992 - essential options vs depreciation?
Discussion
Gentlemen
Long-time lurker, would be grateful for your advice:
Planning to order a new 992 base Carrera 2. Car will be driven daily around London, an hour per day on average, perhaps one longer trip per quarter, maybe one trip to Europe a year. 5,000-6,000 miles p.a. Clearly a new car will depreciate heavily but how to optimise depreciation vs. possible regrets when ordering from new? Don’t want to buy used as can’t bear the hassle of potential breakdowns, major maintenance, annual MOTs etc.
As paradoxical as it sounds considering the indulgence of buying new and driving so little, I am keen to minimise depreciation and not fall prey to Porsche’s ridiculous policy of option pricing. Might keep the car for a long time but base case is just 2 to 3 years. Current car is a 2018 Audi S3 cab ordered new with pretty much every option ticked. Many of them like Matrix Lights turned out to be unnecessary in town and not worth it for occasional out of town trips. Car is nice but boring and seating position too high.
My most basic spec below:
http://www.porsche-code.com/PLQDIHD2
Guards red with standard 19/20” wheels
Sunroof (basic not glass, think it looks better and glass doesn’t let much light in anyway)
4-way sports seat plus (the regular ones are uncomfortable to me)
Sports-tex
Reversing camera
Auto dimming mirrors
Lane change assist
Ioniser
The last 4 options are just to improve driving around town. I understand they’ll be a write-off but they’re cheap and non-negotiable for me.
Don’t really want to splurge for Bose or PSE as these can be upgraded later and frankly they don’t sound that different to the standard ones to me.
Questions:
1. I have a tendency to feel hot and not sure whether to go for sports-tex or leather with seat ventilation. Leather without ventilation is out of the question. Salesman thinks leather much better for resale and did not have samples of the new sports-tex but it looks nice in photos. Currently have Alcantara in my Audi and back can still get hot in the summer even with the AC on. Tried the seat ventilation and it works well but a bit noisy and yet another feature that could fail randomly. Seat ventilation another £750 but maybe worth it if it improves resale & cooling. Thoughts on functionality and resale?
2. Sports Chrono: A lot of people seem to think it’s essential. An extra 0.2s 0-62 is nice but you have to draw the line somewhere. Otherwise might as well buy the S. However, from recent experience a car that takes 4.5s to 62 feels fast (Golf R, Alpine) but not crazy fast. Is the improvement from 4.5 to 4.2 noticeable? What about the additional improvement from 4.2 to 4.0? Also, is there much difference between sports mode on a non-SC car, sports mode with SC, and the additional oomph / improved mapping with SC using sports plus or just generally? What about resale, will it make much difference on a 2 to 3-year-old car? Will I regret not having it or is it just a toy one barely uses after the first few weeks? Obviously if one recovers most of the cost then it’s an easier choice. Torn on this as want to draw the line somewhere but also avoid regrets later.
3. Any other options that should be added as they have the potential to significantly increase the residual value of a base car on a 2 to 3-year horizon? Can obviously add the aforementioned PSE, Bose, etc. but would like to understand their impact on residuals. Clearly options can help sell a used car more quickly but ultimately it's all about pricing it right in the first place...
Thank you for your input.
Long-time lurker, would be grateful for your advice:
Planning to order a new 992 base Carrera 2. Car will be driven daily around London, an hour per day on average, perhaps one longer trip per quarter, maybe one trip to Europe a year. 5,000-6,000 miles p.a. Clearly a new car will depreciate heavily but how to optimise depreciation vs. possible regrets when ordering from new? Don’t want to buy used as can’t bear the hassle of potential breakdowns, major maintenance, annual MOTs etc.
As paradoxical as it sounds considering the indulgence of buying new and driving so little, I am keen to minimise depreciation and not fall prey to Porsche’s ridiculous policy of option pricing. Might keep the car for a long time but base case is just 2 to 3 years. Current car is a 2018 Audi S3 cab ordered new with pretty much every option ticked. Many of them like Matrix Lights turned out to be unnecessary in town and not worth it for occasional out of town trips. Car is nice but boring and seating position too high.
