Porsche 911 Turbo

The Turbo S is a more complete, rounded proposition than a Nissan GT-R: perhaps the ultimate everyday supercar. Your eyes may disagree.

What is it? Massively fast, massively competent and massively makes you look like someone who

was just a bit too scared to buy a GT3. The answer? Buy a GT3. Driving No, the turbo six doesn't scream like a Ferrari V8, but has a unique soundtrack all of its own: a bassy, phasing hum at idle, like something from a Seventies sci-fi series, morphing into a barrage of cannon-fire exhaust as you thump up through the gears. Such is the flat-six's flexibility that on any A- or B-road you never need change out of third, a wrecking ball of a gear that carries you from walking pace into triple figures incurring only minor blindness along the way. Not that changing gear is a chore: now Porsche has ditched the daft push-me-pull-you buttons from its double-clutch gearbox - replacing them with conventional right-for-up-left-for-down paddles - this 7spd PDK is just about the best in the business, capable of smooth anonymity or punchy, instant changes, depending on your mien. In the naturally aspirated, rear-drive 911 GT3, we might bemoan the lack of a manual gearbox, but PDK is a perfect fit for the Turbo S's ‘keep it pointing in the right direction, and we'll sort out the rest' philosophy. That said, if you're thinking the GT3 is the hardcore sports-thing and the Turbo S the loping cruiser, don't be fooled: this is no softie. True, you wouldn't want a car with any hint of vagueness when you're cracking 190mph on the autobahn, and even on Germany's ropiest roads, the ride remains the right side of acceptable, but it's an unyielding bugger nonetheless. On the inside The 911 is an icon of impracticality; the car the divorcee buys when he no longer has the kids to worry about. Don’t believe that ‘useable rear seats’ spiel, either. Although the interior touch points are not what they were on the air-cooled cars, the modern 911 is still beautifully built and able to rack up ridiculous mileage without showing a trace of wear and tear. Owning If you’re worried about running costs, you really shouldn’t be considering a £140,000 Porsche. How about a nice Kia Sedona instead?