Hi,

I just sold my 996 Cab and I want to get a 997. The question is whether I should go for the S or the base model. How much difference in general terms (I would use the car as a weekend car with occasional DEs).
To better position where I am coming from, I was very happy with the 996 but I wanted more power and the lightness and rigidity from a coupe.

Any thoughts and feedback from somebody who has driving both or that has deal with a similar process would be appreciated!

 

I could have had an S but passed.....I got a blk/blk base and set it up the way I like it....It is plenty fast and if yu are an above average driver you will have no problem keeping up with an S....

Re-sale wise you will probably be better with an S but I personally did not feel that it was so much faster that it justified the extra dough....

I also did not want the PASM...I lowered my with H&R springs and had it aligned by a Porsche suspension specialist so now it handles like a dream!

Robert

 

I think the S vs. non-S issue can be summarized as follows:

If you are going to track the car get the S.

If you can blow an extra $10K for some added gadgets and features get the S.

Otherwise the two versions, for ordinary (read: legal and safe) street driving, are the same.

Any other simple conditions to add? Anybody?

 

I looked at a yellow S model in stock, for, I think, 3K more than the silver base model, that I purchased, with lots of options. Did not care about the extra brake stopping distance, hp or yellow paint, so purchased the base model with lots of extras. Will never have P-car on a track and plan to keep the balance of my life (I'm 57 years young) Have not driven a cab., just the coupe and I love it. Really don't think most people need to buy based upon the expected resale value between the two. Order/buy what you can afford and are comfortable with. Either one is an outstanding mode of transportation!

 

If you are debating it now I'd say go for an "S." That way you won't regret it and you'll totally forget about the extra cost. For me there was no question I wanted an "S."

 

I went thru the same situation when I place my order. I wanted a TIP and the dealer told me that if I got the tip, get the base. soooooooooooooo I bought the base and put about 20k in options. It is a 997 06 cab tip with EVERTHING! I also am 54, will never track it, cant imagine going more than 180mph to get milk, and for an every day driver, to and from my office, and out on the weekends, I thought the 10k would be better in options. I got the xnenon lites cause i wanted them but wanted the 18 inch tyres which on my 330cic is perfect and expensive enough. Did not want/need pasm (not tracking the car) and did not need the brakes. although i think the color red is way cool. For 100k I have my dream car!

 

I agree with srfcty, if you think you want the S, get it now. You will regret it later. I have a non S, and really never considered the S, and am very happy with my car. Sure there are times when I wish it had more power, but I don't think the S would be the answer for that, rather the Turbo would fit that bill. But that is another issue .

 

Yeah, that's a good point. If you want an undeniable difference in a streetable car experience get the turbo. Differences between S and non-S is only perceivable on the track. Diff between these cars and turbo can be demonstrated easily on any street, highway, or interstate (in a safe manner of course). Good point jnx.

 

Thanks guys for the feedback....

About the turbo....I have been thinking about it, at the current prices it's definitely an option. My concern is warranty/ reliability and loosing my license. Where can you enjoy such a car in Florida? Also, I have read comments comparing the TT versus the 997 and it seems like the 997 wins hands down in terms of handling and feeling (of, course, speed goes for the tt)

 

IS the advantage of an S really only apparant on the track? It's about 0.2 sec faster to 60. And the difference is likely to widen with the availablity of the X51 package later this year.

 

Yes difference would be slight and apparent only on a track; or that's what I have come to believe. Unless you're street racing or doing some other illegal stupid endangering activity on public roads, assuming you're an amateur like me, you most likely can't tell the difference between the two.

The S engine is specifically designed to sound more potent , and the brakes are a bit better.

With the S you also get so called "bragging rights;" should you care to exercise them. Idiots on the street can say, "that's the faster one."

 

Just get whatever you can. An S is nicer, but If you don't have the time, money or inclination - a non-S will do just fine. I got a non-S, and am more than happy with it. It was all that I could find at a dealer without a long wait - and I don't do the waiting game very well. As I've said in other posts - neither vehicle sucks.

 

Test drove the S and a 997, with 19-in wheels, PASM, Chrono, and so on. I could not really tell the difference in performance characteristics so I got a 997 with all the options associated with the S and saved several thousand dollars.