My most basic spec below:
http://www.porsche-code.com/PLQDIHD2
Guards red with standard 19/20” wheels
Sunroof (basic not glass, think it looks better and glass doesn’t let much light in anyway)
4-way sports seat plus (the regular ones are uncomfortable to me)
Sports-tex
Reversing camera
Auto dimming mirrors
Lane change assist
Ioniser
The last 4 options are just to improve driving around town. I understand they’ll be a write-off but they’re cheap and non-negotiable for me.
Don’t really want to splurge for Bose or PSE as these can be upgraded later and frankly they don’t sound that different to the standard ones to me.
Questions:
1. I have a tendency to feel hot and not sure whether to go for sports-tex or leather with seat ventilation. Leather without ventilation is out of the question. Salesman thinks leather much better for resale and did not have samples of the new sports-tex but it looks nice in photos. Currently have Alcantara in my Audi and back can still get hot in the summer even with the AC on. Tried the seat ventilation and it works well but a bit noisy and yet another feature that could fail randomly. Seat ventilation another £750 but maybe worth it if it improves resale & cooling. Thoughts on functionality and resale?
2. Sports Chrono: A lot of people seem to think it’s essential. An extra 0.2s 0-62 is nice but you have to draw the line somewhere. Otherwise might as well buy the S. However, from recent experience a car that takes 4.5s to 62 feels fast (Golf R, Alpine) but not crazy fast. Is the improvement from 4.5 to 4.2 noticeable? What about the additional improvement from 4.2 to 4.0? Also, is there much difference between sports mode on a non-SC car, sports mode with SC, and the additional oomph / improved mapping with SC using sports plus or just generally? What about resale, will it make much difference on a 2 to 3-year-old car? Will I regret not having it or is it just a toy one barely uses after the first few weeks? Obviously if one recovers most of the cost then it’s an easier choice. Torn on this as want to draw the line somewhere but also avoid regrets later.
3. Any other options that should be added as they have the potential to significantly increase the residual value of a base car on a 2 to 3-year horizon? Can obviously add the aforementioned PSE, Bose, etc. but would like to understand their impact on residuals. Clearly options can help sell a used car more quickly but ultimately it's all about pricing it right in the first place...
Thank you for your input.
Thank you everyone for the comprehensive replies so far, what a great community!
A 911 is a classic (despite getting heavier lately) and I am looking to capture the essence of it being both a sports car and a useable reliable daily driver. It’s like a stainless steel Rolex submariner without date instead of a two tone or gold model. There are faster or more luxurious cars and I could afford an S or GTS but don’t like to spend money unnecessarily when the base car is so similar.
Comments have helped me draw the following conclusions so far:
1. Sports Chrono: if it is just faster due to launch control rather than different mappings in sports mode I’m convinced it’s unnecessary. Never used launch control in my S3 either. The clock is just clutter to me.
2. Red seat belts is something I’ve toyed with but thought too garish. On further thought, it’s a great way to make the interior more special without spending a ton of money. Will spec them, just need to avoid pink shirts from now on.
Not convinced on the following:
- Crayon stitching: saw it at the dealer but it looks quite uneven and draws too much attention to itself. The black one is more subtle but still shows that it’s a special car. It’s very personal of course but less is more to my eye. Red would be nice but it’s an absurdly expensive option.
- Aluminium trim: agree it looks nicer but £750 is a lot and feels like falling into the options trap, especially considering the shiny black trim around the PDK lever would remain. I’d pay to get rid of that shiny trim which will need constant cleaning but not an option unfortunately.
- GT steering wheel: it obstructs the outer dials more hence my reluctance to spec it.
- Glass sunroof: I was convinced the glass roof would be much nicer as was expecting it to be lighter inside and that I’d end up choosing it despite the looks. However, I tried 10 times to raise and lower the internal blind on a test drive and surprisingly didn’t notice any difference in internal light levels. The salesman must have thought I am OCD. Maybe it’s different in winter when light levels are lower but I wasn’t convinced. Most of my cars so far were cabs but don’t like the shape of the 992 cab and thought a coupe with sunroof would give me almost the same feeling with lower depreciation/cost and better performance/security.
- Coloured wheel crests: £114 is not a lot of money but it’s still money down the drain, the options trap again.
