997.2 or 991 ?
Discussion
Gents,
Looking for some wisdom, am in a position where I have between 35 to 50k available for a car purchase and I keep coming back to these two, my car history is visible and you'll note that I don't have a history of hardcore road cars, more soft sports cars / GT cars, mainly as speed thrills / raw edge petrol powered fun comes from sports bikes and trackdays on those.
I'm trying to work out what might be best for me, my only Porsche experience was my Boxster, Bluebell, that was the starting point for the 'Poverty Pork' thread on here and I enjoyed it immensely.
I am looking at scratching the 911 itch so at this stage have disregarded the Boxster / Cayman for no other reason than this may be my last shot at a 911 and I turn 50 this year, so why not ....
Primary criteria are:
1. Must be an auto, don't groan too loudly, I have an artificial left kneecap and a manual as a long term car isn't really tenable.
2. Ideally a convertible.
3. Will cover max 5k miles a year.
4. Will be used for out of town and cross London duties, about a 70/30 split in favour of out of town use.
So where I'm at is I am struggling to narrow it down from C2 / C2S / 4S / GTS etc.
From a depreciation perspective I have no issues with losing money and am budgeting c25 to 30% as an acceptable percentage loss over a 3 year window.
So which engine / trim combo would the experts recommend also considering the wealth of knowledge here about which cars have chocolate engines and which are a lower bork risk.
Thanks in advance for any and all input,
Looking for some wisdom, am in a position where I have between 35 to 50k available for a car purchase and I keep coming back to these two, my car history is visible and you'll note that I don't have a history of hardcore road cars, more soft sports cars / GT cars, mainly as speed thrills / raw edge petrol powered fun comes from sports bikes and trackdays on those.
I'm trying to work out what might be best for me, my only Porsche experience was my Boxster, Bluebell, that was the starting point for the 'Poverty Pork' thread on here and I enjoyed it immensely.
I am looking at scratching the 911 itch so at this stage have disregarded the Boxster / Cayman for no other reason than this may be my last shot at a 911 and I turn 50 this year, so why not ....
Primary criteria are:
1. Must be an auto, don't groan too loudly, I have an artificial left kneecap and a manual as a long term car isn't really tenable.
2. Ideally a convertible.
3. Will cover max 5k miles a year.
4. Will be used for out of town and cross London duties, about a 70/30 split in favour of out of town use.
So where I'm at is I am struggling to narrow it down from C2 / C2S / 4S / GTS etc.
From a depreciation perspective I have no issues with losing money and am budgeting c25 to 30% as an acceptable percentage loss over a 3 year window.
So which engine / trim combo would the experts recommend also considering the wealth of knowledge here about which cars have chocolate engines and which are a lower bork risk.
Thanks in advance for any and all input,
I have a PDK 997.2 GTS cabriolet, and love it - so that's what I'd recommend.
Haven't driven a 991, granted, but from everything I've read (before and after purchasing) it feels like the right choice as more of a "driver's car".
Your best bet is to go and drive a few and see which you like the most!
Haven't driven a 991, granted, but from everything I've read (before and after purchasing) it feels like the right choice as more of a "driver's car".
Your best bet is to go and drive a few and see which you like the most!
as you want a PDK car and are looking for more of a GT experience, I would probably go 991 for the newer car / likely better PDK etc. It is also the last n/a 911 (GT cars excluded), so will probably be looked upon favourably in the future. The engines sound great imo and I like the 991 interior.
I have driven 996 and 997, but no 991 - so take with a pinch of salt.
I think the base model would probably suffice given you can't go particularly fast anywhere anyway - gives you the chance to rev it out more / more often than the more powerful car and lower entry price (assuming a Targa is not in budget, as I think those look absolutely stunning)
I have driven 996 and 997, but no 991 - so take with a pinch of salt.
I think the base model would probably suffice given you can't go particularly fast anywhere anyway - gives you the chance to rev it out more / more often than the more powerful car and lower entry price (assuming a Targa is not in budget, as I think those look absolutely stunning)
This is prob not what you want to hear, but my experience of convertible 911's (997 and 991) is that they are bloody awful cars to drive. When I wanted a convertible Porsche I bought a Boxster, which is a very fine car indeed. The Boxster was designed from the outset to be roofless, the 911 isn't, and that is very obvious in the drive. A 911 is a wonderful thing, when it has a solid metal roof. If you must have a convertible then stick with a 6 cylinder Boxster. If you must have a 911 then stick with a metal roof. I did 40k miles in a 997.2 c2s and have done 70k miles in 3 different 991.1. I think a 991.1 c2s pdk knocks spots off the equivalent 997.2 in every respect except rear parcel shelf luggage space and over the shoulder visibility.
