991.1 Carrera. Next Car? Views/Experiences

[Andrew911]

My Porsche history is:

Boxster S Gen 1
993 Carrera
996 Turbo
997 Gen 2 S
Currently drive a 981 Boxster Spyder

The 981 Spyder is probably the best drivers car I have owned. Its a great car. Bought new last May & still very low miles (3000). I am thinking of maybe moving the Spyder on before the end of the summer. By then I would have had 17 months of free motoring & is still worth more than I paid for it. I'am selling mainly as I have a lot of money tied up in it which I would like to release. Plus whilst the Spyder is awesome i do tend to change cars every 18-24 months. I'am also hoping that I might be in line for the next GT4 (if there is going to be one & if its NA). So, in the meantime what's it going to be? It needs to be a daily driver (only 10 mile round trip).

Budget is up to £50K. The 997 was also a great car, but not sure I want to go back to a similar car i have previously owned, but maybe still a contender. The other two on the radar - both very different propositions are a 991.1 Carrera or an M3 Coupe with Competition pack. The M3 at £30K seems very good value for the last NA V8. But I am a Porsche fan & think I would like the 991. From reviews Porsche seem to have improved the chassis and handling. Quite like the rear of the 991.

Interested to hear from those who own/have owned a 991.1 & particularly anyone who has made a move from say a 997.

Edited by Andrew911 on Thursday 23 February 11:48

[IREvans]

Andrew911 said:

My Porsche history is:

Boxster S Gen 1
993 Carrera
996 Turbo
997 Gen 2 S
Currently drive a 981 Boxster Spyder

The 981 Spyder is probably the best drivers car I have owned. Its a great car. Bought new last May & still very low miles (3000). I am thinking of maybe moving the Spyder on before the end of the summer. By then I would have had 17 months of free motoring & is still worth more than I paid for it. I'am selling mainly as I have a lot of money tied up in it which I would like to release. Plus whilst the Spyder is awesome i do tend to change cars every 18-24 months. I'am also hoping that I might be in line for the next GT4 (if there is going to be one & if its NA). So, in the meantime what's it going to be? It needs to be a daily driver (only 10 mile round trip).

Budget is up to £50K. The 997 was also a great car, but not sure I want to go back to a similar car i have previously owned, but maybe still a contender. The other two on the radar - both very different propositions are a 991.1 Carrera or an M3 Coupe with Competition pack. The M3 at £30K seems very good value for the last NA V8. But I am a Porsche fan & think I would like the 991. From reviews Porsche seem to have improved the chassis and handling. Quite like the rear of the 991.

Interested to hear from those who own/have owned a 991.1 & particularly anyone who has made a move from say a 997.

Edited by Andrew911 on Thursday 23 February 11:48

Similar ownership history to yours, but have had GT4, 991GT3, 991RS, 991GTS.

I'm a big fan of the 991. I don't like the manual gearbox, but the PDK box suits it better. C2S is the best of the range - You'll find it a big step up from the 997, particularly cabin quality. M3/M4 with comp pack also a great car, but in my experience I think you'll bore of it quickly. I have an M2, and I believe its better than M3/M4.

991 still the better car - if you squeeze a dealer, I'm sure you may get one for £50k, or just over.

[rbh]

Hi I run a 991.1 Carrera pdk, I've had it for just over 2 years and during that time have thoroughly enjoyed it. It's reasonably fast, in the overall scheme of things certainly fast enough for UK road, comfortable and has only had one fault that was minor and covered by warranty. Great car!

[Andrew911]

IREvans said:

Similar ownership history to yours, but have had GT4, 991GT3, 991RS, 991GTS.

I'm a big fan of the 991. I don't like the manual gearbox, but the PDK box suits it better. C2S is the best of the range - You'll find it a big step up from the 997, particularly cabin quality. M3/M4 with comp pack also a great car, but in my experience I think you'll bore of it quickly. I have an M2, and I believe its better than M3/M4.

991 still the better car - if you squeeze a dealer, I'm sure you may get one for £50k, or just over.

Great & interesting comments. I think you are right about M3/M4; so will likely go 991 route. Interesting you found PDK better. I love the manual in the 981 Spyder & was going to probably go manual but will take you advice & try both. I may need to stretch the budget a little.

[SRT Hellcat]

Why get rid of the 981 spyder. If you are enjoying it then keep it. Go drive a 991.1 before making a decision. I have never driven either so I cannot comment. My truck is in for service so my daily is an early 3.2 Carrera at the moment. Bloody hard work as the clutch needs adjustment and the rack and toe needs re aligning. So the steering is bloody heavy and I need to double de clutch to get first. But what a load of fun. The visceral experience is second to none and I don't need to go to the gym as I am getting a workout every time I drive it.

[Montcoffer]

I've had my 991 Black Edition now for 18mths & the manual did take a bit of getting used to, but so worth the effort in my view. when I speced the car, my dealer tried hard to talk me into a PDK but so pleased I went with my heart. I added sports exhaust & sports chrono, not sure what I'm supposed to use sports chrono for? if someone could help, but it does give you an auto heel & toe blip when your feeling lazy & coupled with the exhaust its sounds ace. I specifically wanted the last of the naturally aspirated engines & the run out model of the 991.1 has some great options included, if you like a black car that is?
I also have Cayman 2.7 gen1, the intention was to sell it once the 991 arrived, but decided to keep it, its not loosing any money, my wife loves it as her daily driver & its so different to the 911, it feels so raw & agile, not particularly quick so you really have to work hard at it, where as the 911 performance is easy to reach.
My advice, keep your spyder, go for a manual 991, C2 plenty fast enough for UK roads, go with your heart not your head! enjoy