- Wheels: I think 19/20 is plenty big and makes the ride less harsh. They look good to me so don’t think it will impact depreciation significantly. Upgrade is over £1000
- Lane change assist: Maybe I’m not that great a driver but had a few instances where I nearly missed someone in my blind spot so it seems like a good option. It’s expensive but finding it useful on my current car. Remember I’m mainly driving in town with lots of traffic everywhere.
Remaining questions:
- Reversing camera: it’s the one thing I regretted not ordering on my S3 but haven’t actually tried parking the 992 during the test drive. Any more views on it? Read somewhere the image is quite distorted but spending £1000 on the surround view seems a bit over the top.
- BOSE: has anyone actually compared the standard system with BOSE side by side? I didn’t think BOSE was that great on the test drive (very bass-heavy despite the neutral setting) and there’s a lot of road noise anyway so cars aren’t the best place to listen to music unless it’s a double glazed Mercedes S-class
- Sports-tex vs. Ventilated leather: Opinions so far seem to vary on resale and how cool the Sports-tex is in summer. Would appreciate more views from anyone who specced sports tex on a 992. Somehow feels like the most difficult question. First world problems!
A 911 is a classic (despite getting heavier lately) and I am looking to capture the essence of it being both a sports car and a useable reliable daily driver. It’s like a stainless steel Rolex submariner without date instead of a two tone or gold model. There are faster or more luxurious cars and I could afford an S or GTS but don’t like to spend money unnecessarily when the base car is so similar.
Comments have helped me draw the following conclusions so far:
1. Sports Chrono: if it is just faster due to launch control rather than different mappings in sports mode I’m convinced it’s unnecessary. Never used launch control in my S3 either. The clock is just clutter to me.
2. Red seat belts is something I’ve toyed with but thought too garish. On further thought, it’s a great way to make the interior more special without spending a ton of money. Will spec them, just need to avoid pink shirts from now on.
Not convinced on the following:
- Crayon stitching: saw it at the dealer but it looks quite uneven and draws too much attention to itself. The black one is more subtle but still shows that it’s a special car. It’s very personal of course but less is more to my eye. Red would be nice but it’s an absurdly expensive option.
- Aluminium trim: agree it looks nicer but £750 is a lot and feels like falling into the options trap, especially considering the shiny black trim around the PDK lever would remain. I’d pay to get rid of that shiny trim which will need constant cleaning but not an option unfortunately.
- GT steering wheel: it obstructs the outer dials more hence my reluctance to spec it.
- Glass sunroof: I was convinced the glass roof would be much nicer as was expecting it to be lighter inside and that I’d end up choosing it despite the looks. However, I tried 10 times to raise and lower the internal blind on a test drive and surprisingly didn’t notice any difference in internal light levels. The salesman must have thought I am OCD. Maybe it’s different in winter when light levels are lower but I wasn’t convinced. Most of my cars so far were cabs but don’t like the shape of the 992 cab and thought a coupe with sunroof would give me almost the same feeling with lower depreciation/cost and better performance/security.
- Coloured wheel crests: £114 is not a lot of money but it’s still money down the drain, the options trap again.
- Wheels: I think 19/20 is plenty big and makes the ride less harsh. They look good to me so don’t think it will impact depreciation significantly. Upgrade is over £1000
- Lane change assist: Maybe I’m not that great a driver but had a few instances where I nearly missed someone in my blind spot so it seems like a good option. It’s expensive but finding it useful on my current car. Remember I’m mainly driving in town with lots of traffic everywhere.
Remaining questions:
- Reversing camera: it’s the one thing I regretted not ordering on my S3 but haven’t actually tried parking the 992 during the test drive. Any more views on it? Read somewhere the image is quite distorted but spending £1000 on the surround view seems a bit over the top.
- BOSE: has anyone actually compared the standard system with BOSE side by side? I didn’t think BOSE was that great on the test drive (very bass-heavy despite the neutral setting) and there’s a lot of road noise anyway so cars aren’t the best place to listen to music unless it’s a double glazed Mercedes S-class
- Sports-tex vs. Ventilated leather: Opinions so far seem to vary on resale and how cool the Sports-tex is in summer. Would appreciate more views from anyone who specced sports tex on a 992. Somehow feels like the most difficult question. First world problems!
