Can Porsche Ever Get Beat? Part One

Usually when an editorial starts with a question, like this one, it doesn't answer it: it just offers up opposing views, and leaves you, the reader, to make your mind up. Well not here, because I reckon Porsche is the undisputed sports car king, and will remain as such for the foreseeable future. Why? The answer is a two-parter, and here's the first installment: no-one dares tackle Porsche head-on.

Take the Boxster. It is, when all's said and done, a really predicative sports car recipe. Mid-engined, six-cylinders, rear-drive, and two seats. BMW, Audi, and Mercedes all have the resources to take it on, but chicken out of looking the Boxster in the eye. So Merc and BMW offer the SLK and Z4, as softer, two-seater roadsters, but with heavier folding hard-tops and more GT quality ties. They're the obvious rivals on price, but as a sports car, they're in different leagues. Audi doesn't even offer a rival - the TT just doesn't count.

Then look at the 911. In the past few years, loads if different outfits have promised to take down the 911. Aston Martin said the V8 Vantage would be a £60k 997 rival, and Audi aimed the R8 at the same target. Yet both of those cars sailed over £80k when they finally arrived, with the Aston also suffering from dynamic shortcomings that left it well off the pace in the simple 'what's the best sports car stakes.'

Jaguar had a real chance to lock horns with the 911 in its new F-type, but too performed a last minute sidestep. It's automatic transmission only, until 2013 at the earliest it's a soft-top only, and at £79k for a V8 S model, you're shelling out 991 cash for a Cayman-sized car. Better be good, boys...

So there's the first reason Porsche's true sports cars can't be knocked out of the top of the tree - because all its main rivals don't have the stones to truly build a challenger. There's even a handy rule-proving exception. Nissan had a punt with the GT-R (Turbo pace for Carrera S cash) and it is undeniably a modern classic, a total gem. But Nissan could take that gamble because its not juggling the reputation of a premium badge like the German boys. It is, after all, 'only a Nissan'.

Stay locked to CT tomorrow for the second part to find out the other reason that Porsche, will always be THE sports car king, thanks to one unbeatable formula...