Base or S for a noob?
10-30-2014, 01:33 PM
#16
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10-30-2014, 01:35 PM
#17
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A low profile tire - either 19" or 20" won't make any difference if crashing into a pothole, you'll tear up the tire or bend a rim. 30 and 35 Series profiles are not made for pothole strikes, there's no real difference on either wheel size. PASM won't make a difference, either.
What I do - and I'm in Wash DC area, is simply park my Porsche in the garage in the winter and move to my 4 x 4 Toyota Tundra with big ole meaty tires that can take on any pothole encountered. The Porsche doesn't come out to play until DOT had repaired all the potholes. I have $ 8,000 HRE wheels on my car - not going to bang them up and get the sandblasting on my windshield and paint just to drive in Jan/Feb. But that's just me....
PASM is simply the shocks stiffening up so you can peel the corners harder, that's all. It does NOT raise and lower the car by hitting the switch on the console.
What I do - and I'm in Wash DC area, is simply park my Porsche in the garage in the winter and move to my 4 x 4 Toyota Tundra with big ole meaty tires that can take on any pothole encountered. The Porsche doesn't come out to play until DOT had repaired all the potholes. I have $ 8,000 HRE wheels on my car - not going to bang them up and get the sandblasting on my windshield and paint just to drive in Jan/Feb. But that's just me....
PASM is simply the shocks stiffening up so you can peel the corners harder, that's all. It does NOT raise and lower the car by hitting the switch on the console.
10-30-2014, 01:40 PM
#18
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10 mm lower
Sport lip in front
Stiffer suspension
10-30-2014, 01:41 PM
#19
Rennlist Member
A low profile tire - either 19" or 20" won't make any difference if crashing into a pothole, you'll tear up the tire or bend a rim. 30 and 35 Series profiles are not made for pothole strikes, there's no real difference on either wheel size. PASM won't make a difference, either.
What I do - and I'm in Wash DC area, is simply park my Porsche in the garage in the winter and move to my 4 x 4 Toyota Tundra with big ole meaty tires that can take on any pothole encountered. The Porsche doesn't come out to play until DOT had repaired all the potholes. I have $ 8,000 HRE wheels on my car - not going to bang them up and get the sandblasting on my windshield and paint just to drive in Jan/Feb. But that's just me....
PASM is simply the shocks stiffening up so you can peel the corners harder, that's all. It does NOT raise and lower the car by hitting the switch on the console.
What I do - and I'm in Wash DC area, is simply park my Porsche in the garage in the winter and move to my 4 x 4 Toyota Tundra with big ole meaty tires that can take on any pothole encountered. The Porsche doesn't come out to play until DOT had repaired all the potholes. I have $ 8,000 HRE wheels on my car - not going to bang them up and get the sandblasting on my windshield and paint just to drive in Jan/Feb. But that's just me....
PASM is simply the shocks stiffening up so you can peel the corners harder, that's all. It does NOT raise and lower the car by hitting the switch on the console.
10-30-2014, 01:42 PM
#20
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dont waste your money on PDCC IMO... Sport Chrono + PSE + PASM...
You dont mention if you are in the market for the manual transmission or PDK ... if the latter, spec the Sport Design steering wheel ... you do not want the multifunction one with the goofy shifter buttons.
You dont mention if you are in the market for the manual transmission or PDK ... if the latter, spec the Sport Design steering wheel ... you do not want the multifunction one with the goofy shifter buttons.
As far as base vs S, well we'd all rather have the S, and true that it will help the resale- but it's also over $14k more on the msrp... I've had my base 911 almost 2 months now and love it. But then I've never owned an S. If I had, I may not want to go back to a base... ignorance is bliss.
10-30-2014, 01:54 PM
#21
Former Vendor
10-30-2014, 02:22 PM
#22
Racer
I say get an S. I started with a base coupe, liked it a lot but didn't LOVE it. I then got the S which I loved so much... I was crazy about it, and willing to shell out the major dough for a TTS because I wanted more more more more more......
If you get an S and don't love it, you are not a Porsche person.
If you get an S and don't love it, you are not a Porsche person.
10-30-2014, 02:32 PM
#23
Rennlist Member
If you are worried or concerned w PASM on the NE roads, don't even think of Sport PASM. Tire pressures w 20" wheels (even 19"s) makes a big difference in ride comfort. Enjoy the search &
decision.
decision.
