2010 Porsche 911 Review
2010 Porsche 911 Review





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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Multiple models to choose from, precise steering, effortless acceleration, powerful brakes, all-wheel-drive option, comfortable and spacious cockpit, surprisingly fuel-efficient, highly customizable.
Cons
- Options prices can really add up, unintuitive PDK shift buttons.
What’s new
For the 2010 Porsche 911, the GT3 and GT3 RS trim levels return to the lineup. They gain most of the same improvements made to the Carreras last year, along with additional performance enhancements. The 2010 Turbo also gets a bump in horsepower, along with other revisions.
Edmunds says
The 2010 Porsche 911 remains the quintessential sports car that only gets better with every passing year.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2010 Porsche 911 Carrera 2dr Coupe (3.6L 6cyl 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.92 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$232/mo for 911 Carrera
911 Carrera
vs
$168/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Vehicle overview
Buying a sports car isn't a rational affair. It's like trying to pick the tastiest dessert or most melodious music. The car that pleases the 13-year-old inside you is most likely the one that'll end up in your garage. But what if that car you oh-so desire also makes some sense? What if it returned 27 mpg, but also hit 60 mph in 4.2 seconds? What if it made mincemeat of a mountain road, but also could take you to San Francisco with a golf bag and a weekend's worth of luggage? What if it had been around so long that its engineers have been simply perfecting perfection?
If it sounds like we're bowing to the sacred cow of the 2010 Porsche 911, you'd be right. But what choice do we have when every single one of this car's umpteen variations is so darned good? Just look at that Pros and Cons list above. Rarely is there such a gross disparity and we easily could've added four or five more pros. Heck, even the second con is easily corrected by opting for the Turbo's PDK shift paddles.
Last year saw the 911 gain a number of welcome improvements to its powertrains, equipment list and interior controls, though several of its higher-performance models went on vacation. This year, the GT3 and track-ready GT3 RS have returned and get most of last year's improvements, along with more power and unique additions of their own. The 911 Turbo also gets a power boost that sees it hit the 500-horsepower milestone. Yep, the 911 just got even better.
However, despite our affection for the 2010 Porsche 911 and appreciation for its remarkably well-rounded nature, there are a wide variety of sports cars that compete with its myriad iterations. Just naming them -- Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Audi R8, Chevy Corvette, Jaguar XK, Lotus Evora, Maserati GranTurismo, Mercedes-Benz SL, Nissan GT-R -- is like announcing the starting lineup of an all-star team. We'd have a hard time arguing against any of them, but in the end, it really only matters what that 13-year-old inside you thinks.
Performance & mpg
The 2010 Porsche 911 Carrera is powered by a rear-mounted 3.6-liter horizontally opposed (a.k.a. "flat" or "boxer") six-cylinder engine that produces 345 horsepower and 288 pound-feet of torque. The Carrera S gets a 3.8-liter flat-6 that produces 385 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. The Carrera S Powerkit ups the ante to 408 hp. The GT3 features a 3.8-liter flat-6 good for 435 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque, while the GT3 RS produces 450 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. The Turbo gets a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter flat-6 that cranks out 500 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque.
The Turbo and models with 4 in their name come with all-wheel drive. Otherwise, the 911 is rear-wheel drive. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on all 911 models, though the Carrera, Cabriolet and Targa have a hill start assist function. Optional on all but the GT3 and GT3 RS is Porsche's seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual known as PDK (a.k.a. Porsche-doppelkupplungsgetriebe -- Porsche double-clutch gearbox).
In performance testing, both a Carrera 4S coupe with a manual and a Carrera S Cabriolet with PDK went from zero to 60 mph in an impressively quick 4.2 seconds. A regular Carrera should be just a few tenths behind, and the GT3 models a few ticks ahead. Porsche estimates that the Turbo will do it in an astonishingly quick 3.2 seconds.
Fuel economy is excellent for a sports car. The 911 Carrera with PDK will return 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined, with all other Carrera variations differing by only 1 or 2 mpg. The GT3 and Turbo aren't remotely as frugal, but if you cared about frugality, you wouldn't be buying those, would you?
