981 vs 981S
#17
Rennlist Member
In town, my 914 is the most fun to drive for the very reason Schmidt gave above!
#22
Instructor
I know I'm bumping an old thread but was looking to get the group's opinion now that we're a few years down the line.
I sold my 1995 993 Cab (Manual, Chipped) a couple of months ago.
I'm looking at a 997.2 as a replacement, but considering the Boxster as a temporary replacement to save money and determine if I still want a cab (I want to try a modern cabriolet, and may end up with the 997.2 in coupe form).
If I was keeping a car long term, I'd go for an S for sure.
However, my daily driver is a Tesla P85 so I believe regardless whether it's an S it will probably feel slow to me. My 993 felt pretty slow next to my Tesla and I can agree with the "it sounded like I was going fast, even though I wasn't" sentiment.
The Non-S is similar in power to my 993 when it was stock.
My reason for wanting the Porsche is for a Sunday Funday car to row through gears and enjoy driving. While the Tesla is a *fantastic* car, it is a Monday through Friday car, not so much a weekend fun car.
Now that these are used or CPO, do you think it's worth the extra for an S?
Feedback is appreciated!
I sold my 1995 993 Cab (Manual, Chipped) a couple of months ago.
I'm looking at a 997.2 as a replacement, but considering the Boxster as a temporary replacement to save money and determine if I still want a cab (I want to try a modern cabriolet, and may end up with the 997.2 in coupe form).
If I was keeping a car long term, I'd go for an S for sure.
However, my daily driver is a Tesla P85 so I believe regardless whether it's an S it will probably feel slow to me. My 993 felt pretty slow next to my Tesla and I can agree with the "it sounded like I was going fast, even though I wasn't" sentiment.
The Non-S is similar in power to my 993 when it was stock.
My reason for wanting the Porsche is for a Sunday Funday car to row through gears and enjoy driving. While the Tesla is a *fantastic* car, it is a Monday through Friday car, not so much a weekend fun car.
Now that these are used or CPO, do you think it's worth the extra for an S?
Feedback is appreciated!
#23
Rennlist Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: On a pygmy pony over by the dental floss bush
Posts: 3,285
Received 606 Likes
on
415 Posts
If having more torque on tap at lower RPM ranges is important to you, get the S. If more power at higher RPM ranges is important to you, get the S. If you you more enjoy reving the engine to get power and having more of it isn't that important, get the base. I think the exhaust note of the 2.7L sounds better than the 3.4L at all RPMs. Sounds a little more like a race-tuned engine.
#24
Rennlist Member
OK. I'll jump BACK in on this. This Jan I purchased a 2014 base Cayman with a PDK. And... after driving, an 06 C2S, an 08 TT cab, a 2011 Spyder, a 98 C2S... my conclusion is that the 981 base ROCKS. It is an AWESOME car, perhaps slightly under-powered but for driving in the city, and enjoy revving the crap out it's fantastic little super-revy short-stroked 2.7 it is perfect. And I agree with okie981 - the base exhaust note is BETTER than the S. It's an under-appreciated, HUGE bang-fer-yer-buck Porsche. Love the back hatch...
The ONLY problem I am having... is there's no button for the top to go down. The salesman didn't go over that with me. It's got to be there somewhere...
The ONLY problem I am having... is there's no button for the top to go down. The salesman didn't go over that with me. It's got to be there somewhere...
Last edited by Zeus993; 07-05-2017 at 03:23 PM.
#25
Instructor
OK. I'll jump BACK in on this. This Jan I purchased a 2014 base Cayman with a PDK. And... after driving, an 06 C2S, an 08 TT cab, a 2011 Spyder, a 98 C2S... my conclusion is that the 981 base ROCKS. It is an AWESOME car, perhaps slightly under-powered but for driving in the city, and enjoy revving the crap out it's fantastic little super-revy short-stroked 2.7 it is perfect. And I agree with okie981 - the base exhaust note is BETTER than the S. It's an under-appreciated, HUGE bang-fer-yer-buck Porsche. Love the back hatch...
