Hi all,

Coming from my recently sold 718 GT4 6MT, I am looking to get into a 992 for a bit more practicality and daily usage in the fair weather months. My first instinct was to pick up a low-mileage CPO 992.1 Carrera T.

Drove one yesterday, a PDK car, and loved it. First time driving a 992 and first time driving a PDK. I was really surprised by how agile the car felt, how direct the steering was, and how incredibly fast, responsive, and fun the PDK was (shocked by how much I enjoyed the PDK, actually, as I have only owned manual Porsches and been a hard-liner on this in the past).

After the test drive, I decided to start my pursuit but my research quickly led me to issues with the lightweight glass. Given the awful condition New England roads are in and my intended usage of daily driving and joy rides/ice cream runs with my wife and young daughter (god forbid they press on the glass in the wrong spot and crack it), it does have me concerned. I've spoken to my ppf installer in the past and they don't even install windshield protection film anymore because of the inevitable scratching that quickly happens. Beyond even the glass breaking, the long delays waiting for glass to come in is disappointing to hear. We tuck our cars away for 4-5 months every winter, so to have the car sitting for 1-2 months in the nice months waiting for replacement glass to come in is a depressing thought.

My question is whether or not a spec'd up base 992.1 Carrera would feel similar enough to the Carrera T that I'd even notice the difference? Am I correct that an LSD and the SPASM were not even offered on a base Carrera? Is the PDK tuning any different on a base car? In short, how different would a base Carrera with Sport Chrono and Sport pack be to a Carrera T? Would it not be as sharp or agile feeling?

Thanks in advance for your insight.

 

I dont believe PDK Carrera T have a differential. I have original lightweight glass from 2018, no issues, if that says anything. One thing to keep in mind with the LWG is it doesnt have a rear defroster if thats something you frequently need.

 

I haven't had any issues with the lightweight glass on my T in new england after three years now but it's a valid concern based on what I've seen others deal with. For me, the extra performance bits you get in the T like the suspension, differential, less sound insulation etc were selling points, although I also went manual so base was never really in consideration for me.

Best thing to do of course is test drive and decide for yourself. The base is surely still a great car but I do think a T in the right spec will stand out against a base in terms of driving experience.

 

Not sure about past versions, but new 911s with LWG do indeed have a rear defroster. I just used it last night out in the cold with my new 911 T.

 

Thank you. Am I correct that the PDK 992.1 Carrera T has an electronic LSD whereas the manual Carrera T has a mechanical LSD? If so, I suppose my real question would be does a PDK base 992.1 have the same electronic diff as the PDK Carrera T?

Also, I have not seen many issues with the 991.2 Carrera T glass, so not sure if it was just a 992.1 issue.

 

To clarify, there is no visible defroster on the rear LWG ... those typical thin lines that run horizontally across the glass. But there is a rear defroster, which presumably works via vents.

 

I do recall when the 992.1 T was announced there was discussion on here if the pdk came with the eLSD that is absent in the base as it was in the 991.2. I do remember it being mentioned in the literature at launch but not sure if we ever determined it in a more definitive way. I haven't seen too many pdk T owners chime in on that.

 

I have a MT Carrera T and a PDK Macan.

PDK vs MT
It's the first time you drove one. It could be novelty. There is at least one guy here who fought me tooth and nail on the merits of PDK only to sell his car a couple of years later to return to MT. PDK is great. But if you're a MT guy, I caution you to think twice about your decision. Long ago I bought a car that looked great on paper. The love affair lasted three months and it gas sold in nine.

T vs base
While they may seem similar, T is the most raw of the Carreras while base is the softest. The cabin is louder, the suspension is firmer, and the LW glass can be delicate - my windshield cracked a week after I picked it up. If your family is going to be riding in it, maybe a quieter cabin, a softer suspension would be welcomed by them. After replacing the windshield under warranty (there was a bulletin for MY 2023), I've had no issues after 12k miles of driving at speeds where rocks become projectiles. I do have windshield protection.

I'm not going to make recommendations. I'm just sharing things to think about. I find many make decisions on wishlists instead of user case and that often backfires. Good luck with your search.

 

Appreciate your input. Should say that I will keep my Z4M Coupe and am about to pick up an MX-5 RF in stick, so I will still be able to satisfy the manual transmission side of my brain. The 911 will be a family fun/fun daily car for me and with my commute being brutal, it is very nice to have an auto for stop and go traffic. My M340i xdrive ZF8 auto is pretty great and the PDK in the Carrera T I drove was even better, so I think, for my use case anyway, the PDK will not be a let down. If it were going to be my only fun car, no doubt I would be getting a manual.

From what I can gather, it sounds like the following can be replicated in the base 992.1:

• PDK experience (shift speed, etc. especially if I get a sport chrono base car)
• PDK electronic diff (maybe-not sure if base 992.1 has the same e-diff as the PDK Carera T)
• Engine performance
• Exhaust noise if base has sport exhaust

Whereas, the following can NOT be replicated in a base 992.1, no matter the option:

• Interior noise from lightweight glass and less sound deadening
• Sport PASM, which was not offered on the base 992.1 I think
• Overall nimbleness from above mentioned lack of SPASM, so softer springs and dampers

 

No issues with the lightweight glass here, and no issues with windshield protector film.

T is definitely the superior choice.

 

PDK electronic diff is not available in any Base 992.1 or .2 2wd.

All 992.1 and .2 "T" models have some form of limited slip diff (LSD)... with a PDK its electronic and in a manual its mechanical

"Lightweight" glass does not make interior noise louder. The glass is produced using multi-layered composite construction with multiple thin glass panes bonded with an acoustic safety film. The acoustic film significantly reduces external road and wind noise. So, its lighter compared to single pane glass and quieter for interior noise.

"T" models along with SPASM also have larger anti roll bars over the Base model.

A 992.1 "T" is basically a 992.1 "S" with Base Turbos, Base brakes and less sound deadening.

 

With that additional context, I'd be steering toward the base if I were in your situation.
Don't worry about the diff - PTV is good enough for your use case.
Don't worry about exhaust - get an aftermarket one if necessary.
Just find the best example .1 base you can find.

 

PTV was only available as an option on a base 992.1 C4, not on a C2. Getting PTV was one of the reasons I ordered a C4 rather than a C2 when I built my 2020 992.1

 

PDK 992.1 T owner here, I went into it looking for either and S or a GTS with SPASM, PSE, SC, and the SD package. I ended up in a T because it was properly equipped and was available with all the options I wanted with zero mileage at a dealer in Canada. I went in wanting PDK and the sport gear that the base isn't available with. Nearly 3 years later and I'm still smitten with the car, added a Softronic tune, Soul sport cats and a few interior bits that I wanted, otherwise I have zero wants to upgrade or change it out.

 

Just get an S unless you truly must have a manual transmission.