cole328

I am looking at getting back into a Porsche, and found an interesting deal on a BLack Carerra, non-S. It stickers at $82,000, is very well optioned (i.e.,19" carerra wheels, xenon headlights, BOSE stereo, 6-speed, etc., and lease payment would be $1,390/month for 36 months, 15K per year. Two main questions:

a) Does that sound like a reasonable lease payment for this car?
b) Am I going to regret not spending the additional cash to get the CarerraS?

My main regret is that I won't have the red calipers and the nice "S" badge on the rear lid, but that is more of a psychological issue to me. (i.e., that I would be envious of seeing the "S" badge on passinmgs cars...)

Any thoughts, as always, would be welcome

997, esq

I have no regrets about having a base Carrera, but I don't care about the color of my calipers, the S on the lid, etc. The Carrera was so far in excess of what I can use, that the additional hp / braking wasn't worth it to me. I don't find the stock ride uncomfortable (I have 18 in. rims) and I think the car handles great, so I didn't think PASM was necessary. I'm a relatively young guy; there's plenty of time to buy more car if I change my mind.

roberga

30hp? Drive both buy the one you like. I had a 996 2002 C2 and it was fine... until I rode in a friends GT3. 18months later :-)

RonCT

You'll get over the psychological thing as soon as you drive off in your new C2. Carrera S on the back? I ordered mine without a badge, though my dealer gave me one just in case I ever wanted to put it on (I don't). I honestly don't care what others think I'm driving...

This question has been asked dozens of times here. The C2 is a fantastic car!

Alstoy

I have a C2 and regret that it has Bose, a wart (Sports Chrono), a sunroof and 19" (18s are really the way to go IMHO). The only option I love are the xenons as you get to blind the commoners (j/k). You just can't go wrong with a 997. It is a superb car. 325hp is more than adequate for me as I am a devil of a driver from 0-45 in town. Although mine is not very optioned to begin with, I do wish I had even less on the car. As more wiser men have indicated here, drive them all and make up your mind. All the best.

MLindgren

What is the difference in lease price between an s and a non-s?

I personally like my yellow calipers but only because it reminds me that I don't have to worry about cleaning brake dust-what others think doesn't much matter.

If you would be envious of someone driving an S then I recommend getting one. Why pay all the money and regret not spending a little more to get what you really want?

It may also be worth leasing a lightly used CPO car.

My .02.

Good Luck

Weave

I am asking as I am in the market for a 997 and find these threads very helpful. Also, if the view is so unanimous that the 18's are the better rim then why is there nary a 997 at a dealer with 18's? Bling?

sharmat

No regrets. The C2 is more than enough car for me at this point.

nkhalidi

Yes.

I'd rather have a Cayman S with a few options than a base Carrera. Having a compromised rear-engine platform, less storage space, and only 30 more hp than a Cayman S isn't an enticing proposition for me. That is, I think I'd be faster around a track in a Cayman S compare to a base Carrera.

WAC

I've been on both sides of this. They're all fun. I regularly see a guy in an 85 beat the times of C2S' and GT3's at the autocross track. I love my current car but enjoyed the hell out of my earlier ones which were a base model 996 and an 87 Targa. If you like the car and feel comfortable about the financial aspect - buy it! It doesn't have to be forever, you can always make changes on your next 911!

Alan Smithee

I've had a base C2 for three years with no regrets...in fact, I will probably replace it with another base C2 when the lease is up.

rfedele

The C2 is the better car unless you are a stop light drag racer. I've owned both and went from a C2S to a C2.

dD/dt

I'm curious, why better? Usually the argument is something like "just as good and $10k cheaper."

OldManIn911

My last car was a C4S and while I really liked the "wide ***" look, I'm perfectly happy with my current 2006 C2. I bought this one from dealer stock because it was the right color and had all the options I wanted (except one). I seriously doubt that most drivers can feel the 30hp difference in performance or braking.

dndodd

Being from Cleveland and a OF to boot explains it all.

You can't drive fast in OH because the roads are horrible and the cops are a source of revenue.

I grew up there I know.

I used to get a ticket a year in my old 914 even if I didn't need it. Circa 1976.

After I paid an arm and a leg for my C2S I had some regrets I didn't pay significantly less for a C2, but in the end with some mods I have made and options on my car like PCCB's I have no regrets.

They are all good cars, buy what you can afford and won't be kicking yourself about later saying I should have...