Test drove a 992.2 4S today - underwhelming
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Test drove a 992.2 4S today - underwhelming
Porsche background: lots of seat time in a 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 PDK I own (8k+ miles), previously rented a base 718 Boxster PDK (1k+ miles). Also extensive test drives in 981 Spyder, 718 Cayman GT4, and a 718 Boxster S. These were manuals. I guess you can call me hairdresser Porsche guy.
First time drove a 911 of any generation today. Brand new 992.2 4S coupe.
Drove for a good half an hour, mostly highway, could wring it up some (but within reason, new car). Power was there but nothing earth shattering. Sounded artificial and uninspiring. Steeling felt sharp and responsive. Felt like much larger car than it is. Felt floaty compared to my Boxster (well, it is a GT car, so that is expected). But then lots of tire noise (rough pavement), just as much as in my Boxster, if not more, maybe because it wasn't partly masked by the engine sound.
Biggest letdown was the interior. Of course do not love the all digital cluster though could live with it, but really made me feel like if I was driving an Audi TT-RS or RS3 (just with a worse sounding engine). Start button was lame, but this wasn't even that. Just the whole package look and feel. The car had Club leather interior, so upgraded, but did not impress me. Overall the interior felt as a downgrade from my BGTS leather/racetex interior. And especially the steering wheel, more plasticky buttons. The piano black console looks cheap, even the door pulls are plastic now?
Then I sat briefly in a 991.2S Coupe. Immediately felt better and more "at home".
Surely these are good cars, but absolutely, positively, NOT nearly $200k cars (as configured). Completely bonkers pricing, just not worth it. A used 991 is in my future I think.
First time drove a 911 of any generation today. Brand new 992.2 4S coupe.
Drove for a good half an hour, mostly highway, could wring it up some (but within reason, new car). Power was there but nothing earth shattering. Sounded artificial and uninspiring. Steeling felt sharp and responsive. Felt like much larger car than it is. Felt floaty compared to my Boxster (well, it is a GT car, so that is expected). But then lots of tire noise (rough pavement), just as much as in my Boxster, if not more, maybe because it wasn't partly masked by the engine sound.
Biggest letdown was the interior. Of course do not love the all digital cluster though could live with it, but really made me feel like if I was driving an Audi TT-RS or RS3 (just with a worse sounding engine). Start button was lame, but this wasn't even that. Just the whole package look and feel. The car had Club leather interior, so upgraded, but did not impress me. Overall the interior felt as a downgrade from my BGTS leather/racetex interior. And especially the steering wheel, more plasticky buttons. The piano black console looks cheap, even the door pulls are plastic now?
Then I sat briefly in a 991.2S Coupe. Immediately felt better and more "at home".
Surely these are good cars, but absolutely, positively, NOT nearly $200k cars (as configured). Completely bonkers pricing, just not worth it. A used 991 is in my future I think.
Last edited by unclemat; Jan 14, 2026 at 01:33 AM.
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Jan 14, 2026, 12:26 AM
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2019 called and wants it’s 992 review back
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2018
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From: Hollywood, FL
I agree with you, just sold my 992 GT3 RS, before it I had 992 GT3 manual, 991.2 GT3 manual, 718 Spyder, 981 GT4, 991.2 GTS etc
I kept my 718 Spyder RS (What a car!!!) and got a Mclaren for being a garage partner.
992 is a better car but boring compared to previous generations, after had 2 and both GT3 versions, if I have to buy another one I will go back to 991.2 or earlier, it is not about time, it is about driving experience.
BTW I agree that they not worth $200k (regular 992 ) or 300/400k a GT3/GT3 RS, I’m a Porsche fan but I don’t agree with the new direction & price.
I kept my 718 Spyder RS (What a car!!!) and got a Mclaren for being a garage partner.
992 is a better car but boring compared to previous generations, after had 2 and both GT3 versions, if I have to buy another one I will go back to 991.2 or earlier, it is not about time, it is about driving experience.
BTW I agree that they not worth $200k (regular 992 ) or 300/400k a GT3/GT3 RS, I’m a Porsche fan but I don’t agree with the new direction & price.
Last edited by Bill_76; Jan 14, 2026 at 12:39 AM.
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I agree with you, just sold my 992 GT3 RS, before it I had 992 GT3 manual, 991.2 GT3 manual, 718 Spyder, 981 GT4, 991.2 GTS etc
I kept my 718 Spyder RS (What a car!!!) and got a Mclaren for being a garage partner.
992 is a better car but boring compared to previous generations, after had 2 and both GT3 versions, if I have to buy another one I will go back to 991.2 or earlier, it is not about time, it is about driving experience.
