Carrera vs. Carrera S
Discussion
DHA said:
Is it worth the extra price? My specs differ by £5K in total (S being £5K more) but have heard that the "basic" 911s are usually the purer car.
Have not driven either (my only 911 experience was a 996TT) and currently drive a Boxster S.
"basic 911 is a purer car" - what does this mean? and to whom has it any relevance? (probably only the person who says it). and does that person have the faintest idea what he/she is on about or is it simply regurgitation of pub banter?
you are speccing an expensive car. either model will be great. ultimately though, you have to drive it and be happy with it. if you can afford one then you have already proven yourself capable in Darwinian terms. so drive both and make up your own mind.
the only pub-philosophy that is generally held to be true is that the last of the air-cooled 911s is the finest porsche ever, and that as soon as they added water the damned things started to fall apart
ballcock said:
Re a question I've just stuck in another thread ... Are the 997 and the 's' rear dimensions the same ..
yes, it is the 4 and 4S whose arse is fatter (by 44mm)
the only reason people sprout this purer line is due to PASM being std on the S (it certainly isn;t due to the extra grint or better brakes)
so DHA - do you have PASM on the Boxster S? If you do and you like it go for the S as speccing 19"s (as you must) and PASM on a std Carrera takes it too close to the S and makes the extra oomph good value for money.
>> Edited by Adam B on Tuesday 7th March 09:52
Adam B said:
Re a question I've just stuck in another thread ... Are the 997 and the 's' rear dimensions the same .. ie has the 's' got hints of turbo bodying (if there is such a word!)
yes, it is the 4 and 4S whose arse is fatter (by 44mm)
the only reason people sprout this purer line is due to PASM being std on the S (it certainly isn;t due to the extra grint or better brakes)
so DHA - do you have PASM on the Boxster S? If you do and you like it go for the S as speccing 19"s (as you must) and PASM on a std Carrera takes it too close to the S and makes the extra oomph good value for money.
I may be wrong ( I normally am!) but I think you are talking at cross porpoises, the Carrera and Carrera 'S' are the same body but different engines.
paultje said:
Re a question I've just stuck in another thread ... Are the 997 and the 's' rear dimensions the same .. ie has the 's' got hints of turbo bodying (if there is such a word!)
yes, it is the 4 and 4S whose arse is fatter (by 44mm)
the only reason people sprout this purer line is due to PASM being std on the S (it certainly isn;t due to the extra grint or better brakes)
so DHA - do you have PASM on the Boxster S? If you do and you like it go for the S as speccing 19"s (as you must) and PASM on a std Carrera takes it too close to the S and makes the extra oomph good value for money.
I may be wrong ( I normally am!) but I think you are talking at cross porpoises, the Carrera and Carrera 'S' are the same body but different engines.
I think the confusion stems from the 993 model where you could buy:
- 993 Carrera (3.6 - 2WD standard body)
- 993 Carrera 4 (3.6 - 4WD standard body)
- 993 Carrera 2S (3.6 - 2WD but with Turbo body and running dear)
- 993 Carrera 4S (3.6 - 4WD but with Turbo body and running gear)
Plus there was the added confusion with Tiptronic S!
These carried to the 996 which were available as:
- 996 Carrera (2WD standard body)
- 996 Carrera 4 (4WD standard body)
- 996 Carrera 4S (4WD but with Turbo body and running gear)
Engines were 3.4 on early cars and then 3.6 after facelift, I don't think there was a 996 Carrera 2S available.
The 997 (current model) was launched as:
997 Carrera (3.6 - 2WD standard body)
997 Carrera 4 (3.6 - 4WD turbo body)
997 Carrera S (3.8 - 2WD standard body)
997 Carrera 4S (3.8 - 4WD turbo body)
So yes the 997 Carrera and 997 Carrera S rear dimensions are the same the engine sizes are different. If you want the turbo look you need the 997 Carrera 4 or Carrera 4S.
Anyway I think that is correct
>> Edited by g7jhp on Monday 6th March 22:47
ballcock said:
And a sore arse , by all accounts!
Says who? People who have driven one or people who have read a story, or know a guy down the pub, who says its true.
-20mm is softer than the 996 version and softer than the PASM in Sport mode.
So where does the sore arse bit come into effect?
