Help me decide 911T spec
#31
RAS, which I have, is something you feel at every bend in the road. It's just the latest dynamic aid in which Porsche has created to get the 911 to corner despite the rear weight bias. I discovered several years ago that the Cayman and Boxster are more fun in the curves than 911s. PDCC changed that a bit. Now RAS just brings you that much closer to the mid engine car feel, which is so balanced and nice when taking curves. RAS transforms the car enough to make it well worth the cost. Far more justifiable than many other options in the price range. What sucks is that Porsche makes you pay for it as an option. Porsche went as far as giving the T (included in the base price) PSE, mechanical rear diff, shortened gear shift, shorter final drive, and sport PASM all for optimum handling and performance. They should have included RAS. If so, every single owner who passed on it or asserts its negligible value would be praising it instead. It's THAT good. The fact that RAS can't be optioned for the base Carrera, it would have made the most sense for Porsche to make it standard in the T. Sometimes you just have to think for people. It would make buying a used T a little easier as the discerned shopper is going to sort the Porsche locator by 7mt and RAS (and PCCB if you're me).
#32
Burning Brakes
I would respectfully disagree with this statement. I ordered my T and did not option RAS. I did that on purpose as I was looking for the least amount of assists on my 911. Even though I have not driven a car with RAS I'm sure it is helpful and noticeable. I just wanted the rear engine experience and feel. I have a Cayman R for track and mid engine and appreciate it for what it offers and I enjoy the 911 for it's different experience. Both are fun on the track for different reasons. Both are fun on the street for different reasons. If RAS was standard I dont know that I would not have ordered the T but it would have influenced my decision. For the record I also ordered LWBS, MT, no sunroof etc. I'm very happy with my car and how I ordered it. To each their own but I'm glad Porsche is not thinking for me in this case....
I keep thinking Porsche should ask me my thoughts on things while cars are in development lol. I keep wanting to tell them to get rid of PASM and make every car handle like the X-73 Caymans and Boxsters. Every car would come with PSE and PCCB too!
Is it too early for T owners to be complaining about the car's fuel economy? I assume you're having too much fun to care at this point.
Last edited by MidEngineRules; 03-21-2019 at 04:23 PM.
#33
Rennlist Member
#34
A worthy view. No non-GT 911, with or without RAS, has ever compared to my former Cayman R around corners in balance and feel. Certainly doesn't compare to my GT4 either or my 987 and 981 Spyders I had before that. But Porsche is trying and you can bet the thought process by them to not make it standard had only to do with making money and not whether to limit the car to that of a previous generation. If I'm buying a new Porsche (as I did in 2017 with my Targa 4S), and especially the more rare purposeful versions like your T, I don't look to limit it. I would have spec'd one just as you did, but with RAS as without it I would know I left a significant upgrade on the table. I owned 2 997 Carrera S models, both nicely equipped. Neither (.1 and .2) were great around corners. In fact they were terrible. I certainly wouldn't buy a 991 and want that same experience. Honestly buying a Carrera T right now is buying old with the 992 around the corner. But the T does offer something a little unique and I do like it when Porsche goes to special efforts as they usually make something worth holding on to. So I respectfully disagree also with your choice and reason to not want RAS, but your car, your choice. That you still have a Cayman R, I applaud you for that and I'm jealous.
I keep thinking Porsche should ask me my thoughts on things while cars are in development lol. I keep wanting to tell them to get rid of PASM and make every car handle like the X-73 Caymans and Boxsters. Every car would come with PSE and PCCB too!
Is it too early for T owners to be complaining about the car's fuel economy? I assume you're having too much fun to care at this point.
I keep thinking Porsche should ask me my thoughts on things while cars are in development lol. I keep wanting to tell them to get rid of PASM and make every car handle like the X-73 Caymans and Boxsters. Every car would come with PSE and PCCB too!
Is it too early for T owners to be complaining about the car's fuel economy? I assume you're having too much fun to care at this point.
#35
Burning Brakes
The way I feel about gas mileage is this (I am averaging 20.1mpg after 2,300+ miles with an average speed of 44 mph...):
If I'm out hammering, I don't care what mileage I'm getting.
If I'm cruising, I'm shocked at how well this performance car does.
I think anyone who thinks these cars get horrible mileage, either way, is in the wrong car...
ẞ
If I'm out hammering, I don't care what mileage I'm getting.
If I'm cruising, I'm shocked at how well this performance car does.
I think anyone who thinks these cars get horrible mileage, either way, is in the wrong car...
ẞ
#36
Rennlist Member
Option 3. The interior stitching and RAS does it.
#37
There was a review that didn’t like or recommend RAS... wish I could remember where I saw it.
For fuel economy, my first tankful (160 miles from north of LA to San Diego in heavy rain and headwinds) netted me over 28 MPG per the gauge.
No way in #ell that I’d own a black car (ever again). Total deal breaker.
For fuel economy, my first tankful (160 miles from north of LA to San Diego in heavy rain and headwinds) netted me over 28 MPG per the gauge.
No way in #ell that I’d own a black car (ever again). Total deal breaker.
Last edited by stevenvillatoro; 03-22-2019 at 12:34 AM.
#38
Advanced
I'm going to break down some of the choices across the builds I think are good vs bad:
Here, I fixed it for you:
http://www.porsche-code.com/PKTKGC97
- 7-speed Manual Transmission. Yes.. this is not-negotiable
- Chrono Package with Porsche Track Precision App. Yes. For $320 this is a no-brainer
- Standard Interior in Black/GT Silver with Sport-Tex Seat Centers i.c.w. Carrera T Interior Package. Yes. The uniqueness of the interior package that is specific to the T will help the value in the future
- Fuel Cap with Aluminum Look Finish. No. It's plastic and you hardly ever see it.