BTW I agree that they not worth $200k (regular 992 ) or 300/400k a GT3/GT3 RS, I’m a Porsche fan but I don’t agree with the new direction & price.
I kept my 718 Spyder RS (What a car!!!) and got a Mclaren for being a garage partner.
992 is a better car but boring compared to previous generations, after had 2 and both GT3 versions, if I have to buy another one I will go back to 991.2 or earlier, it is not about time, it is about driving experience.
BTW I agree that they not worth $200k (regular 992 ) or 300/400k a GT3/GT3 RS, I’m a Porsche fan but I don’t agree with the new direction & price.
I remember first time seeing/experiencing a modern Porsche, which was 981 Spyder back in 2016 (almost bought it), and it was like "wow". Several years later, every time I get into my BGTS 4.0, I still get that sensation. 992.2 interior did not wow me somehow, felt bit of a downgrade, and while it may seem silly the interior look & feel is a big part of car experience for me (I am probably not alone).
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0-60 2.8s in any weather, with any driver, on any road; afterwards, goes to country club, later drives to get beers in ANY WEATHER.
Today's 4s is a missile of silliness. Car will rape ANYTHING ICE on the street short of a super/hyper car with one hand on the wheel and drive you to work/store.
There is nothing on the market that has this level of performance and easiness on the market for the money. I can turn a dial one click to the right and I am Superman to 99.99% of cars next to me. No one can touch me or match the efottlessless performance of my 4s.
Today's 4s is a missile of silliness. Car will rape ANYTHING ICE on the street short of a super/hyper car with one hand on the wheel and drive you to work/store.
There is nothing on the market that has this level of performance and easiness on the market for the money. I can turn a dial one click to the right and I am Superman to 99.99% of cars next to me. No one can touch me or match the efottlessless performance of my 4s.
Last edited by Kalashnikov; Jan 14, 2026 at 02:05 AM.
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0-60 2.8s in any weather, with any driver, on any road; afterwards, goes to country club, later drives to get beers in ANY WEATHER.
Today's 4s is a missile of silliness. Car will rape ANYTHING ICE on the street short of a super/hyper car with one hand on the wheel and drive you to work/store.
There is nothing on the market that has this level of performance and easiness on the market for the money. I can turn a dial one click to the right and I am Superman to 99.99% of cars next to me. No one can touch me or match the efottlessless performance of my 4s.
Today's 4s is a missile of silliness. Car will rape ANYTHING ICE on the street short of a super/hyper car with one hand on the wheel and drive you to work/store.
There is nothing on the market that has this level of performance and easiness on the market for the money. I can turn a dial one click to the right and I am Superman to 99.99% of cars next to me. No one can touch me or match the efottlessless performance of my 4s.
If you are missing the drive experience in the 992 then you will get bored of the car and you will not get the excitement to use the car. You came to he right conclusion for you.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2018
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From: Hollywood, FL
Man. 992 GT3 RS and 992 GT3 manual being boring! That's really damning verdict! I could see them being rough or one-trick ponies sort-of (awesome on the track, but pain on the street), but still. What is it about 718 SRS that elevates it above the 992s? Mid-engine and open top? Must be.
I remember first time seeing/experiencing a modern Porsche, which was 981 Spyder back in 2016 (almost bought it), and it was like "wow". Several years later, every time I get into my BGTS 4.0, I still get that sensation. 992.2 interior did not wow me somehow, felt bit of a downgrade, and while it may seem silly the interior look & feel is a big part of car experience for me (I am probably not alone).
I remember first time seeing/experiencing a modern Porsche, which was 981 Spyder back in 2016 (almost bought it), and it was like "wow". Several years later, every time I get into my BGTS 4.0, I still get that sensation. 992.2 interior did not wow me somehow, felt bit of a downgrade, and while it may seem silly the interior look & feel is a big part of car experience for me (I am probably not alone).
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I am in the “991.2 is the sweet spot” camp.
I loved my 35k+ miles in my 992.1 C4S, but prefer the overall character of the prior generation car. The uptick in 991.2 values over the past year seem to indicate that I am not the only one that has come to this realization.
To be clear, love the 992, but Porsche did lose something in this generation and it’s especially felt with the .2 cars.
I loved my 35k+ miles in my 992.1 C4S, but prefer the overall character of the prior generation car. The uptick in 991.2 values over the past year seem to indicate that I am not the only one that has come to this realization.
To be clear, love the 992, but Porsche did lose something in this generation and it’s especially felt with the .2 cars.
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My couple of comments to the OP . . .
It sounds like you're a 718 guy. Nothing wrong with that. There are certainly many people who believe that it's the best performance car lineup that Porsche makes. But if you're looking for a 718 in a 911, you'll be (and obviously were) disappointed.