Edited by mw300 on Sunday 18th August 20:38
I hadn’t thought about the incremental cost of upgrading wheels now vs. later and the impact on depreciation. Good point, thank you kev.RS and Taffy. Just not sure how undesirable the current wheels are and if the ride will be worse with bigger wheels. 20/21 is huge (perhaps silly looking) and the base wheels don’t look bad unlike some of the ugly ones that came on previous 911s
Thank you for all your replies so far. By the way, here is a picture of the base carrera wheels in real life: https://www.instagram.com/p/BvW2HtWpFe8/
This is the only picture I’ve been able to find so far but doesn’t look bad to me.
Perhaps I should have also said that I want the new model rather than a 991 as it’s newer tech, leaving aside all maintenance issues. There may be bargains on 6-12 month old S versions shortly if Brexit gets messier this autumn but choices with either sports tex or ventilated seats will be limited so better to order new. Also, the messier Brexit gets the lower the pound so MSRP will go up in Q1 and used prices might be supported by that. Anyway, don’t want to open a can of worms, let’s focus on spec please
So just need to decide the following:
1. sports tex or ventilated leather
2. bose or standard
3. upgrade wheels or standard
This is the only picture I’ve been able to find so far but doesn’t look bad to me.
Perhaps I should have also said that I want the new model rather than a 991 as it’s newer tech, leaving aside all maintenance issues. There may be bargains on 6-12 month old S versions shortly if Brexit gets messier this autumn but choices with either sports tex or ventilated seats will be limited so better to order new. Also, the messier Brexit gets the lower the pound so MSRP will go up in Q1 and used prices might be supported by that. Anyway, don’t want to open a can of worms, let’s focus on spec please
So just need to decide the following:
1. sports tex or ventilated leather
2. bose or standard
3. upgrade wheels or standard
Thank you for all the comments so far. Very helpful and spec is nearly finalised.
Appreciate the sentiment expressed by some re depreciation but buying a 997.1 is a totally different proposition. You just don’t get the same level of connectivity, driver aids, bright head lights etc that are nice to have in a daily driver. The 997.1 may be more fun and depreciation proof (bar engine issues) but that’s a different conversation altogether.
I’ve concluded over the years that it’s fine to buy new cars provided their depreciation curve is flat if you buy at the beginning of the product cycle, i.e. now for the 992. It’s one thing to buy a 7 series BMW or heavy Merc coupe where there are few buyers for a 3 year old as the typical buyer wants new and used prices fall off a cliff vs buying a 911 where there is demand at any age point. Admittedly very few cars have flat depreciation curves but luckily 911s do.
Everyone seems to forget that tyres, discs, pads, etc on a 2 year old car won’t be new so will need replacing within the next 3 years, the interior won’t be as fresh etc. As cars get a few years older annoying faults can develop like window seals that don’t shut, glove box rattles, etc. many of these cost a fortune to sort but aren’t even covered under warranty.
However, look at prices of 991’s bought at the beginning of the last cycle, i.e. 2012. Not much stock below £50k despite the 992 being released (which implies less than 10% per year depreciation) and anything under £50k will be high milers. Now also factor in that a base 992 has the performance of a 991S and a lot more/better kit as stock (cruise, LED’s, etc) so one should be comparing nee base against previous gen S, finance on a new car is much cheaper than a 5+ year old car (i’m just talking interest rates for loans secured by the asset, ignore comparisons with personal loans as there’s a limit how much one can borrow on that front and what if you want a personal loan for home improvements instead), warranties more comprehensive, and there is some value on your time if you have to deal with the hassle of an unforeseen repair or breakdown. Maybe that value is different if you’re a retired gentleman with lots of free time but I’m busy with work and don’t want to add to a seemingly endless to-do list.
I can see the logic in buying up to 3 years old and holding until about 7 years if you don’t care about spec but beyond that it’s a different proposition. Remember we’re talking about a daily driver here, not a weekend toy. I wouldn’t buy a used washing machine or dishwasher either even if they have 10 years useful life left in them. The labour cost for fitting new and used is the same but you’ll have to replace or repair the used one sooner hence incur the same labour cost and hassle more frequently.
