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Thought I’d share some thoughts here on my 992 ownership and my decision to make a change.
Yesterday, I traded in my 992 4S w/Heritage Interior and PDK for a Taycan. I ordered the 992 new in Nov 2022, took delivery in April 2023 and put 15k miles on it since then. Despite waiting forever for an allocation, spec’ing the car to my preferences and then driving it so much, I have to say that I just didn’t love it. For background, I still have a 981 GT4 that I track pretty regularly along with a Viper ACR and a Viper comp coupe race car. I drove the 992 the most (including all winter and on longer trips), but I found it to be a bit boring. It’s fast, for sure, but it’s also heavy, and large, and most of all, the turbo lag in city driving was really disappointing. I just never felt that connected to the engine and transmission. Maybe a manual would have made a difference.
When I drive my GT4, I instantly remember all the joy of driving that Porsche can create… but then I’d get in the 4S and feel like it was a compromise…. Not as sporty and engaging as the GT4, but not as comfortable and luxurious as most daily drivers. I think the car tries to be everything in one, but as a result, it is sort of 80% of several things but not 100% of anything. It could be an AMG GT or BMW M8... it didn't feel that "special". It’s not the best sports car, or daily driver, or track car, but it CAN do all those things pretty well (but not perfectly)…. If you only have one fun car in your garage and you want to daily drive it, then it may well be a great choice, but if you have multiple cars and options, I’m not sure why you would choose the current 911. I’ve heard the 991.1 and older 911’s were much more engaging, but I don’t want to get that debate started.
Ultimately, when I drove the Taycan (my first EV), I found that it offered a more comfortable ride, more useable space, better acceleration and ironically a more engaging driving dynamic than the 911. I say engaging because there is no turbo lag… and no waiting for the PDK to pick a gear. My right foot feels directly connected to the rear wheels in the Taycan (even without an ICE or exhaust note). If you are not driving the 911 all out, but rather driving it between 15 and 35 mph on city streets, it drives like a car with 200 less horsepower, because the turbos never really engage. That drove me nuts. Having a back seat that no adult could use also seemed like a waste. Either get a real back seat or just drive a Cayman, I kept thinking… My GT4 weighs 500 pounds less than the 911. I've had 3 Caymans, and I now firmly believe that they offer the most unique and true-to-the-past Porsche experience.
So, here we are. I’m interested to see how the next 2 years with the Taycan go. So far, I’ve put 85 miles on it and absolutely love it. And when I want a contrast, I’ve got more purposeful sports cars I can drive.
Finally, if anyone is interested in an OEM snow tire/wheel setup for their 992, let me know. I’ve got a set with only one season’s use on them. Thanks for reading.
Last edited by Emosgarage; 09-10-2024 at 09:17 PM.
hmmmm.... something tells me you aren't going to get a lot of validation on here that swtiching to a Taycan gets you a more engaging car. I've actually never driven a C4s with pdk so i'll bite my tongue.
but at the end it seems to fill a gap in your garage so if it works for you, great!
Is my math off or are the dates wrong? April to Today is not 17 months.
Other than that, I'm wondering if the manual would be different since you can control what gears the car is in all the time. I mean I know PDK you can as well with the paddles but I guess? Maybe?
Thought I’d share some thoughts here on my 992 ownership and my decision to make a change.
Yesterday, I traded in my 992 4S w/Heritage Interior and PDK for a Taycan. I ordered the 992 new in Nov 2023, took delivery in April 2024 and put 15k miles on it since then. Despite waiting forever for an allocation, spec’ing the car to my preferences and then driving it so much, I have to say that I just didn’t love it. For background, I still have a 981 GT4 that I track pretty regularly along with a Viper ACR and a Viper comp coupe race car. I drove the 992 the most (including all winter and on longer trips), but I found it to be a bit boring. It’s fast, for sure, but it’s also heavy, and large, and most of all, the turbo lag in city driving was really disappointing. I just never felt that connected to the engine and transmission. Maybe a manual would have made a difference.
When I drive my GT4, I instantly remember all the joy of driving that Porsche can create… but then I’d get in the 4S and feel like it was a compromise…. Not as sporty and engaging as the GT4, but not as comfortable and luxurious as most daily drivers. I think the car tries to be everything in one, but as a result, it is sort of 80% of several things but not 100% of anything. It could be an AMG GT or BMW M8... it didn't feel that "special". It’s not the best sports car, or daily driver, or track car, but it CAN do all those things pretty well (but not perfectly)…. If you only have one fun car in your garage and you want to daily drive it, then it may well be a great choice, but if you have multiple cars and options, I’m not sure why you would choose the current 911. I’ve heard the 991.1 and older 911’s were much more engaging, but I don’t want to get that debate started.
Ultimately, when I drove the Taycan (my first EV), I found that it offered a more comfortable ride, more useable space, better acceleration and ironically a more engaging driving dynamic than the 911. I say engaging because there is no turbo lag… and no waiting for the PDK to pick a gear. My right foot feels directly connected to the rear wheels in the Taycan (even without an ICE or exhaust note). If you are not driving the 911 all out, but rather driving it between 15 and 35 mph on city streets, it drives like a car with 200 less horsepower, because the turbos never really engage. That drove me nuts. Having a back seat that no adult could use also seemed like a waste. Either get a real back seat or just drive a Cayman, I kept thinking… My GT4 weighs 500 pounds less than the 911. I've had 3 Caymans, and I now firmly believe that they offer the most unique and true-to-the-past Porsche experience.
So, here we are. I’m interested to see how the next 2 years with the Taycan go. So far, I’ve put 85 miles on it and absolutely love it. And when I want a contrast, I’ve got more purposeful sports cars I can drive.