- Rear Axle Steering. No. IMHO it's not worth $2K and the car is awesome without it.
- BOSE® Surround Sound System. Yes. The default system is a POS
- Seat Heating. Yes. Even when it's cold, I want the window down to hear the engine.. so heated seats will stop you freezing your butt off
- Smoking Package. No I know everyone adds this, but I like having the little (tiny) cubby. I put my key in it (I have entry & drive, but even so)
- Luggage Net in Passenger Footwell. No. You don't want to put crap in there. Don't temp yourself.
- Bi-Xenon™ Headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System. Yes. Just because the inside of the headlight comes in black and it's only $780
- Tinted Taillights. Yes. Go black or go home
Here, I fixed it for you:
http://www.porsche-code.com/PKTKGC97
#39
Rennlist Member
Wow. It's a wonderful thing that PAG allow us such individual expression in optioning cars.
Here's my take:
I'm going to break down some of the choices across the builds I think are good vs bad:
Here's my take:
I'm going to break down some of the choices across the builds I think are good vs bad:
- 7-speed Manual Transmission. Yes.. this is not-negotiable
- Chrono Package with Porsche Track Precision App. Yes. For $320 this is a no-brainer NO - it's a ridiculous little dash-wart clock that in the T doesn't add performance.
- Standard Interior in Black/GT Silver with Sport-Tex Seat Centers i.c.w. Carrera T Interior Package. Yes. The uniqueness of the interior package that is specific to the T will help the value in the future NO - it makes the interior look like a pair of Levis. Go straight black with 4WSS+ seats.
- Fuel Cap with Aluminum Look Finish. No. It's plastic and you hardly ever see it. Yes. Nice little touch.
- Rear Axle Steering. No. IMHO it's not worth $2K and the car is awesome without it. Yes. It's a great feature that you can't add after.
- BOSE® Surround Sound System. Yes. The default system is a POS NO - why spend money on a crappy Bose system when you have a wonderful engine to listen to
- Seat Heating. Yes. Even when it's cold, I want the window down to hear the engine.. so heated seats will stop you freezing your butt off Yes - super nice to have
- Smoking Package. No I know everyone adds this, but I like having the little (tiny) cubby. I put my key in it (I have entry & drive, but even so) Yes - nice to have to access the cigarette lighter socket to charge your phone
- Luggage Net in Passenger Footwell. No. You don't want to put crap in there. Don't temp yourself. Yes - nice little touch
- Bi-Xenon™ Headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System. Yes. Just because the inside of the headlight comes in black and it's only $780 Yes - good call
- Tinted Taillights. Yes. Go black or go home Yes - but worth the $$ and possible darkens up the look of the ca too much.
#40
I think many want a T with the Chrono Pkg as it adds the sport functions i.e. performance in most if not all other 911's . That is not the case with the T. It adds a redundant and distracting clock on the dash and an app nobody uses.
#41
Burning Brakes
Yep, SC is a deal breaker on so many other older cars as you want the sport plus mode. When shopping for a GT4 was the first time I actually came to the realization it wasn't at all necessary. Ended up with it anyway. But after 9 Porsches with the clock, it's hard to not have it. At least it actually functions as a clock now, instead of just a timing watch never used.
#43
My take is the only MUST have on a T is the 7-speed manual. Everything else, PCCB, LWB, RAS, sunroof, seats, stereo, color, interior is personal preference. I like to see the diverse, custom builds. I read in a review somewhere that a Porsche exec had as a personal car, a T with only sunroof and he loved it.
#44
Burning Brakes
What I find most appealing about the T is the minimalist/purist approach. Although marketed that way, the option list shows profit matters most (typical I guess). I also like that Porsche added a lot of typical options as standard like PSE. I think the only 2 significant things they got wrong was not also giving you RAS like they did with so much else and they should also have put on the S brakes as standard, to 1) really differentiate it from a base Carrera, and 2) add braking power to match the added performance you get with the shorter final gear and mechanical diff. As they say, the first thing you do to make something faster is make it brake stronger. Those are easily solved by adding RAS and PCCB, which I wouldn't hesitate. Porsche definitely could have shaved a little more weight too such as how they approached the 987 Cayman R and Spyder with aluminum door skins and the lightest wheels ever offered on the 987. I know I'm too spoiled after owning every special Cayman and Boxster Porsche has ever created, and all those cars cost a lot less and the heaviest is 250 pounds lighter than the T. But in terms of a non-GT 911, it's really the most interesting to date. So much in fact I don't even mind that it isn't NA. Too bad it took Porsche 50 years to bring the T back. So I encourage buyers to order theirs with 7mt, LWBS, PCCB, RAS, T interior and no sunroof so if I ever want one second hand I can find what I like. Cheers!
#45
Rennlist Member
I agree! Save money and add on options that keep it as a drivers car.
With SC dash wart, the funny thing is, is that I've had them I NEVER use it or look at it! So I ordered my T with out it. Nice clean lines. And put my $$ into PCCBs, nice seats, and RAS.
But you know what? It all comes down to driving the car and ultimately I've enjoyed driving every Porsche (sports cars) I ever owned. There's no bad Porsche sports car, is there?
With SC dash wart, the funny thing is, is that I've had them I NEVER use it or look at it! So I ordered my T with out it. Nice clean lines. And put my $$ into PCCBs, nice seats, and RAS.
But you know what? It all comes down to driving the car and ultimately I've enjoyed driving every Porsche (sports cars) I ever owned. There's no bad Porsche sports car, is there?