10-30-2014, 03:13 PM
#24
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On my old 1995 BMW E36 M3, the factory alloy wheel they put on that car was so soft you could flat spot it just by staring at it out in the garage for a bit. After my 5th wheel repair on that car I bought a set of Fikse's and that was the end of the bent wheel problem on the M3. I think the current Porsche OEM cast wheels are much stronger than that old BMW wheel but I wouldn't expect them to take the abuse a good forged wheel like HRE can take.
10-30-2014, 03:20 PM
#25
Rennlist Member
HA! Yes, I learned the difference between a true forged wheel and a cast ones many years ago. Cast wheels fold up like buddahhhh when they hit something, you have to seriously smack the heck out of a forged wheel to damage it.
On my old 1995 BMW E36 M3, the factory alloy wheel they put on that car was so soft you could flat spot it just by staring at it out in the garage for a bit. After my 5th wheel repair on that car I bought a set of Fikse's and that was the end of the bent wheel problem on the M3. I think the current Porsche OEM cast wheels are much stronger than that old BMW wheel but I wouldn't expect them to take the abuse a good forged wheel like HRE can take.
On my old 1995 BMW E36 M3, the factory alloy wheel they put on that car was so soft you could flat spot it just by staring at it out in the garage for a bit. After my 5th wheel repair on that car I bought a set of Fikse's and that was the end of the bent wheel problem on the M3. I think the current Porsche OEM cast wheels are much stronger than that old BMW wheel but I wouldn't expect them to take the abuse a good forged wheel like HRE can take.
HRE
10-30-2014, 03:25 PM
#26
If you choose to get a base model I think pasm is necessary (standard on s model).
The other must have IMO is sport exhaust and leather interior. Last two are
Obviously personal choice but I have 2 Porsches and I find the one without sport exhaust less engaging and the one without leather interiors bit plasticy looking.
Oh yeah and sport design steering wheel is also a really good idea to get.
The other must have IMO is sport exhaust and leather interior. Last two are
Obviously personal choice but I have 2 Porsches and I find the one without sport exhaust less engaging and the one without leather interiors bit plasticy looking.
Oh yeah and sport design steering wheel is also a really good idea to get.
10-30-2014, 03:26 PM
#27
Rennlist Member
If you
Choose to get a base model I think pasm is necessary (standard on s model).
The other must have IMO is sport exhaust and leather interior. Last two are
Obviously personal choice but I have 2 Porsches and I find the one without sport exhaust less engaging and the one without leather interiors bit plasticy looking.
Choose to get a base model I think pasm is necessary (standard on s model).
The other must have IMO is sport exhaust and leather interior. Last two are
Obviously personal choice but I have 2 Porsches and I find the one without sport exhaust less engaging and the one without leather interiors bit plasticy looking.
10-30-2014, 03:58 PM
#28
Drifting
I would personally go for the S. As one of the posters replied above there are very few people here if any at all that would wish they have bought a base car after buying an S. I am however sure that if you buy the base car you will likely wish you had bought an S.
I always buy my cars slightly used. If money is an issue than buy yourself a used S with low miles. I would get the PDk transmission and sport Chrono package. In my opinion all the other options are optional. That said my car was very highly optioned and I was very lucky to find it.
Good luck with your search that part is a lot of fun in my opinion.
I always buy my cars slightly used. If money is an issue than buy yourself a used S with low miles. I would get the PDk transmission and sport Chrono package. In my opinion all the other options are optional. That said my car was very highly optioned and I was very lucky to find it.
Good luck with your search that part is a lot of fun in my opinion.
10-30-2014, 04:34 PM
#29
I think most people base their recommendations on their personal experience, so here's mine.
After 12 successive Audi Quattros, I leased my first 911. It was a 2008 997.1 Carrera, not an "S". It seemed unbelievably fast and handled amazingly well. About 18 months later, I went to the Porsche Sport Driving School and got to drive the "S" with the brand new PDK on the track. Whoa! Wow! Faster, better! So I got one. And also got hooked on track and autocross events.
That's the slippery slope facing you. I've just ordered my 5th 911, a 2015 GTS.
The standard Carrera is, on any absolute scale, a fast and great-handling car. Nobody needs anything faster. At least, not until you get accustomed to the Carrera and realize that the S is even faster. (Of course, that leads to GTS, Turbo, GT3...)
