2008 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet Review

Quick and Breezy

The new Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet is one of the few cars that can show you what it's like to have the wind in your hair at 180 miles per hour.

For years, the Porsche 911 Turbo has appealed to our more prurient automotive aspirations by bringing speed to the asphalt. Added to the line for 2008, the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet takes that formula a step further by letting you see the clouds you’re racing overhead on a warm summer’s day.

Last redesigned for the 2005 model year with added sophistication and capabilities, the 911 line still retains the same basic formula as the 1963 original: a teardrop shape and rear-mounted engine (which remained air-cooled until 1999). Like the closed-roof coupe, the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet features more pronounced scoops and spoilers, a rear wing that deploys at speed, and lightweight doors and hood for the sake of weight reduction; it’s otherwise visually similar to a standard 911.

The Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet is topped with a fully automatic three-layer cloth roof that retracts in about 20 seconds. The vehicle’s chassis has been reinforced to help retain structural rigidity, which is often compromised when a coupe turns into a convertible. The reinforcement minimizes shakes and rattles over rough pavement. Rollover-protection bars are installed behind the rear seats and automatically appear if sensors indicate a rollover is imminent. Despite these additional elements, the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet weighs only about 150 pounds more than the coupe, which translates into nearly equivalent performance.

• Porsche 911 Turbo Vehicle Summary

As in the coupe, the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet’s 3.6-liter turbocharged boxer engine makes 480 horsepower, 100 more than the standard 911 Carrera. It has chassis, braking, and suspension upgrades, including a new electronically-controlled multi-disk clutch for its standard all-wheel-drive system.

When equipped with the standard six-speed manual transmission, the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet will reach 60 miles per hour in less than four seconds. Models equipped with the optional Tiptronic S five-speed automatic can hit 60 mph three-tenths of a second quicker, and steering-wheel-mounted buttons allow for manual gear selection. Top speed for both transmissions is a few mph shy of 200.

Beefy four-wheel antilock disc brakes are on hand for ample stopping power, as is the Porsche Stability Management System (PSM), which uses sensors to monitor each wheel and automatically applies the brakes or adjusts the throttle to improve traction and performance. In high-powered cars like the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet, such safety systems are a boon.

PSM can be disabled for drivers who wish to explore the car's limits without electronic aids. If deactivated, the system will automatically turn back on under heavy braking where at least one front wheel requires ABS assistance.

The Porsche Traction Management System (PTM) further enhances the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet’s handling and stability. This is a high-performance all-wheel-drive system that transfers power to the front wheels as needed to maintain stability under a wide range of handling and road conditions. A limited-slip rear-locking differential is also available to help evenly distribute the available power.

The Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet is equipped with the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system; it uses sensors to monitor body movement and automatically adjusts the suspension according to driving style and road conditions. A "Sport" mode stiffens the suspension for sharper handling. The Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet’s ride can be rough, though, given the car’s firm suspension and low-profile tires.

For aspiring racers, the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet offers a Sport Chrono Package Turbo option, which features a digital/analog stopwatch on the center dash. More importantly, it gives the driver the ability to increase torque and improve throttle, suspension and transmission response (only with the optional Tiptronic S automatic) for even sharper handling and performance all at the touch of a button. Data from the stopwatch is logged in the on-board computer for review. Parameters can be set to measure and record driving times for any stretch of road or track.

In keeping with the automaker’s tradition for understatement, the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet’s interior styling is more purposeful than luxurious, with well-placed controls and styling touches specific to the Turbo. The rear seat is useful only for small children or cargo.

• See all Porsche models in the Porsche Showroom

A generous assortment of standard features includes front-side and side-curtain airbags. A staggeringly long options list offers Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet buyers a high degree of customization, letting them choose comfort and convenience equipment, performance upgrades, trim materials and colors, and other cosmetic addenda. You can choose paint and upholstery to match virtually any color or fabric.

A European delivery program allows owners to pick up their new Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet at the factory in Zuffenhausen, Germany, and drive it cross-country to a port for shipment back to the U.S. The program includes a range of services including transport, hotel reservations, and a factory tour.