I apply the same logic for mobiles, laptops, etc. Better to buy a basic spec but latest model iphone and replace it more often (when someone will still pay £200-300 for it even though the battery is weak and it tends to freeze once a week) instead of buying top of the new range and using it until the end of its useful life when it’s worth zero.
Unfortunately you’re going to pay for cars one way or the other unless you have access to limited editions. Not sure I’d want to live with a GT3 / GT4 as a daily in London though so a base carrera with the bare minimum of options seems like the most “rational” choice.
Appreciate the sentiment expressed by some re depreciation but buying a 997.1 is a totally different proposition. You just don’t get the same level of connectivity, driver aids, bright head lights etc that are nice to have in a daily driver. The 997.1 may be more fun and depreciation proof (bar engine issues) but that’s a different conversation altogether.
I’ve concluded over the years that it’s fine to buy new cars provided their depreciation curve is flat if you buy at the beginning of the product cycle, i.e. now for the 992. It’s one thing to buy a 7 series BMW or heavy Merc coupe where there are few buyers for a 3 year old as the typical buyer wants new and used prices fall off a cliff vs buying a 911 where there is demand at any age point. Admittedly very few cars have flat depreciation curves but luckily 911s do.
Everyone seems to forget that tyres, discs, pads, etc on a 2 year old car won’t be new so will need replacing within the next 3 years, the interior won’t be as fresh etc. As cars get a few years older annoying faults can develop like window seals that don’t shut, glove box rattles, etc. many of these cost a fortune to sort but aren’t even covered under warranty.
However, look at prices of 991’s bought at the beginning of the last cycle, i.e. 2012. Not much stock below £50k despite the 992 being released (which implies less than 10% per year depreciation) and anything under £50k will be high milers. Now also factor in that a base 992 has the performance of a 991S and a lot more/better kit as stock (cruise, LED’s, etc) so one should be comparing nee base against previous gen S, finance on a new car is much cheaper than a 5+ year old car (i’m just talking interest rates for loans secured by the asset, ignore comparisons with personal loans as there’s a limit how much one can borrow on that front and what if you want a personal loan for home improvements instead), warranties more comprehensive, and there is some value on your time if you have to deal with the hassle of an unforeseen repair or breakdown. Maybe that value is different if you’re a retired gentleman with lots of free time but I’m busy with work and don’t want to add to a seemingly endless to-do list.
I can see the logic in buying up to 3 years old and holding until about 7 years if you don’t care about spec but beyond that it’s a different proposition. Remember we’re talking about a daily driver here, not a weekend toy. I wouldn’t buy a used washing machine or dishwasher either even if they have 10 years useful life left in them. The labour cost for fitting new and used is the same but you’ll have to replace or repair the used one sooner hence incur the same labour cost and hassle more frequently.
I apply the same logic for mobiles, laptops, etc. Better to buy a basic spec but latest model iphone and replace it more often (when someone will still pay £200-300 for it even though the battery is weak and it tends to freeze once a week) instead of buying top of the new range and using it until the end of its useful life when it’s worth zero.
Unfortunately you’re going to pay for cars one way or the other unless you have access to limited editions. Not sure I’d want to live with a GT3 / GT4 as a daily in London though so a base carrera with the bare minimum of options seems like the most “rational” choice.
I doubt the manual will be cheaper than PDK going forward, it will probably be a no
cost option. Not even sure if the manual will be much more fun with the high gearing needed to comply with current emissions regulations. The T might be special if it’s NA but that’s another story.
The auto dimming mirrors are a funny one. Think I need them for those dark winter days when stuck in traffic in front of an SUV and bright lights on the side mirrors can be irritating but not keen on the rain sensors for the wipers either and yet another thing to go wrong. Looked at buying foils for the side mirrors but realised it’s an electric system that darkens them so apparently no simple way of getting around the issue and probably illegal to tint the mirrors permanently.
