Never selling my 981

[WokkaWokka]

Got a 981 CGTS and I love it although very tempting to look at the other cars in the range, namely the GT3’s…..

….maybe soon.

[Paulr1980]

I’m with you…

Cayman for just under four years. Thought a 911 must be a revelation as the 981 is close to perfect.

Bought a 991.2 Carrera T. Sold it and within a few months bought the exact old cayman back and modified it.

[Royal Jelly]

Paulr1980 said:

I’m with you…

Cayman for just under four years. Thought a 911 must be a revelation as the 981 is close to perfect.

Bought a 991.2 Carrera T. Sold it and within a few months bought the exact old cayman back and modified it.

Agreed - I recently test drove an early 991.1 and frankly much preferred my Cayman. I’d only consider selling it for an air-cooled at a point when that would be a viable proposition on my driveway..

[n12maser]

I couldn't live with the lifeless steering and ultimately found PDK dull vs 3 pedals. Was back in a 993 after 6 months (from x73 981 Cayman GTS)

[SkinnyPete]

Paulr1980 said:

I’m with you…

Cayman for just under four years. Thought a 911 must be a revelation as the 981 is close to perfect.

Bought a 991.2 Carrera T. Sold it and within a few months bought the exact old cayman back and modified it.

This is interesting. What didn't you like about the 911/miss about the Cayman?

I've driven a couple of 911.2's, including on track, and I've always seen them as the only thing that could get me out of my 981, money aside.

[Beaver991GTS]

I moved from 981 Cayman GTS with X73 to 991.1 GTS with PDCC the X51 powerkit engine is fabulous.

[Paulr1980]

SkinnyPete said:

This is interesting. What didn't you like about the 911/miss about the Cayman?

I've driven a couple of 911.2's, including on track, and I've always seen them as the only thing that could get me out of my 981, money aside.

Some of it was financial. 30k cayman vs 75k 911T. Well in to the realms of diminishing returns. I liked how special the T looked and felt to be inside but that was it. Moving it sounded synthetic, with artificial pops. I could ramble on about it but it boiled down to the Cayman just feeling like a glove fit for me. It just needed a little help to be more personalised to me.

So Spyder wheels painted satin aurum, KW suspension, some interior bits... It's everything I wanted it to be and still half the price.

[SkinnyPete]

Paulr1980 said:

SkinnyPete said:

This is interesting. What didn't you like about the 911/miss about the Cayman?

I've driven a couple of 911.2's, including on track, and I've always seen them as the only thing that could get me out of my 981, money aside.

Some of it was financial. 30k cayman vs 75k 911T. Well in to the realms of diminishing returns. I liked how special the T looked and felt to be inside but that was it. Moving it sounded synthetic, with artificial pops. I could ramble on about it but it boiled down to the Cayman just feeling like a glove fit for me. It just needed a little help to be more personalised to me.

So Spyder wheels painted satin aurum, KW suspension, some interior bits... It's everything I wanted it to be and still half the price.

I see your 911T was in the spotted article. Incredible looking car, but well into diminishing returns as you say.

What are your thoughts on the KW suspension you fitted to your Cayman?

[Royal Jelly]

Beaver991GTS said:

I moved from 981 Cayman GTS with X73 to 991.1 GTS with PDCC the X51 powerkit engine is fabulous.

991.1 GTS is definitely one of the peaches of modern 911s. Lost of work went into the NA GTS engine - including cams, to make it what it is, which in my opinion, is far more special than the 991.2 GTS which is largely a remap.

[rawenghey]

Beaver991GTS said:

I moved from 981 Cayman GTS with X73 to 991.1 GTS with PDCC the X51 powerkit engine is fabulous.

IMO, this is the only logical upgrade from a 981 CGTS. And once you're in a 991.1GTS where do you go? Other than a GT3, you're going to be looking at other brands.

[Royal Jelly]

rawenghey said:

IMO, this is the only logical upgrade from a 981 CGTS. And once you're in a 991.1GTS where do you go? Other than a GT3, you're going to be looking at other brands.

Agreed. A GTS would be a far better fit for me than a GT3, too. Id wager that’s true for most GT3 owners, too.

[donutskidmark]

I’ve had loads of cars come and go- but my polar silver Carrera 2 manual 993 is a keeper ……. I’ve had it 9 yrs and I love it as much now as the week I bought it.
It makes modern 911’s feel huge and I think it’s aged well- a modern classic

[Royal Jelly]

donutskidmark said:

I’ve had loads of cars come and go- but my polar silver Carrera 2 manual 993 is a keeper ……. I’ve had it 9 yrs and I love it as much now as the week I bought it.
It makes modern 911’s feel huge and I think it’s aged well- a modern classic

That is a beautiful thing.

[Oz83]

I actually say this about all my cars but usually get itchy feet after 3 years. But if you've had it 6 years and still enjoy it, then it probably is a keeper.

I wish I'd kept my 1M. I was tempted out of it by a stunning 981 GT4 and a great trade in price, but the GT4 wasn't as useable or as entertaining on the road. I kept that for a while thinking it was a keeper, then I had a ride in a 997 Turbo and couldn't get the power our of my head. So I swapped the GT4 thinking I'd made the right decision, only for the new owner to send me pics of his first roadtrip over the St Bernard Pass...regrets, regrets!

