Tangerine

Breaking out this question into a new thread. I think it's an interesting debate, doesn't matter if it's in the current crazy used market or not. Prices could drop 50% across the board, but there's still an underlying supply/demand formula at play. And pure personal preference.

I wanted to focus on just manual cars here because that already identifies this abnormal subset of us who (against logic) pick the slower, inefficient option for some abstract enjoyment benefit. So of this group, are we also willing to take an older slower engine, everything else equal?

Assume identical build sheets as much as is possible, same number of miles, same condition. Cars were built just a few months apart.

El_Tigre

I lean towards the 991.2. Its going to have apple carplay and you know Porsche made loads of refinements between generations that they dont advertise. Not being NA and having twin turbos is not really a negative to me, its just a different experience. I wouldn't get so hung up on which one is faster, because if that was your ultimate goal then you'd buy a Tesla. I also like the styling of the .2 just a bit more as it provides just a slightly less "rounded" look and makes it look a little more modern.

Tangerine

Carplay is a good point, forgot that the PCM got a nice update there. I've been thinking of installing the isudar board to get Android Auto myself...

jets

I just made this choice. I had one of the last allocations for a NA 991.1 around 2015 and when it arrived I just didn't like some of the details. It didn't feel right to me. I told them to keep my 5K and kept my 997. I ended up parting with the 997 for many reasons and been without a toy for 4 years or so. I started to get the itch last year and fact is that IMO the 991.2 GTS is my dream car. I love the front clip and the tail better than the .1, improved power and torque. The updated PCM and countless refinements help too. Fact is that I tried talking myself into the whole "last of the NA" and etc but reality is doesn't really make a difference to some degree. I mean hell, I'd consider a 911 Turbo except it is not offered with manual any longer. Once I realized this fact saying goodbye to NA was simple.

spyderbret

To me, the benefit of the .2 turbo is more torque available at a lower RPM vs the NA engine. Yes you lose some of the great sound of the NA but the improvement in drivability was a big deal to me. I ordered my Carrera T because of the turbo engine. I added a tune because I cant leave well enough alone but I really enjoy the end result. I'm also a fan of the .2 improvements both interior and exterior. YMMV...

Wolpertinger

Well, I love my 991.1 C2S and how it sounds. But if someone offered me an even trade for a 991.2 C2S, I'd do it.

rugu6869

Since I was the one who suggested you start a new thread, I feel obligated to vote and chime in.

I too was in this same quandary when I was searching for my car (albeit a C2).
I went with a 991.2 for several reasons and have been super happy with my choice (I haven't even had it tuned yet). Of course the updates to the infotainment system were a big part, but I've gotten used to turbo engines and the low end torque they give you. Driving around normally, as we all do about 98% of the time, the flexibility of the engine make it very easy to live with on a daily basis. Also, when pushed on back roads, you don't need to rev the crap out of the engine to get fantastic results.

But...there are those of us that relish having to rev the engine out and need to work the gears more and don't really care about the infotainment system as much. I'm surprised we haven't seen them chime in yet.
TBH, it was a big part of my conundrum as I do enjoy revving an engine and working the gears. Having now owned my car for over a year and a half, I'm super happy with my choice. Before I even got the car, I was already trying to figure out how add HP and TQ and left me with either a full rebuild/stroker engine that costs upwards of $25K or a supercharger from RR Racing that would give me well over 500HP. When those things were factored in, the newer car that could be easily tuned to 500hp for a lot less helped me make my choice.

GT3FZS

I traded my 2013 991.1 , 7MT for a 2019 Carerra T, 7MT.

Liked the .1, LOVE the T.

Soul Sport Cats help with sound, still not NA sound, but I have grown to love it.

Good luck with your search.

Jim M.

There is a time proven axiom about buying a Porsche. "Always buy the newest Porsche you can afford." The factory makes constant improvements, sometimes even within model years, hence mid year model changes.

Tangerine

My own experience before owning a 911 was from really liking the B7 S4. It has a lot of fans, well deserved. When the B8 came out, it was better in every way--they still offered a manual at the time, and the new supercharged V6 had better numbers all around than the old V8. I went with the B8 S4, thought it was fantastic.

Though, over time I felt it was missing something. It was too fast for the street, finding that rise on acceleration which brought joy was too quick. And the sound, eh, not bad but I'd still turn my head when I heard the burble of a B7 S4 nearby.

Since I don't track the car (mostly because I can't make enough time to go do it) for something that is a street car I love that I can enjoy the car at almost any speed. I'm not a speed junkie at all, well not in gas cars--happy to give that crown to the electrics.

Tangerine

That's a pretty huge jump--I'd probably do the same. Early .1 to a late .2, a T no less. I don't think anyone reasonable would take an older car. My musing was about cars the same age, same spec, only difference being NA or turbo. (and Carplay I guess)

I might have chosen a T if there was one for the .1 generation. As it is I'm super happy with the GTS.

Bulldawgfan1000

I had to make this same decision almost two years ago except I was looking more at the base for each gen. I test drove a .1 base manual and was impressed with its performance, but when I tested the .2 base, its performance was much more impressive. Not to mention the other upgrades such as carplay, the tail lights, slightly bigger brakes, better shifter feel, and its tunability. I went with the .2 and have been very pleased with my choice. I started my mod list with a soul exhaust/sport cats. Improved the sound greatly but it still isn’t as good as the .1, and then I got an APR tune. It is now as fast as a .2 GTS and with better response since it has those smaller turbos. Finally I added the DSC pasm upgrade and now it rides very comfortably over bumps and also has better control on autox and on the track. Both are great cars but the .2 was the one for me.

737gdog

2014 base to a ‘19T. If you can routinely drive the car hard, I would take the ‘15/‘16 GTS. The NA experience is amazing when you can drive the car hard. Most of my drive time is around a big city and I was bored by the pdk and lack of torque in my ‘14. If money were no object I would own a .2 as a daily and a .1GTS or touring for mountain and track days. Cannot go wrong with any 911.

Live Steam

Do it. Easy and it works just like the OEM system in my '18 Boxster GTS.

Live Steam

No one is going to claim they made the wrong choice. No one. So take it all with a grain of salt. I have a turbo Porsche and an NA Porsche. They are both GTS. They are different animals. I like each for what they do and how they do it differently. That Boxster is as fast as the 911 - heck maybe faster. They get there in different ways and each is fun because of it. But ......... the go fast pedal when pushed in the NA 911 puts a huge smile on my face. There's no denying that the NA engine is just enthralling. The Boxster with the turbo is a weapon to be reconned with. Insta-power when desired. It also handles better in the twisties. Lighter, mid engine and lots of torque. All that said, if you're a street driver, the NA will give you the most thrill. The turbo is faster, but you can't use most of it on the street. You're doing 70+ in 3rd gear ... and 2nd if you're heading toward redline. I bought the .1 because it's the last of the truly streetable 911s that's not turbo and it sounds awesome. JMO. Others opinions may vary.