992 S vs. GTS Considerations
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Joined: Sep 2021
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From: ATL
IMO: go for whichever one you can get sooner at a price you're satisfied with. Get on both lists at multiple dealers if you need to (assuming their deposits are refundable - mine was). And if you get the S and realize you really should've gone for the GTS, it will be easy to convince a dealer to give you an allocation when you have a brand new S that they can turn around and throw a 30k markup on to resell.
GTS is a great car, but so is the S. You likely wouldn't be able to tell the difference without driving them back to back. The GTS is a little more "special", but that's mostly only because Porsche tells us it is and they make fewer of them historically.
GTS is a great car, but so is the S. You likely wouldn't be able to tell the difference without driving them back to back. The GTS is a little more "special", but that's mostly only because Porsche tells us it is and they make fewer of them historically.
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From: ATL
Haven't driven an F80, but I will both agree and disagree. My GTS is very stiff. But it is also exceptionally well damped, making the stiffness less noticeable over all but the most awful of pavement. Of course, here in Atlanta our horribly maintained, steel-plate laden roads let me know fairly consistently that I've opted for a very stiff sports car. But on most highways, and on surface streets outside the city, I find that the GTS is much more pleasant than my C63 S was.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Dec 2021
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Another GTS vs S thread? GTS if you want the options and don’t mind a slight premium. You won’t notice a significant difference between the two on the street or track. You would need to be a great driver to extract the extra performance. S if you don’t care for GTS options and or don’t see the value they bring. Also, I have never seen any proof whatsoever that the GTS retains a better value as % of msrp over time. In fact, the only videos I have found are counter to that, with the S having a lower depreciation per mile than the GTS. There are plenty of GTS and S out there. They both aren’t very special in terms of production figures, GT3 also for that matter.
Pro
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Another GTS vs S thread? GTS if you want the options and don’t mind a slight premium. You won’t notice a significant difference between the two on the street or track. You would need to be a great driver to extract the extra performance. S if you don’t care for GTS options and or don’t see the value they bring. Also, I have never seen any proof whatsoever that the GTS retains a better value as % of msrp over time. In fact, the only videos I have found are counter to that, with the S having a lower depreciation per mile than the GTS. There are plenty of GTS and S out there. They both aren’t very special in terms of production figures, GT3 also for that matter.
Last edited by gthal; Sep 8, 2022 at 10:59 PM.
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Three Wheelin'
Joined: Dec 2021
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Many people who have driven both speak to there being a noticeable difference. I have not driven both so I can't confirm. The one thing you would absolutely notice on a track, in my opinion, are the bigger brakes of the GTS and I can't imagine you wouldn't notice the suspension changes either.
Last edited by 22992; Sep 9, 2022 at 12:44 AM.
RL Community Team
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If you want the extra power, the lightweight option, and the various items optional on the S but standard on the GTS then do that. But you will pay a premium.
If you don’t want any or most of that the S remains great value. And no, the suspension is not different between an S and a GTS other than the rear helper springs. It just has the Sports suspension, optional on an S, as standard.
If you don’t want any or most of that the S remains great value. And no, the suspension is not different between an S and a GTS other than the rear helper springs. It just has the Sports suspension, optional on an S, as standard.
Sort of like hot dogs and burgers are exactly the same except for the shape.
The helper springs keep the main springs under tension in all conditions, including when the springs are unloaded.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 43
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From: Peoria
Good for you. I drove my 992 GTS fro 10 days in Europe. It’s was fantastic to drive. We drove 2700 km on every type of road and the ride was exceptional. No complaints from my better half other than a difference of opinion on how much clear road we needed to overtake on the mountain passes, it’s a lot less than you think!,
Racer
Joined: Dec 2021
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Like many, the 911 has long been my poster car, and some 30+ years down the road I'm ready to move forward and fulfil a dream. I've had the chance to drive 991.2 variants (Turbo S, GTS) at PEC Atlanta, and more recently 992 test drives in a 4S. While a 991.2 GTS would be sweet, after experiencing the 992 I don't think I can go back.
That brings me to here, and my deliberation between a 992 S or GTS. This would be a second car purely for the occasional commute, but mostly evening/weekend fun. I appreciate there are countless posts and YouTube videos on this subject, but wanted to unpack the themes on this with something a little more specific to me. Welcome any feedback and perspectives. My plan is to place a deposit this month and start the long wait for an allocation - what's another 2 years though when you've waiting 30-40!
