With a few exceptions, Porsche has staked all its fortunes on just one of its sports cars- the 911. From inauspicious beginnings, the 911 has become one of the world's most recognizable and influential vehicles. Today's version, the 911 Carrera, provides top performance without giving up much in the way of daily comfort. Other sports cars have been able to outstrip the 911 in certain areas, but none has come close to matching the blend of practicality and performance that Porsche offers.

One area where Porsche excels is in the level of variety that it offers. The Turbo and Carrera models are available in both a cabriolet and coupe body style, while the Targa is basically a coupe/hatchback that has a glass rear hatch and a larger sunroof. Turbo models get larger rear fenders and four-wheel drive, and Carreras get 345hp, 3.6L V6 engines. The engine puts out 408hp in Carrera or Speedster trim. A six-speed transmission is standard on every 911, but an optional seven-speed dual clutch auto-manual (the PDK) is available as well.

The Carrera 911 manages to be both rough and refined at the same time; it's equally at home on a daily drive or tackling twisting back roads. The duality of the 911 is greatly improved with the PDK transmission; in manual mode, shifting progresses smoothly and quickly. The higher-performance iterations of the 911 are less friendly to the average commuter, but they offer handling and performance that rivals that of the world's most exotic supercars.

The last time the Porsche Carrera 911 was revamped was in 2005; from there it was mostly unchanged until 2009. That generation marked a return to the classic look of the 911, with separate headlights and turn signals. When compared with earlier models, the 911 had a wider stance, larger tires and wheels, an optional active suspension and an interior that was vastly improved in its comfort, quality and style.