2018 Porsche 911 Carrera T (991) FIRST DRIVE REVIEW: Just enough, but not too much . . .

[@gtb5]

Nothing beats the classic shape of 911, nothing.

[@maxskullic9879]

Only those that can drive one without crashing should be able to own these! I always thought I'd have a life where I could enjoy the nicer things. What I got was a curved spine, lots of pain and no money. That was before I got rear ended, I'm in a wheelchair now. 40 years old and all my hopes and dreams turned on me.

[@gexpe2003]

MotoMan is telling more truth about new cars than any other car journalist.

[@scotthager6263]

Excellent review, George! Clearly, your passion shines through from you so eloquently describing what makes this iteration so special. I want one. So much so, I recently put a down payment on next year’s T w/a European Delivery for an Epic trip with my Son, another avid car enthusiast. I guess being avid enthusiasts is redundant, but that’s how enthusiastic we are! I’m opting for the Carbon Buckets and Carbon Brakes, but keeping off the gas pedal of other Porsche extras. I can’t decide yet about the extra leather, thinking it’ll feel more retro with less plastic. Tschüß!

[@ronhunt2477]

Took delivery 10 days ago - 800 miles later and I can’t say enough about how awesome this car is! I got the MT and for me this is everything and more in bringing back that full engaging drivers experience that I hoped it would be! MT or PDK whatever your personal preference you can’t go wrong with this car. It’s a keeper!

[@johnpavlus784]

Awesome Ron! Got mine 2 weeks ago MT with SC package and rear wheel steering...its pure driving heaven

[@Stinger430]

Great video. I love mechanical cars. They're a dying breed.

[@eea1119]

You may want to inflate the front tire of the 996;)

[@MotoManTV]

During the shoot, and in the edit, Kumo and I are saying to ourselves 'They won't be able to resist saying something about that' . . . Didn't take long, did it?

[@jimmygreen11]

It's all I saw from the beginning. Please tell me the problem was fixed. I can't sleep.

[@93455Driver]

That will not fix the egglights though.

[@MagicAyrtonforever]

@@93455Driver Egglamp-titis!

[@jimpeyton8592]

Any way you could compare this to the 2018 718 Cayman GTS? The hp & Tq are close, but the Cayman is a bit lighter. I'm looking at the value, since they seem so close spec wise. Thank you!

[@MotoManTV]

For me, I would buy the T. Why? The 6 and the sound. Remember, that GTS we drove two months (kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYHNd2uPgcuAZrM) ago was US$95,700 as equipped. This car was US$112,000. You could skip the brakes and it would be VERY close.

[@jimpeyton8592]

Thanks for the reply.

[@abigsplash]

Sportext are the seats, they are designed to breathe, and don't come with an option to add ventilation.

[@s.c.1972]

I love your vids and reviews. You are a real car guy and I enjoy your thoughts and opinions. Are those YOUR planes? :)

[@camburgracing]

I love mine!

[@leeandrews1072]

I have a 2018 C2 manual, my dealer gave me the option of switching up to the “T”, but it’s very much like my car, is it worth it?

[@IceDree]

Wow! A lightly spec'd Porsche! I completely agree regarding the options, if you want to fill it with options, might as well get an S instead of T. As always, excellent work M.

[@MotoManTV]

Kumo first caught it when he was going over the monroney as the car was dropped off and we both sat there in disbelief . . . :)

[@drewjohn8554]

Dude you been driving that Porsche with a flow tire I'd say its flat you can tell you've been driving with that tire they way it is for a while the silver one 0:28

[@alexc7591]

Thank you for another great review! So glad to see you finally get to drive the T with the 7 sp manual transmission. Great review and very good insights. As always, fun and informative!

[@trippspeed]

Cool review, almost bought one back in 2018, decided to hold out for a while and pick up hopefully a CPO 992 in a couple years. Also like how you showed the car next to the airplanes, Cessna, Piper, Mooney etc..

[@treyquattro]

that's an almost perfectly-spec'd 911. The only change I'd make is getting the 918 carbon buckets.

[@Fluterra]

Trey Quattro thought about that long and hard, since I’m ordering a T in a few months. In the end, I would not get the carbon buckets in the T. They just don’t suit it. The T is about the essentials and the essence of the 911, and that means practically. The carbon buckets scream “poser” to me in the T, since it’s not a GT car.

[@treyquattro]

they add lightness. Buckets are always a good idea if going to the track (or taking curves in a very spirited fashion on the road). Enjoy your 911T!