Finally, if anyone is interested in an OEM snow tire/wheel setup for their 992, let me know. I’ve got a set with only one season’s use on them. Thanks for reading.
TBH, comparing a 911 4S to a Taycan is apples to oranges. GL with the new ride.
>> Other than that, I'm wondering if the manual would be different since you can control what gears the car is in all the time. I mean I know PDK you can as well with the paddles but I guess? Maybe?
Two things:
- My default PDK setup in the car is Sport+ mode with the 'M' button on the center console engaged - I find that a much more engaging experience than PDK in 'automated mode', and the Sport+ really quickens the shifts.
- You mention a lot of city driving... that's no place for a 911 IMHO - I would agree that a Taycan is a better daily for that usage.
I read here on rennlist someone saying that the perfect 911 was the current 992.1, but 90% as big. I agree with that statement. Regardless, it has beautiful lines.
The taycan (and other EVs) are awesome. For your purposes, it will be an excellent vehicle. I am looking forward to going electric. In the meantime, I'll keep my classic beauty as my DD.
Thought I’d share some thoughts here on my 992 ownership and my decision to make a change.
Yesterday, I traded in my 992 4S w/Heritage Interior and PDK for a Taycan. I ordered the 992 new in Nov 2023, took delivery in April 2024 and put 15k miles on it since then. Despite waiting forever for an allocation, spec’ing the car to my preferences and then driving it so much, I have to say that I just didn’t love it. For background, I still have a 981 GT4 that I track pretty regularly along with a Viper ACR and a Viper comp coupe race car. I drove the 992 the most (including all winter and on longer trips), but I found it to be a bit boring. It’s fast, for sure, but it’s also heavy, and large, and most of all, the turbo lag in city driving was really disappointing. I just never felt that connected to the engine and transmission. Maybe a manual would have made a difference.
When I drive my GT4, I instantly remember all the joy of driving that Porsche can create… but then I’d get in the 4S and feel like it was a compromise…. Not as sporty and engaging as the GT4, but not as comfortable and luxurious as most daily drivers. I think the car tries to be everything in one, but as a result, it is sort of 80% of several things but not 100% of anything. It could be an AMG GT or BMW M8... it didn't feel that "special". It’s not the best sports car, or daily driver, or track car, but it CAN do all those things pretty well (but not perfectly)…. If you only have one fun car in your garage and you want to daily drive it, then it may well be a great choice, but if you have multiple cars and options, I’m not sure why you would choose the current 911. I’ve heard the 991.1 and older 911’s were much more engaging, but I don’t want to get that debate started.
Ultimately, when I drove the Taycan (my first EV), I found that it offered a more comfortable ride, more useable space, better acceleration and ironically a more engaging driving dynamic than the 911. I say engaging because there is no turbo lag… and no waiting for the PDK to pick a gear. My right foot feels directly connected to the rear wheels in the Taycan (even without an ICE or exhaust note). If you are not driving the 911 all out, but rather driving it between 15 and 35 mph on city streets, it drives like a car with 200 less horsepower, because the turbos never really engage. That drove me nuts. Having a back seat that no adult could use also seemed like a waste. Either get a real back seat or just drive a Cayman, I kept thinking… My GT4 weighs 500 pounds less than the 911. I've had 3 Caymans, and I now firmly believe that they offer the most unique and true-to-the-past Porsche experience.
So, here we are. I’m interested to see how the next 2 years with the Taycan go. So far, I’ve put 85 miles on it and absolutely love it. And when I want a contrast, I’ve got more purposeful sports cars I can drive.
Finally, if anyone is interested in an OEM snow tire/wheel setup for their 992, let me know. I’ve got a set with only one season’s use on them. Thanks for reading.
If you bought a T with manual transmission, it would have resolved most of your concerns. It's quite light at 3254 lbs, and as in my case, skipping things like FAL, RAS, and 18-way power seats will keep them light and purist.
To each his own. I’m not too interested in EVs but I can see the appeal as a DD and around the town usage. I think the 992.2 GTS can solve your problem.Taycans are nice. Enjoy your new ride!
>> This thread is the best ad for a manual transmission I've ever seen.
If you are worried about staying 'on boost', the 8 speed PDK mathematically / objectively improves your chances vs 7 MT, see gearing comparison. For example, at 50 km/h in second gear, the PDK car is at 3672 rpms, while the MT car is at 3027 rpms, a 645rpm difference At 100km/hr (62 mph), the MT is at 4176, while the PDK is at 4981, and 805rpm difference.
I've been driving EV's for the past 4 years (Tesla Model 3 Performance previously, and for the past 2 years, Tesla Model S Plaid). For the past year or so, I've found myself yearning for the "engagement" of a ICE sports car again, and will be taking delivery on a 992.2 base Carrera as soon as EPA approves release. The S Plaid will continue to be my DD, and the 911 will be driven a few days a week when weather is nice, and on weekends.
While EV's are great in many ways, there's just something missing which takes away from the driving experience. I guess in a way, I'm confirming OPs feelings (i.e. that if you can swing it, its good to have both EV and ICE, as they offer differing driving experiences, which are unique and fun in their own ways).
The pdk in sports+ manual mode with magnetic paddle shifters and an exhaust (or valve controller with PSE)... is pretty damn engaging even in slow city driving. Without those few mods, and in auto mode, I agree its kinda boring.
Last edited by reddsektor; 09-10-2024 at 05:46 PM.
09-10-2024, 03:50 PM
Said goodbye to my 992 after 17 months...
Taycans are nice. Enjoy your new ride!