The ONLY problem I am having... is there's no button for the top to go down. The salesman didn't go over that with me. It's got to be there somewhere...
Attachment 1182318
The ONLY problem I am having... is there's no button for the top to go down. The salesman didn't go over that with me. It's got to be there somewhere...
Attachment 1182318
Any favorites in the stable?
Any thoughts about the size differences between the 993 and newer 911's?
My #1 choice would be a 997.2S cabriolet, but I'm entertaining cheaper alternatives before spending $50k cash on something that might not be worth the marginal value against a car that's $10-15k cheaper.
Especially considering said car would probably be seeing less than 5000 miles per year.
#26
you will know through a test drive which is for you
i like low end torque and i cannot lie and rhe 3.4 has at least some low end torque...
i like low end torque and i cannot lie and rhe 3.4 has at least some low end torque...
#27
Rennlist Member
OK. I'll jump BACK in on this. This Jan I purchased a 2014 base Cayman with a PDK. And... after driving, an 06 C2S, an 08 TT cab, a 2011 Spyder, a 98 C2S... my conclusion is that the 981 base ROCKS. It is an AWESOME car, perhaps slightly under-powered but for driving in the city, and enjoy revving the crap out it's fantastic little super-revy short-stroked 2.7 it is perfect. And I agree with okie981 - the base exhaust note is BETTER than the S. It's an under-appreciated, HUGE bang-fer-yer-buck Porsche. Love the back hatch...
The ONLY problem I am having... is there's no button for the top to go down. The salesman didn't go over that with me. It's got to be there somewhere...
Attachment 1182318
The ONLY problem I am having... is there's no button for the top to go down. The salesman didn't go over that with me. It's got to be there somewhere...
Attachment 1182318
Plus the base 981 is a hoot on the track. Very predictable and quick, plus the flat 6 makes a really nice sound if you rev it out
#28
I have heard all flat 6s, and not because I have a 3.4 say this, but the 3.4 with PSE has the best sound IMO. Having said that, it's much better than the 3.8, but just a little compared to a 2.7 also with PSE. Don't know what are the bore and stroke differences among the 3, but it'd be interesting to know why the differences, when all 3 981 variants rev exactly the same. I expected the 3.8 to sound better, kind of a regular V8 vs a big block, but not the case. Bottom line is both sound fantastic... WITH PSE.
#30
Rennlist Member
Interesting reply. I see you've owned a wide range of the cars I'm considering.
Any favorites in the stable?
Any thoughts about the size differences between the 993 and newer 911's?
My #1 choice would be a 997.2S cabriolet, but I'm entertaining cheaper alternatives before spending $50k cash on something that might not be worth the marginal value against a car that's $10-15k cheaper.
Especially considering said car would probably be seeing less than 5000 miles per year.
Any favorites in the stable?
Any thoughts about the size differences between the 993 and newer 911's?
My #1 choice would be a 997.2S cabriolet, but I'm entertaining cheaper alternatives before spending $50k cash on something that might not be worth the marginal value against a car that's $10-15k cheaper.
Especially considering said car would probably be seeing less than 5000 miles per year.
Favorite? The TT cab was an EXCELLENT daily driver but lack finesse on the twisties. The AWD gives it a ton of understeer.
The Spyder? Subline but not great as a daily in wet weather.
Latest favorite? The one I'm driving!
As for size, this is where the 981 platform is so nice as it has the same wheel base length as the outgoing 997 but not as large as the 991. So it's bigger than your 993 and enough to make the 993 feel nice and SMALL.
I have driven 991's and I like them, BUT... not in love and not for an extra $60K. I just don't see that it's there anymore. The 981 is SO GOOD and now the 982 / 718 is even better in many ways (flat-four discussion not included). And realistically with the 991 - does anybody REALLY use the back seats? I suppose that being said that I do miss the odd time I would put the seat back in the 997 to have a power-nap in a rest stop. Nope - you can't do that in the 981.
Like I said - I love them all.
Last edited by Zeus993; 07-05-2017 at 09:41 PM.