Not convinced of subtle colours, why bother with a nice sports car and then try to blend in? Might as well get a Golf R or Audi RS then. Guards red feels more in keeping with the nature of a fast car.
cost option. Not even sure if the manual will be much more fun with the high gearing needed to comply with current emissions regulations. The T might be special if it’s NA but that’s another story.
The auto dimming mirrors are a funny one. Think I need them for those dark winter days when stuck in traffic in front of an SUV and bright lights on the side mirrors can be irritating but not keen on the rain sensors for the wipers either and yet another thing to go wrong. Looked at buying foils for the side mirrors but realised it’s an electric system that darkens them so apparently no simple way of getting around the issue and probably illegal to tint the mirrors permanently.
Not convinced of subtle colours, why bother with a nice sports car and then try to blend in? Might as well get a Golf R or Audi RS then. Guards red feels more in keeping with the nature of a fast car.
Gentlemen
one more question - is the £690 PLDS plus option worth it? Any advantages in town? Can the auto dipping be deactivated? Does it actually work so one side stays low beam if there’s an oncoming car while the other side remains high beam?
Seems relatively reasonable vs £2k for matrix led’s.
one more question - is the £690 PLDS plus option worth it? Any advantages in town? Can the auto dipping be deactivated? Does it actually work so one side stays low beam if there’s an oncoming car while the other side remains high beam?
Seems relatively reasonable vs £2k for matrix led’s.
A big thanks to everyone who contributed so far -- placed my order on Saturday, spec locks down first week of October for delivery first week of December!
Here's the final spec: http://www.porsche-code.com/PLLSKKQ2 which is very much geared towards driving in London with inevitable traffic jams and pollution.
A few (unexpected and highly subjective) observations that influenced my order, having rented a black 2S coupe for a day last week:
1. Unlike many comments here I don't like how the black plastic bits blend in with the rest of a black car. It appears too bulky in black as there's nothing to break up the monotony. On the other hand, with very light colours (white/crayon/silver) the car appears bigger as well and too much attention is drawn to the black bits. I think it works best in a strong colour that can hold its own against black such as gentian blue, guards red, viper green, and yellow. The car looks smaller in these colours as the black plastic fades into the background.
2. The car is surprisingly well dampened over speed bumps and uneven roads. Much better than my current S3 cabriolet on 19" wheels. It feels far more special than any sports salon based on a regular car could ever be as it is a purpose built sports car. This has nothing to do with horsepower, comparisons with RS3's, M4's etc are missing the point. At the same time it's as easy to drive as a Golf. A brilliant balance of being special yet also just a car to get around town.
3. Sports chrono is a waste of money and the reflection of the illuminated dash clock on the windscreen at night is annoying. Sports mode is more than enough and I never felt tempted to switch to sports plus. It's just silly marketing to me.
4. Sports exhaust makes hardly any difference inside of the car, maybe 10% difference hence not worth the money. I presume the intake sound that gets pumped into the cabin is unchanged by the exhaust. Car still sounds aggressive with the exhaust off when revving it out.
5. The regular seats are far less comfortable than sports seats plus as the backrest is quite narrow at the top and the bolsters press against the shoulder blades. If you only get one option - upgrade the seats.
6. The rear wiper looks awful, avoid
7. The wheels at 20/21" look very large, perhaps unnaturally large. I look forward to getting mine with 19/20" wheels instead
8. The standard steering wheel is uncomfortably thin, GT steering wheel much better. Thought it would be a waste of money but the standard steering wheel made my hands sore compared to the chunky one in my Audi.
9. The standard stereo is ok until it plays something with heavy bass in which case the rattling noises are unbearable, one of the worst I ever heard. Went for BOSE.
10. The standard trim strips do feel a bit cheap but not bad enough to bother with £750 for aluminium etc. Besides, they match the texture of all the other switches and the gear selector. No big deal to me. The high gloss black plastic is much worse in my view and I'm surprised it can't be changed. Surely they'll get rid of that on the facelift.
11. A few things bothered me which can't be solved even with the right option choices:
- The dashboard, especially the bit in the middle with the air vents reflects on the windscreen. Must be the sharp angle of the windscreen. Might get a custom alcantara cover.
- The arm rest in the middle is quite low so doesn't really give much support
- The window cill is quite high so not suitable for having the elbow out the window
12. White contrast stitching with a black interior draws way too much attention to itself. Black stitching still provides plenty of contrast without being in your face.