I don't understand the comment "Then I sat briefly in a 991.2S Coupe. Immediately felt better and more "at home"'. If you drove it and preferred its engine, then ok, I get that. But did just the analog tach and faux key make you feel more at home?
It sounds like you're a 718 guy. Nothing wrong with that. There are certainly many people who believe that it's the best performance car lineup that Porsche makes. But if you're looking for a 718 in a 911, you'll be (and obviously were) disappointed.
I don't understand the comment "Then I sat briefly in a 991.2S Coupe. Immediately felt better and more "at home"'. If you drove it and preferred its engine, then ok, I get that. But did just the analog tach and faux key make you feel more at home?
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There is a lot more to a car then just performance and this is where the TS has his comments about.
If you are missing the drive experience in the 992 then you will get bored of the car and you will not get the excitement to use the car. You came to he right conclusion for you.
If you are missing the drive experience in the 992 then you will get bored of the car and you will not get the excitement to use the car. You came to he right conclusion for you.
My general comment/observation - 992's are fast but you don't recognize it as much as they are very mannered, controlled. It's hard to make the car not behave, and older generations of 911s were more "analog" in a sense; more driver skill was needed to go fast and probably could never go as fast as almost any average driver in a 992 now can with one hand on the wheel. Just think about the widow maker as an extreme example.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2019
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From: Iowa City, Iowa - Go Hawks
I think the OP may be fooled by the effortless and overall "linear" response (vs. peaky output) of the 992.2. I think they may find that they don't realize how fast / quick they are going compared to their other benchmarks. I, for one, like the smooth / competent driving character. Like / dislike of the interior is subjective - but I sure like mine.
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I think the OP may be fooled by the effortless and overall "linear" response (vs. peaky output) of the 992.2. I think they may find that they don't realize how fast / quick they are going compared to their other benchmarks. I, for one, like the smooth/competent driving character. Like / dislike of the interior is subjective - but I sure like mine.
Drifting
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op seems he judged the car from the price perspective which I agree that these cars seem overpriced at 180 k plus
but by no means I agree that 718 is better than 911 platform and I have owned a bunch of them
but by no means I agree that 718 is better than 911 platform and I have owned a bunch of them
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OP. Duly noted. 
I've personally owed six different 981 and 718 Caymans of various trim levels and currently still have (and love) my 4RS. I've also driven the 992.1 GTS and GT3 on track, and spent a decent amount of time in a standard 992.1 C2. While I don't love the rising cost of entry into the 911, I still love them for what they are, which is why I have a 992.2 C2 in route as my daily GT car. Certainly the older 911's may be more closely matched to what you're used to and maybe prefer, and that's fine, but I'm not sure what you're looking to accomplish by coming into the 992 forum to dump all over this generation based on a 4S highway test drive. If you were expecting to get the same/similar feel and driving experience, then maybe you didn't do your research.
I've personally owed six different 981 and 718 Caymans of various trim levels and currently still have (and love) my 4RS. I've also driven the 992.1 GTS and GT3 on track, and spent a decent amount of time in a standard 992.1 C2. While I don't love the rising cost of entry into the 911, I still love them for what they are, which is why I have a 992.2 C2 in route as my daily GT car. Certainly the older 911's may be more closely matched to what you're used to and maybe prefer, and that's fine, but I'm not sure what you're looking to accomplish by coming into the 992 forum to dump all over this generation based on a 4S highway test drive. If you were expecting to get the same/similar feel and driving experience, then maybe you didn't do your research.
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First drive in 992 I had the same shock as OP, interor mostly. Size in showroom second. Was shopping for a 991.2 GTS at the time and felt really at home in those.
5 weeks later went for a second test drive in a 992 and realized what a leap it is and how aged 991.2 felt to me.
992 agility is like a small car, when you drive it actively, it shrinks. When you rip it, in cornering and undulations it feels more in tune with its 993 roots, irresponsible in a great way, outright amazing, wild yet everything is controllable.
992 is by far the best 911 and craziest yet while capable of a chill cruise also (well, not rear tire noise). But first impression can definitely be an adjustment.
Return to a 992 in a few weeks and not a 4WD model.
5 weeks later went for a second test drive in a 992 and realized what a leap it is and how aged 991.2 felt to me.
992 agility is like a small car, when you drive it actively, it shrinks. When you rip it, in cornering and undulations it feels more in tune with its 993 roots, irresponsible in a great way, outright amazing, wild yet everything is controllable.
992 is by far the best 911 and craziest yet while capable of a chill cruise also (well, not rear tire noise). But first impression can definitely be an adjustment.
Return to a 992 in a few weeks and not a 4WD model.
Last edited by REVS11; Jan 16, 2026 at 12:37 PM. Reason: typo correction
