Best of the GTS's?
Discussion
Hello PHers, I am on the hunt for a 911 GTS but I have a bit of a problem. Being in NZ they are few and far between and it is impossible to compare models at the same time, so my question for you is, which is the best 911 GTS model. I'd be looking for a manual hard top no matter what.
Firstly:
997 GTS or 991 GTS?
And secondly:
2wd GTS or 4wd?
I am assuming the 2wd is the one to go for, but would like to know what Carrera 4 GTS owners think if there is any downside to having the extra drive to the front?
The big question though is, 997 or 991. I have read up a fair bit about them but nothing has compared them against each other. To me it seems like:
997 Pros: Hydraulic Steering, 6 speed box better than 7 speed?, less electronic interference, smaller car
991 Pros: Engine has better sound, likes to rev even more, interior is better
Any owners like to weigh in? I've done some searching of past PH threads but people were a bit inconclusive.
Firstly:
997 GTS or 991 GTS?
And secondly:
2wd GTS or 4wd?
I am assuming the 2wd is the one to go for, but would like to know what Carrera 4 GTS owners think if there is any downside to having the extra drive to the front?
The big question though is, 997 or 991. I have read up a fair bit about them but nothing has compared them against each other. To me it seems like:
997 Pros: Hydraulic Steering, 6 speed box better than 7 speed?, less electronic interference, smaller car
991 Pros: Engine has better sound, likes to rev even more, interior is better
Any owners like to weigh in? I've done some searching of past PH threads but people were a bit inconclusive.
My Review
c4sman said:
So I finally got around to writing up my 997 GTS vs 991 GTS 24Hr test drive thoughts
Engine
In isolation my 7GTS has a very responsive engine with an amazing top end, but it simply cannot live with the 1GTS which has a simply electric (no pun intended) top end that is simply unbelievable. The 1GTS really moves the game on and although both engines really sing and punch again above 6500 rpm the 991 definitely goes harder. The unfortunate thing on the 991 is the gearing which is just silly. I started getting frustrated by how limited the opportunities are to rev the thing out with 2nd gear heading above 75mph (obviously a guess as I never hit this sort of speed....).
Then there is the sound. My PSE sharkwerks equipped 7GTS sounds pretty good and grumbles like a good'n on the overrun with a bit of help from a light throttle, but the 1GTS popping on overrun in sport plus mode rivals a Maserati Granturismo for exhaust drama which takes some doing. It is laugh out loud hilariously spectacular. After a few hundred miles however, it started to feel a little synthetic and I'm not sure the machine gun act really suits the car. A good laugh however, and you can switch it off. The engine / intake sound inside the car is also epic.
Handling
Electric steering is much lighter than the 7 and deadly accurate allowing millimetre placement of the car, but offers no feel of what the tyres are doing. The thing is, I am not sure you need to bother knowing what the tyres are doing as all they do is grip grip and grip some more. Getting back into the 7 and the steering much weightier, which initially feels like weight not feel, but as you push beyond grip levels (which unlike the 1GTS is possible on the road), lots of feel starts to filter through telling you what is going on and to me making it a lot more “fun”.
Interior
991GTS interior is a class above my 7 which feels old school after the 1GTS. Just a lovely place to be but it feels like a much bigger car than 997 from the inside. Refinement is amazing and the sports adaptive seats are the most comfortable I have ever experienced. My two previous 997 turbos had the old sports adaptive but cannot compete with the 991 thrones. My 7GTS sports seats are great but I would love the flexibility of these ones fitted to this particular 991. The 1GTS does feel a bit to luxury to me for a sports car and I sometime thought I could be sitting in a nice Merc or BMW and I concluded that although a lovely place to be, it lacked a bit of character.
Exterior
To me 991s looks much bigger than 7s when you pass them on the street, but once on your driveway it seems much closer to the 7 size wise. All black 20 inch turbo s centrelock wheels are impressive but the looks of my 997 with centrelocks hold its own in a smaller but very classic style. One unusual thing that I did notice was the lack of weight in the 991 doors and bonnet. They are still 100% solid but you can tell they are lightweight aluminium (I think). Having had two 7 Turbos, I can always notice the difference between 997 door material which is a bit geeky but I find the turbo doors make a more satisfying noise when the close than the steel standard ones. I wish they had gone another step and fitted these to the 7GTS to save a bit of weight.
Back on topic, overall, I love the looks of both the 7 and 1 GTS.
Verdict
The 1GTS is not as remote as I thought it would be and is definitely fun. I would have loved to have a had a manual 1GTS for the 24Hrs to make it a true like for like test, but I concluded that although both cars are amazing, on the roads I use, the lower limits and interactive steering of my car make things more interesting more of the time. I also prefer the old school, more intimate surroundings, but wouldn’t say no to dropping a 991 lump in the back of it! What I would say is that anyone I doubt anyone who owns a 991 GTS is going to complain about it any time soon. It’s a great car.
Engine
In isolation my 7GTS has a very responsive engine with an amazing top end, but it simply cannot live with the 1GTS which has a simply electric (no pun intended) top end that is simply unbelievable. The 1GTS really moves the game on and although both engines really sing and punch again above 6500 rpm the 991 definitely goes harder. The unfortunate thing on the 991 is the gearing which is just silly. I started getting frustrated by how limited the opportunities are to rev the thing out with 2nd gear heading above 75mph (obviously a guess as I never hit this sort of speed....).
