Credit: Mike Schlee

Choosing can be hard. For some folks, indecision reigns supreme. Whether it be fear of committing to a choice, fear of making the wrong choice, or any of several other factors, making that final decision is stressful.

At least the food world has a solution to this dilemma – the everything bagel. Can’t decide between sesame seeds, poppy seeds, salt, or other spices? No problem, the everything bagel has it all covered.

The automotive world now has a similar solution – the everything Porsche. Can’t decide between getting a sports car, an off-road overlander, or simply something to drive to work all year around. The 2024 Porsche 911 Dakar has it all covered.

The 911 Dakar is a tribute to the 1984 911 Carrera 3.2 4x4 Paris-Dakar (953) that won the race it was named for, some 40 years ago. For the modern replica, Porsche has gone all-in with this design and we’re better for it. Up front there’s a stainless-steel plate in the middle of the bumper along with a permanent red tow hook. At the back, there is another stainless-steel plate and red tow hook combination. The hood may seem familiar to some as it’s the carbon fibre hood from the 911 GT3. It’s not the only piece of carbon fibre on the exterior as the fixed rear spoiler is also made from the material.

Already looking purposeful, especially with the all-terrain tires which we’ll get to later, Porsche allows customers to really play up the tribute with the Rallye Design Package. This gives the 911 Dakar a full-blown Rothmans’ inspired tribute livery. Using the word Roughroads in lieu of the cigarette manufacture, the Dakar has the iconic blue, red, gold, and white exterior along with bright white wheels.

If that still isn’t enough visual effect, the roof can be loaded up with various accessories. Our test car has them all, which includes the roof basket, gas can, water jug, recovery boards, folding spade, and active duffel bag.

Driving around one of the world’s most recognizable cars wearing one of its most icon paint schemes is a recipe for attention. Everywhere I drove, the 2024 Porsche 911 Dakar garnered cranked necks, double takes, and hastily grabbed smartphones.

High school teens would run down to the road to try and snap a photo. I can’t remember the last time I had so many neighbors come by my house to check out the car and talk about it. A visit to my dentist turned into a mini car show when a few staff members came out to inspect the Dakar up close.

It’s a smile inducing machine not only for onlookers, but those inside as well. Some tributes come off looking corny, this is not one of those. It’s the right kind of over the top, all-in design approach, fitting to a replica like this. In my unscientific tally, I had roughly two dozen positive reactions to the 911 Dakar and only one negative one. So there, on the Mike-Scale of happiness, it’s loved by 96% of people.

Inside, the 911 Dakar gets a GT sport steering wheel covered with Porsche’s synthetic Alcantara like material called Race-Tex. In regular Dakar’s, it has a green center stripe on the top. Since my tester has the Rallye Design Package, the stripe is blue instead.

To further match the interior with the exterior, there is the Extended Rallye Design Package that adds Race-Tex to many surfaces and blue accents as well as blue stitching. Sitting in front of the passenger is a limited-edition numbering plate. My test car is #1,270 out of the 2,500 that will be built.

Standard in the off-road 911 are carbon fibre full bucket seats. Covered with leather and Race-Tex, they are light weight and very supportive. But they also have minimal adjustability. Although I fit in them decently, not everyone will, and I still found them to not be great over longer drives. I’d suggest getting the more liveable sport seats plus that are optional for no additional charge. As for rear seat passengers, there won't be any since the Dakar deletes those seats.

Back up front, the interior of my tester has been enhanced with a few additions options. Most obvious is the Burmester upgraded audio system and surround view monitor. Some other style upgrades include the sport chrono stopwatch painted white and bespoke door-sill guards.

Like many tribute cars, the 2024 Porsche 911 Dakar looks the part. But unlike a lot of tribute cars, it also has the performance to back it up. This is no mere sticker and wheels upgrade.

Starting at the back, there’s the 3.0-liter turbocharged flat-6 also found in the 911 Carrera GTS 4. It makes 473 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. The engine mounts used in the Dakar though are stiffer to protect the engine during more aggressive off-road driving.

The only transmission available is the 8-speed dual clutch PDK. As one of the best dual-clutch transmissions on the market, the speed and precision of down shifts, especially when using the paddle-shifters, is glorious. With the exhaust valves open, cracking off downshifts while deaccelerating produces sharp flat-6 barks out of the tailpipes.

The engine and transmission are fantastic at acceleration too. Porsche claims a 0-60 mph time of 3.2 seconds and we think that might be conservative. The way the thrust and power build as the rpms increase is exhilarating. The torque generated from the turbo unit always has the Dakar ready and willing to lurch forward.

As sweet as the engine and transmission are, it’s the rest of the mechanics and software that really separates the Dakar form other 911 models. The suspension has the body sit 1.96-inches (50 mm) higher than a standard 911. The Dakar features an adjustable suspension that can further raise the car another 1.18-inches (30 mm). Even when set to this highest point, the 911 Dakar can still travel at speeds up to 105 mph (170 km/h).

On paper, an extra 3.14-inches (80 mm) of ground clearance may not sound like much. But in context, going from 3.16-inches (80 mm) total ground clearance to 6.3-inches (160 mm) is a lot. It allows the car to travel places, especially off-road, no regular 911 ever could.

To optimize capability, the Dakar also includes real axle steering, Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control, and Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires measuring 245/45R19 up front and 295/40R20 in the rear.

It’s the tires that are probably the biggest departure for the model line. Usually wearing the highest of high-performance rubber, the Pirelli Scorpions are true A/T tires, even if they have a small sidewall. At least the sidewalls are reinforced and the tire's tread blocks measures 9 mm deep.

Despite the added ride height at knobby tires, the Dakar still drives a lot like a regular 911. Sure, the squish and squirm from the tires can be felt when aggressively hustling through corners, and the steering isn’t quite as communicative. But it’s still better than most cars on the road and the balanced agility all modern 911's possess can be felt.

I’m quite certain if an owner bought and installed a second set of 911 wheels wearing max performance tires, the 3,552 lbs Dakar would drive close enough to a Carrera 4 GTS that most wouldn’t even notice (aside from the limited 149 mph top speed). It could be the best of both worlds. Whatever the weekend calls for – hot lapping a track or bombing across the desert floor is just a matter of which set of tires to install.

For those more inclined to just use the Dakar as it is intended, the vehicle has two extra drive modes, Rallye and Off-Road. They utilize the various on-board computers and sensors to maximize performance in various off-road conditions.

The Rallye mode also has Rallye launch control. It optimizes traction to all four wheels on loose surfaces, allowing the wheels to spin up to 20% more than the standard launch control.

Sadly, in my very short time with the car, I didn’t get to perform any real off-roading. On the few dirt roads I did travel, the Dakar is an absolute riot to drive. It’s like a sophisticate, overpowered rally car. It’s arguably more fun than a regular 911 as it can be quite entertaining at legal speed limits on the right type of road.

Unfortunately, I don’t imagine many owners will experience how capable the 911 Dakar really is. It's a shame, but with an as tested price of $263,610 ($296,560 CAD) including destination charges, the Dakar is the third priciest 911 behind the GT3 RS and S/T. That, combined with the limited production run, means a lot of these cars will inevitably wind up in the hands of collectors.

I really hope I'm wrong though and some owners do get out and drive their Dakar’s, both on and off road. It is such a blast to drive and really is the everything Porsche. It can be taken to the track, driven on an unmaintained cottage road, or head up to the ski chalet during the winter. All this while still being docile enough to be driven daily.

Just be ready for a lot attention.

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