I have a long-admitted bias for German cars. However, that aside, there is no denying that Porsche makes one of the world’s greatest sports cars. The last time I reviewed the Porsche 911 Carrera 4 was in 1996 — the first year it had all wheel drive (AWD). Totally redesigned for the 1999 model year, all that has happened is that this great machine has just gotten better.

If you can justify the price — almost $80,000 as tested, you will not be disappointed.

There are eight Porsche models, but the decision is basically what combination of Coupe or Cabriolet, two or four-wheel drive, 6-speed manual or 5-speed Tiptronic you want.

The AWD adds $5,430 to the price while the Tiptronic will set you back an extra $3,420. A 420-horse Turbo is also available — but pricing wasn’t at press time.

Porsche offers a number of options that allow buyers to make their 911s unique. Special paints and leather colors have long been a staple as are special interior trim and exterior pieces. Though expensive, they offer a level personalization. Our test model was a silver-gray AWD, Tiptronic Cabriolet that came with a royal blue convertible top and matching blue and silver leather inside.

Besides the AWD, differences between the 911 Carerra and the Carerra 4 are very subtle — mainly a different wheel design, a titanium-color logo on the rear engine hood and visible titanium-color brake calipers.

Porsche has refined the 911 body several times in its 34-year history, although it has always maintained the same roofline and windshield. But the 1999 redesign was the first ever clean-sheet redesign. The Carrera’s body is longer, wider and sleeker than any previous Porsche, all the while maintaining its classic lines.

The Porsche 911 is packed with more technology than we have room to adequately cover here. Porsche Stability Management (PSM) is standard on the Carerra 4 and optional on Carerra. It applies braking force to individual wheels and, if necessary, reduces engine power when a loss of grip is detected. PSM is excellent for use through slaloms and fast corners.

Interiorwise, this is unmistakably a Porsche. From the traditional left side ignition key to the lateral support that offers the perfect driving position, this is an extremely comfortable car for long distance driving over any type of road. I drove it over the Cascade Mountains in total comfort — not to mention having fun on the way.

The appearance and feel of the interior materials include a special soft-touch grain to the console, door trim, instrument panel and other areas. A touch of classic sports car elegance comes in the form of aluminum-look trim for the shifter, door handles and handbrake release button. Visibility is excellent all around and instrumentation is an attractive, quick read. There is also an automatic climate control with a standard activated charcoal odor filter.

Forget about using the back seat for anything except maybe hauling a few things home from the grocery store. You can take your golf clubs or your golfing buddy out to the links — but not both at the same time. Don’t even think about a trip to the airport unless you have a single carry-on. Remember, this is a sports car.

Behind the wheel, the performance of the Porsche 911 Carerra 4 can be summed up in one word — extraordinary.

I’ve heard it said the Porsche Boxster does nearly everything the 911 will for $25,000 less. Not exactly. Don’t get me wrong, the Boxster, and especially the Boxster S, is a terrific sports car. But there’s a big difference between terrific and extraordinary — and the price tag of that experience is about $25,000,

The 911 is much more powerful, and handles so much better. The first bumpy turn you hit will explain the difference. The Boxster will have to slow down because it will slide to the outside of the corner as the tires skip and momentarily lose their grip. The massive 911 rubber stays glued to the road because the suspension, PSM, and the all-wheel drive system orders it there. Whether it’s blasting through a 100-mph sweeping turn or a 35-mph switchback, the driver will have more work to do in a Boxster and be forced to take it way slower.

Regular readers of this space know I believe there is no such thing as too much horsepower, and at 300 horses, the Carerra 4 did not disappoint or leave me pining for a Turbo.

Our test model came with the Tiptronic transmission which delivers super-smooth shifting in either the manual or auto mode. I found the manual mode the most fun — pressing a button on the steering wheel, takes you up or down through the gears without shifting manually. The automatic mode works perfectly, holding the 911 in gear when it senses you attacking a corner. It’s just a fantastic automatic.

The 911 handles rough pavement. very well. I’ve heard some writers say the refinement of the new 911 has caused it to lose some of its feel. I disagree. The Carerra 4 offers plenty of feedback — it’s just different from previous 2-wheel drive versions. With the AWD, you can actually feel the changing amounts of grip on the front tires as the car glides through an expanding corner.

The AWD offers exceptional traction on slippery surfaces, even though it was designed for performance on mainly dry surfaces, not as an all-weather traction control system. From a stop, you can crank the wheel 90-degrees and stand on it without making any steering correction. The rear end won’t slide (power oversteer) and the front end won’t wash (understeer). The Carerra 4 just accelerates away — and quite quickly at that.

The Carerra 4 has excellent brakes that utilize rotors and one-piece calipers derived from the GT1 racecar. It stops quicker than just about any production car ever built. With ideal weight distribution and massive tire contact, the 911 loses speed in nothing flat. The excellent anti-lock brake system allows the driver to steer around a problem while braking at the threshold.

Whines: If you can call it a whine, I’ve heard some criticism about the fact that the 911 shares front end styling with the Boxster. Most people can easily tell them apart, though the Cabriolet might fool you if it’s coming directly toward you. You’ll just have to decide if this is an issue for you.

Applause: One could argue that it’s impossible to place a value on the mystique and panache of a Porsche — but why bother? This is truly one of the world’s finest sports cars. Maybe the Viper can compete with it in a road race, and the Corvette is a better value in comparison, but few sports cars in the world can match this awesome combination of comfort, chassis sophistication and raw, unbridled power.

Bottom Line: To echo Tina Turner, this car is “Simply the Best.” It’s one of the finest cars I’ve ever driven and in my view is one of the most exquisite examples of precision machinery on the planet. When people ask me, if money was no object what car would I personally own —without hesitation — the answer is always the same, “Porsche 911 Carerra 4.”.