991 if a cab without a doubt. Had 997.2 cab PDK. Was lovely but lots of scuttle shake compared to our 991. Hood on 991 doesn't have the ugly hood frame showing either which reminds me of a starved donkey's ribcage. 991 is a no brainer for me. My advice solely based on you going for a cab and PDK which are both a bit better in the 991. Worth having look at 991 targa too. I think they're super cool 
I have a 2012 981 boxster and a 1998 996 Carrera c2. I am assuming the 981 has the same electronic steering rack as the 991 and therefore can tell you that compared to my 996 or any early car with a hydraulic rack that the 991 will be completely void of steering feel altogether. It's hard to explain how numb these are compared to the earlier hydraulic rack cars with chatter chatter constantly. Having said that I actually think my 981 is a good car. I have the pdk box in mine which is very impressive. So if you must go auto and can live without steering feel then 991 absolutely is the one to go for. As a modern with some thrills it's a good package. I want to also mention the targa too as the 991 has a roof which is amazing - but they're expensive. The 997 targa could be an odd ball suggestion which will give you old school steering feel, a less floppy body, some open roof thrills and can still be had with the early pdk which isn't quite in the same league as the 981 / 991 pdk but is still leagues ahead of the old tip slusher. However I think all 997 targa are 4wd if that bothers you and also I think there are not many about.
From what you have said OP I’d for for a 991 of some description as an owner of a 997.2 GTS which I love. 991’s chassis set up is a bit softer, PDK box better etc which from what you have said is what you want. Can’t comment on soft top vs coupe as I haven’t driven a soft top 911 for years....not really my bag.
boringbeige said:
This is prob not what you want to hear, but my experience of convertible 911's (997 and 991) is that they are bloody awful cars to drive. When I wanted a convertible Porsche I bought a Boxster, which is a very fine car indeed. The Boxster was designed from the outset to be roofless, the 911 isn't, and that is very obvious in the drive. A 911 is a wonderful thing, when it has a solid metal roof. If you must have a convertible then stick with a 6 cylinder Boxster. If you must have a 911 then stick with a metal roof. I did 40k miles in a 997.2 c2s and have done 70k miles in 3 different 991.1. I think a 991.1 c2s pdk knocks spots off the equivalent 997.2 in every respect except rear parcel shelf luggage space and over the shoulder visibility.
Disagree with the cab awful drive bit. Had a Boxster too and you get more buffeting roof down than a 997 cab which is comfortable roof down at speed, space in the back of 911 is very useful too. we put 40k+ miles on a 997 4S cab and loved every one. Now into a .2 coupe and can’t say it’s any better than the cab to drive. Agree 991 looks better with roof up and .1 still has the fab 3.8 NA engine. Best drive some.
My dad has a 991.1 C4 cab and it's hard to think if a better all rounder for the money. Not quick in a straight line but sounds phenomenal with the roof down, goes round corners like its on rails and is just so easy to live with.
They feel a couple of generations ahead of the 997. The downside for the purists is the steering, but it soon becomes the norm. To make up for it, you have a better looking car with the roof up (the silhouette is actually slightly nicer than the coupe as it looks lower), the PDK is much better, and the interior is leagues better.
They feel a couple of generations ahead of the 997. The downside for the purists is the steering, but it soon becomes the norm. To make up for it, you have a better looking car with the roof up (the silhouette is actually slightly nicer than the coupe as it looks lower), the PDK is much better, and the interior is leagues better.
maccybee said:
I don't think so, I'd sell mine for around £40k (it's on 80,000 miles though).
Yeah - maybe for that mileage............ mine's manual and only done 26k. Hen's teeth - last one I saw with equivalent spec to mine was up for £70k. That's maybe optimistic but £4k more than I paid for mine when the car was only 6 months old. 9 years of depreciation free ownership. Can't get that in too many places! Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff