Discussion
Tempted into my local OPC by the mouthwatering marketing of the 991, I found myself juxtaposed between a 5 month old, 2k mile, GTS in black on my right and a silver 991 on my left. Initial impressions of the 991 were a familiar front and sides, the 10cm extra wheelbase is evident (although the car itself is only 5cm longer), nice flaring on the wheel arches, but at the rear the marketing photos don’t lie. It’s strikingly handsome and makes the GTS look a little blobby around the bum. The 1970’s P O R S C H E badge on the back is a nice touch, I can understand the temptation to opt out of the additional “Carrera 911s” that ruins it slightly, but then passers by might think you’ve had a bad year and been forced to scrimp and get the non ‘s’, booo. Inside, the back seats are as uncomfortable and impractical as ever and the Panamera-esque dash initially put me off. The seats are fantastically comfortable yet I feel wedged in and ready to hit shome sherious mountain roads. The driving position is perfect and I make a mental note to opt out of the 14 point £3,500 sports extra seats. It hits me that making mental notes on options is a touch further than I wanted to go towards buying this car and decide to quickly head over to the GTS.. The GTS is also achingly pretty, but then this is from someone who persuaded his mum to buy a Peugeot 205 in the 80’s because he thought it looked just the tiniest bit like a 911. I’ve always loved them and had the pleasure of owning one built in the 60’s and another in 2003. I’m in the market for a 911 and the GTS fits the bill on paper. Impressive performance stats, I like the simple cabin, albeit a touch plasticky compared to the luxurious 991. The alcantara is fab, I love it, even if it is synthetic, it’s surefooted and comfortable. It’s got the feel and look of a practical track car. I’m very excited about the GTS and book in for test drive.
2 days later I’m out in the 991 C2 first, for a comparison run. I’d asked for the C2s but I think the salesman steered me into the C2 as he knows I’m keen on the GTS and wants to improve its chances. I hate the C2 …I hate it because I love it and I really want it and I know the GTS isn’t going to make the cut. The electric steering is light at low speeds and the feedback feels identical to the hydraulic at high speeds. The tiptronic paddle shifts are lightning quick, reminding me of a sequential box I experienced at Palmersports, yet perfectly smooth. I settle into the cabin and realise that that the luxurious firmness and layout is actually a ‘bit of me’. The buttons are in the right place, the dash layout is loyal but useful, the engine notes of the sports exhaust are throaty and more aggressive than the GTS but quieter when you lift off and cruise. The suspension is solid but rides the bumps well at low speeds. People stop and check the car out, it’s the new 911 after all and I feel a bit special. I hoon down the A40 and my girlfriend jumps in and hoons back, undertaking a pensioner in a Clio at twice the speed limit whilst testing the horn. The brakes are impressive too. The GTS in comparison had a more raw feel, the cabin felt dated after the 991 and the PDK seems a little softer, the shift changes slightly longer, although there is no sports chrono fitted. The GTS is lovely, it’s quick, although I feel more secure in the 991 with its uprated handling and gadgetry that goes into the sports chrono. It occurs to me that the C2 can be bought with adequate options for 80k, the GTS is on at 75k (so probably obtainable for close to 70k). So now the C2 is a serious option, although, did I feel it topping out in 3rd?? …it’d be a shame to miss out on the extra 50bhp for the sake of £10k. Naturally, another test drive beckons tmrw, C2 vs C2s. The salesman has already warned me that the difference is marked and I hope he’s right, that the C2s does to the C2 what the C2 did to the GTS. That being the case, I’m putting my name down.
2 days later I’m out in the 991 C2 first, for a comparison run. I’d asked for the C2s but I think the salesman steered me into the C2 as he knows I’m keen on the GTS and wants to improve its chances. I hate the C2 …I hate it because I love it and I really want it and I know the GTS isn’t going to make the cut. The electric steering is light at low speeds and the feedback feels identical to the hydraulic at high speeds. The tiptronic paddle shifts are lightning quick, reminding me of a sequential box I experienced at Palmersports, yet perfectly smooth. I settle into the cabin and realise that that the luxurious firmness and layout is actually a ‘bit of me’. The buttons are in the right place, the dash layout is loyal but useful, the engine notes of the sports exhaust are throaty and more aggressive than the GTS but quieter when you lift off and cruise. The suspension is solid but rides the bumps well at low speeds. People stop and check the car out, it’s the new 911 after all and I feel a bit special. I hoon down the A40 and my girlfriend jumps in and hoons back, undertaking a pensioner in a Clio at twice the speed limit whilst testing the horn. The brakes are impressive too. The GTS in comparison had a more raw feel, the cabin felt dated after the 991 and the PDK seems a little softer, the shift changes slightly longer, although there is no sports chrono fitted. The GTS is lovely, it’s quick, although I feel more secure in the 991 with its uprated handling and gadgetry that goes into the sports chrono. It occurs to me that the C2 can be bought with adequate options for 80k, the GTS is on at 75k (so probably obtainable for close to 70k). So now the C2 is a serious option, although, did I feel it topping out in 3rd?? …it’d be a shame to miss out on the extra 50bhp for the sake of £10k. Naturally, another test drive beckons tmrw, C2 vs C2s. The salesman has already warned me that the difference is marked and I hope he’s right, that the C2s does to the C2 what the C2 did to the GTS. That being the case, I’m putting my name down.
Just took deliverey of a new 991 C2S..........OMG........
Having been fortunate enough to have had several 997,s including 2 x turbos,s i can tell you that the 991 is another step up in both performance ,handling,ride,comfort and most of all FUN......
I got mine yesterday afternoon and have done 200 miles so far on a mixture of motorways,A and B roads and without doubt it is one hell of a car.......anyone with one on order will not be dissapointed......
Having been fortunate enough to have had several 997,s including 2 x turbos,s i can tell you that the 991 is another step up in both performance ,handling,ride,comfort and most of all FUN......
I got mine yesterday afternoon and have done 200 miles so far on a mixture of motorways,A and B roads and without doubt it is one hell of a car.......anyone with one on order will not be dissapointed......
ianh2819 said:
Just took deliverey of a new 991 C2S..........OMG........
Having been fortunate enough to have had several 997,s including 2 x turbos,s i can tell you that the 991 is another step up in both performance ,handling,ride,comfort and most of all FUN......
I got mine yesterday afternoon and have done 200 miles so far on a mixture of motorways,A and B roads and without doubt it is one hell of a car.......anyone with one on order will not be dissapointed......
what's more fun about it ?Having been fortunate enough to have had several 997,s including 2 x turbos,s i can tell you that the 991 is another step up in both performance ,handling,ride,comfort and most of all FUN......
I got mine yesterday afternoon and have done 200 miles so far on a mixture of motorways,A and B roads and without doubt it is one hell of a car.......anyone with one on order will not be dissapointed......
ianh2819 said:
Just took deliverey of a new 991 C2S..........OMG........
Having been fortunate enough to have had several 997,s including 2 x turbos,s i can tell you that the 991 is another step up in both performance ,handling,ride,comfort and most of all FUN......
I got mine yesterday afternoon and have done 200 miles so far on a mixture of motorways,A and B roads and without doubt it is one hell of a car.......anyone with one on order will not be dissapointed......
ian how does it compare performance wise with the 997 Turbo? Ive seen one and love em, congrats.Having been fortunate enough to have had several 997,s including 2 x turbos,s i can tell you that the 991 is another step up in both performance ,handling,ride,comfort and most of all FUN......
I got mine yesterday afternoon and have done 200 miles so far on a mixture of motorways,A and B roads and without doubt it is one hell of a car.......anyone with one on order will not be dissapointed......
I test drove a 991 C2S (PDK, PSE, no PDCC) a couple of weeks ago and it was a great car to drive. Notable high points for me were planted handling and the PDK - Porsche have clearly done work on the calibration to get very snappy shifts (not that they aren't in the 997 but I think it has improved). I did not like the interior, the quality is excellent but it seems somehow homogenised and less driver-focussed.
After the test drive upon returning to the showroom, a nicely optioned 997 GTS in GT silver with 2k miles caught my eye at £69k. Sitting in the GTS after the 991, the GTS felt like a more special car and made me think the 991 is not worth £30k+ more. Having driven both a manual and PDK GTS previously I know these cars are very very good (a GT3 "lite" maybe??).
So anyway, I was close to a deal on the GTS but it turns out my wife isn't compatible with the Sports Bucket seats! (J-Lo bum
) so it's back to the drawing board!
After the test drive upon returning to the showroom, a nicely optioned 997 GTS in GT silver with 2k miles caught my eye at £69k. Sitting in the GTS after the 991, the GTS felt like a more special car and made me think the 991 is not worth £30k+ more. Having driven both a manual and PDK GTS previously I know these cars are very very good (a GT3 "lite" maybe??).
So anyway, I was close to a deal on the GTS but it turns out my wife isn't compatible with the Sports Bucket seats! (J-Lo bum
) so it's back to the drawing board!HammyHamster said:
I test drove a 991 C2S (PDK, PSE, no PDCC) a couple of weeks ago and it was a great car to drive. Notable high points for me were planted handling and the PDK - Porsche have clearly done work on the calibration to get very snappy shifts (not that they aren't in the 997 but I think it has improved). I did not like the interior, the quality is excellent but it seems somehow homogenised and less driver-focussed.
