THE GARAGE
The 2024 911 Carrera T is Porsche‘s Last Future Classic
by Andrew Maness
June 21, 2024
A few weeks ago Porsche debuted the first 911 to feature a hybrid powertrain and while there was a great deal of grumbling from keyboard warriors who can’t afford one, there was also cause for much celebration in the Porsche community. Current owners of any non-hybrid powered 911, from the air-cooled classics to the current 992.1 models got a little bump in the value of their cars. 992.1 911 GTS owners in particular should be quite happy right now as they now have the last non-hybrid GTS. If you’re not familiar with how things work in the Porsche community it essentially boils down to this, rarity is king. Performance is a consideration as well, but not nearly as important as what the option sheet says, especially with regard to the paint and interior. This is why the 911 continues to hold its value across the six decades it’s been in production, despite typically coming up short on paper against its competitors. Porsche enthusiasts and 911 owners in particular understand a simple truth when it comes to sports cars, less is more. In the modern era it’s become difficult to adhere to what with safety rules and environmental regulations. However, I’ll take Porsche at their word when they say they still believe there’s room for enthusiast focused models and that by offering the 992.1 911 Carrera T they’re walking the walk.
Look, I get that it’s a stretch to still categorize the 911 as a sports car. Since the debut of the 991 Generation in 2012 the 911 has tipped more into being a GT car, albeit a very capable one, from the base Carrera on up to the GT2 RS. I’m not here to argue about what technically constitutes a “pure” sports car vs. a “sports GT” vs. a “GT”. Surely everyone who reads this will have an opinion on the matter and they’re entitled to it. As for the automakers, they lost any claim to credibility on the subject of defining segments when they started hawking sport-compact crossovers and four door coupes. Call it whatever you like, the truth comes out in the drive experience. This is why the 2024 Carrera T is a future classic.
Like many a Porsche before it, the Carrera T is defined by what it’s missing more than what it possesses. There’s no worked over version of the 3.0L twin-turbo flat-six occupying the backend, just the same 379-hp/331 lb-ft motor found in the base Carrera. Having driven the full suite of 992.1 models (with exception of the Turbo S and S/T) I can say with a straight face that the Carrera T has more than enough gusto for public roads. Paired with Porsche’s engaging 7spd manual gearbox the T feels even more alive. There is a time and place for the technological marvel that is their PDK transmission, this ain’t it. My test unit included rear-wheel steering and a front-axle lift system, both option boxes I’d tick if I were buying one. All Carrera Ts benefit from extensive light-weighting, with thinner glass, a rear-seat delete (it can be optioned back in, if necessary, but it’s not), a smaller battery, and less sound deadening. All of that adds up to a 100 lb reduction in weight vs. the base car. 100 lbs taken out of a modern car isn’t perceptible to the layman, but if Porsche engineers say it makes a difference, again I’ll take them at their word The connection between body and machine is paramount here. Off the line and across the rev-range, nailing shifts as you run through the gearbox will have you feeling like there’s a lot more power on tap than what the spec sheet says. A shove in the back, that’s the first point where “feel” enters the equation. From there on out the Carrera T offers heaps more of it through a steering wheel you won’t want to take your hands off and a seat you don’t want to get up from. The mechanical limited-slip differential is there for predictable at-and-beyond-the-limit behavior, and paired with PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) the T is essentially unflappable. The golden rule still applies “play stupid games, win stupid prizes” but with 305-width rear tires and all the aforementioned qualities, you’d really have to drive it like an asshole to upset the car.
Which brings me to another point that makes the T so desirable, it’s not a car for assholes. Not enough raw power, not flashy enough, not cutting edge. Perfect. The T is not a braggart’s car, it’s the car that elicits compliments from strangers and whose praises you can sing about without sounding like a douche. Well, that last part is on you, but it’s possible. For example, I would point to the ease with which the driver can get comfortable with pushing the T. It doesn’t take long to trust the package Porsche has put together here and really get into a rhythm on backroads. The Sport Chrono package allows for the quick drive mode changes we’ve all become accustomed to and a sport exhaust encourages unnecessary downshifts just to hear its throaty wail as you put your foot down to chase the 6,500 redline.
Additionally it’s important to devote some attention to just how damn easy it is to live with. I have been very fortunate to drive a myriad of modern exotic cars with ridiculous amounts of power. I cherish the memories I have of those experiences, but damn, looking back I’m lucky to be here. Like so many of us that have “the sickness” I am highly susceptible to the dopamine spiking effect of going fast as hell. I have driven cars that I have just not been able to help myself in. Self preservation goes right out the window and there I am at extra, extra, extra legal speeds on public roads. I’m not proud of it, I don’t encourage it, I’m also not sorry about it. After all, I’m only human. The difference is that now I’m a human with more experience, more perspective and the more of those two things you have, the more a car like the Carrera T becomes attractive. Power you can actually use, a ride that’s comfortable around town and on extended journeys, all the amenities you need, reliability, efficiency, style. What more could an enthusiast ask for? I suppose more favorable pricing for one thing, but even with an MSRP of $126,500 the T represents a good value. Of course you have a snowball's chance in hell of getting one without a dealer markup and that’s if you can find one still on a lot since order books have closed. Still, this is a car that is more than worth the effort to find. If you can manage to get a good or even reasonable deal, go for it because the 992.1 911 Carrera T is about as classic as a modern sports car gets.