Safety
The 2010 Porsche 911 comes standard with antilock brakes, stability and traction control, front side airbags and side curtain airbags.
In brake testing, the 911 Carrera 4S came to a stop from 60 mph in 104 feet. The bigger brakes on the GT3 and Turbo could theoretically be even better. Given this excellent performance, you'd only need the optional ceramic composite brakes if you frequent high-performance driving events.
Driving
For a car with an exaggerated rear weight bias, it's always impressive how beautifully composed this classically designed Porsche remains in corners. 911s of yore earned a reputation for tricky at-the-limit handling, but those demons have long been exorcised -- especially when you get an all-wheel-drive model. The 2010 Porsche 911 is all about composure and man-machine communication (that goes double for the phenomenal GT3), and it has a lightweight finesse to it that no bruising Nissan GT-R can match.
The PDK transmission is a welcome happy medium for those who desire the traffic-friendly nature of not having a clutch, yet still want the rapid shift performance of a traditional manual. However, we're not fans of the awkward shift buttons. These can be replaced with optional shift paddles on the Turbo, but sadly you can't get them on other models.
Interior
Build quality is exceptional in the 2010 Porsche 911. Even those surfaces not swathed in soft hide are constructed of a material that's actually pretty consistent with the cow-sourced stuff. Other material highlights include a standard Alcantara headliner and deep carpet that extends up onto the doors, eliminating the possibility of scuffing any sort of lower door plastic.
As far as interior space goes, it doesn't get much better in the sports car realm. Sure, the 2+2 rear seats are mostly useless, but when folded, they provide a large cargo space that complements the frunk (aka front-trunk). Up front, supportive bucket seats with side bolsters hold both driver and passenger in place while cornering, without making either feel pinned in.
Large footwells, as well as a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel can accommodate drivers of nearly all sizes. Interior controls are now much simpler than in previous 911s, and items like navigation, Bluetooth, an iPod interface and cooled seats help make this sports car a viable daily driver.
2010 Porsche 911 models
The 2010 Porsche 911 comes in a multitude of trims and body styles: Carrera and Carrera S are available in coupe and convertible (Cabriolet) body styles, while Carrera 4, Carrera 4S and Turbo add all-wheel drive and larger rear fenders to those same body styles. The GT3 and GT3 RS are coupe-only, while the Targa 4 and Targa 4S are essentially Carrera 4 models with a large power-sliding glass roof.
All 911 Carrera and Targa trims come standard with 18-inch wheels, performance tires, bi-xenon headlights, a sunroof, cruise control, automatic climate control, leather upholstery, power-reclining front seats (with manual fore-aft and height adjustment), split-folding rear seats, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a touchscreen electronics interface and a nine-speaker stereo with CD/DVD player. The Cabriolet includes a power soft top, while the Targa includes a bigger and more complex sunroof and an opening rear window hatch. The S trims add a more powerful engine, 19-inch wheels, an adaptive suspension and a sport steering wheel.
The Turbo adds to the Carrera a turbocharged flat-6, 19-inch forged wheels, a more aggressive suspension tune, unique body styling, full power front seats, full leather interior, auto-dimming interior and driver-side mirrors, automatic wipers and a 13-speaker Bose surround-sound system.
The two-seat-only GT3 gets a bigger flat-6 engine, a limited-slip differential, 19-inch centerlock wheels, enhanced brakes, a retuned adaptive suspension, lighter-weight body panels, full underbody paneling, sport seats, faux-suede upholstery and trim and a downgraded four-speaker stereo with CD player. The sunroof is deleted, however. The GT3 RS gets more horsepower, even more aggressive suspension tuning, a plastic rear window (for weight reduction), a fixed carbon-fiber rear wing, unique exterior elements and full manual seats.
