Buying my first 911 - A choice of two, please help

[Por-sche]

Hi all,

I have read a fair few articles on PistoHeads but its my first post here... I am about to buy a 911 (991) and its between two. Please can you give me your opinions on which you would opt for all things considered? Sorry if its a bit lengthy. I have attached two photos too...

Both cars have:
PDK
PASM
PSE
Sports Chrono
Sat Nav
Various other things I will probably never work out how to use

1.
991 Carrera
Porsche Main Dealer
2013 (62 plate)
18,500 miles
£65,000.00

Platinum Silver
Grey Carrera S wheels I think? Black callipers not red like the photo.

2.
991 Carrera S
Non Main dealer - But award winning Porsche Specialist
2012 (62 plate)
14,500 miles
£65,000.00

Platinum Silver
Carrera Classic Wheels

Which car do you like more visually?
Which is the better buy?

Edited by Por-sche on Sunday 22 May 22:45

Edited by Por-sche on Sunday 22 May 22:46

[Por-sche]

Al's 991 said:

2.
991 Carrera S
Warranty ?

Thanks for your reply!

Yes it comes with a full 2 year AA warranty... Supposedly as good as the Porsche one, so the salesman said anyway.
Are you a fan of the silver with Carrera classics?

[Por-sche]

Thanks again for the replies chaps.

Never a simple decision is there.

Hard question but all being equal how much in 4 years would I get for the 'S' over the 'non-S'? 5k?

[Por-sche]

Cheib said:

I prefer the look of the first car.

I am a bit surprised that an "award winning Porsche specialist" isn't providing their won warranty. I believe that's what the likes of JZM and RPM do.

I believe its because they get their work done at Porsche in Portsmouth, they dont have their own garage / mechanics etc.

[Por-sche]

Soov535 said:

Walk, no RUN away.

Haha made me laugh! Please have a look at the dealer... They are reputable, however I get that the warranty is another matter!

Edited by Soov535 on Monday 23 May 10:32

[Por-sche]

Adam B said:

where do you say who it is?

get an S but I prefer wheels of first one, comparison not helped by having picture 2 of a US car with ghastly orange indicators

warranty comment is awful salesman BS which would put me right off - ask them what would happen if engine blew with a £20k bill and you insisted on OPC to fix, and then read the small print

Oh sorry, its from Harbour Cars in Chichester - http://www.harbourcars.com/

I was always going to buy from Porsche Franchise, but I have heard great things about them. Let me know what you think. I know what you mean about salesman BS and I am not naive to that and was a tongue in cheek comment when I posted it : 0

[Por-sche]

Thanks guys, one thing I will say is that I started this journey with the idea of buying a 2.7 cayman, maybe a 3.4 at around the 35-45k mark... Now I am looking at a darn 911 carrera and carrera S for 65k!!! So I really am pushing it here but god I love the cars. I think I prefer the look of the Grey satin wheels over the classics, but I obviously prefer the S.

I think I can get the Carrera from Porsche for 62 ish... maybe. So 3k less than the non S from harbour... Decisions decisions

[Por-sche]

I am waiting to hear about some negotiations... Then will make a decision. I'm extremely impatient when I know what I want : )
I agree with the cayman points and I know its a better handling car... Although the look of the 911 for me is just perfect. Style over drive this time.

[Por-sche]

Another quick question / piece of mind.

I currently own a VW Golf R, 2.0L V4 engine, 295 bhp... If I decided to go with the 'non S' based on price and Style, do you think I would be dissapointed with its performance? I did drive the S but didnt open it up in the slightest. I rarely even drive my car beyond 3k RPM

Isnt it funny how things spiral out of control and you keep asking yourself 'is this going to be enough'... Especially when I was considering a 2.7 Cayman initially, not I 'need' a 400bhp engine

[Por-sche]

Trev450 said:

I think you've answered your own question. It you rarely go beyond 3000 rpm, clearly performance isn't of primary importance so why pay more for the S.

I like being reassured I guess. I love having power on tap, but to be honest 300 bhp is enough for me. I am probably a little too scared of thrashing it around local roads... and will never ever take it on a track as rather wreck someone else's 911 than my own.

I have a manual Golf R too, I assume I will notice a fair performance increase between that and a PDF Carrera?

[Por-sche]

Adam B said:

er OK, buy a 2.7 Cayman and save a packet then - and are you sure you are on the right website?

Ha yes. I just love the 991 shape. Imo it's the best looking car around. Cayman is a super car but I just prefer the 911 by quite a long way and although it's 15k more than a well specced Cayman S it'll obviously be worth more and the other end.

[Por-sche]

jackliebling said:

Ok, I had a similar recent car history. My previous car was a BMW m135i (similar to Golf R).

The power delivery is very different, the m135i and Golf R are turbo charged so the thrust below 3k rpm is very different from a naturally aspirated Porsche 3.6. I think the torque is more important in this case. You'll have to drive a Porsche harder for the same performance...

