I am going to be purchasing some late model 911 variation in the coming months. Originally it was going to be a post 2002 996 but I am now considering taking the plunge and buying a 997. Is the standard carrera significantly different than a 996 and how does the 997 compare with the 997S? If the difference in "seat of the pants" performance is marginal between the 997 and standard 997 then I will probably stick with my original plan. If the 997 is significantly superior then I would step up.

The Carrera S would have to be a few leagues ahead of the other 2 for me to lay out that cash. I'm sure many here have driven both the 997 and 997s, big difference? Thanks in advance..........

 

My 997 was a big step up for me from what I had previously. I couldn't be happier and don't feel as though I am missing anything by not having the S. I know that as I learn more about the car and my driving ability, I will want an S. Which is why I think the C2 is a perfect starter Porsche. In a few years, i'll get an S and it will feel new all over again.

 

There is not a big difference between the 997 and the 997S. The S is about 0.3 second faster to 100 mph. To me, it felt as if had a bit more torque off the line, with the extra displacement, but the difference was subtle. The ride was slightly stiffer, even with the adjustable suspension in "normal" mode, but not enough to worry about. The exhaust sounds a bit more agressive on the S. These things were so subtle, I doubt most people could tell the difference. If you are one of the people who can, and it's important to you, then it's worth the money.

Michael

 

Was going to purchase a "S", when I started thinking about my first 911. However, upon doing a dealer search, I found a base coupe with lots of options (just what I wanted) and was able to make what I think is a great deal, so I now have a 2005 911 in my garage. Couldn't be happier. The extra torque and stopping power of the brakes are not that important to me, as this vehicle will never be on the track or attemping a 1/4 mile from a stoplight (lol). I am 58 and plan on keeping vehicle (wondering if I can be buried in it or not) the rest of my life, so resale is not an issue. Decide what options are imporant to you and let that and your pocketbook decide.

 

Someone else posted this same question on Rennteam I think. Personally I think the "S" is worth the extra and it was a no brainer for me. If you do it I'd bet you'll forget about the extra $$ and be glad you did.

 

I think one of the key questions you have to ask yourself is what options are you going to get. I just went through the same decision and chose the S. For me it was only going to be a $6k difference in price between the S and Non-S because I would have added PASM and 19" wheels to the base C2 (standard on the S). In the end it came down to a back to back drive in which I liked the S better and the $6k difference in price after options was just not enough to make me want the base car.

 

Hi!

A big help is from which car you´ll change to the 997. If you come from BMW M3 or something else with similar hp then you have to choose the S. But if you´ve driven a car with less than 250 hp you can go for the base model and you´ll have enough added power feeling.

That´s only my 0,02$
Gregor

 

the main difference for me is the stopping power.

both are fast already. I drove both and went for the S as the base 997 braking system was too much like an ordinary car for me.

the S is not "leagues ahead in terms of performance" as it's not leagues more expensive.

I understand (for GB market anyway) that the S is holding up better in terms of resale values atm, but if resale value is your main concern I wouldn't recommend you buy a brand new Porsche.

 

I think one should get whatever makes their little heart go pitter patter....

 

Performance difference between 997 and 997S is very marginal if the 997 has Sport Chrono Plus/PASM. I test drove both and couldn't tell the difference. There was also no difference in stopping power, which may be the reason why Porsche won't tell you if the S brakes stop you faster than the regular C2 brakes (anybody have any numbers? yeah, I didn't think so). If you are racing on the track, you will probably find a slight difference in lap time. I bought the 997 with chrono/PASM, 19-in wheels, xenon, etc. and it was about 8k less than the 997S I spec'ed out. Okay, 997S owners, do the knee-jerk reaction. They are both great cars just aimed at difference marketing audiences.

 

i did two back to back drives...the s was noticably quicker with more torque, with a better exhaust note and quicker steering...both cars had 19s, the s had the chrono and the pasm..the s is 6k more if options are similar...to me, i would get the S, after all, these are sports cars and performance is very important to me, even if you dont use it everyday...the S felt sporter and faster...it seems most p car buyers are agreeing, with the S back ordered with very few discounts and the 997 siting on showroom floors not selling as well...but they ae both great cars.....

 

Scycle2020, no disrespect intended, but you are misinformed. The 997 are out selling the 997S countrywide. When did you get your 911?

 

Given the difference in times is a fraction of a second, you must be some driver to determine a noticable difference. lol
I also did not see the difference as material, I did not want 19 inch wheels or PASM, so for me the decision was easy. I loaded the car with an extra 10k in options (not hard to do) and am quite happy with my forthcoming 997.