£45k… 997.2 C2 versus 991.1 C2 versus 981 GTS

[mrobbie]

Help needed!

Read a few 911 v Cayman posts, and I’m none the wiser.

Following making the huge mistake of selling an F90 M5 and moving to an i4 to save the planet…

I’ve got a budget of £45k… I’ve looked at and test driven a 997.2 C2 (2011), a 991.1 C2 (2013) and a 981 GTS (2015)

We have an XC90 which is the family workhorse for long trips. Kids are teenagers and tall which I think removes the benefit of rear seats in either 911. I can’t see them in the rear except for the shortest of journeys (reminded me of my wife’s old TT)

This will be my daily; 3 days in the office (20 miles each way on M25) and weekends (needs to accommodate golf clubs!)

I can use the XC90 for the school days etc.

I’m completely torn between each car which is leaving me constantly trawling through the classifieds and autotrader.

The 997.2 C2 was where it started. Saw it and liked it. Got me looking and discovered the budget could get an early 991 C2. Then when looking at one, I spotted the 981 GTS at the dealer and it looks and sounds incredible plus is a couple of years newer.

I have heard some horror stories of 911 maintenance bills, but I’m guessing the 981 might not be far behind.

Anyone with any words of wisdom to help me out? As I say, driven all 3 models and like all of them…

[Hotrods1974]

You will never get a straight answer to the question you are asking! Perennial debate 911 platform v 718

I have gone from 992 911 (wonderful) to a 718 and thr handling feels just sharper due to the mid engine.

Both platforms are great, both have their own following - none of your choices would be a mistake.

Enjoy. (718 for me out of your choices)

[mrobbie]

I know! I think that’s why I’m stuck… all 3 were great to drive and each had its own strong point

Oh, and it’s a 981 not a 718… although the 718 S also features in budget and far newer still - even more confusion!

Edited by mrobbie on Sunday 20th April 16:59

[Billy_Whizzzz]

991>997.2>981C

[Ed.Neumann]

997 feels a bit more raw, and if you are going manual the 997 would win for me.

However, if you are going PDK then the 991 starts to appeal as much as the 997. As a daily driver I think in many ways it is better than my 997.

The Caymans I love, but the GTS is the same as the S with a few bits thrown at it, it doesn't make sense to me when on average it is £10-15k more than an S specced with all those bits.

I really like the 718 to drive, everyone bangs on about it being a 4 cylinder, but it is really fun to drive. Would I buy one? Hmmm? Not sure I would, because it is a 4 cylinder. Haha
But great cars imho and well worth trying.



997 will arguably be one of the most sort after cars as we move forward, we are sort of seeing that in prices already.


You took them all out, which did you prefer?

[NDA]

Hotrods1974 said:

You will never get a straight answer to the question you are asking!

This.

The 981 GTS is probably a better sports car than the 991.1 C2. But the 991 is a 911. Depends what you want.

I have a 991.1 C4S and chose it because I wanted a 911 and wanted normally aspirated. It's quick, but I bought it for continental cruising rather than a (higher) performance car.

[maz8062]

If you're looking at PDK - the 991.1 has a better version of the PDK compared to the 997.2. If manual, I think the 991.1 has a 7 speed box the 997 a 6 speed. Overall, the 991 is the better car especially as a daily.

981 GTS? Nah, it's not a 911, it's an entry level Porsche, a good one, but not a 911.

[PushedDover]

M25 ?

Has to be PDK.

991 for me in that choice from an actual good to live with persoectiv

[mrobbie]

Thanks all - useful info

Ed.Neumann said:

You took them all out, which did you prefer?

All of them. For different reasons. Cayman felt compact and the nicest driver. 997 was definitely more raw than the 991. Any 911 being more practical than a Cayman is a stretch. Storage yeah, but as seats no.

I’m thinking the 991 is the lead contender - I’m not a track day person (so far…) so the Cayman may be better for something I don’t need.

[Hotrods1974]

Sorry I didn’t realise it was a 981 and not 718

For me then I’d go with the 911.1

Good solid car with the NA engine. The turbo engined cars in the 991.2 and 992 whilst strong just sound rubbish.

Good luck.

[Ed.Neumann]

mrobbie said:

All of them. For different reasons. Cayman felt compact and the nicest driver. 997 was definitely more raw than the 991. Any 911 being more practical than a Cayman is a stretch. Storage yeah, but as seats no.

I’m thinking the 991 is the lead contender - I’m not a track day person (so far…) so the Cayman may be better for something I don’t need.

A nice Cayman S I would definitely try if a daily, the GTS is the same car with a few nice options added, many S models are specced nicer for daily use. Not worth another £10-12k imho.
Or find another £10k and get a GT4.

I would also try a 718 S, it is a proper bit of kit.



I disagree about the practicality of the Cayman vs the 911, if it is a 3rd or 4th car fair enough, the differences becomes less, but if it is your 2nd car losing rear seats can start to become an issue, it is the reason we swapped to a 911. I was sure a 2 seater would be a none issue, especially with two boots, it soon became apparent that with a son that still doesn't drive, and dogs, that the two seater just didn't get used very much.
It was used for the boring stuff like commuting, but not a great deal else.
Drop my son somewhere and having those rear seats make a big difference, drop him off and then we would go and do something, taking the 911 is nice. The 2 seater just sits on the drive again and we are out in the boring old 5 series.


