HenChamp

Given a similar price range, WWYD? I am driving a 981S currently and love it, but sometimes wish for more oomph.

Have test driven both, enjoy both. The GTS 4.0 I prefer the handling and braking power of a lot, and I could get a new car vs. an 8-10 year old car. Given a roughly $100,000 budget, what would you do? No commuting, just a fun weekend car. Looking for something special with character. Cheers,

c1pher

I prefer the smaller package of the 718 and feel the GTS is plenty fast. Easy to place, handles impeccably, has lots of creature comforts if that's what you want. Porsche really improved the torque delivery with the 4.0 over the older 981 flat six engine. While I liked the last generation, I always felt like you really had to work the motor to get anything out of it. It wasn't a slow car, but just felt pedestrian until you were 5000 rpm. The 4.0 also has a little of that behavior but is also very peppy down low. I can actually accelerate without downshifting on the highway and still pick up a good head of steam.

manifold danger

Honestly, I personally feel like this isn't even a discussion. 718 4.0 hands down.

*POSSIBLY with the exception of the 991.1 GTS, but I think even those are fetching well over $100k.

A bit of context; I've had a 981 BGTS, a 991.2 C2S, and currently have a 718 BGTS (2.5), with a BGTS 4.0 built and on its way to Emden as I type this.

The 911 is great, but it looks and feels dated. Unless you get a GTS as mentioned, or the X51 Powerkit, it will probably only be a bit of an upgrade over your 981, and not even that much with the Powerkit. The steering was the first generation electric rack, which has been VASTLY improved in the newer cars. The chassis of the 718 is leaps better than the 981 and on par with the 991.2, but as some have mentioned it is "different" from the 991.2; not better per se but some do prefer the smaller dimensions and "rotation around the driver" sensation as compared to the "rotation around a pendulum" sensation the 911 provides. I haven't' driven a 991.1 in anger so can't necessarily compare the drive directly, but between the steering and chassis improvements of the 991.2 and the fact that I prefer the 718 should speak for itself (also, my 991.2 had rear axle steering which also makes a HUGE difference).

Plus factor in the wear and tear on an older car, the ancient infotainment and aging aesthetics, and it really only makes sense to someone who just really likes the 991.1 generation. (Or HAS to have a 911, for image or whatever) Of which there are probably quite a few, but I see no objective reason to select it over a brand new 718 4.0.

Availability. You could get a 991.1 now, but you'd have to play the allocation game and wait 9-18+ months to get a 718 4.0 for $100k (some speculate that the bottom could be falling out of the used car market but that remains to be validated). That could be a reason to choose a 991.

Also one more thing- you didn't mention whether you were a manual transmission guy, but that should seal the deal. The 991.1 7 speed is not great. It was improved in the 991.2, but even then it's not in the same league as the 6 speed in the 718, or 981 for that matter...

Bob Z.

The 7-speed in the 991.2 Targa GTS I had never had a 1-2 shift grind like the 6-speed my Spyder has had.

Dr.Bill

GTS4.0 every single time.
Unless the 911 is a GT model. (not counting the GTS of course)

mc3456

As somebody who went from a 991.2 C4S to a Boxster 25 Years, I wouldn’t change a thing. The Boxster is a significantly better handling car.

absame

Really depends what you want. I owned a 992 for 8 months and just traded it in on a GT4 being built in December. I came out of a 996 I had for 18 years, boxster before that. 911s have gotten big and refined. They’re great for what they are, but if you want something small and nimble that you can toss around I’d go for the 718. But they sell a lot of 911s so apparently not everyone agrees with me!

baege

depends on what you value
if you care about the status of a 911 versus the "cheaper" one then you should get the 911

if you don't care about that and are just in it for the driving experience you should get the 4.0
smaller chassis that wraps around you, the 4.0 trumps the 3.8, better manual

I will say this though, having had 2 981S's before the 4.0, it's not THAT different of an experience. The 4.0 is definitely stronger down low but otherwise it's a pretty similar experience overall to a 981S. If you want a different experience go for the 911

Needsdecaf

991.1, especially the earlier models you're likely looking at in your price range are just not fun. I had a 2013 C2S Cab and the car was very wooden. Steering was the first of the first EPS Porsche did...no bueno. Chassis very aloof. Engine sounded great with PSE but the 7MT gearing was loooong. Which was STUPID as you had SEVEN ratios to play with. The car was completely gutless in 6th and 7th on the highway.

Add to the fact you have PCM 3.1 which, at this point, is pretty ancient. I still live with it in our 2014 Cayenne. It'll get old quick, and the retrofit for Apple Carplay is a little janky. And depending on how early you go, you'll likely be missing a backup camera. Which you will miss, BTW.

GTS...4.0 engine. 6MT. Better infotainment. Lighter and more nimble car. Unless you need the rear seats, this is, quite frankly, a no brainer. Only 991.1 I would REMOTELY consider would be a later GTS or a 911 50th...because Fuchs and green gauges.

Although the 3.8 will sound better, IMO.

c1pher

Did anyone ever verify the curb weight? I watched a Harry’s Garage video and he said the BGTS was a good bit lighter than Porsche’s official curb weight.

Check at about 4:20 mark

UncleDude

^ his scale was wrong (admitted that later)

cooler2442

100% this. If you care about the status of owning a 911 then get the "911". If you want the beter handling/feeling car then get the GTS 4.0

Sadly the Cayman stigma still exists to this day where as even people are saying they'd never spend 200k(GT4RS) on a lowly Cayman when you can get a GT3/RS.

Gorthaur

Ouch! I'm coming from a 981S and my 718 Spyder (PDK) is around the corner (v250): so sad to read this... let's hope the Spyder is a significant step up against the 4.0 GTS... Cheers from Italy!

baege

don't be sad it's just more of a good thing, the 981S is a pretty stellar car

and the spyder as compared to the GTS is EVEN more of a good thing

I should also say that I don't track my cars so I am just talking about purely them as road cars

porsche is good at making incremental changes in goodness and having us pay for them...they got me!

Carrera-T

Once you get past the three numbers 9-1-1, you realize the Cayman is the better sports car. And with the GTS and the NA 4.0 engine, you can’t go wrong. Take of from a guy whose owned both. The 718 Cayman is the perfect driving machine.