2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S Coupe: Enjoy At Your Own Risk

Ironically, the most powerful, most dynamic press car I’ve tested to date, in the 2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S, perhaps proved to be one I drove most conservative. Why? When you’re behind the wheel of a coupe that reaches 200 km/h in under 11 seconds (and 100 km/h in only 3.3 seconds), a speeding ticket will not only wipe out your HELOC, it will inevitably land you in jail. Or even worse: lead to divorce.

With that said, the Porsche 911 Turbo S is undoubtedly a track car. Freeways and highways reserved for the commoners simply don’t do this coupe justice unless you’re doing at least a buck-fifty and weaving through traffic like pylons, while playground zones, construction zones, and every other speed-prohibiting instrument will just get in the way.

Last year, the week my son was born, I was testing the 2010 911 Turbo, doing diaper runs at lightning speeds. This year, diaper runs were a little quicker; the Turbo S adds 30 extra horses to the Turbo, providing the Turbo S with 530-hp.

Even better, despite increased power and performance, the Turbo S, at 11.4-L/100km, won’t consume any more fuel than the Turbo.

Plus, options in the Turbo all come standard in the top of the line Turbo S, priced at an even $200,000 MSRP CAD. The only option on my 911 Turbo S was the PDK Gear Selector at $1470.

The 2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S, the first Turbo S in five years, is available in either coupe or cabriolet form, both powered by a 6-cylinder boxer engine equipped with a couple turbochargers, making 530-hp and 516lb-ft of torque.

Paired with Porsche’s revolutionary seven-speed PDK double-clutch gearbox, along with all-wheel drive and Porsche Traction Management, the 2011 911 Turbo S tops out at 315km/hr (195mph). And stopping power is flawless with the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB)—a $15,000 option in the Turbo; now standard in the Turbo S.