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It's a funny thing, but the other evening I was out for a quick romp in the woods before the sun got too low and, corner to corner, I found myself not only sated by the thrust and pace of a "mere" Carrera, but wondering if I needed or even wanted more power. And the answer was...no.
This is funny to me because I drive all sorts of cars and have gotten used to 500-750 hp, and even 900 hp. Don't get me wrong...I like power when I have it under foot—but I find that the character of the engine matters far more to me: the way it makes its power, and how that power output ties into everything else about the car. The grip. The handling. The brakes. Etc. And that evening, as the air cooled (but was still warm) in those woods, this "mere" Carrera was a very, very sweet package.
That is all.
Last edited by stout; 11-01-2018 at 07:28 PM.
Reason: Better title...
Nearing the 6-year / 60,000-mile mark, and 370hp is still enough.
Not sure how many others who bought one of these cars still have theirs, but I remain completely smitten with this "basis" Carrera…every mile remains a joy, whether it's grand touring, the daily commute, canyon carving, or the occasional track day.
Most satisfying options, looking back? This is personal, but: 7MT, PCCB, 4WSS+, GT steering wheel, Sport Chrono (skipped on first one, but turns out it is worthwhile with the manual), nose lift, and no sunroof. Skipped full-leather this time around and don't miss it, Bose has turned out to be very meh—and the first problem is no EQ to tune it besides treble, bass, and a couple of filters…all of which goes away with CarPlay.
What's gone wrong? Not much. What looked like a cheap socket from a truck toolkit bouncing down the highway required a trip to the body shop. A bolt through the RR tire and wheel necessitated a flatbed to make it the last 37 miles home on a 3,000-mile journey to Colorado and back (phew). A leaky water pump, after 5 years, thankfully covered under Porsche's extended warranty. The engine lid struts, a very cheap fix. And that's about it.
What's been annoying? Shiny interior trim (fixed with OE parts). Tire noise on the freeway, which was improved considerably alongside high-speed stability in the rain with all-season tires. Typical 991 squeaks and rattles (need to do another round of fixes, but having too much fun driving so I just turn the stereo up). The electronic parking brake under the dash.
What's been expensive? Rear tires, typically at every 10,000 miles with the original Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. Now experimenting with all-season tires, which seem to wear like iron and are a better fit for my use case…and don't seem to be giving up much performance on the street. Spark plug changes at $1,500 everyone 30,000 miles. (coming up on the second one). The serpentine belt. And that's really about it in my view.
What's been modded? Not much. TechArt springs installed by Sharkwerks, still going with the original PASM dampers without issue and still working well with a DSC Sport controller…a combo only made better by a set of lightweight forged wheels (easily my favorite mod, and now I am considering how to lose even more unsprung weight). AWE air deflectors, a great mod if you like driving with door windows down but one that comes with a tiny bit of wind noise with the windows up (worth it, imo). OE gray brushed aluminum dash trim and a leather center console surround to replace the bright shiny stuff, which directed the sun into my eyes. A few minor details with factory parts. No desire to tune for more power; this car makes GT3 torque, 4000 rpm sooner.
What might get modded? Black inserts for the steering wheel. A different shift **** (maybe). Have mulled a Sharkwerks exhaust for a little more voice, but have waffled as I have come to appreciate the crisp sound of the standard exhaust. Another round of suspension mods could be in the cards at some point, but next step up (Tractive) is a doozy and might be overkill for my use case. A Carrera T/GT4 shifter, but don't mind the standard one. An audio upgrade, but not interested in losing PCM's functionality and am really just interested in gaining a better EQ…at least to start.
In any event, wanted to check back in to say…this has been the best daily driver I've had bar none. It has also been one of the most reliable cars I've had, which is pretty wild when you think about its performance capabilities…whether 0-60 time, near-200-mph top end, or ability to go 500+ miles on a single tank of gas. The future is now (or, ahem, eight years ago), and it ain't bad at all. That Weissach had hit it out of the park with the 991.2 was clear on the original press launch in Tenerife, and it's even clearer now.
