That a 991 rs

991 non rs manual is better than 997 at pretty much everything

 

feel of 991 manual is like a VW diesel.
steering feel, feedback, chassis dynamic, no rws, mechanic noises... make the 997.2 RS complete different experience than 991 manual.

 

Then why do you still have the 7.2RS?

 

I could write for pages on this, especially being locked up in NYC, staring at sunny skies, time on my hands and no access to ANY car other than an SUV parked under my building

I shouldn’t complain. I’m healthy, my family is healthy, we have food and t-paper, and we aren’t economically strained. So, what else can anyone ask for right now?

Anyway, back to fantasyland (991.2-3manual vs 997rs and to be clear I own both so hopefully not being biased?):

Transmission: 991 manual is silky-smooth and AMAZING to drive at slow/street speeds, including the auto-blip. You can actually just pull out the clutch to get it rolling and it will pull you up a reasonable incline; it’s almost not a manual. 997 is clunky around town at slow speeds; shifter, clutch, etc. When pushed hard on back roads, but especially on track, 997rs clutch weight, deliberate/notched shifter and pedal levels give confidence/smoothness and the 991 tranny starts to feel imprecise/numb/less-confidence inspiring. U can always throw the 991into auto-blip. However, in full-manual, I also think the 997rs is easier to heal-toe when being driven HARD than 991 is. So, driven hard, I prefer 997 manual, but at slow/dd speeds, 991 tranny is vastly superior all around.

Chassis/suspension: this might be the biggest leap from 997 to 991 (other than functionality/tech). I think 997 chassis/suspension are more fun and lively at all speeds. The 991 is SO SO much more planted, turns in SO much easier, feels less rear-engined, etc. And, other than “auto-blip feature”, the “cheater-feeling” most comes from how unflappable and composed the 991 is regardless of how bad of a driver you are! 997rs feels like a familiar rear-engined 911 platform. 991 is the start of something new for how 911’s feel. On street, 991 is more civilized. SOMETIMES i think the 997-4.0 and 997-2rs helper spring setup can actually be more civilized for certain types of road imperfections. The (7-4.0/2rs) take big bumps worse but smaller imperfections better imo. The 4.0/2rs setup takes things like joint expansions better than most GT cars before and after it imo (Side note: I think the 991.1-3rs has the best road manors of the entire 991 GT lineup. And, the 991.2-3rs makes road expansions feel like you might chip a tooth but takes larger undulations in stride).

Steering: no contest. 997 steering feel is better than 991 in all aspects and better than most cars I’ve driven.

Use-ability/functionality: No contest: 991 crushed 997. The post 997 era Porsches (especially those that include CarPlay) truly are masterpieces for marrying functionality with insane performance. I think this is the most amazing feet of all the new GT’s: The leap forward in breadth-of-use and overall functionality was ENORMOUS. I’d put that leap ahead of chassis; chassis being a close second.

Engine: this totally depends on which 997 you are talking about. I don’t think engine is a reason to choose 997 or 991. They are all fabulous engines. Yes, 997 has more character but the gen 2 991 engine is a beast. And the only 997 engine that pulls remotely close to it is the 7-4.0. Total personal opinion: 991 is louder/angrier; 997 sounds ‘better/more musical’. For sound: 991 is a Krell; 997 is a vintage Mac (or some boutique tube manuf).

Overal: 991 shines on balance of functionality/use-ability vs performance. 997 shines on balance of feel/feedback/nostalgia vs performance. A well-hustled 997 can keep up with a lot of 991 drivers. A poorly driven 991 can keep up with a lot of things it shouldn’t!

You can’t go wrong. I can’t argue with anyone that chooses one over the other.

OK, back to the depressing reality.

 

I had long discussions about these cars and what I realized was the new cars are more capable and comfortable, but that doesn't mean its better. The 997 is the perfect threshold for speed, grip, comfort and rawness, the 991s are so good it way passed the threshold on the road where it has to be way over the street limit to enjoy. When you go on a track with a 991RS where everyone will tell you its where it should belong, is way more capable than any 997 RS, but then you get a real race car like a Cup car and that will kill any 991 RS. To me, I rather have a hard car to drive that can challenge me on any road with the hard shifts, tough clutch and old school 911 balance than a 911 that is too focused on being fast but not faster than the real race cars. As my baseline was the 996 and 997 GT3 cars, the 991 clutch and shifter just felt too pedestrian to me, and I always go back to the more hardcore cars.

But I agree with everyone, if you want to use it more, 991 it is, if you are a hardcore driver then 997 is for you.

And don't worry about power, you can get catless headers, tune, intake, exhaust and the 997.2s will be close to 500hp and 350+TQ.

I owned a 997.2 GT3 and now have a 997.2 RS, the GT3 gives you 85% of what the RS gives you. If you have the means get the RS, but if you don't the GT3 is more than enough, especially after RS upgrades.

 

How did you get 500hp out of a 997 GT3?

 

Basically Sharwerks full bolt on without 4.1. Can also add Dundon intake, plenum, 4.0 throttle body, LWFW....etc

 

I have a SW 3.9 i wonder if i should add the dundon intake, plenum, and tb

 

I think you should, it does make a difference.
After driven many variants, full bolt on 3.8s are as fast as stock 4.0, full bolt on 4.0 or 3.9 is gonna be powerful.

 

everytime I think about selling it I get too many annoying questions

has it been tracked....yes 27,000 track miles..2,000 street
does it have over revs...yes lots
does it have paintwork...yes the rear bumper turned yellow from heat soak
do U have stock parts,,,no the car is all cup mono ball / akrapovic exhaust
what are the holes in the carpet from,..the full Clubsport cage
why are there dents in the fender flares...from overcooking corners at track out...cones got in the way

I will be getting it back from shop after Covid, put $25k into refreshing it

im attached to the car in a strange way, but pick 991 every day when they are parked next to each other

but I also have a 94 defender 90...and there isn’t a worse driving suv....u think a 997 is analog try this garden tractor....and I also shift the defender at redline every shift

 

I am thoroughly exhausted after a drive in my .2 rs. Like, ugh headache, give me water...

 

here is how I see 997/991
quirky woman you just can get it on but keep trying and finally mounted her. wow...
pretty woman who let you have your way and first date... she's ready on command... but the quirky one is well..... more challenging
and sometimes I just want to let off a load don't n need to be challenged. other nights... challenge welcom

 

Both great cars, but the 997.2 is a more special experience than 991.2.

 

I don't really like the technology on the cars after 997

sure, they're very capable cars, I knew that going in

but after buying a GT4 last year, and only putting 40 miles on it before selling, I knew I wouldn't care for the larger, higher tech 991 and beyond cars

it just might be me, but whatevs...

 

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