Absolutely! My opinion. But isn't posting one's opinions the point of a forum?

But it is also the opinion of many respected journalists, including Chris Harris (CH). Most say the car is superb but different, and different precisely in the loss of pendulum dynamics, and the gain of 'well behaved dynamics'. In fact there's a widely viewed CH video sliding the 991 just like an E63 slides.

 

Is it up to me to give the definitive answer again? Of course it's the 991. Your welcome.

PS - I swear that the fact that I'm ordering a 991 later this year has nothing, I repeat, nothing to do with this opinion. Honest.

 

There's no growth without loss, there's no way around it. To become an adult, you must lose your childhood, eventually your parents. Automobiles, being extensions of our reality, follow the same rules. Embrace change, it makes us grow. 991
Back to playing with the kids!

 

This is my first post as a new 911 owner. Last week, I traded my '05 Boxster (my first Porsche ever) in for a 2009 997.2 C2S with extremely low mileage - basically a new car. With the depreciation hit it took already, from a financial standpoint I paid 40K+ less than what a 991 S with similar features would have cost me (fair enough the 991 is going to have some more included standard features). And again, the car is virtually new with approx 1,000 miles. So at that point - it also became a financial decision. A lot of the 991 is already priced into the 997s I think and the financing market is hot. I couldn't believe the rate I got.

For me, besides the financial aspect that celarly weighed in, it was an emotional decision because the 997 reminds me a lot about the 993, which was and remains my favorite car from my teenager days.

 

That's how i feel about new medicines. Wait about 5 years when a new medicine comes out to the general public and you'll start to see if there are side effects once thousands of people use it for a few years.

 

991.. who wants to be seen driving "last years" car (the dreadful 997)

 

Take the deal on the 997. And you'll even get an old fashioned handbrake.

 

Maybe it's me,--but I like real handbrakes!

 

The last time I used a handbrake for anything other than parking the car was in 1990 while practicing a 180 degree turn as part of an excercise while taking the Bob Bondurant HP driving course. The last time I used one to do that on the street was.....never. I like manual handbrakes, in part because they're familiar, but the lack of one isn't a deal breaker for me. I've gotten used to the electric EB in my Cayenne and it seems to work fine.

 

if you can save $30k+ on a similar 997 go for the 997, but right now I don't see the prices of the 997 to be so much depreciated. I think the 991 should cost you $20k more than a very low used 997 (5,000miles). I have been looking at the 2012 997 S used and they are not that cheap yet.

I believe that as of today the cost of a 991 is $20k and a little patience

 

A choice like this has more to do with what you would you want to do with your 911. I have a 997.2 cab. I love the ride, but it remains a sports car feel to it. The 991 will be a fast, comfortable car. I would say that you need to drive one and how the new electronic steering is. If you lease and keep cars for a short time, definitely go for the 911. If you buy and keep the car for a longer time, then get the 997, as my experience with first year series tend to have major/minor issues. With this car having as much electronics, I would wait a year or so to get the bugs out of the system. Just my .02

 

how long will you keep it? Are you the type of person that always wants to have the new thing? Personally, I'm not. I like things that have a slight patina, that still work and I keep them until they die.

If you're in this camp I'd spend my money on something like 997 GTS. It has fewer bells and whistles but the 997 is well sorted at this point and the GTS will always be something special. layman will have a hard time telling the difference between 997 and 991. More power in a 991s vs. a 997s but a GTS could rectify that. You'll feel less compulsive in a 997 when you find a minor door ding, the front bumper gets sandblasted, a bird poops on it etc.

This will help you to drive it and enjoy it instead of always chasing the newest thing.

My other advice would be to wait a full year if you want a 991 until they've made the initial splash, all the minor recalls are sorted, you've had a chance to drive both 991 and 997 comparitively etc.

good luck, they're both great choices.

 

Thanks for all your responses again. As much as I hate admitting it, I get bore with a car pretty easily and always looking to get an upgrade to newer and better one. It's an expensive passion of mine and working on it to be better. Therefore, I don't see myself keeping a 997 or 991 for more than 3 years.

As of right now, I will wait to test drive the 991cab (3.4) in Feb and see how I like it. I'm very excited to see the soft top as I heard that there's a quite a bit of different from the 997's top. If everything goes well, I will probably get the 991 for the 2013 model (I don't really mind waiting for the car as I waited almost 6 months for my Cayenne).

GTScab is also a good option per "Rich" suggestion. The new one are still quite a bit expensive. If my dealership are willing to lease one for me at a similar price to the 991 I will have more dilemma.

 

It's all a bit academic from my point of view since I will be keeping my 997 for life but to me the 991 does not look as good as the 997 - at least from the exterior - I love the 991 interior.

I have yet to see a 991 in the metal but from what I can see on vids and pics they have evened out many of the 997's lovely curves. I buy a sports car mainly on looks. I like it that they are super powerful but I rarely exploit that power and I never track my 997.

I expect though that you are more concerned with reliability and an avoidance of issues that can come from buying a used 997 - if that is the overriding factor then obviously the 991 is the way to go.

Great insightful post btw from Gary - I look forward to your impressions of the 991 when you test drive it.