^ I am so hilariously the last guy to know the answer to this question, but if that is the case then a slightly longer turbo lag for the S model is actually feasible.

The bigger they are, the longer they take to get going.

 

From which we would derive a conclusion....if you want to experience 'turbo lag / throttle delay / whatever you want to call it' in a 992 buy a base PDK Carrera and drive it around in normal mode. Now, for the avoidance of doubt (sic) no-one ever does that from which we can conclude even when there is a delay it is irrelevant in the real world. End of my pathetic MotoManTV impersonation but point made

But seriously, the master stroke of the 992 drivetrain is that 99.9% of the time it simply doesn't feel like a turbo. It revs like a NA engine, it pretty much sounds like a NA engine, and it's still a 911. Phew!

 

Not advocating for one over the other, but in addressing whether the S has more turbo lag than the base, looking at these GIAC dyno charts (comparing just the OEM lines) of base vs. S, even at 2500 RPM, it appears the S is making a good 40 ft/lbs of torque more than the base, so it would seem like the S makes more power and torque at pretty much all RPMs. The S does have a significant torque spike from 2500 to 3400 RPM which may give the illusion of more turbo lag than the base though which has a very naturally aspirated like, flat torque curve.

 

RE: turbo lag

Most people who think there is turbo lag in the 992 (or even in the 991.2) is confusing lag with downshifting.

Most of what people think of as "lag" is simply the transmission kicking down.

If anyone wants to experience true turbo lag, go try an old-school Toyota Supra (circa 1990)

 

Torque is what makes a vehicle feel stronger and ultimately more more fun to drive. The "S" with nearly 20% more torque will in fact be more powerful, more responsive, and more fun to drive.
You will not spend 15K less on a base model and have a 911 that is a better performer, not going to happen.

 

Yes I agree...once the S is fully boosted, it pulls much harder.
But for me, there’s no denying the throttle response on the Base is quicker, sharper, more immediate when ur cruising along and want a quick punch to dart into a lane or a quick pass.
The S is slower to react initially then rockets like a bat out of hell.
It all depends on how you like to drive as to which is preferable.

 

Holy Moley, overlay the stock torque plots of the Base and S models. Huge torque difference with the S, about 100 ft. lbs. throughout which is enormous. Absolutely no way the Base 911 ever feels "more responsive" with this degree of quantifiable power delta.

 

Sorry my friend, you will need to find yourself another means of rationalizing spending less money on a base model.
Sounds like you are concerned and interested in performance here, just do yourself a big favor and buy the S.

 

A dyno pull doesn’t accurately represent real world driving, ie throttle response at different RPMs, how long it takes for boost to build on a kick down, etc

 

Add me to the list as I drove a base and 4s back to back a few days ago for about 1/2 hr each over same route.
The base was first, felt fast and sharp.
The 4s felt faster and sharper, especially in sport plus.
I did not walk away feeling the lag was worse in the 4s.
By the way, launching the 4s did feel very similar to the 991.1 TT, dare I say almost faster...

 

Looks like a tuned Base is equal to a stock S in torque and power using GIAC tune. The Base will be more responsive with the smaller turbos.

 

Most of us base part of the decision on cost and mentally, more so than the financial reality, it was a big leap for me buying a ~$120k car. The additional ~$20k for a similarly spec'd C2S last year wouldn't have impacted us at all, but I still based a lot of my decision on the budget I set for myself. As such, I went with the C2 without ever driving a 992 and have no regrets. It is an amazing vehicle and I have never felt it lacks power.

That said, you know yourself best; if you think you'll have any regrets, go with the S and don't look back. In my years on these forums, you will always read people's thoughts on why they went for the lower model, all self-validated or so well put above, confirmation bias - and no doubt, some very good reasons as well. However, I've never, ever, read an opinion of someone saying they regretted getting the higher end model. These cars are not a need, but rather a want. And they fill a passion point, to some extent, for all of us. It would be much worse to spend this kind of money and have regrets afterward.

Sounds like the OP will be driving both ahead of purchasing, which is great. Once I made the decision on the C2, I purposely did not drive a C2S. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss. Good luck with your decision.

 

Here’s a wrinkle to add to the Base/S discussion.

I didn’t care about the extra hp/torque that the S offers, nor the larger brakes, nor any of the S-only options...but I did care about PTV+, which to my mind is a critical option missing on the C2 that makes the car a non-starter. Although very, very few of the C4s I’ve seen on dealer sites have PTV+ I’ve got it and love it. Not having an LSD option of the C2 but making it available on the C4 makes no sense to me, but happy Porsche sometimes does things that don’t seem logical.

 

Porsche knows that the PTV+/LSD pushes Base Carrera buyers to the S. It's the same reason that the manual is only offered in the S right now. Agreed that it's not logical to the buyers/enthusiasts, but the bean counters are likely very pleased with this approach.

 

I have thought about what I'd of done if base came with MT... in my case I most likely would have still done the S as coming from a MT 17 M3 and didn't want to chance a degrade in power...if coming from a lower power car the base 911 is a good path.