nariman

i just test drove 2012 991 S manual with all the options and red leather interior

i currently own 2013 991 base model PDK, sport chrono, and i thought to trade for S so i have more power bigger brakes

i have to say that i was expecting the S to be faster car but it felt to me a little slower then my base, but i think that PDK makes the car feel quicker

also the brakes did not feel that much more compare my base car

suspension did feel a little tighter

i am sure that on papers S is a better car, but to me it was not more impressive then my base car

also i always owned manual cars, but in this case PDK is so much better and not less fun then manual

I can get a very good deal for that car, but i think i will keep my car for now


just wanted to share

Al.Fresco

Not often do we get to post that we did something that actually saved us money with our Pcar obsessions!!!

fer2367

S can't be slower than base, specially in the 991.1 generation (3.8 vs 3.4 liter engine). It might not be as fast as you were expecting and for some maybe there is no need for the extra power and torque. But that doesn't mean that is not there...

nariman

i know it is not slower, but it did not feel faster, also manual was not so special either
but like i mentioned i think the PDK makes the base the car feel faster then it is

AFX1

Interesting; I had a MT base and wondered about the S with PDK and found it disappointing. The GTS with MT is another car altogether.

nariman

the dealer is willing to take my base car that is 2013 PDK and give me the 2012 S manual cabriolet
and my payment will stay the same

if i would make this deal happen, i would just because of all the options the S has and that is a better car on paper, and i like the red interior, also not sure if i like cab or not

i feel i should keep my car, but not sure what is smarter

CSK 911 C4S

The cabriolet is heavier and probably a little flexible not having a roof..... wonder if your feeling this as a negative.

Needsdecaf

Your first instinct is usually correct. Keep your car.

nariman

also the salesman was around 250 LB

GregD

You're right scientifically speaking, but it's possible he's right as well...not just from butt dyno... I experienced something similar... I can see a nailed PDK base being faster than a slow shifted S for instance, just thanks to lightning quick shifts...

I've test driven a bunch of cars before buying, 997 base+S, 991 base +S, pdk and manual. I think in terms of butt dyno, not being familiar with the 7MT and therefore being cautious, I felt PDK's speed gain more than I felt S vs base... And then I ended up buying the slowest combo possible, base + 7MT ;-) (7MT for pleasure, base for $ reasons, didn't feel enough difference to justify the money)

NoGaBiker

Also re: brakes -- don't expect to "feel" anything different on the brakes. Both are outstanding. They are probably indistinguishable in test drive stops. On track or on a long mountain drive, the S brakes will stay gooder longer, and that's where the value is. But for single stops around town, Base and S won't be any different.

TimboCarrera

I struggled with this same type situation. In the end I got the car that made me happy today. Get what YOU really want and makes you smile.

Archimedes

When I was searching for my Carrera, I got the opportunity to test drive 3 cars back to back at one dealer, S-Base-S, the last one being a manual. I could definitely feel the additional power of the S over the base in both cars, though the PDK made it more easily accessible, particularly given I wasn't familiar with the spacing of the gates on the 7 speed manual. Still, the S felt very different from the base as soon as I put my foot into it.

Also, as far as brakes go, I owned a 981 Spyder with the Carrera S brakes and a 981 Cayman S, which has the base Carrera brakes, simultaneously for about 7 months, and again, I could definitely feel the difference between the braking ability of those two cars, with the S brakes feeling markedly sharper. My 991 has PCCBs so I can't compare on the 991, but on the 981 cars it was noticeable. My Cayman brakes weren't bad but they never made me go 'wow', whereas the Spyder brakes did.

daberlin

This.

MJG911

Everyone has different preferences. I trade a 12 C2S PDK for a 13 C2S 7 speed and to me, the 7 speed is a much more engaging car. I felt like I was just in a luxury coupe with the pdk, but a real sports car with the manual.