[@apt62]

918 buckets looks nice but it’s a pain in the ass to live with.

[@MrSchn3ll]

@@apt62 Disagree, I have them and can daily them without issue. I even did a 14hr road trip in them. It all depends on your body shape.

[@Parabloop3r]

I'll probably sound like a jackass saying this but for some reason I decided to watch your review after getting stoned and it was MORE AWESOME than usual. That's exactly how I'm ordering my Porsche if I can ever afford one... two or three necessary Performance options (no PDK) and entirely nothing else.

[@michaelchen6191]

Hey Motoman, having driven both the 981 NA Boxster Spyder and the Carrera T, would you trade in the Boxster Spyder and replace it with the Carrera T? I have that choice now and the window to get a T is shrinking. Thanks.

[@mzk6550]

I just love the 911! However ideally, my dream Porsche...would be more like the 911 GT3 with the touring package. Great video, thank you.

[@stephenauty2402]

I would have left out the PCCB and just opted the rear wheel steer..einer option

[@FLtheq]

I love how motorman's jeans slowly crawls up his body season after season lol just kidding.Another great review on my favorite 911.Keep up the good work.

[@chrissopher3773]

Thanks for the video. Really enjoyed it. Love your point of view on all of the variants available. Good work.

[@danielthomas2621]

A proper drivers car ,PDK really only for track IMO even then I'd still rather take the T in stick more funner

[@dsilvap]

A 718 Cayman T is being rumored....

[@MotoManTV]

Would be interesting with the mechanical diff - but probably WAYYYYYY too close to the GTS in price.

[@ronhunt2477]

Great informative review!!! Thanks for your insight!

[@AnonymousUser1710]

That red is on point.

[@Jesusprayerwarriorbw]

Love your reviews! Wish I had a hanger to park my Porsche in.😁

[@hunterlane3323]

This or GT4?

[@clubracer6]

Please put some coilovers on the sweet 996 asap!

[@sinoperture]

Bargain of the century was the 981 Spyder.

[@Nord_Mann]

Yes, yes, yes! I drove a 580hp Turbo S and I didn’t like it. It’s just too much power and it’s a space ship as you say. Too much electronics numbing out the driving experience. And the PDK robbing you of the directness of the mechanical feel you get in the Carrera T. As you point out, the sum of it all makes this the most special and best drivers car IRL situations in the 991.2 range. It’s the modern day 964RS. Old school, but new school still. With no reliability issues of the almost 30yr old RS. But there is one option you’ve missed out on in the red car, the Carrera T interior package, which adds more specialness and lightens up the cabin with contrasting stitching and 911 logos on the headrests. One question I’m still wondering about, dynamic engine mounts? Are they stock on the Carrera T?

[@Jay-xr3sb]

Doesn't that make the mid engined Cayman the better pick.

[@leveraged6694]

Great reivew! I love this car. I can only hope it depreciates enough for me to afford it!

[@93455Driver]

Great review - I think the T may end up being a gem, even more that the current GTS variant. Just need to get that winning lottery ticket and use the winnings on the 911 configurator.

[@Affalterbach1967]

T historically is T for Targa, T for Turbo, or a trim level below the S ? ps Tri Industries sent me here.

[@treyquattro]

Sport-Tex. See Nick Murray, he knows all about it & has it in his 991.2 C4S

[@93455Driver]

Trey Quattro Just watched the Murray vid, reckon he is mulling swapping his 4S for a T optioned just like Motoman's test car?

[@Dr.Sheffield]

Love your vids peace ✌️ from Dubai

[@SuryaDe]

The T I still don't understand. It has the 918 seats yay manual yay but the low powered motor?! Should have had the S motor at that price point.

[@donaldvankleeck2004]

They stayed with the base engine because it has less turbo lag, making it more responsive... which is the purpose of the T, to feel more dialed in.

[@BiagioBaller]

I agree the car should've been given a little more power. But luckily with turbo's a nice tune can certainly bump up those HP/TQ numbers ;)

[@plife911]

Enjoyed this review. Fully agree with your take on the manual chassis differences that make it special. Even though its not a 6mt, im gonna try and make the 7 speed feel even more analog by installing custom pedals and a weighted shift knob in thw upcoming weeks... will post on my channel if youre interested.

