Jamvr10

My first post... Would love feedback from members. I have done by searches on this great forum and read the base vs S debate and understand the points.

Here are my options.

2013 base with 11k miles.
Sports exhaust
Sports chrono
Sports suspension
Glass roof
Premium plus
Bose
20 inch classic
Nearly perfect condition
Build 106k


Vs

2013 S with 25k miles
Has all the above options plus backup cam
and keyless entry.
Issue is more miles and there is some discoloration on both seats. They are not horrible but they are there, it has more ware no doubt. Build was 116k.

Would love your thoughts. Would you accept 14k more miles and the seat ware? The price is nearly the same.

jsaviano

Your option list on the base Carrera is very good. BUT, as an owner of a similarly optioned car, the ONE thing I would recommend, which I don't have, is the back up camera, as that includes the front/rear sensors. On the other hand, I tend to recommend the lowest mileage example, so I may not be much help. If the cars were in similar condition, I'd go for the S, as I like having PASM, etc.

Jamvr10

I'm having such a hard time deciding. The base is so loaded. And has guard red seat belts. In leaning towards the base bc of all the options and miles and condition. Worried i will have S envy tho. Also worried about trying to sell an S in 2.5 years with 50k miles on it.

997s07

Get the base. It's a lot more fun. You won't remember the options when you make these cars scream. I was about to buy a GTS when I just test drove a base for fun - but it turned out that it was the car for me. You don't need the 'S.' Don't worry about 'S' envy. If you can drive the base right you won't have it. It's a lot more fun. Check a recent thread here on how happy base owners are. It's very recent.

LexVan

Those are both low miles.

What color leather? That discoloration can be removed/improved with proper products and techniques.

Jamvr10

Black leather on both. Heated ventilated seats on both. The engine sounded the same to me with the exhaust system. The base was roaring

STG

What are they asking for them $ ?? Both or one could be overpriced.

CPO warranties?

Vehicle history on both?

Many factors to consider

What kind of seat "wear"? Just over the bolster?

Jamvr10

The base is 68k... The S is 74k the seat ware is discoloration on both. Looks like lighter spots of some sort on both seats plus a few rough edges. Both histories are clean.

DerekS

Every time I've gotten a base, I've felt mild remorse for not getting the S.

STG

Your call. Obviously you know more about the situation and your gut instinct better than we do.

From your comments, it seems like you're favoring the base model.

Guys will sling around opinions on here both ways and after 12 pages, nothing has changed. Look at these types of threads, and that's the way it goes. Go with what feels best to you. The base and S both are great cars for different reasons. If you don't care about that, get the lower mileage and better condition one like you mentioned.

Jamvr10

I am leaning to the base. I know the 25k miles are not a lot but in 2 and a half years I will
Be over 50k miles. Worried about the resale plus the seat issues. Trying to weigh it out. What do you guys think about the price on the 2? Keep in mind the base is near perfect

STG

Now that's a specific question. I think they're both fairly priced. Are they Porsche Dealer CPO warranty cars?

BJK

I just traded in a base (very similar build to the one you are considering) for my GTS, which arrived this past weekend.

The base with the sport exhaust is, in my opinion, the best sounding model in the 911 lineup. Better than the GT3, better than the GTS, certainly better than the Turbo. The 3.4 absolutely screams as you get it close to redline. Compared to the 3.8, the smaller engine is higher pitched and less organized - like some crazed mechanical trumpet. The larger engine also sounds very good as you wind it up, just less adrenaline fueled chaos in comparison to the 3.4.

The 3.8 has some notable performance benefits - more grunt in the lower rpms, better brakes, PTV, etc.

As STG991 points out, there are other factors to consider such as vehicle history and if either one is CPO'd. He's also the resident expert on the market value of pre-owned 991s.

They are both amazing cars - you'll love either one.

Archimedes

I'm a mileage guy, so I'd lean base, but paint condition/color would also matter to me, plus you should consider tire situation, as the S probably has had a new set and the base is probably half life.

There are so many low mileage cars out there, that if I really wanted an S, I'd just keep looking until I found one I liked.

mikeearly

I'm a fan of the S and would go that way if it were me and both cars were as equal as you describe them....