You're thinking about buying a new Porsche, so you head to the dealership and talk to the salesperson. You're soon behind the wheel of that new 911, taking it out for a test drive. But before you've even taken the training wheels off to find out how it really purrs, the test drive is over.

Did you get enough of a feel for the car to make such a big purchase? Maybe, maybe not.

However, there's a slick way to extend the test drive on that new 911 from the usual 30 minutes to 24 hours or even a full weekend.

You'll most likely need access to a major metropolitan area or tourist hot spot, but if that works for you, a rental agency that specializes in exotic cars may have a recent 911 ready for you to drive. The most likely places to find these rentals are New York City, Miami, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. They often have a 911 in their inventory with daily, weekend and even weekly rentals.

In addition to providing you with the 911 driving experience, these specialized agencies are a ticket into the Porsche lifestyle. From San Francisco, it's a beautiful 90-minute drive across the Golden Gate Bridge into the Napa and Sonoma wine regions. Arrive in class at the sizzling Miami South Beach jet-set scene. Or from Los Angeles, cruise the Pacific coastline to Malibu for the Cars and Coffee gathering of mind-blowing super-exotics.

The 911 is the most pervasive Porsche for short-term rentals, although the Panamera, Cayman and Cayenne can be found.

Let's face it, even for die-hard Porsche devotees, a 911 with a starting price around $90,000 and smartly optioned to nearly twice that price could be a bit rich for some of us predicated on only a quick test drive through the dealership's neighborhood or a sprint between freeway exits.

With that in mind, the price of a rental can be rationalized as a prudent investment. On average, the daily rate ranges from $450 to $600 for a 911. Expect to pay somewhere between $1,300 and $1,700 for a weekend behind the wheel. Mileage limits are modest — roughly 75 to 150 miles per 24 hours with a surcharge of $1.50 to $2.00 per mile for overage.

The fine print often stipulates damage deposits of $5,000 or a credit card authorization to cover all repairs. Bottom line: As a mature and conscientious adult, you're fully responsible for returning the Porsche in the condition you get it — a point to embed in the pleasure center of your brain during the heady euphoria of red-line G-force.

The typical "fleet" 911 rental is a late-model Carrera Coupe or Cabriolet probably equipped with a PDK transmission. Some of the agencies with a multicity presence have location-specific models such as the Cayenne, Cayman, Panamera or the 911 Coupe or Cabriolet. Understandably, the chances of finding a 911 Cabriolet in Miami are higher than in Boston. However, if you order far enough in advance, some of the agencies will transport the Porsche between cities.

Household names including Hertz and Avis use up-market divisions. At Avis, it's Avis Prestige, while Hertz makes them available through Hertz Dream Cars. For a more comprehensive list, simply Google "Porsche 911 rentals" or a similar phrase. You'll be surprised at the number of players willing to let you drive their 911 for the ultimate test spin.