[@Fluterra]

Great video! How did you find the lag in the S with a manual transmission? I’m debating between a T or an S, both with manual, both with rear steer. Thanks

[@MotoManTV]

Interesting question with an interesting answer: Most of the folks that I know that have driven this car LOVE it but when pressed, say they would go the extra US$3,000 for the additional horsepower.

[@Fluterra]

MotoManTV Interesting, thank you!

[@Fluterra]

MotoManTV but how is the more noticeable lag with the bigger turbos in the S engine?

[@MotoManTV]

There is no more noticeable lag - what you do notice is that it is indeed down on power from the Carrera S. Full disclosure, the S is the 991 that I have the most seat time in so for me it was probably more noticeable. Some of the 911 guys I know that I let try it, that was the first thing they noticed. However, does one walk away saying this is a slow car with bad turbo lag? Absolutely not.

[@easyeagle3730]

The only reason why people spec the ceramic brakes is because it’s embarrassing driving a base Porsche. This T can in NO WAY be compared to a GT3. Get real! The only cool option on the T is rear seat delete.

[@Nord_Mann]

Easy Eagle the reason I didn’t get the GT3 Touring and went for the Carrera T instead, was because I could have rear seats in a relatively low production rear wheel drive manual 991.2 with an attitude. The Carrera T is the modern day 964RS. Old school, but new school❤️

[@ferdinandbardamu3945]

Let's hope the 992 T has the S brakes.

[@digilux4017]

ehh the front tyre on the 996 is flat...

[@nickeckemoff7631]

Excellent job reviewing the proper spec T and getting the point. Sadly people load them up with options. I still prefer c4s because for example, I want vented seats cool my arse, PDK to shift like lightning, and turbos to rocket me forward. I want a space ship from Porsche. It will be fast and handle like a dream, but also usable and ergonomic for everyday driving. Embrace the future, don’t linger in the past. 997 or prior generations probably offered a better T experience, but I don’t care...not my thing.

[@BiagioBaller]

To each their own. Must give props to Porsche for still offering a car that gets as close to it's roots as it can during this era, and for building cars for driving enthusiasts.

[@markcarlson6728]

What a beautiful car.

[@Tully3674]

No offense to Motoman, but just about every review (from any journalist) of the Porsche is about the same. Kinda feel reviewing this car has jumped the shark.

[@MotoManTV]

Before I started doing this, as a Lotus guy, I was raised to hate anything from Zuffenhausen. For me, it was 'only douche bags drive Porsches'. I felt strongly that you should go out and get something different. Now, yes, there is a certain element of jackasses that drive these things however, it wasn't until the first time I met Hurley Haywood (kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6K8lqipep2eqc0) and he TAUGHT me how to drive a 911 properly that I started to develop a respect for them. Then something funny happened: I started to fall in love with them. Once I put aside my utter hatred for them because there were so many around or the fact that I wanted a little company based in a shed in the Southeast of England to win that I began to understand WHY sooooooo many people buy them. Understand why SOOOOOO many people gush about them. They are that good. I would now go so far as to saying I would own a 991.1 Targa Carrera 4S Manual all day long. Should I get enough sheckles, it would be the GT3 touring. This coming from a Lotus guy.

[@captgiddyup88]

17 Manuals since 1973 in all my 911S & Turbos. PDK? Faster & Safer. Trust me. Manual Transmissions are for dinosaurs.

[@zarbon700]

Evora 400 > Carrera T The Evora 400 is on a higher level in terms of its superior chassis, balance, building materials, steering feel, driving dynamics/experience, durability, lower running costs, and has less wear/tear of parts. Carrera T only has better luxury tech and finish. Carrera T = LUXURY sports car for casuals. Evora 400 = Pure sports car for enthusiast.

[@MotoManTV]

You know me, I would ALWAYS stand up for the Lotus - I have spent FARRRR too much of my own money on two sides of the Atlantic for their products - but even I have a hard time putting up with the kit car interior at this point.

[@zarbon700]

Evora 400 doesn't have a kit car interior. I've driven both cars and I prefer the styling of the Evora 400 interior over the same generic, bland interior found in all Porsche models.

[@donaldvankleeck2004]

I've recently seen the new Evora 400 with two-tone black/red interior, while not Porsche worthy, I didn't feel it was "kit car" either. My personal issues with buying a Lotus is the lack of dealers around the country... which the new Chinese owner should be able to address quite easily, as they own Volvo too, and they can use that network to support Lotus sales and maintenance.

[@yungdadi]

I will rather buy a 7 speed Stick shift GTS