Sorry for the clickbait title, I know there isn't a simple answer... but I'm hoping some folks who've owned or driven both can chime in.

I have a budget of $80k and it seems like a 991 C2S (maybe a C4S) is the sweet spot for me. I love the styling of this generation, I like the practicality, reliability, and that it's pretty lightweight for a modern car.

My current fun car is a supercharged ND miata with headers, full exhaust, etc. It's a blast to drive but it's too cramped and can't hold enough luggage for a longer trip. I live in an urban area so not great for manual driving, and it's too loud on the highway for long trips.

I want a sports car that somehow does everything: connected feeling to the road, engaging driving experience, yet comfortable and easy to live with.

I bet either 991.1 or 991.2 would fit the bill, but I'm getting hung up on NA vs turbo. My brain is telling me that the 991.1 is more special because it's NA, but I've had lots of turbo cars that I've loved (B58 ❤️).

In either case, PSE is on my shortlist. I often drive with windows down and let the exhaust be my radio. People claim NA has the sweeter tune, but maybe that's just hyperbole?

For those that picked one over the other, why?

Choose faster or better sound--though the latter is subjective. The former is not. Take some time to find some examples you can test drive, and then you'll just know.

Where do you live? If you live somewhere at altitude, Denver etc. go with the turbo ... NA cars loose about 3.5% of HP for every 1,000 feet of elevation gain. Early .2 cars had water pump issues.

Surprisingly hard to find good examples near me, but I know some test drives are the best way to decide. I'm going to start looking for some in a few weeks.

I'm in Charlotte NC, so not much elevation. I drive into the Appalachian mountains often, that gets around 3 to 4 thousand feet.

Coming out of a Miata, you might consider a Cayman or a Boxster instead. I think any 991 will feel like a boat immediately after a Miata.

Not a bad idea, especially something like a GTS Boxster with the 4.0 ... probably would've been what I would've purchased if I actually fit in one ... too tall, not too fat (not if there's anything wrong with that

this video, of the prior generation GTS, is one of my favorite videos of all time ...

Boxster/Cayman are great. 991.1 and .2 are great...drive all and buy the one that speaks to you. These days there are electric pickups SUVs that will trounce many of the 991.2s in speed...so it's the experience that matters. If you enjoy the turbo wooshes and tuning then the .2 is the way to go. If you want the crisp throttle response and glorious sound of an NA flat 6 then the .1 is the way to go. Want both? Get a .1 and supercharge it.

N

Coming from a miata the .1 is already going to feel like more than enough power. The problem is price. The one to get is the S with bigger brakes, PDCC, etc. Sounds like you don't mind modding. PSE can easily be added after the fact for around 1500 and a set of sport headers can be had for 2600. A low mileage .1 S is gonna be 90-100. A low mileage base .2 can be had for 75 to 80. A tune can boost the .2 HP 80 to 100 which is more than enough but you will need brake and suspension upgrades to level to a .1s which has that connected miata feel and sounds fantastic. Go to a local pca meeting (probably weekly in charlotte). Hang out and ask for rides. Also a good place to track down a wrench. Parts/labor cost are real.

I hear you. I love the sound of going with the windows down far better than the absolute acceleration. I have a Boxster 981S and 991 4GTS and I love them both. I think the cabrio makes you feel everything at higher rate: the speed, the sound... If you don't mind the looks and can live with one, I suggest getting a cabrio. Or at least a coupe with the roof. I've heard more than one person who had a GT4 or GT3 and missed having no roof. If you can, try to get the PSE unless you don't mind finding an aftermarket exhaust. With respect to .1 vs .2, I think you should try them both. I personally went with the .1.

All good points, a Cayman/Boxster seems like a natural progression from a Miata, but I'm pretty set on a 911 for two reasons:
1. I want the rear "seats" so I can take my wife and dog on trips to mountains/beach, part of the fun of driving is doing it with others on epic trips
2. The 911 is a childhood dream car, I think I'd be left wonder what could have been if I get something else

I've modified enough cars to learn that nothing beats OEM. So I'm looking for a C2S with at least spot chrono. PSE, PDCC, sport design GT wheel and other goodies are a bonus, but easier to remedy with mods / retrofit.

Good idea on going to PCA meeting, I'll join up and see if I can bum some rides

Yeah maybe the coupe vs carbio decision is harder than .1 vs .2... I think the 991 cabrios actually look pretty good as far as soft tops go, so I wouldn't mind that. I love the cruising around with the top down in the miata and hearing it rev out, doing that in a 911 would be next level...

I've gone from a 993 to a 997.2 and now a 991.1s. I made the transition from air to water cooled just fine, but still miss the utterly intoxicating sound of the 993. Prior to buying the 991, I drove both the .1 and .2 versions courtesy of a local dealer that I bought my Cayenne's through. The power, and the low end torque supplied by the turbo .2 engine is incredible and had me thinking really hard about my choice. But in the end, I decided on a well maintained, low mileage .1 example........the sound of the NA engine as it runs up the rev range is fantastic, and 400 ponies is more than enough to get me into serious trouble with law enforcement! Very happy I stayed NA.....

I've had some fu NA cars that are a blast to rev out but not the most exciting if you're racing stoplights, but the 991.1 seems to have a healthy powerband and decent torque down low, I'll have to test drive one but I'm thinking it's probably plenty.

I've had so many turbo / supercharged cars that I just want something different and although I love turbo wooshy noises, I think NA exhaust is the best.

One thing I'm wondering about is if the sport exhaust is worth it or if aftermarket is decent.

Im also wondering what price I should be aiming for. I want an S coupe or cabrio, sport chrono, PSE, any other options are a bonus. I plan to put some miles on it so I don't need anything low mileage, I figure something in the 30k to 70k range. Looking at BaT I see a wide range for examples in the $55k to $90k range.

I know you can't compare a V8 (N/A or Turbo) to the flat 6, but I think the PSE (991.2) is pretty quiet in the vehicle. I much prefer the sound of my former C63 and my current E63 AMG to the 911.2 with PSE.

I went to a Soul Trackback with highflow cats, and loved how they sounded, but the cold start was not popular with my neighbors. I went back to the OEM PSE to keep my neighbors happy. I head to work at 530am, and it definitely was not appropriate to be waking up the cul de sac each morning.

Now I am looking at other valved PSE options that are louder than the OEM PSE setup.

There are options for upgraded / louder versions of a valved PSE exhaust.

Make sure you drive the cars you are wanting to buy to ensure that your 'needs' are met.