I’m searching for a relatively new Carrera S. I’m thinking a 23 or newer. I’m trying to decide if it’s worth spending a little extra for a 992.2 over a 992.1. I can live with a button over a twist “key” and a digital tach. I keep watching videos about the 992.2, and the upgrades seem significant. I’m trying to think about the driving experience and value retention 2-4 years from now.

 

One big question would be if you want a manual or not. Manuals were only offered in the 992.1 S.

 

The other would be if you're going to tune or do maintenance yourself and then update using PIWIS? If so, both will be PIA.

If you're planning on keeping it standard and using the dealership (or an indy that can write to the '25+ cars), the 992.2 makes more sense (depending on the price). You'll get the larger 992.1 GTS turbos and brakes, although with a slightly more complex car as compared to the 992.1.

 

I like manual transmissions, but I will likely go pdk. I don’t love 7 speeds, and I’m afraid the T may be a bit underpowered. I’m not interested in doing a tune, because I’m not interested in dealing with warranty problems. For my manual fix, I might eventually get an S2000

 

From someone that has owned both the 992.1 and .2 C2 it's a tough choice. The .1 is much more raw and loud and rambunctious. The .2 is more refined and feels more like a luxury car. It's a big difference. The .1 has hard brutal lovely shifts and a much more pronounced exhaust note. The .2 feels digital.

If it were up to me I'd choose the .1. I'm hoping eventually a tune and downpipe with opf delete gets me back to what I loved in my .1.

 

FYI, the 992.1 S/GTS share the same turbos. They were not exclusive to the .1 GTS.


In my unsolicited opinion and having formally owned one, I felt that it was.

 

Had a 2020 C2S PDK from new and traded for a 2025 T from new, both specced high. I value quality, precision and reliability over raw performance so YMMV.

power: Perhaps it was the switch from PDK to manual but I have not missed the power of the S at all. I won’t go back to the PDK for street as I always found it less engaging.

ride/handling: I had PDCC on my 2020S, and the 2025T feels less flat in corners, more “bouncy” and less sucked down to the road at highway speeds, but I don’t mind either as the 2025T isn’t as harsh over expansion joints/bumps and feels a little more tossable (again perhaps the 6-speed vs PDK).

sound: 2025T (now 4500 miles) with sports exhaust on is definitely calmer that the 2020S (traded at 20K miles) and while the 2020S was a little loud pulling into my neighborhood I do miss the pops and crackles some. I can replicate the pops when I’m revving the 2025T very high and backing off at speed.

interior: Sure I slightly miss the twist ignition (I find myself looking for the button vs just reaching by feel) but the digital display is a big improvement for me as I can see everything easily on the dash (I have the 993 for the obscured experience). 2020S was full leather 18-ways cooled seats and in the 2025T I have full leather/cloth 18-way seats and while I miss the ability to pick an interior color other than black, I don’t mind that either and perhaps because they are cloth centers and not cooled the 2025T seats are more comfortable.

quality: Might be me or the fact that I went from a 5 yo car to brand new or the fact that my 2020S was a little early in the run of the 992.1 but the 2025T feels slightly higher build quality.

 

Just chiming in, but I went from a manual .1 T, ordered to my specs, to a manual .1 C2S, ordered to my specs, and in my opinion the power difference between the two is substantial. The torque in the S makes all the difference.

 

Just went to a 2026 C4S from a 2024 C2S this week. Obviously don't have a lot of time on the road on the C4S but I can say that the 30HP addition is nice. Now the AWD does provide a bit of the difference but an extra 30HP is worth it to me. Another thing to consider is if you're wanting the Aerokit there are few 2026's available and my dealer tells me the cars he's been ordering the Aerokit is getting cut.

 

Don’t like the aero kit, but I’d go with the .1 - these cars are already so digital as is, you want the physical tach and the turn to start.. also, 992.2’s are relatively new whereas .1’s have been around (kinks are worked out)

 

These comments are what I've been looking for. The other thing that I question is will a 24 be worth significantly less than a 25 or 26 3 or 4 years from now? Seems like 991.2 are worth more than 991.1. I always read that you don't get your money back on options, so by that logic, I'd only focus on the few things that are important to me. I don't mind spending a little more if I'll get some of it back when I trade for the next one

 

With all due respect, these cars are meant to be driven, and should not be purchased with the hope of recovering your money completely or making money; “mass” produced cars, especially driver oriented cars, shouldn’t be investments, rather something you enjoy and drive.. cars depreciate! Why let it sit in the garage looking pretty hoping it’ll maintain as much value a possible.

If you want an investment, a house or investing in the stock market is the way to go - if you’re custom ordering a car, get the options YOU want and will enjoy.

 

Sure, I know these cars and almost any car is a terrible investment, but I still like to lose as little money as possible on toys. One of the things I like about 911s is that they hold value well. It makes feel less irresponsible for spending what is honestly a dumb amount of money on a car.

 

Currently 991.1s are now where 997.2s were a few years ago… any manual 997.2 is now fetching what manual 991.2s were just a few years ago. 991.2s have risen recently, especially the manual examples and manual 992.1 S/GTS are holding steady at or above their original MSRP.

 

Spending a lot of money on a car that isn't exactly what you want versus paying a bit more to be 100% satisfied...seems like an easy decision.

If cost or depreciation are that important, spend half as much on a fun car (new or used), invest the other half, and you're highly likely to make a better choice financially.

My 2 cents.