After the test drive upon returning to the showroom, a nicely optioned 997 GTS in GT silver with 2k miles caught my eye at £69k. Sitting in the GTS after the 991, the GTS felt like a more special car and made me think the 991 is not worth £30k+ more. Having driven both a manual and PDK GTS previously I know these cars are very very good (a GT3 "lite" maybe??).
So anyway, I was close to a deal on the GTS but it turns out my wife isn't compatible with the Sports Bucket seats! (J-Lo bum) so it's back to the drawing board!
You have mailAfter the test drive upon returning to the showroom, a nicely optioned 997 GTS in GT silver with 2k miles caught my eye at £69k. Sitting in the GTS after the 991, the GTS felt like a more special car and made me think the 991 is not worth £30k+ more. Having driven both a manual and PDK GTS previously I know these cars are very very good (a GT3 "lite" maybe??).
So anyway, I was close to a deal on the GTS but it turns out my wife isn't compatible with the Sports Bucket seats! (J-Lo bum
) so it's back to the drawing board!The 991 is quite a leap forward in both performance and quality. The GTS is not a bad car, and many are convinced it's the pick of the 997 range but its based on the old 996/997 tech. 991 is the future and if I had the choice between the best of the old and the first of the new, I know where my money would be going down.
alphonso - great review - well written - thanks.
Personally i bought a second hand R8 over a second hand Gen 2 4S because i found the drive the same and frankly i felt much more special in the R8 - not that the 997 isnt a beautiful car but its commonplace - both literally numerous and similar (in the view of passers by) to 10 years of similar 911's. Whereas the R8 is a new shape entirely and is dramatic. The only downside for me is the two seats versus the 4 seats (and also the ability to have a roofrack on Porsche for European trip)
HOWEVER - the new 911 has IMO finally cut the cord with the VW Beetle :-) It looks totally and utterly stunning. Definately a 911 but a new shape, a new sleeker faster, supercar shape. What an ironic shame that the new low roofline which makes that shape, has made the back seats even smaller (essentially impossible to use except for under 3 year olds / dogs / golf clubs) than before - and this for me was the redeeming feature of a non mid-engined car ie. R8
I am planning to take one out for a test drive monday. I will then think very carefully about putting my name down for a C4S for the summer with an R8 trade in
Personally i bought a second hand R8 over a second hand Gen 2 4S because i found the drive the same and frankly i felt much more special in the R8 - not that the 997 isnt a beautiful car but its commonplace - both literally numerous and similar (in the view of passers by) to 10 years of similar 911's. Whereas the R8 is a new shape entirely and is dramatic. The only downside for me is the two seats versus the 4 seats (and also the ability to have a roofrack on Porsche for European trip)
HOWEVER - the new 911 has IMO finally cut the cord with the VW Beetle :-) It looks totally and utterly stunning. Definately a 911 but a new shape, a new sleeker faster, supercar shape. What an ironic shame that the new low roofline which makes that shape, has made the back seats even smaller (essentially impossible to use except for under 3 year olds / dogs / golf clubs) than before - and this for me was the redeeming feature of a non mid-engined car ie. R8
I am planning to take one out for a test drive monday. I will then think very carefully about putting my name down for a C4S for the summer with an R8 trade in
I test drove a 991 C2S today. It was very nice, the PDK was an improvement over 997 PDK'S that i have driven. Not massively though. I loved the interior, very luxurious. The car was a lot better than i thought it would be, and getting into my 997 GT3 on the way home, it felt like i was driving a go kart in comparison! (Although thats part of the reason i bought GT3 in the first place...). Its not really comparing like with like obviously, but driving that 991 C2S has just got me thinking that the next GT3 will be incredible. The way the 991 drives is completely different to the 997. I would say the 991 is a lot more refined, smoother, grown up. The 997 in comparison is more direct, partly because of the better steering but also because you can hear more road noise and feel more bumps. You definitely feel more connected to the road in a 997. Ideally i'd want something that looks like a 991 but drives like a 997
Rrroro said:
I test drove a 991 C2S today. It was very nice, the PDK was an improvement over 997 PDK'S that i have driven. Not massively though. I loved the interior, very luxurious. The car was a lot better than i thought it would be, and getting into my 997 GT3 on the way home, it felt like i was driving a go kart in comparison! (Although thats part of the reason i bought GT3 in the first place...). Its not really comparing like with like obviously, but driving that 991 C2S has just got me thinking that the next GT3 will be incredible. The way the 991 drives is completely different to the 997. I would say the 991 is a lot more refined, smoother, grown up. The 997 in comparison is more direct, partly because of the better steering but also because you can hear more road noise and feel more bumps. You definitely feel more connected to the road in a 997. Ideally i'd want something that looks like a 991 but drives like a 997
Sounds like a 991 GT3 to me...I can only imagine that being epic.
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