13. Black interior is very dark but a black dash is essential given the reflections on the windscreen. Saw the two tone black/cream recently and it seemed much more luxurious than any of the others, even better than the brown club leather, and comes with a black dash. Second choice would have been sport-tex with black stitching and red seat belts but in the end I would have regretted not having seat ventilation and preferred a lighter interior around the footwells.
14. I managed to get a deal. PM if you want a contact.
Here's the final spec: http://www.porsche-code.com/PLLSKKQ2 which is very much geared towards driving in London with inevitable traffic jams and pollution.
A few (unexpected and highly subjective) observations that influenced my order, having rented a black 2S coupe for a day last week:
1. Unlike many comments here I don't like how the black plastic bits blend in with the rest of a black car. It appears too bulky in black as there's nothing to break up the monotony. On the other hand, with very light colours (white/crayon/silver) the car appears bigger as well and too much attention is drawn to the black bits. I think it works best in a strong colour that can hold its own against black such as gentian blue, guards red, viper green, and yellow. The car looks smaller in these colours as the black plastic fades into the background.
2. The car is surprisingly well dampened over speed bumps and uneven roads. Much better than my current S3 cabriolet on 19" wheels. It feels far more special than any sports salon based on a regular car could ever be as it is a purpose built sports car. This has nothing to do with horsepower, comparisons with RS3's, M4's etc are missing the point. At the same time it's as easy to drive as a Golf. A brilliant balance of being special yet also just a car to get around town.
3. Sports chrono is a waste of money and the reflection of the illuminated dash clock on the windscreen at night is annoying. Sports mode is more than enough and I never felt tempted to switch to sports plus. It's just silly marketing to me.
4. Sports exhaust makes hardly any difference inside of the car, maybe 10% difference hence not worth the money. I presume the intake sound that gets pumped into the cabin is unchanged by the exhaust. Car still sounds aggressive with the exhaust off when revving it out.
5. The regular seats are far less comfortable than sports seats plus as the backrest is quite narrow at the top and the bolsters press against the shoulder blades. If you only get one option - upgrade the seats.
6. The rear wiper looks awful, avoid
7. The wheels at 20/21" look very large, perhaps unnaturally large. I look forward to getting mine with 19/20" wheels instead
8. The standard steering wheel is uncomfortably thin, GT steering wheel much better. Thought it would be a waste of money but the standard steering wheel made my hands sore compared to the chunky one in my Audi.
9. The standard stereo is ok until it plays something with heavy bass in which case the rattling noises are unbearable, one of the worst I ever heard. Went for BOSE.
10. The standard trim strips do feel a bit cheap but not bad enough to bother with £750 for aluminium etc. Besides, they match the texture of all the other switches and the gear selector. No big deal to me. The high gloss black plastic is much worse in my view and I'm surprised it can't be changed. Surely they'll get rid of that on the facelift.
11. A few things bothered me which can't be solved even with the right option choices:
- The dashboard, especially the bit in the middle with the air vents reflects on the windscreen. Must be the sharp angle of the windscreen. Might get a custom alcantara cover.
- The arm rest in the middle is quite low so doesn't really give much support
- The window cill is quite high so not suitable for having the elbow out the window
12. White contrast stitching with a black interior draws way too much attention to itself. Black stitching still provides plenty of contrast without being in your face.
13. Black interior is very dark but a black dash is essential given the reflections on the windscreen. Saw the two tone black/cream recently and it seemed much more luxurious than any of the others, even better than the brown club leather, and comes with a black dash. Second choice would have been sport-tex with black stitching and red seat belts but in the end I would have regretted not having seat ventilation and preferred a lighter interior around the footwells.
14. I managed to get a deal. PM if you want a contact.
It's the OP here -- time to give you all some feedback. Picked the car up in late November, did about 2,000 miles so far. Mainly London unfortunately as been busy with work and the weather wasn't great. Just one short trip to the Cotswolds so far. Planning a European trip in the summer.