Then there is the sound. My PSE sharkwerks equipped 7GTS sounds pretty good and grumbles like a good'n on the overrun with a bit of help from a light throttle, but the 1GTS popping on overrun in sport plus mode rivals a Maserati Granturismo for exhaust drama which takes some doing. It is laugh out loud hilariously spectacular. After a few hundred miles however, it started to feel a little synthetic and I'm not sure the machine gun act really suits the car. A good laugh however, and you can switch it off. The engine / intake sound inside the car is also epic.
Handling
Electric steering is much lighter than the 7 and deadly accurate allowing millimetre placement of the car, but offers no feel of what the tyres are doing. The thing is, I am not sure you need to bother knowing what the tyres are doing as all they do is grip grip and grip some more. Getting back into the 7 and the steering much weightier, which initially feels like weight not feel, but as you push beyond grip levels (which unlike the 1GTS is possible on the road), lots of feel starts to filter through telling you what is going on and to me making it a lot more “fun”.
Interior
991GTS interior is a class above my 7 which feels old school after the 1GTS. Just a lovely place to be but it feels like a much bigger car than 997 from the inside. Refinement is amazing and the sports adaptive seats are the most comfortable I have ever experienced. My two previous 997 turbos had the old sports adaptive but cannot compete with the 991 thrones. My 7GTS sports seats are great but I would love the flexibility of these ones fitted to this particular 991. The 1GTS does feel a bit to luxury to me for a sports car and I sometime thought I could be sitting in a nice Merc or BMW and I concluded that although a lovely place to be, it lacked a bit of character.
Exterior
To me 991s looks much bigger than 7s when you pass them on the street, but once on your driveway it seems much closer to the 7 size wise. All black 20 inch turbo s centrelock wheels are impressive but the looks of my 997 with centrelocks hold its own in a smaller but very classic style. One unusual thing that I did notice was the lack of weight in the 991 doors and bonnet. They are still 100% solid but you can tell they are lightweight aluminium (I think). Having had two 7 Turbos, I can always notice the difference between 997 door material which is a bit geeky but I find the turbo doors make a more satisfying noise when the close than the steel standard ones. I wish they had gone another step and fitted these to the 7GTS to save a bit of weight.
Back on topic, overall, I love the looks of both the 7 and 1 GTS.
Verdict
The 1GTS is not as remote as I thought it would be and is definitely fun. I would have loved to have a had a manual 1GTS for the 24Hrs to make it a true like for like test, but I concluded that although both cars are amazing, on the roads I use, the lower limits and interactive steering of my car make things more interesting more of the time. I also prefer the old school, more intimate surroundings, but wouldn’t say no to dropping a 991 lump in the back of it! What I would say is that anyone I doubt anyone who owns a 991 GTS is going to complain about it any time soon. It’s a great car.
The newer car scores higher for refinement and daily driving duties. The problem with that is the game will move on; eventually its interior will too become dated and the nice little touches will become the norm.
For me, a 997.2 manual 2WD GTS with sports buckets and a fruity exhaust is pretty perfect. The 997 is the 'right' size, it looks incredible and has the purity factors already mentioned. My issue was finding my ideal specification was very difficult, and ultimately the price came too close to the 997.1 GT3 which - from a driving point of view - is much better car.
For me, a 997.2 manual 2WD GTS with sports buckets and a fruity exhaust is pretty perfect. The 997 is the 'right' size, it looks incredible and has the purity factors already mentioned. My issue was finding my ideal specification was very difficult, and ultimately the price came too close to the 997.1 GT3 which - from a driving point of view - is much better car.
If you want a manual GTS 997 then 2wd all the way. I tried manual 2wd and manual 4wd sport chassis and pdk 4wd. I bought the GTS 2wd manual and would consider the 2 or 4wd pdk but not the 4wd sport manual. Try the lowered chassis as its not for everyone myself included. The 991 pdk 2wd would be high on my list also but havent driven one in case I thought it was better.
You will find the newer 997 GTS are mainly 4wds but the fantastic now redundant hydraulic steering is diluted compared to the 2wds which are more involving, use less fuel and produce less road noise which to some is an issue.
Personally I think the GTS suits PDK but the 'manuel' box is a peach and far superior to the 991 box.
Personally I think the GTS suits PDK but the 'manuel' box is a peach and far superior to the 991 box.
The shift is now much better than earlier versions of the 7-speeder, even if the 5th-6th-7th relationship doesn’t quite feel entirely natural. I’m reveling it being in a manual again"
https://grrc.goodwood.com/road/drives-and-rides/ch...
https://grrc.goodwood.com/road/drives-and-rides/ch...
Lots of good info already posted so I'll make it brief.
I went for the 2wd 997 after driving both.
The 991 GTS is an excellent car and probably "better" than the 997 in all aspects although it just doesn't feel as much fun, it's more civilised. As my car was for a weekends only I went with the 997, if I'd wanted a car to drive more regularly I'd have gone for the 991.
OT, We're heading to NZ in a couple of months for a holiday and looking forward to the quiet roads (well out of Auckland anyway!), just wish I could take the Porsche with me!
I went for the 2wd 997 after driving both.
The 991 GTS is an excellent car and probably "better" than the 997 in all aspects although it just doesn't feel as much fun, it's more civilised. As my car was for a weekends only I went with the 997, if I'd wanted a car to drive more regularly I'd have gone for the 991.
OT, We're heading to NZ in a couple of months for a holiday and looking forward to the quiet roads (well out of Auckland anyway!), just wish I could take the Porsche with me!
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