I think the thing with Chris Harris's comments, was that he bought an 'S', and then drove a non 'S' with PCCB, and maybe 18" rims. The unsprung weight loss, coupled with the softer feel of 18's gives a less harsh - slightly more fluid response, balance etc....(or whatever jargon the journos use). I think it's probably similar to the M3 18 v's 19" rim saga, where the car on the smaller rims actually drove better (but looked worse). I think for alot of it will depend on whether you want the extra grunt from the 3.8 model. Personally I suspect most (including myself) would go for the 'S' as the standard car will be viewed by many (unfairly) as the 'wimps' option, and will probably have an effect on residuals.
ballcock said:
OK , Here's the 6 marker .. Is the 997's' rear dimentions wider that the 996'4s'?? I know it may sound petty but I just love that extra width , and I know the 997 is tail wider that the standard 996.
The 997 Carrera and 997 Carrera S are slightly narrower than the 996 4S and 996TT.
The 997 Carrera 4 and 997 Carrera 4S are slightly wider than the 996 4S and 996TT.
I havea 997 Carrera S and my mate has a 996 4S.when we go for a blast in the Brecon Beacons there is nothing in it ..........the extra power of the Carrera S has no advantage over the lesser powered model .......
so in conclusion........if you want a basic Carrera you will not be disappointed power wise unless you have come from a far more powerful machine.If you are going to put a huge spec on it then go for the Carrera S .If you have minimal spec requirements then go for the standard Carrera.
Either way you will still have a 997.......then go and enjoy.
Many people (Evo guys included), believe that with a 911 less is always more. They think there's too much technology thrown at the S with PASM, Sport Chrono, etc.
If you remember when the 996 facelift 3.6 car came out they said forget the turbo, GTx, etc, you don't need anything more than this. I understand what they're saying, but don't agree.
I'm biased, I picked the S!
If you remember when the 996 facelift 3.6 car came out they said forget the turbo, GTx, etc, you don't need anything more than this. I understand what they're saying, but don't agree.
I'm biased, I picked the S!
I haven't met a single person who would prefer the non-S model over the S-model. If they can afford the car in the first place, I think it would be foolhardy to not pay the relatively small premium for the 3.8 knowing that you will more than likely make that amount up come resale time (I am sure that at least 90% of these cars will get resold within 3 years). This is a sports car of the highest order where performance is the focus... it's not like we're choosing between low and high pressure diesel hatchbacks...
Back in the days of the '73RS, less was definitely more... I get the sneaky suspicion that the typical consumer of the 21st century now says that more really is more... (cue 997 GT3...)
>> Edited by polarexpress on Tuesday 7th March 09:45
Back in the days of the '73RS, less was definitely more... I get the sneaky suspicion that the typical consumer of the 21st century now says that more really is more... (cue 997 GT3...)
>> Edited by polarexpress on Tuesday 7th March 09:45
Adam B said:
so DHA - do you have PASM on the Boxster S? If you do and you like it go for the S as speccing 19"s (as you must) and PASM on a std Carrera takes it too close to the S and makes the extra oomph good value for money.
I do have PASM on my Boxster S but with the 18" wheels. Understand what you say about the specing cost of a std car and I think I might regret not having the S. Been there with cars in the past and then gone out and bought the better car 6 months later!
paultje said:
Re a question I've just stuck in another thread ... Are the 997 and the 's' rear dimensions the same ..
yes, it is the 4 and 4S whose arse is fatter (by 44mm)
I may be wrong ( I normally am!) but I think you are talking at cross porpoises, the Carrera and Carrera 'S' are the same body but different engines.
that's what I said then, the Carrera 4 and 4S have wider body (but that is the only visual difference), and I never mentioned dolphins at all
given the choice between a non-S with PCCB or similar cost S I know which I would choose! I believe the S has out-sold the non-S anbout 3 to 1 in the UK
Evo later contradicted the plain old C2 stance by saying the 4S with sports zorst was the best 996
jjr1 said:
And a sore arse , by all accounts!
Says who? People who have driven one or people who have read a story, or know a guy down the pub, who says its true.
-20mm is softer than the 996 version and softer than the PASM in Sport mode.
So where does the sore arse bit come into effect?
Ouch!! You DO get a little grumpy late at night! ... kinda reminds me of that ****ing awful zofira add running at the mo ... " oooooh , they're tired "
Look, there's nothin wrong with fancyin a soft ride ..
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