Staying off Andalusia’s main roads for most of the journey, instead sticking to two-lane highways that followed the contours of the countryside and passed through the region’s small towns, I reveled in the Porsche 911 Turbo’s sheer driving pleasure. Carving through valleys and blasting up every straightaway with the carefree élan of a spoiled playboy, the 911 Turbo displayed supreme handling thanks to its sucker-like grip. It was a treat to rip through S curves and over small hills without so much as an inch of slip, the 911 a magnet zipping around a metallic landscape. At lower speeds, such as when climbing a series of switchbacks to a mountain summit, the Turbo allowed a bit of drift that thrilled every time the tires scrabbled for, and then found, grip on the gravel shoulder.

Our test car was equipped with the six-speed Getrag manual transmission. Porsche says the five-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission shifts much faster than any human can, resulting in even faster 0-60 acceleration times than the manual. We know these F1-style shifters are all the rage in modern supercars, but we loved the manual gearbox nevertheless. It felt precise and mechanically perfect with fluid shifts that slotted satisfyingly into place.

I never came close to the Turbo’s top speed of 192 mph. It was more fun to leave it in third gear, regardless of how fast the car was going, so I could listen to the sonorous turbocharged, six-cylinder, 480-horsepower boxer engine wind itself up. Plus, third gear provided instant access to the engine’s 457 lb.-ft. of glorious torque, so that when I caught up to a slower vehicle it was, quite literally, a snap to put it behind the 911 and getting smaller in the rearview mirror.

The one time I conceded to slower traffic occurred after rounding a bend and encountering a flock of sheep that has swarmed over the road like a wooly avalanche. The shepherd (an actual shepherd!) was dressed in a flat cap, pants tucked into rubber boots, and he carried a wooden staff. With the help of his hyper collie, he moved the flock to one side and let the 911 Turbo through. The sound of all those bleating animals drowned out the Porsche’s burbling baritone, but it was one of those foreign travel experiences that make a trip.

Even moseying along at sheep speed, the 911 Turbo was comfortable, not biting at the bridle and lunging to go faster. It was as accommodating at city street speeds as it was electrifying when we pushed it on wide open roads. Our test car was not equipped with the optional Sport Chronos Package so I did not get to try the overboost feature, but with no opportunity for burn-outs it would have been a moot point.

When I finally reached the hotel after taking multiple trip-extending detours, or “long cuts,” I stood and looked at the new 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo, lingering over its classic shape and recalling the highlights of the drive. In the final analysis, the 2007 911 Turbo is as complete a Porsche as I have ever driven.