seems hardly changed from the original. Yes, there are dual airbags now, and much

improved air conditioning and sound systems, but aside from cosmetic updates the

instruments, control layout and driving position are pure 1965. The designers pretty

much got it right the first time.

You sit low in a 911, with an upright steering wheel and pedals that pivot down from

the floor ahead. The pedals are slightly offset to the right, but that's a momentary

distraction. Big, round dials communicate necessary information; beyond vehicle and

engine speed and fuel level, all are concerned with the state (pressure, temperature

and level) of the engine oil. Oil is the lifeblood of the air-cooled 911 powerplant,

and the gauges are a necessary emphasis.

Some details are distracting. The ignition key is on the steering wheel's left, the

heat and air conditioning controls are hidden by the lower right portion of the wheel

rim, and stowage space is minimal. Window and central-locking switches are throwbacks

to an earlier age when they were considered less important. But these are things that

just don't seem to matter once you're buckled in and rolling, none of those details

seem to matter; you simply adapat.

Though billed as a "2+2" (indicating the presence of rear seats), you'll only try

sitting in the back of the cabin once. After that, you'll find the space useful for

soft bags and other small inanimate objects.

But the driver and passenger are coddled in a luxurious environment. The standard

seats are near-perfect in terms of comfort and support, while the optional "sport"

seats are even better. And the 911 is quiet except when driven hard, quiet enough to

make enjoyment of the excellent standard sound system (which can be augmented with a

remote 6-disc CD changer or upgraded to match the 10-speaker unit standard in the Turbo) a realistic proposition.

With almost every imaginable convenience feature standard, Porsche still manages to make a few extras available. A car phone is one, a pair of heated leather seats is another. An electronic display can be added to the instruments (it's standard on the Turbo) to make even more data available to the driver.