2002 Porsche 911

6

Manual

WP0AA29922S621651

Description: Porsche calls this 911 variant the Carrera 4S, but I'll let you in on a little secret: This sporty coupe is essentially a Turbo that's powered by the a version of Zuffenhausen's normally aspirated flat-6 rather than the 415-bhp twin-turbo. So although the 4S does only 174 mph, it costs about $39,000 less than Porsche's legendary flagship. That's good news for Porsche buyers who like the Turbo's distinctive looks, handling, braking and all-wheel-drive surefootedness, but feel they don't need a 190-mph supercar costing upward of $115,000. Rather than think of the 4S as a glass that's half empty, think of this Carrera as a glass that's half full. Myriad Turbo trappings include bodywork that's set off by an aggressively styled front end with massive air intakes; a 2.5-in.-wider rear end that encloses 11-in.-wide wheels; MacPherson-strut front/multilink rear suspension (retuned for the lighter, less powerful 4S, but still sporting the Turbo's longer rear axle control arm); and, of course, brakes with massive 13-in. cross-drilled and vented rotors and with 4-piston calipers — finished in red to distinguish them from normal Carrera brakes. Already stocked with standard Carrera features, the 4S inherits other Turbo niceties including all-wheel drive, Porsche Stability Management, Turbo-style (but not hollow spoke) 18 x 8-in. front/18 x 11-in. rear wheels, metallic paint, a premium audio system, electrically adjustable seats with memory function and leather upholstery and trim. Okay, but does the 4S actually look like a Turbo? That depends on who's looking. Porschephiles will notice that, unlike the Turbo, the 4S needs no intercooler inlets along its rear flanks. Likewise, those distinctive 959-like slats at the bottom of the rear fenders feature revised internal ducting that's (down) sized in accordance with the reduced cooling needs of the normally aspirated engine. Additionally, the spoiler lip in the middle front air opening is raised slightly in the center — for better aerodynamic balance — while at the rear, a Carrera-style spoiler that rises to the occasion at 75 mph replaces the duckbill-like Turbo spoiler. A red lighting strip attached to the spoiler's trailing edge serves as a visual bridge between the two taillights. Now for the most notable difference between the 4S and the Turbo — the engine. As mentioned earlier, it's the same normally aspirated powerplant used by all 2002 Carrera models. For those of you who have been sleeping in class and missed the last lesson, this 3.6-liter powerplant replacing last year's 3.4-liter has a longer stroke (82.8 versus 78.0 mm) and develops 320 bhp DIN compared with its predecessor's 300 bhp SAE net. As expected, torque is up too — from 258 lb.-ft. at 4600 rpm to 273 lb.-ft. at 4250. A fair share of that roughly 7-percent boost in horsepower, 6-percent increase in torque and a 7-percent reduction in fuel consumption can be attributed to VarioCam Plus. Along with variable intake timing, VarioCam Plus includes variable intake valve lift (from 3.6 mm in normal mode to 11.0 mm in performance), electrohydraulically controlled and activated by the car's Bosch Motronic ME7.8 electronic engine-management system. Like the engine, the 4S's standard equipment 6-speed manual transmission is used by all Carreras and is unchanged from 2001. Not so the optional 5-speed Tiptronic, which now uses a more advanced mapping system similar to the Turbo's. 2002 Porsche 911 Carrera In an all-too-brief blast along Northern Italy's autostrade and abbreviated tour of twisties, I came to the conclusion that the Carrera 4S delivers handling that is second only to the Turbo's — as you would expect from a car that shares the same carrozzeria. This is borne out by the factory's tests at the Nürburgring where the Carrera 4S's 8-minute 16-second lap time was right behind the Turbo's 7:56 clocking. With less power and the same extra-wide rear tires as the Turbo, this Carrera shows a vastly reduced propensity for oversteer. Speaking of power, the new VarioCam Plus-equipped engine is a joy. There's an abundance of torque at low rpm and an exhilarating rush of performance when valve lift and timing change at 5000 rpm or so. On the autostrade, flat-footing the E-gas throttle pedal sent our Orient Red Metallic 4S rocketing to about 165 mph in quick time. For the record, the wide-body 4S, which accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in about 5 seconds, has a top speed of 174 mph, 3 mph slower than the narrow-body Carrera. Looks aside, the Carrera 4S is no Turbo. But then, in these days of a downsized Dow Jones, the sound of $39,000 jingling in your pockets is almost as rewarding as the whoosh of those twin turbos. History: As the second owner of this work of art, this 2002 Carrera 4S was one of the super cars feature in the 2006, 2007, and 2011 Bullrun TV show and Rally (aka Cops, Cars and Superstars). The Bullrun Live Rally is the most glamorous and high profile of the new breed of high-end luxury lifestyle automotive rallies. Each year, a hundred of the world's finest super-cars embark on an epic eight-day rolling party across the USA - bringing together a celebrity strewn cast of characters and petrosexuals for an unforgettable adventure - where the only obligatory goals are to party, drive and enjoy! Fueled by an impressive schedule of public and private events at the finest venues and hotels and in the most exciting cities in America, The Bullrunners make their way from one checkpoint to the next, learning their destinations daily, winding to a close each night in the party capitals of America. Entry is by invitation only and Bullrun never takes more than 100 cars to make sure everyone has a good time - our parties are legendary. Registration thereafter is on a strictly first come, first served, basis. The rally has attracted numerous celebrities in the past including; Dennis Rodman, Hayden Christensen, Ryan Dunn, Carl Lewis, Mario Andretti, The Cuban Brothers, The Dub Pistols, Vanilla Ice, Bill Goldberg, Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian and many more. The entry fee for the Live Rally event is $20,000 per car - covering event entry fee for two drivers, 5 star accommodation for 7 nights, first-class meals and top-notch parties at the best venues, and Bullrun exclusive checkpoints including track events at some very famous racing circuits. The Bullrun Live Rally is filmed by Giant Film&TV for a TV show entitled 'Cops, Cars & Superstars.' The show airs in 96 countries worldwide and is now in its 8th season.