Anyway, I can't complain. The 997 Turbo is a lovely car and definitely a keeper ;-)

[donutskidmark]

Oz83 said:

I actually say this about all my cars but usually get itchy feet after 3 years. But if you've had it 6 years and still enjoy it, then it probably is a keeper.

I wish I'd kept my 1M. I was tempted out of it by a stunning 981 GT4 and a great trade in price, but the GT4 wasn't as useable or as entertaining on the road. I kept that for a while thinking it was a keeper, then I had a ride in a 997 Turbo and couldn't get the power our of my head. So I swapped the GT4 thinking I'd made the right decision, only for the new owner to send me pics of his first roadtrip over the St Bernard Pass...regrets, regrets!

Anyway, I can't complain. The 997 Turbo is a lovely car and definitely a keeper ;-)

I had a valencia orange 1M - I loved the look of it but just didn’t bond with it at all…… the ride was not compliant enough for the crap local roads- but I’ve got a Z3M Coupe which I think is a fantastic car although I’ve had the suspension refreshed with Bilstein b6 etc

[Oz83]

donutskidmark said:

I had a valencia orange 1M - I loved the look of it but just didn’t bond with it at all…… the ride was not compliant enough for the crap local roads- but I’ve got a Z3M Coupe which I think is a fantastic car although I’ve had the suspension refreshed with Bilstein b6 etc

Yeah maybe I’m looking back through rose tinted specs. I remember it being lively, torquey and it was obviously more practical than the gt4 that came after. The ride was miles better after I swapped the original Pilot Sports. I remember thinking how artificial the steering in the gt4 felt when I test drove it, but I was ultimately persuaded by the whole experience. After a while though, I felt the gt4 was too capable but not fast enough, if that makes sense. You could pretty much go around any corner at any speed, but be out dragged by a warm hatch. That doesn’t happen in the 997 Turbo :-) although it’s more a lesson in self restraint than anything else.

[donutskidmark]

Oz83 said:

donutskidmark said:

I had a valencia orange 1M - I loved the look of it but just didn’t bond with it at all…… the ride was not compliant enough for the crap local roads- but I’ve got a Z3M Coupe which I think is a fantastic car although I’ve had the suspension refreshed with Bilstein b6 etc

Yeah maybe I’m looking back through rose tinted specs. I remember it being lively, torquey and it was obviously more practical than the gt4 that came after. The ride was miles better after I swapped the original Pilot Sports. I remember thinking how artificial the steering in the gt4 felt when I test drove it, but I was ultimately persuaded by the whole experience. After a while though, I felt the gt4 was too capable but not fast enough, if that makes sense. You could pretty much go around any corner at any speed, but be out dragged by a warm hatch. That doesn’t happen in the 997 Turbo :-) although it’s more a lesson in self restraint than anything else.

I get what you are saying regarding the GT4 not being fast enough…….
I suppose that’s where the GT4RS comes in- if you are fortunate enough to get
offered a build slot- statistically unlikely.
It’s the law of infinite wants and depends on what you are used to-
I did nearly 20,000 miles in my 991.1 GT3RS and although it always felt great on the twisties it felt generally slow compared to some turbo engined alternatives.

[AndyBrew]

I think the 981 is the sweet spot, bought my GT4 nearly 4 years ago and looking at the market now I see little to tempt me away from it both emotionally and financially. It feels special and every drive is an event, it looks fabulous and gets lots of positive comments and never had an issue in 4 years of ownership. Ok it feels a bit slow on a long straight but why would I want it to go any quicker it’s just a bigger fine or even jail!

Servicing every 2 years at about £500 per year and £600 per year for a Porsche warranty, it really is an unbeatable package like all Porsches in that regard.

Most importantly the noise, tickle the throttle and it barks, pops and crackles on demand, no soft limiter or PPF to spoil the drama and ring out that flat six on a b-road and it is truly spine tingling!!!!

I think a geo setup in the new year, some new tyres and brakes and repaint the alloys in silver and she’ll be keeping me interested for another year or two.

[Oz83]

AndyBrew said:

I think the 981 is the sweet spot, bought my GT4 nearly 4 years ago and looking at the market now I see little to tempt me away from it both emotionally and financially. It feels special and every drive is an event, it looks fabulous and gets lots of positive comments and never had an issue in 4 years of ownership. Ok it feels a bit slow on a long straight but why would I want it to go any quicker it’s just a bigger fine or even jail!

Servicing every 2 years at about £500 per year and £600 per year for a Porsche warranty, it really is an unbeatable package like all Porsches in that regard.

Most importantly the noise, tickle the throttle and it barks, pops and crackles on demand, no soft limiter or PPF to spoil the drama and ring out that flat six on a b-road and it is truly spine tingling!!!!

I think a geo setup in the new year, some new tyres and brakes and repaint the alloys in silver and she’ll be keeping me interested for another year or two.

£500 every 2 years sounds cheap. Despite low mileage I drove it hard so serviced mine every year and the bill was never less than £1k at my OPC.

The big bills on these are brakes and tyres so you have those to come :-) After a couple of scary moments on worn Cup 2s I fitted a set of PS4S and it just wasn’t the same. Turn in was vague and the car felt so much softer and less sharp. Like fitting winters on a normal car. If you are considering other tyres I would recommend sticking with Cup 2s.

[AndyBrew]

Oz83 said:

£500 every 2 years sounds cheap.

Sorry I meant they have a 2 year services interval and the cost is usually around £1k so split between 2 years is £500.

Consumables aren’t cheap I agree but if you’re going to use em you got to pay out for them