A sacrilege
I know from the reactions of people on the street that many of us consider driving a Porsche in the middle of winter to be pure heresy. So throw me into the Inquisition bonfire because I committed this very sin last December. Heck, it wasn't even an all-wheel drive model or a Cayenne SUV -- just a regular 911 Carrera! Nonsense is what you're probably saying right about now...

The Carrera is a legend, after all, and one of the finest automobiles ever built.

Regardless of the way we think a Porsche should be used, though, one thing is for sure: like a beautiful witch, the 911 is gifted and enthralling in ways no other car is. The lines are extremely clean and sleek, just like the original from 1965. The Porsche 911 is like St. Joan of Arc, transcending ages in mythical fashion and never getting old.

That said, for 2009, designers still saw fit to freshen up the bodywork a little in order for the car to remain very trendy. After all, even saints have a tough time keeping up with hot young sensations like Britney Spears. Therefore, they tweaked the eyelids (headlights), redefined the lower lip (front bumper) and slightly reshaped the butt (taillights and tailpipes).

While admittedly conservative, the interior remains amazingly well executed, with irreproachable material selection and class-worthy fit and finish. It might be a true sports car, but equipment is still very comprehensive in terms of features and possibilities. The front buckets are snug like a tailor-made cassock, allowing body and mind to make one with the 911. Buttons and controls are easy to read and within reach, although I can't tell you how many there are.

The automaker claims that the 911 is a 2+2 coupe, but don't be fooled: any adult sitting in the back will feel damned rather than blessed. Even a 6-year-old cherub will end up feeling uncomfortable. As for storage, it's definitely not one of the priorities of this German sport star. Owners will constantly find themselves reorganizing the content of their cargo and, soon enough, they will learn not to bring more than one suitcase.

The interior remains amazingly well executed, with irreproachable material selection and class-worthy fit and finish.