Used Porsche 911 for sale: everything you need to know
Many people will tell you the Porsche 911 is the ultimate sports car. They might be right. It’s thrilling to drive and very easy to live with day-to-day. There is also a wide range of models to choose from, offering something for everyone. If the Porsche 911 sounds like the kind of car you want in your life (hey, it does to us) and you plan to buy a used one, you’re in the right place to find out everything you need to know.
Rivals to the Porsche 911 include the Audi R8, the advanced Honda NSX and the Jaguar F-Type.
Here, we’ll tell you what the Porsche 911 is like to drive and live with. We’ll also break down the mind-boggling array of different models to help you work out which one is right for you. If you want a Porsche that's a bit more affordable, there's the Porsche 718 Cayman and the drop top Porsche 718 Boxster.
Should you buy a Porsche 911?
There’s no mistaking a Porsche 911 for any other car. The current, 992 generation is considerably bigger than the air-cooled original, but the overall shape of the car hasn’t changed. You can see how the style has evolved from one generation to the next. Not every generation has been a particularly good looking car, but this one really is.
Step inside and you’ll discover one of the Porsche 911’s key strengths. Its interior is really spacious and comfortable; it’s packed with standard features and is easy to use. It genuinely doesn’t feel that different to a high-end saloon, which is why so many Porsche 911 owners use their cars every day.
The Porsche is surprisingly practical, too. You can squeeze a few soft bags into the front boot for a weekend away, and there’s more space inside. Most Porsche 911s have a pair of child-size back seats that fold down into a platform that can hold a large amount of stuff. You could easily go away for a couple of weeks without packing particularly light.
Now we get to what matters most about the Porsche 911: what it’s like to drive. The various models actually feel quite different to each other. Their relative turn of speed is most noticeable, but there’s also a lot of nuance in how their steering feels and how they move along the road. What they all have in common, though, is a feeling of connection and alertness. It makes the Porsche 911 thrilling to drive and makes going fast really easy.
The Porsche 911 is available in a range of different models, spanning calm and relatively comfortable cruisers to road-legal race cars. You can also choose between coupe, cabriolet and Targa bodies, and two- or four-wheel drive. There truly is something for everyone here.
Because it’s so popular, the Porsche 911 can seem like the obvious choice if you’re in the market for a high-end sports car. But there’s a reason why thousands are sold around the world every year. The Porsche 911 combines a truly brilliant driving experience with everyday comfort and usability. And it does so better than any of its rivals.
In absolute terms, the Porsche 911 does cost a lot of money. But considering its breadth of ability, it’s actually decent value. It’s surprisingly fuel-efficient, too, with owners reporting more than 30mpg on motorway runs. It’s also built like a bank vault and very reliable. This is why used values are extremely strong.
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What's the best used Porsche 911 model to buy?
With performance ranging from spectacular to other-worldly, it’s down to your expectations and, ultimately, budget. The mainstay range starts with the 911 Carrera and extends up to the Turbo S. Porsche loves a limited edition version of the 911, so if you want something truly exotic there are GT and RS versions to pick from that will feel just as at home on the track as on the road.
For the purest driving experience, a Carrera S with a manual gearbox and sports chassis is absolutely sublime, while for head-turning looks and the choice of open or closed the Targa is difficult to beat. A Carrera 4 or 4S with a ski rack on the roof is the perfect shuttle for your winter trips, while if you want rock-solid high-speed stability and eye-widening acceleration then the Turbo S will take you to 200mph and beyond with impunity. All are very good at everything though, but just how good depends entirely on how which you choose.
Used Porsche 911 fuel economy and performance
There are three distinct groups of Porsche 911 models: Carrera, Turbo and GT3. Each has its own engine, which has different amounts of power in different models. The range can look confusing, but it’s actually quite easy to understand when every model is laid out clearly.
Here are the engine options available with this generation of Porsche 911:
Porsche 911 Carrera, Carrera T – All Carrera models have a 3.0-litre flat-six turbocharged engine. In the ‘base’ Carrera and Carrera T it produces 385PS, which is enough for a 0-62mph time of around 4.2 seconds, and it emits about 245g/km of CO2. The Carrera has an automatic PDK gearbox and two- or four-wheel-drive. You can have a manual or automatic gearbox in the Carrera T, but there’s no four-wheel-drive version.
Porsche 911 Carrera S – This has a 450PS version of the 3.0-litre engine, which knocks the 0-62mph time down to 3.7 seconds, with CO2 emissions of 251g/km. Choose between a manual or automatic gearbox, along with two- or four-wheel-drive.
