if you're making $600,000 a year, saving $30K on a car is the same as somebody making $80,000 a year saving four grand.
So it might well seem that, with a starting price of $170,800 — $32,700 less than the spectacular new 911 Turbo S — the new 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo is a flying steal of a super sports car. But you ought to know all the facts before you make up your mind.
For starters, of course, you'll be missing out on some power by forgoing that S. The "base" 911 Turbo also uses a twin-turbo 3.7-liter flat six, but alterations mean it cranks out 572 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque — 68 horses and 27 pound-feet less than the Turbo S. (That said, those numbers do make it significantly more powerful than its predecessor, the 991.2-gen 911 Turbo; indeed, it's on par with the previous Turbo S.)
You're not likely to notice much of a discrepancy in off-the-line acceleration, however. The rest of the elements putting power to the ground — the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, all-wheel-drive system and meaty Pirellis as big as 315/30/21 in back — all remain the same as the Turbo S; as a result, Porsche claims the 2021 Turbo can blitz from 0 to 60 in 2.7 seconds in coupe form and 2.8 seconds as a cabriolet, just a tenth of a second behind their Turbo S equivalents. Top speed pays a bigger price; the 911 Turbo hits a wall at 198, compared to the Turbo S's 203.
Let's talk handling, shall we? The active anti-roll bars that are standard on the Turbo S as part of Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control are an option here; same goes for carbon-ceramic brakes. But as on the Turbo S, buyers can opt for an even more sport-oriented suspension and a sport exhaust system that lets the flat six sing loud and proud. The Turbo S's Lightweight Package that subs in lightweight glass and ditches the rear seats is also available, for anyone looking to make their car less livable to save a whopping 66 pounds.
Inside, you'll find the same interior as on all new 911s, albeit one well-equipped with many goodies that are optional on cheaper variants. A Bose stereo, Sport Chrono package, 14-way seats and a GT Sport steering wheel all come standard; if you want to build upon that, you can always opt for pricey add-ons like a Burmester stereo or the Heritage leather trim that'll add $13,100 to the price.
So is the new 911 Turbo worth saving the equivalent of a nice Subaru Outback over the Turbo S? If you're obsessed with having the best, well, we can't tell you not to buy the Turbo S; we are, after all, in love with it. But in all honesty...unless you drive the 640-hp model, you'll probably never believe things could get better than the regular Turbo.