That brings me to here, and my deliberation between a 992 S or GTS. This would be a second car purely for the occasional commute, but mostly evening/weekend fun. I appreciate there are countless posts and YouTube videos on this subject, but wanted to unpack the themes on this with something a little more specific to me. Welcome any feedback and perspectives. My plan is to place a deposit this month and start the long wait for an allocation - what's another 2 years though when you've waiting 30-40!
- I enjoy options! When building a 992 S I effectively end up at GTS with options pricing anyway, so why not just go GTS. This includes sport design, chrono, PASM, rear axle (have on current X5 daily and love it)
- Ride comfort. I know, don't buy a Porsche and complain about it being too stiff. For reference though, I had an BMW M3 F80 which as a daily back then was pretty rotten (mainly the tires being too slim). The question though is how much stiffer is a GTS vs. S? I won't be able to drive both back to back, and really curious if its that much of a difference
- Race-tex is nice, but I don't want the entire car in that. This is a GTS compromise as you lose some fun detail (GTS on headrests). I'd likely go full leather (18 way, full leather dash, doors, steering console, steering wheel) and race tex for roof lining, visors and seat belts. This somewhat undoes one of fun aspects of a GTS (the best I could do is emboss Carrera GTS on center console lid). All that said, makes S seem simpler
- Exhaust / sound. Sure the 992 has evolved, but the sound they make just brings me nothing but joy. Removing insulation and perhaps a slightly tuned exhaust is a GTS tick in the box, but do both run the risk of muting more anyway should GPFs make there way to US?
- 992.2 - reality is if/when I get an allocation, it will be the 992.2. I've read all the speculation, but would ask based on history is it likely the GTS retains 992.1 characteristics for slightly longer, or so certain aspects cutover regardless
- Example - lets assume the Carrera S gets cosmetic and performance upgrades, one of those being a digital dash. While the GTS is still in 992.1 form, do Porsche have a habit of rolling out shared components regardless
- Allocations - I have no way to gauge this. I've seen the lists which are pretty equal in count, but without knowing how those are worked, I have no sense of time. Any real world experience on S vs. GTS? Honestly a longer wait probably wouldn't change my opinion, but given I have no purchase history yet and will be inevitably VIP bumped, I am mindful should an S be <2 years and a GTS > 3years.
You and I are very very similar, and I'm going through the same exact dilemma. I've driven the 992 base, S and GTS. I can tell the base is weaker. But I can't tell much of a difference for S vs. GTS on surface roads and freeways. Will be second car for me and for occasional daily or weekend fun. No plans to track.
For reference, I made myself my own S vs. GTS pro/con list. Currently I'm leaning towards a $180k spec'd S, which looks identical to a GTS except with leather interior (I don't like race tex). Main reason being if I go with GTS, including ADM I would have to pay over $210.
To spec the same S car, in a GTS will cost just $8k more for my build + whatever ADM. In the end I decided $20-30k isn't worth the GTS to me.
GTS vs. S
-ADM ranges $20-30k.
-Better HP, brakes
-Stiffer suspension but likely similar to S w/ SPASM. May be cool initially but long-term who knows maybe I won't like it. Base carrera was plenty stiff for me.
-Centerlock wheels not a big deal to me. If you live in a city you can take the risk of a tow.
-GTS interior package very inflexible. Have to delete if I want full leather. To add red deviated stitching, which I'd have to do in guards red and guards red belt, costs more than the GTS interior. Can't get carmine red interior colors outside of GTS package.
-louder interior- may seem cool at first but I may not like it when I drive in the city with sig other day after day.
-S is cheaper, seems plenty fast for my driving on city roads and freeways, for the daily or weekend trip. Quieter cabin which may be nicer for convo and burmester audio. Can always open up sport exhaust if you want the sounds. Probably more than enough of a car for me.
Last random note- GTS has this weird gurgle sound but I didn't hear it on the S. It's this pop-like blurp blurp sound at low speed, which I highly disliked.
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From: Newport Beach, CA and Melbourne, Australia
Can’t agree with that analogy, but could buy into cheeseburger vs double double.