The rear seats are not even that bad, my wife is 5'4" but she sat in the back for an hour and twenty minutes the other day and was fine, and I have a 997, the 991 is slightly better. And my daughter came back with us and she is 5'8" and said it was fine. By the time we got back they said they were glad it wasn't any longer, but said it was more than ok.

My point being, I think you maybe surprised how handy the 911 layout becomes useful once you have one, and how frustrating the Cayman layout can be if you do have more than 2 of you in the household still.

[Youforreal.]

Would rather have a 981 gts than some sort of vanilla 991, I’ve a 997 and 981 gt4, the gt4 every day, probably changing the 997 for a .1 gts manual if I can find a good one, failing that I’ll go to a .2 gt3.

I’d love a 4rs but have to say the top end noise would put me off as I already have a bit of ringing in the ears.

Always have preferred the drive of the cayman personally and if your worried about it not being a 911……I wouldn’t as 99% of the public thinks that’s exactly what it is

You might get the odd dick in a Porsche cap reminding you its not a 911 though.

[mrobbie]

Ed.Neumann said:

I disagree about the practicality of the Cayman vs the 911, if it is a 3rd or 4th car fair enough, the differences becomes less, but if it is your 2nd car losing rear seats can start to become an issue, it is the reason we swapped to a 911. I was sure a 2 seater would be a none issue, especially with two boots, it soon became apparent that with a son that still doesn't drive, and dogs, that the two seater just didn't get used very much.
It was used for the boring stuff like commuting, but not a great deal else.
Drop my son somewhere and having those rear seats make a big difference, drop him off and then we would go and do something, taking the 911 is nice. The 2 seater just sits on the drive again and we are out in the boring old 5 series.


The rear seats are not even that bad, my wife is 5'4" but she sat in the back for an hour and twenty minutes the other day and was fine, and I have a 997, the 991 is slightly better. And my daughter came back with us and she is 5'8" and said it was fine. By the time we got back they said they were glad it wasn't any longer, but said it was more than ok.

My point being, I think you maybe surprised how handy the 911 layout becomes useful once you have one, and how frustrating the Cayman layout can be if you do have more than 2 of you in the household still.

Thanks Ed - this is great, exactly the position. I’d like the family to be able to enjoy it, even just short journeys on weekends. Next time I’m taking the family for a test drive to get them in the back

Edited by mrobbie on Monday 21st April 12:00

Edited by mrobbie on Monday 21st April 12:02

[f6box]

Ed.Neumann said:

My point being, I think you maybe surprised how handy the 911 layout becomes useful once you have one, and how frustrating the Cayman layout can be if you do have more than 2 of you in the household still.

Yeah, I think head count is the critical practicality factor. For two people and luggage or other crap, I think a Cayman is more practical, you can shove all kinds of nonsense in the back of a Cayman. Especially over short distances with the rear boot left open, you can lob in some really large objects that would never go in a 911. In general luggage terms, I think the Cayman is preferable for two people touring.

However, if you ever want to take kids and / or dogs, or maybe the occasional third adult, the 911 is clearly miles better / actually viable. Two people plus a dog or two is great in a 911, far, far less so in a Cayman.

For me, personally, that could be a deciding factor for a switch from the mid-engine car I currently have to a rear-engine model, despite the fact that I prefer the Cayman chassis (to non-GT 911s). Would be nice to get the GF and two small-to-mid-sized dogs in a 911. Not really an option in a Cayman.

[Juan B]

45k is 997 Turbo money

[mrobbie]

Juan B said:

45k is 997 Turbo money

…and 997 Turbo maintenance money too

[moonigan]

My last Porsche was a 997.2 3.6 and my current one is a 4.0 GTS. The Cayman is a better drivers car which sounds and feels like a sports car. The 997 is 911 which imho always trumps everything else but it feels less special to drive and feels more grown up. Don’t underestimate the lack of tech on the older car especially when it’s a DD. DAB/Android Auto, CarPlay make a huge difference on a DD. I love the 997.2 but the only one I’d consider now is the GT3.

If you do decide to go with the 997 get one with the sports exhaust and retro fit the short shift kit £350-£400.

[VerySideways]

I have a 997.2 C2 manual (which is a toy, not a daily, and which i hope i never need to sell) so i'm biased, but...
If you want a manual, buy the 997.2 or the 981
If you want a PDK, buy the 991.1 or the 981


As your kids are too big to go in the back of the 911, and as you're planning to daily the car, i think i'd go 981 GTS.
They make an epic noise and are genuinely both fun to drive and easy to live with.

[mrobbie]

VerySideways said:

As your kids are too big to go in the back of the 911, and as you're planning to daily the car, i think i'd go 981 GTS.
They make an epic noise and are genuinely both fun to drive and easy to live with.

Have seen a few of these on the go, some with the leather seats which in some way loses part of the appeal of the GTS interior - I love the alcantara with the GTS on the seats. I think the 918 model looks great and seems quite practical in that I can get my golf bats into it no issues.. The Cayman GTS search made me stumble across the 718 GTS... Appealing in terms of newness and tech, and while the 2.5 engine doesn't sound as nice, it doesn't sound bad, and the car goes just as well as the previous model.

A decent chat with a finance broker and my budget is actually £55k which opens up some new options, or I hold back a bit and the 981 with its soundtrack could tick the boxes.

Got around 6-7 weeks until my current car goes to make up my mind...

[n12maser]

I remember Chris Harris saying something like...

A Cayman is all about the start of the corner

A 911 is all about the end of the corner

Have had both and prefer the slingshot effect of leaning on rear-engine traction to punch out of a corner. Pick your poison!