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Hey all- need some help. I've been wanting a 911 for a long time. The base car is in my budget, and I am seeing some terrific cars available. I love the handling and intend to buy a car with a manual transmission and sport chrono. So here's my issue- do you sometimes feel the car needs some more grunt, like the S would provide. I test drove the base car a few times, and felt the car had enough power, but as time goes on, would I wish for more of a beast. My current car is a Mercedes E550 cabriolet with the biturbo V8, and speed is just so easy, but the handling stinks.
Thoughts, opinions, rants would be appreciated.
Love my base C2. More than enough car for me. Key is to work the gears efficiently so that you are operating in the optimum power band. But given that you are coming from a biturbo V8, you will likely the feel the absence of torque kicking in hard.
I have a '13 Base C4 7 speed with sport chrono and I adore it. The engine is a joy and eagerly revs up to redline -- The excitement really happens above 4k rpm and the engine pulls hard right up to the limiter. Just superb. There isn't much grunt down low, but that makes it nice and docile for daily driving. It's a complete screamer when you want to let 'er rip. It's definitely not a red-light dragster -- Much more focused on track-performance where you'll want to be keeping the revs up over 4k.
There will always be an element of "S envy", but the Power/Speed quest will lead you down the rabbit hole -- There is always a faster car. You can paint your brake callipers red if it makes you feel better Just be clear on what you want from your car and to hell with what anyone else thinks.
FWIW I was cross shopping 997.2 S models with the 991 3.4L, and it was no contest
Hey all- need some help. I've been wanting a 911 for a long time. The base car is in my budget, and I am seeing some terrific cars available. I love the handling and intend to buy a car with a manual transmission and sport chrono. So here's my issue- do you sometimes feel the car needs some more grunt, like the S would provide. I test drove the base car a few times, and felt the car had enough power, but as time goes on, would I wish for more of a beast. My current car is a Mercedes E550 cabriolet with the biturbo V8, and speed is just so easy, but the handling stinks.
Thoughts, opinions, rants would be appreciated.
The biggest difference you'll notice is in the midrange torque. When I test drove the base I thought it was underpowered around town, so I opted for the S. But I also have a Cayman S with the 3.4 that I love, so I may have liked the base Carrera if I drove it more.
i had a base but always had s envy. i'm currently looking for c4s or s or will order a new s. dont get me wrong...i loved every moment. what I'm getting at is dont settle.
I walked into my dealership to test drive a manual GTS. Loved it. Drove the 'S' and didn't feel a bit of difference to the GTS. When analyzing the dyno curves you'll see the 'S' have more torque down low but less power on top. Even so, noticeable to me.
Then just for fun I drive the base. I wound it up as the salesman said it was OK. The base was much more alive, it felt like a 911. Not a torque monster but a true 911. Small engine, high revving, etc. No feeling robbing PASM, or that nonsense PDCC, it felt amazing. The revving was faster as well, no surprise given lighter pistons. The 'S' feels a bit more torquey but the base feels much more alive and is much more fun to drive to me. I've really spanked many 'S' cars with a base car (not mine) on the track. I was 10 minutes into wiring finds for the GTS at an out of state dealer but bought the base. Manual, revvy, lively, great fun. Just put coilovers on it and it's even more amazing.
Will buy another base in a year or so because I love the engine and chassis setup. Need to put the feel back into be suspension but that's another thread.
'S' envy? Never understood those thoughts anyway. All the above said, you must drive both to be sure. If you want the 'S' wait, prices will drop to fit your budget.
as I posted for a different thread last week started by new owner of a base 991.1 Carrera with manual transmission ..article by WSJ Pulitzer Prize winning automotive journalist and uber car nut Dan Neil :
I consciously decided to "build" a toss-able 911 "Club Sport". I bought a 2 year old base 911, no sunroof, 7MT, only heated and cooled seats as the options. Installed H&R lowering springs, 7MM Spacers all around, 1.5 degrees negative camber up front. Complete Fabspeed headers/Lo-Restriction Cats, X-pipe, and sport mufflers. 1.5 degrees negative camber up front. Weights 3061 lbs. as-is. Very nice daily driver and moves nicely over 4000 rpm.
The base is all the 911 you ever need. I drive a 2015 base Carrera and I love it. It is too fast for the public road once you get it over 4000 rpm. The engine is beautiful, on the standard 19's the handling is fantastic. I have a glass sunroof, SD steering wheel, XM radio and heated seats and that's it. MT of course.
Coming from the Merc, you will miss the torque.
Regarding S vs base, don't forget that the 997.1 s had 360 hp ... so the base from now is close to the s from then. The 991.2 base has the same HP as the 997.2 S
So there will always be an improvement in HP, but the base 911 is perfect for me.
The "Black Edition" 991 cars come with great standard equipment ....Porsche bundles this package (along with other special editions) to move cars.
Below an example of one with some extra options at a reasonable MSRP. Maybe look for something like this - put your negotiating skills to work & get a fantastic deal.
12-03-2015, 11:04 PM
991 Base Owners- Are you happy with your car?
Just be clear on what you want from your car and to hell with what anyone else thinks.