Not meaning to piss on your parade, BUT, I definitely would not buy a NON S for any more then £60k....

OK point noted. For me it's not just performance. In fact the style and sound come above performance for me... at least for now with a limited and already stretched budget.

If you can find me a nice PDK standard Carrera for under 60k let me know... they are not easy to find. A few low spec higher mileage ones around but not much else. Although there was a black carrera manual with 40k miles for 56k at porsche reading. No extras other than Nav and Sports Exhaust

[Por-sche]

jackliebling said:

plenty available...

Point taken. Although like I said its not a Porsche dealer and wont have a great warranty I assume? Have a look on Porsche approved used and you are not getting any Carrera under 60k really...

[Por-sche]

DJMC said:

Do you NEED rear seats?

Why not buy the nicer looking (imo), better handling, 981 Cayman AND a 981 Boxster too, for your £65k?

OR, buy a 997 and drive an arguably better car with cash to spare?




Untitled by David Chapman, on Flickr

Edited by DJMC on Tuesday 24th May 12:15

Yes the Cayman was my original choice, but purely as I 'couldnt afford' a 911, I love the 911 and prefer the look. I have always said to myself if I can scrape into a 911 I will. Love the side profit, love the rear, dont 'need; rear seats but camera bag with 10k camera equipment might not do so well above a Cayman's front or rear Axle.

[Por-sche]

DJMC said:

Fair do's. BUT... why not a 997?

There's a far few on the Porsche Approved website and personally, in the same way as I'd buy a 987 or 981 over the new 718 Cayman, I'd be attracted to the 997 more than a 991. Having said that, the 987 didn't do it for me due to space and "old" interior, PLUS I've not gone out of my way to compare the two 911's in detail.

Have you at least considered a 997? Just trying to get you back down toward your original budget, but hey, if you've got it, spend it!

I have considered the 997 yes, it is purely the styling of the new 991 I love. My thought process is, I am better spending 60k on a car I love then 50k on a car I like. Sounds extremely picky I know!

[Por-sche]

GT03ROB said:

No disrespect to Harbour Cars but an award from 911uk has about as much credibility as voting in the Eurovision Song contest!

Ah I see. I am new and naive to the Porsche world I will admit!

[Por-sche]

Well... I have just put a deposit down and I have gone with the Carrera S instead of the Carrera. Semi excited... but the nerves and worry about the cost are overshadowing it a little.

I feel I have got a decent price, I have questioned them about the warranty issue and have also researched online about it and I am happy with it. Hopefully I will never have to let you know how good or bad it is.

It has 1 less owner, 5k less miles, Porsche VTS Tracking, Torque Vectoring and its the S, so I expect to get 4-6k more for this then the carrera, and that swung it for me in the end.

Any advice, do's and dont's or any recommendations on a good part time job are welcome : 0

[Por-sche]

Thank you chaps. Feel slightly better about this already... I am finding a little surreal though and it won't sink in for a while...

Any advice on insurance? Specialists better or just anyone who is cheap?

I feel I made the right decision too. Just felt like with the carrera I was shelling out 53.6k on a car that I could probably sell for 55 ish. Maybe 56. Whereas with the S maybe it's worth 4 or 5 k more than that... anyway I'm happy. It's made me look at my finances too ha

[Por-sche]

RichieRuss1 said:

Nice choice I too just bought one and it has blown me away!!!

Cheers Richie

Very cooo indeed. I am now starting to get excited... don't think my friends and family will quite believe it to be honest. Don't think I'll tell friends as not sure what they'd say. I know its not the biggest thing to some people but I have never spent and never thought I'd spend this much on a car. Shame the insurance is £1000

[Por-sche]

RichieRuss1 said:

I spent a fair bit on mine too but after a few drives in the thing in Sport or Sport plus mode it is just so amazing that I know I made the right decision! Also everyone seems so happy for me, most say well done, you deserve it you work hard, it's a once in a lifetime experience... congratulations!

Pity about the insurance I managed to get a really good deal due to 20yrs no claims but a full set of OEM tyres on Blackcircles look about £800. I dont think that it's going to use tyres though like a AMG Merc as it's so well planted but we will see!!

I bet that you cant wait to pick it up. I must admit that I had trouble sleeping the previous few nights!

I like the feeling of 'yes this was the right choice'. 800 is a lot, however my golf would have been maybe 140 a tyre so nothing too drastic.
Yes afraid so, little steep, I have 9 years but I am 27 (kinda lucky do be picking this car up at my age I know)...

I test drove (or was driven actually as forgot my license) an F Type S. I was blown away and went to the Porsche 'specialist' thinking 'is there any point' as I thought the Jag was the car for me... As soon as I looked at the 911 I just knew if was the right car! Then I drove is and its just infectious!!! That sound, wow. Never really put my foot down and put it into Sport Plus once and ran out of room on the dual carriageway.