Quick off the mark
Thrilling four-wheel-drive sports cars go head-to-head
Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS PDK Years: 2015 to 2016 Engine: 3.8-litre flat-six, 424bhp Ins grp: 50 Official econ/co2: 31mpg/212g/km Why? The GTS is one of the best-ever 911s, and as the last non-turbo, it’s a genuine collector’s item.
Prices from: £88,000
TO Porsche fans, the GTS badge has a strong pedigree, first appearing on a very successful racing car in the sixties. Now the GTS offers a 911 driving experience inspired by the trackfocused GT3 – yet it doesn’t compromise the qualities that make the 911 usable everyday.
The Porsche 911 GTS elevates the standard Carrera S to the next level, and excels in offering a rich depth to the way it serves up its performance. Its chassis is so well engineered that it urges you to push it harder – to levels where it really delivers. The rear-drive GTS with a manual box may prove more involving, but in four-wheel drive auto form, the 911 offers immense all-weather ability. Thread the 911 GTS down a twisty road and the fluidity with which it flows makes you wonder whether you need a car with any more performance or grip.
The 911 GTS didn’t rank in our Driver Power satisfaction survey, but Porsche always tops the charts for handling and performance. The brand itself dropped to 14th overall, though.
Jaguar F-type V8R AWD Coupe Years: 2015 to date Engine: 5.0-litre V8, 542bhp Ins grp: 50 Official econ/co2: 25mpg/269g/km Why? Jaguar is much more affordable on used market than the Porsche, and it’s still great fun to drive. Prices from: £63,480
THE F-type Coupé is a car that wraps up all that’s good about the Jaguar brand – a make that’s on something of a roll in recent years. It’s stunning to look at, thrilling to own, and is boldly breaking down barriers in a premium sports car sector where German rival Porsche has dominated for so long.
Brutally loud and incredibly powerful, the supercharged 5.0-litre V8 is the star of the show – and with the throttle wide open, there’s nothing else like it. In our test, when revving, the F-type’s exhaust peaked at 115db.
In corners, the car is lively, although it’s not a match for the 911. The all-wheel drive flatters most drivers with its ability to get all of that power to the road without drama, while the electric power steering isn’t corrupted in any way – it’s still faithfully responsive.
Jaguar finished a slightly disappointing 17th place overall in our Driver Power 2016 poll, a few places behind Porsche – but that was a big drop from second place in 2015.