[Andrew911]

Montcoffer said:

I've had my 991 Black Edition now for 18mths & the manual did take a bit of getting used to, but so worth the effort in my view. when I speced the car, my dealer tried hard to talk me into a PDK but so pleased I went with my heart. I added sports exhaust & sports chrono, not sure what I'm supposed to use sports chrono for? if someone could help, but it does give you an auto heel & toe blip when your feeling lazy & coupled with the exhaust its sounds ace. I specifically wanted the last of the naturally aspirated engines & the run out model of the 991.1 has some great options included, if you like a black car that is?
I also have Cayman 2.7 gen1, the intention was to sell it once the 991 arrived, but decided to keep it, its not loosing any money, my wife loves it as her daily driver & its so different to the 911, it feels so raw & agile, not particularly quick so you really have to work hard at it, where as the 911 performance is easy to reach.
My advice, keep your spyder, go for a manual 991, C2 plenty fast enough for UK roads, go with your heart not your head! enjoy

Thanks Montcoffer. Depending on what i get for the Spyder - i will sell as could do with releasing some cash. It's worth more than i paid for her & seems a good time to sell; just before spring/summer. But if i don't get what I want I will keep the Spyder. The Spyder is an awesome car - very driver focused & now realise i don't think I could do without sports exhaust & a manual stick now. Whilst I love the Spyder I have always been fond of the 911 - such an iconic shape. It will boil down to what I can get for the Spyder whether I sell & get a 991. If i sell the Spyder for what I want i can still get into a very nice car - 991.1 & release some cash as well.

Yep - your sports chrono gives you the auto blip in sports+ & I believe increases your 0-60 by a tiny fraction. You can also use it for track times.

[Andrew911]

Disappointing though to see that most 991.1 around the £50-55K seem to be poverty spec

[IREvans]

Andrew911 said:

Disappointing though to see that most 991.1 around the £50-55K seem to be poverty spec

...or conversely, its encouraging that well specced cars are holding their money better than the poverty specced ones....?

[Andrew911]

ok, so looking more closely after the 981 Spyder, a 991.1 C2S would be a better buy rather than a standard Carrera. My budget of early 50's could get me a highish miles C2S or push the budget to 60K for a low miles one. I really don't want to push the budget, otherwise i would keep the Spyder. but has got me thinking whether a 997 turbo could also be a contender. I'am guessing it would depreciate less. I would have thought £55K for a good 997 turbo is unlikely to lose me any money over the next 2-3 years. I will only put 5000 miles a year on any car I have.

Edited by Andrew911 on Tuesday 28th February 09:06

[LotusAde]

I managed to pick up a "poverty spec" manual C2S for low 50's from OPC. Its a cracking car and obviously saves weight over a loaded car lol.

I wouldn't go for a non S if I were you, I think you would miss the power.

The manual box is great, I dont know what all the negativity was about it. I thought it was because people were struggling to go from 7 to 6 easily on track, but why would you even put a car in 7th let alone 6th on a track. I have the hang of it now and I do reckon these NA 991's will become quite desirable in time.

I would have a spyder if it wasn't for the kids though!

[Andrew911]

981 Spyder 'almost' sold. I just need to say 'yes'. Hard one but given a decent offer. Still deciding what next. i have ruled out a 991.1 straight Carerra as I think I would miss the power & probably will depreciate more than other cars I'am considering. Deciding between a 991.1 C2S or a very good spec 997.1 turbo tip. Both will roughly come in at a similar price by the time i put a decent exhaust on the turbo. Hard, but nice decision. Both cars have their positives/negatives & sure I will enjoy either car. I previously had a 997 C2S so happy with the interior even coming from the Spyder. My main concern is that I would probably lose money (maybe not much) on the 991.1 over say a two year period. The turbo is likely to be rock solid on residuals but may cost more to maintain etc as its a much older car. Interested in peoples views.

[IREvans]

Andrew911 said:

981 Spyder 'almost' sold. I just need to say 'yes'. Hard one but given a decent offer. Still deciding what next. i have ruled out a 991.1 straight Carerra as I think I would miss the power & probably will depreciate more than other cars I'am considering. Deciding between a 991.1 C2S or a very good spec 997.1 turbo tip. Both will roughly come in at a similar price by the time i put a decent exhaust on the turbo. Hard, but nice decision. Both cars have their positives/negatives & sure I will enjoy either car. I previously had a 997 C2S so happy with the interior even coming from the Spyder. My main concern is that I would probably lose money (maybe not much) on the 991.1 over say a two year period. The turbo is likely to be rock solid on residuals but may cost more to maintain etc as its a much older car. Interested in peoples views.

I agree with you that the 997 Turbo will probably be residually stronger over a 2 year period, but I think there's more to life than residuals..!

Cabin quality and refinement is a big step up from 997 to 991, and the 991's 3.8 sounds better than a turbocharged 997 engine.

This is all subjective though, and I'm sure others will think the contrary..!

[Andrew911]

IREvans said:

I agree with you that the 997 Turbo will probably be residually stronger over a 2 year period, but I think there's more to life than residuals..!

Cabin quality and refinement is a big step up from 997 to 991, and the 991's 3.8 sounds better than a turbocharged 997 engine.

This is all subjective though, and I'm sure others will think the contrary..!

Yep, very true. I like both. I need to have a closer look & test drive & choose what I feel is right for me. Obviously coming from the Spyder i shall be use to a modern interior; but previous car was a 997 & didn't feel it wasn't nice. but as you say the 991 has moved the game on. But there is also something I like about an older car looking pristine & mint.