It's a funny thing, but the other evening I was out for a quick romp in the woods before the sun got too low and, corner to corner, I found myself not only sated by the thrust and pace of a "mere" Carrera, but wondering if I needed or even wanted more power. And the answer was...no.
This is funny to me because I drive all sorts of cars and have gotten used to 500-750 hp, and even 900 hp. Don't get me wrong...I like power when I have it under foot—but I find that the character of the engine matters far more to me: the way it makes its power, and how that power output ties into everything else about the car. The grip. The handling. The brakes. Etc. And that evening, as the air cooled (but was still warm) in those woods, this "mere" Carrera was a very, very sweet package.
That is all.
Great post. All of us have different things that float our boat. Your story is perfect.
Stout, I'm with you--and love my 2017 C2. 370 hp is definitely "adequate", but just as important is the torque: 330 ft-lbs, kicking in at 1700 rpm. (And for people like me, the turbos keep it real at altitude.)
I love mine, I don’t track it and it’s already too easy to get illegal speeds to fast on the street, just not safe. The power is so linear, just perfect.
I appreciate your thoughts as I have been internally debating the same issue lately. I currently have a 997.1 Turbo which, if I am completely honest, have never really enjoyed as much as my previous 993 or 996 GT3 despite the > 200 hp power difference. I think that it comes down to simplicity and usability of performance. Your post is quite timely as I keep thinking the 991.2 base might be a good compromise to use as a daily driver.
Agreed that engine character, however everyone may define it, trumps power. My older DD comes with 240HP and I'm just as happy with it as I am with the 430 in the GTS.
Great post!
It's a funny thing, but the other evening I was out for a quick romp in the woods before the sun got too low and, corner to corner, I found myself not only sated by the thrust and pace of a "mere" Carrera, but wondering if I needed or even wanted more power. And the answer was...no.
This is funny to me because I drive all sorts of cars and have gotten used to 500-750 hp, and even 900 hp. Don't get me wrong...I like power when I have it under foot—but I find that the character of the engine matters far more to me: the way it makes its power, and how that power output ties into everything else about the car. The grip. The handling. The brakes. Etc. And that evening, as the air cooled (but was still warm) in those woods, this "mere" Carrera was a very, very sweet package.
That is all.
Indeed it is sweet and for my needs anymore hp would be a wasted.
It's a funny thing, but the other evening I was out for a quick romp in the woods before the sun got too low and, corner to corner, I found myself not only sated by the thrust and pace of a "mere" Carrera, but wondering if I needed or even wanted more power. And the answer was...no.
This is funny to me because I drive all sorts of cars and have gotten used to 500-750 hp, and even 900 hp. Don't get me wrong...I like power when I have it under foot—but I find that the character of the engine matters far more to me: the way it makes its power, and how that power output ties into everything else about the car. The grip. The handling. The brakes. Etc. And that evening, as the air cooled (but was still warm) in those woods, this "mere" Carrera was a very, very sweet package.
That is all.
Pete- I think you should drive one with our flash and see how you like it. You might change your mind
I TOTALLY agree. This is my fourth 991 911. First was a base NA 2012.5 cab with a stick. Nice, but it was grey (wished it was red). Then came the red 2013 Carrera S cab with the PDK. Great car, and it's red! But missed having a manual. Then I bought a new black 2017 Carrera S coupe with a stick. Another great car but black killed my sole and so did having a roof. Now I'm on my keeper. It's a Base 2018 red cab with a stick. The trifecta of perfection. Red, cab, stick. This is the honey of them all. PLENTY of power. Perfect balance. Amazing handling and grip. You'd never know it was a turbo if you couldn't hear that slight turbo spool up. My 2018 M3 is a turbo as well and it's very apparent in the throttle. Not so much the Carrera.
I'm super happy with this car. It's the simplest one yet and maybe that why I like it the most.
08-03-2018 | 12:01 AM
370: A real sweet spot