As far as options go - the smaller the wheel diameter, the larger the sidewall. It's not that a 19" wheel is great with potholes, but it is better than a 20" wheel. The smaller wheel is perceptibly softer riding than a larger wheel, but not by a huge margin. If you get an S, you'll get the 20" wheels because they're standard with PASM and PASM is standard on the S. The only way to get 19" wheels is with a standard Carrera without PASM.
PDCC (which I have on my present car and have ordered on my next) is totally unnecessary on the street. I feel the same way about the Sport PASM (SPASM). I wouldn't have either if I didn't track my car. But since I do, I have both. I haven't seen anyone mention the ceramic brakes yet - and with good reason. Hugely expensive and totally unnecessary.
People bad mouth the multi function steering wheel with all the buttons. Personally I like it and have it on my Panamera GTS. BUT if you track the car you'll end up with unintended upshifts. So if you plan to track, definitely get the sport wheel. If you're not going to track the car, it's just a matter of personal preference, whether you'd rather have (a) shifter paddles or (b) radio, etc. controls on the wheel.
Some people love the sound of the sport exhaust. Personally, it's another "look at me" thing that I can live without. I have it, but never use it except on the track.
We all agree on one thing, of course. Get the car YOU want. For many of us, the first Porsche was our "starter" car but that's not true of everyone. After all, it's just the hard cases who are on this forum in the first place!
Whatever you get will be amazing, believe me. Enjoy it!
DMoore
'13 991S (soon to be a '15 991GTS)
'13 970GTS
After 12 successive Audi Quattros, I leased my first 911. It was a 2008 997.1 Carrera, not an "S". It seemed unbelievably fast and handled amazingly well. About 18 months later, I went to the Porsche Sport Driving School and got to drive the "S" with the brand new PDK on the track. Whoa! Wow! Faster, better! So I got one. And also got hooked on track and autocross events.
That's the slippery slope facing you. I've just ordered my 5th 911, a 2015 GTS.
The standard Carrera is, on any absolute scale, a fast and great-handling car. Nobody needs anything faster. At least, not until you get accustomed to the Carrera and realize that the S is even faster. (Of course, that leads to GTS, Turbo, GT3...)
As far as options go - the smaller the wheel diameter, the larger the sidewall. It's not that a 19" wheel is great with potholes, but it is better than a 20" wheel. The smaller wheel is perceptibly softer riding than a larger wheel, but not by a huge margin. If you get an S, you'll get the 20" wheels because they're standard with PASM and PASM is standard on the S. The only way to get 19" wheels is with a standard Carrera without PASM.
PDCC (which I have on my present car and have ordered on my next) is totally unnecessary on the street. I feel the same way about the Sport PASM (SPASM). I wouldn't have either if I didn't track my car. But since I do, I have both. I haven't seen anyone mention the ceramic brakes yet - and with good reason. Hugely expensive and totally unnecessary.
People bad mouth the multi function steering wheel with all the buttons. Personally I like it and have it on my Panamera GTS. BUT if you track the car you'll end up with unintended upshifts. So if you plan to track, definitely get the sport wheel. If you're not going to track the car, it's just a matter of personal preference, whether you'd rather have (a) shifter paddles or (b) radio, etc. controls on the wheel.
Some people love the sound of the sport exhaust. Personally, it's another "look at me" thing that I can live without. I have it, but never use it except on the track.
We all agree on one thing, of course. Get the car YOU want. For many of us, the first Porsche was our "starter" car but that's not true of everyone. After all, it's just the hard cases who are on this forum in the first place!
Whatever you get will be amazing, believe me. Enjoy it!
DMoore
'13 991S (soon to be a '15 991GTS)
'13 970GTS
10-30-2014, 04:38 PM
#30
Best thing you can do Vox, after studying all the great comments, is spend as much time as you can driving both models with the various options. You probably won't find the selection to do it exactly right, but do try. Keep in mind whenever driving an S that they all have PASM. PASM is a huge step up, probably the best option. Without PASM you're driving a 911 tuned the old way with one firm shock setting. The car will ride the same all the time. With PASM you'll have a much smoother ride the majority of the time just tooling around. PASM is huge. Or on the other hand, with or without you may find the car is so awesome you may not even care. Which is why it helps so much to actually drive them and find out for yourself.