The 2017 911 Turbo S Cabriolet. // Photo by Bob Curley
No need to sign up for driving school or deal with car-salesman pressure to take a new Porsche out for a spin this summer.
VIPs at resorts like the Hotel Viking in Newport, RI, and Gurney’s Inn in Montauk, New York, can get behind the wheel of a 2017 911 Turbo S Cabriolet or a Cayman GT4 for a free road test (and some expert driving tips) with a professional driver.
Luxury Travel Advisor slid into the cockpit of a bright-yellow 911S this week in Newport, where Porsche was set up at the Hotel Viking and the New York Yacht Club (the automaker is a sponsor of Newport Race Week).
The car is a technological marvel, with performance-based gearing and suspension changes available at the flick of a dial on the steering wheel. This compact convertible can do 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds and has a top speed of 197 mph: we didn’t quite hit that mark on the busy streets of Newport, but instructor Keith McIntosh did guide us through some sharp, no-brakes turns, and we got a satisfying growl from the motor when we opened it up a bit on a rare traffic-free straightaway. Note: Drivers who sign up at the New York Yacht Club will have the extra pleasure of cruising Newport’s famous Ocean Drive like a rock star.
The cars will be back at Gurney’s July 20-23, then return to Newport in August and September in conjunction with the Queen’s Cup (Aug. 14) and 2016 Resolute Cup races (Sept. 12-17), respectively.
For VIPs hungry for an even more thrilling drive, the Porsche Experience Center opened last year in Atlanta and a second one is slated to open this fall in Los Angeles. Auto enthusiasts can also put Porsches through their paces at Birmingham's Porsche Sport Driving School in Alabama. Here, VIPs can learn driving techniques from the pros and hit the track in a variety of greasy-fast cars.
Visit www.hotelviking.com and www.porschedriving.com.