Porsche 911 Carrera GTS – The most powerful Carrera serves up 480PS, a 0-62mph time of 3.4 seconds and CO2 emissions of 258g/km. Manual and automatic gearboxes, and two- and four-wheel-drive are available. Note that the Targa body, which is available with all Carrera engines, only comes with an automatic transmission and four-wheel-drive.
Porsche 911 Turbo – Turbo models have a bigger 3.8-litre flat-six engine. In the ‘regular’ Turbo, this produces 580PS, which translates into a slightly insane 0-62mph time of 2.8 seconds. An automatic gearbox and four-wheel-drive are fitted as standard. CO2 emissions are 279g/km.
Porsche 911 Turbo S – This has an extra 70PS for a total of 650PS. That cuts the 0-62mph time by a tenth to 2.7 seconds. Again, an automatic ’box and four-wheel-drive are standard. Official CO2 emissions are 278g/km.
Porsche 911 GT3, GT3 Touring – GT3 models have a non-turbocharged 4.0-litre flat-six that makes a truly spine-tingling noise. In the GT3 and GT3 Touring, it produces 510PS. They’re rear-wheel drive and you have the option of a manual or automatic gearbox. The GT3 gets from 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds, while the manual GT3 Touring takes 3.9 seconds. Both emit 294g/km of CO2.
Porsche 911 GT3 RS – The GT3 RS only has an extra 15PS, for a total of 525PS. But outright power isn’t the point of this car; it’s all about cornering speed. Even so, it will hit 62mph in 3.2 seconds – far from slow. An automatic gearbox and rear-wheel drive are standard. CO2 emissions are 305g/km.
What used Porsche 911 trim levels are available?
There’s a mind-boggling array of Porsche 911 models available. Working out how they all relate to each can be tricky, but there are clear differences between them all.
Porsche 911 Carrera – The entry-point Porsche 911 has the least powerful engine and the fewest features. For many people, this actually makes it the best one.
Porsche 911 Carrera T – The Carrera T has the base Carrera engine, but gets sportier suspension and a package of extra styling details.
Porsche 911 Carrera S – This has a more powerful version of the Carrera’s engine, plus bigger wheels and a wider body.
Porsche 911 Carrera GTS – The most powerful Carrera is a ‘best of everything’ model. It comes with various features that add an extra edge of sportiness to the driving experience. These are usually options, but are bundled into the GTS at a lower cost.
Porsche 911 Turbo – Many people view the Turbo models as the very top of the Porsche 911 range. This is the ‘regular’ Turbo, which is merely massively fast. It’s deeply luxurious, too.
Porsche 911 Turbo S – The more powerful Turbo S is capable of a truly bonkers turn of speed. Yet it’s still a quiet and comfortable cruiser.
Porsche 911 GT3 – The racing-inspired GT models start with GT3. It has a hugely powerful, non-turbocharged engine and completely different front suspension to the other Porsche 911 models. So it goes, sounds and drives like a racing car. It looks like one as well.
Porsche 911 GT3 Touring – This is essentially the same car as the ‘regular’ GT3, but it doesn’t have that car’s huge rear spoiler. So it looks a bit more subtle, which some people prefer.
Porsche 911 GT3 RS – If the other GT3 models are ‘inspired’ by racing cars, the GT3 RS basically is a racing car. For the latest version, Porsche has designed the bodywork to generate as much downforce as possible, which pushes the car onto the road at high speeds. The result is scarcely believable lap times around a race track.
Used Porsche 911 dimensions and boot size
The Porsche 911’s exterior dimensions are:
Length: 4,519-4,573mm (depending on model)
Width: 1,852-1,900mm (depending on model)
Height: 1,293-1,322mm (depending on model)
The Porsche 911’s boot capacity is 132 litres.
Used Porsche 911 road tax
This generation of Porsche 911 came into the world in 2019. This means every model will pay the flat rate of £180 for all cars registered on or after 1 April 2017. However, because the 911 also cost more than £40,000 when new, every car in the line-up will also pay an additional £370 each year for five years, so used buyers will have to account for this in their sums.
How much is it to insure a Porsche 911?
Every model in the 992-generation Porsche 911 range (even the entry-level 385PS Carrera) is rated in insurance group 50 – the most high-risk and expensive group. So your annual premiums may be quite steep. Worth it, though.
Read our full Porsche 911 review
