alpine003

Obviously this boils down to if you prefer to drive slow cars fast or drive fast cars slow. I'm of the former type, especially living in an urban city environment.

If I lived in the boonies or any rural area where there were long high speed stretches of road, I could probably justify it, but where I live, I wouldn't be able to fully utilize the power most of the time.

In the mean time if I ever need to ring out every last ounce of power, that's what the 3rd gear is for.

Seeeu911

Pansies .... I'm saving for a 991 Turbo S 620 HP of goodness.

If my C4S (big *** full leather sport seats PSE ) which is a DD blows before I've bribed the wife enough, a Jake Raby 4.0 will temporarily slake my thirst for more Cowbell.

uberskier

+1. Excellence Magazine - April 2012 Smart Buy, "So the only question becomes 'Why spend 40 percent more on a Turbo when you can enjoy 90 percent of its performance with a Carrera 4S?' "

sanyata

Based on horsepower differentials and 0-60 times it's more like the NA's can enjoy 70% of the turbos performance, at least in a straight line. . Boost is pretty addicting but still not that usable in the street environment if driving responsibly.

LordVicious

I too have felt the 'call of the turbo' ... and have abstained. First the rational reason: if you need more than 300 hp for your daily whip then your roll into work must be absolutely FREAKISH and WEIRD. Now full disclosure, I do love freakish and weird. But still. Your being crazy. Slow down. That said we come to the irrational reason: I've looked at ALOT of m64 motors over the last few years and have yet to find an example that wasn't drippy, scary, and pretty much end-of-life. I realize those Borg-Warners can be replaced for somewhat less than a house mortgage but still, any turbo machinery over 100k miles is suspect. Highly suspect. And again, to what purpose?

5CHN3LL

Short of lapping the Nürburgring, the turbo is gratuitous power and unnecessary expense.

For commuting to work, which can be done effectively in a pickup or a Ford Focus, a 911 is gratuitous power and unnecessary expense.

Screw moderation. If you can swing it and if the spouse is on board, why not go the full-monty and get a Turbo? Hell, I would. The sound of the turbos spinning up and the big hand of HP and torque pushing you back into the seat as the extra 100-200HP comes online are intoxicating. It's hard to beat the visceral feel of a forced-induction car hitting its power band.

I'm in a good place financially to keep the 996 happy, but not in a good place to upgrade to a Turbo and still have the repair fund necessary to keep it running if something goes south. So, I'm delighted to keep my 996. If I had the cash, though...DANGER TO MANIFOLD.

Seeeu911

Damn right ! DANGER TO MANIFOLD.

AndyK

I like the Turbo because aside from the boost, it's a killer car to have! Sure, you can't use it to it's potential on the street or on the highway - but getting to 65-80 WAY faster is fun!

calbo

Turbos are worth more if you get into a pissing contest.

tooloud10

I've been wanting a Turbo for a while now and told myself that I would get one when I could justify why I should spend the money. I suspect that I'll never own one.

alpine003

Other than living in states like Texas, if your buddy is less than 4", you definitely need a turbo. It's a no brainier on that one.

Kalashnikov

IF, and that is a big IF AZ legislators get off their *** and start moving the I-11 project forward...AZ can try to push for the 90+MPH speed limit on it.

I-11 would be the interstate connecting the Phoenix and Las Vegas. Right now, Phoenix and Las Vegas are the only two large metro areas in the nation without the direct interstate link. IF I-11 does move forward, it is feasible for AZ to push for day-light no-speed-limit on it, or at least for a 90+MPH restriction. This is possible because proposed I-11 route would go through nothing and it would be one of the most modern interstates in the nation.

Now, if day-light no-speed-limit option flies...I will drive to Scottsdale and buy me whatever is the fastest exotic car available. Lambo/911 Turbo/Ferrari, whatever.

Now to the point, the no-speed-limit interstate is the only situation where I could justify buying a hyper car. I test drove Gallardo and F430; they are great as posters, but total pieces of **** as regular daily drivers. There is nothing enjoyable about sitting in the 500HP car behind a prius and put-putting around at 35MPH around town. It takes lambo 4 seconds to reach the speed limit on all interstates in the metro Phoenix, it takes 5 seconds to reach the top speed limit in the state. You simply can't use the hyper car in USA the way it is meant to be used. If you get lucky and have open on-ramp, you can do your 4 second run...but that is it. For the rest of time you are driving a low slung hypercar at the same speed as everyone else; except everyone is trying to take a picture, cut you off, or do some other stupid ****. You don't use the even 1/5th of the power the car has.

rmc1148

When I was looking I actually liked the looks of the C4s better and almost bought one in the exact colors but shied away as fears of the IMS entered my head lol. I am now better informed and would put an upgraded bearing in and forget about it but at the time was unsure. Don't get me wrong there is in my opinion no comparison driving the two cars but do agree that the extra power will never be needed on the road =at least driving legally lol. Bottom line am really glad I chose the Turbo.

996tnz

Or slow cars fast, and fast cars faster. Apart from a Chevrolet Cruze (a little city car that felt like it was folded from cardboard) I've enjoyed everything I've driven from forklifts, trucks and tractors through a selection of Japanese and european metal including various BMWs, to my old 928, and now my ~500HP Turbo. Nothing stirs the senses like the Turbo.

I do sometimes think the 928 was a better match for town though, so I do see where you're coming from. But I'd still grab the keys for the Turbo every time.

Imo000

Jerremy Clarkson summed up the C4s pretty good and funny "....if I worked a little harder..."