The 911's options list runs longer than the federal budget, with an endless number of customizable features that will wrap just about anything in leather, or paint it any exterior color. Regular options on the non-GT3 models include different wheels, ceramic composite brakes, adaptive suspension (base Carrera), a limited-slip differential (Carrera, Cabriolet and Targa models) adaptive headlights, PDK shift paddles (non-Turbo), sport exhaust, parking sensors, auto-dimming interior and driver-side mirrors, fully powered front seats, sport seats (in three different designs), heated seats, ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, different steering wheel designs, the Turbo's Bose stereo, Bluetooth, a navigation system, a six-CD/DVD changer, voice controls, satellite radio and an iPod interface.
The Sport Chrono Package Plus adds a lap timer, adjustable driver settings and, with PDK, launch control. The Carrera S Powerkit upgrades the engine to 408 hp through a variety of powertrain upgrades. The GT3 and GT3 RS can be equipped with most of these items, but not all. Also its optional upgraded stereo is the Carrera's base nine-speaker system, and there are a number of further performance upgrades available.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2010 Porsche 911.
5 star(85%)
4 star(10%)
3 star(2%)
2 star(3%)
1 star(0%)
41 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4 out of 5 stars
Favorite sports car!
freddys555, 06/22/2013
2010 Porsche 911 Carrera 2dr Coupe (3.6L 6cyl 6M)
41,000 miles giving me many smiles each time I drive her. The dual clutch PDK system made by Aisin is flawless and communicates very well with my input. The smart HID headlights by Koito was a major improvement when compared to my 2006 model. I bought the base model coupe because I have a 06 Turbo. Huge driving impression difference, a totally different car than the Turbo. I hate to say … that I have had numerous reliability issues. Engine, oil consumption, electrical problems! Replacement of EGV took 4 weeks, failure to diagnose electrical issues for 3 weeks, and a few more hellish issues. But this is an amazing machine and its driving impressions outweigh all the demerits experienced...
5 out of 5 stars
look at that S car go!
McQueen, 05/11/2017
2009 Porsche 911 Carrera S 2dr Coupe (3.8L 6cyl 6M)
This is my 3rd Carerra coupe and the cars just keep getting better. The 2009 Carerra S is fast as you want it to be and a thrill to drive. The handling is superb and you get the choice of three settings for power and suspension-normal, sport and sport plus. Each one has its individual benefits. The '09 car represents a 'mid-cycle refresh' as they say in the auto business. It is quicker … than the 07-08 car and it has direct fuel injection, with 385 horsepower, versus 355 in the earlier car. I can feel the difference, having owned both. I have the optional PDK transmission. Porschephiles can debate auto vs stick for hours on end, but the simple fact is the PDK is faster. If you want fast, it's PDK. If you like the feel, the 'involvement' of the manual, then that's the way to go. I go back and forth on this question, but the PDK with the car in sport plus is in no way a non-involved experience. You will need to give the car all of your attention, and you will be rewarded with blistering performance. Update at 30k. Still a fast and fun ride- no probs
4.88 out of 5 stars
Awesome
Earfool, 06/29/2010
2009 Porsche 911 Carrera S 2dr Convertible (3.8L 6cyl 6M)
This is an amazing car. I have never enjoyed drive a vehicle as much as my 911. The acceleration is as sophisticated as one would expect from a Porsche. It's only a beast when you want it to be.
4.75 out of 5 stars
I want to leave a 10 review but...
JOHN ON LONG ISLAND, 03/16/2010
2009 Porsche 911 Carrera S 2dr Coupe (3.8L 6cyl 6M)
I Bought this car brand new about 3 months ago. I love the car.. it brings a smile to my face every time I look at it.. Although lately. its a little more difficult to smile. 1st problem.. water in the tail lights. (condensation) but ALOT.. Second.. My Cell phone will not link to the car's system. Its a $400 phone. don't understand why its not compatible. I'm pretty good with … electronics and the simple directions were clear to understand in the manual. Third problem. it will not learn my Garage Door Code.? Today, The Radio seems like the antenna disconnected. its not tuning in clearly on any station. I hope this car wasn't built on a Friday..:(
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2010 Porsche 911, so we've included reviews for other years of the 911 since its last redesign.
2010 911 Highlights
Convertible
Carrera
Base MSRP | $88,800 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 21 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $232/month |
Seating | 4 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 4.8 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
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