Having rented a 992S for 24 hours before buying the base model I'm pleased to say the base is the more engaging choice on the road for me for the following reasons:
1. Easier to feel the rear end sliding a little in a turn even at low speeds (20-30mph) due to narrower tyres, always makes me smile
2. Engine seems a bit more rev-hungry, maybe slightly less lag. It's not as much of an immediate kick of torque up the backside at 2,000 RPM. You have to get on the gas to get the most out of it and can lift a bit later
3. Less road noise & softer ride due to smaller wheels which can't even be optioned on the S
Haven't been on track and not my thing so can't compare. Also, feels like it's still good value at £83k vs. £93k. Still don't like the look of the rear end that much but it's growing on me and the front is stunning.
Here's my spec:
- C2
- guards red
- standard wheels
- sports seats plus 4 way
- black/beige interior
- auto dimming mirrors
- BOSE
- adaptive cruise
- ventilated seats
- sunroof (metal not glass)
- ioniser
- gt steering wheel
There are four must have options in my view: sports seats plus, BOSE (not great, that's what the standard system should be like but no point specing the Burmester as it's a noisy car, the standard system is just a joke), auto dimming mirrors, and adaptive cruise control (works amazingly well, far better than my previous Audi S3).
The gt steering wheel is nicer to hold as it's thicker but that might be an individual preference, the gauges are obstructed by both steering wheels anyway. The ioniser seems to make a difference on polluted London roads, air feels cleaner than in my previous car.
The verdict is still outstanding on ventilated seats and sunroof as it's been too cold lately to use either. Probably can do without the sunroof, it doesn't open that much anyway.
As strange as it sounds what I miss the most are a few little details to make it look a bit more special: coloured wheel centres (just to make the wheels look a bit more interesting) & the headrest crests. Never thought I'd miss these bits, thought they're a complete waste of money when I ordered the car. They probably are a complete waste of money!
Far more importantly here is what I don't miss: Sports chrono (the sports button is enough & the clock makes an annoying reflection on the windscreen at night), Sports exhaust (it's loud enough as is and I found the exhaust made hardly any difference on the S), reversing camera or surround view (there's great visibility over the rear wheel arches, better than any other car), larger wheels (see comments above), auto folding mirrors (a guy on a bike recently clipped mine and it just rotated without damage, would have been damaged if it was auto folding), upgraded interior trim (standard is fine and matches the texture of the switches), rear wiper, upgraded lights
The only question I keep asking myself is whether my choice of beige leather which certainly lifts the interior & makes it look more fancy was right or if I should have gone for black leather or sports tex with red belts, both of which perhaps look a bit more classic. The beige leather also gets stained from dark blue denim, needs to be wiped regularly which can't be good in the long run even if done gently. Will post my verdict on the seat ventilation & sun roof after the summer.
Thank you everyone who contributed when I was placing my order!
Having rented a 992S for 24 hours before buying the base model I'm pleased to say the base is the more engaging choice on the road for me for the following reasons:
1. Easier to feel the rear end sliding a little in a turn even at low speeds (20-30mph) due to narrower tyres, always makes me smile
2. Engine seems a bit more rev-hungry, maybe slightly less lag. It's not as much of an immediate kick of torque up the backside at 2,000 RPM. You have to get on the gas to get the most out of it and can lift a bit later
3. Less road noise & softer ride due to smaller wheels which can't even be optioned on the S
Haven't been on track and not my thing so can't compare. Also, feels like it's still good value at £83k vs. £93k. Still don't like the look of the rear end that much but it's growing on me and the front is stunning.
Here's my spec:
- C2
- guards red
- standard wheels
- sports seats plus 4 way
- black/beige interior
- auto dimming mirrors
- BOSE
- adaptive cruise
- ventilated seats
- sunroof (metal not glass)
- ioniser
- gt steering wheel
There are four must have options in my view: sports seats plus, BOSE (not great, that's what the standard system should be like but no point specing the Burmester as it's a noisy car, the standard system is just a joke), auto dimming mirrors, and adaptive cruise control (works amazingly well, far better than my previous Audi S3).
The gt steering wheel is nicer to hold as it's thicker but that might be an individual preference, the gauges are obstructed by both steering wheels anyway. The ioniser seems to make a difference on polluted London roads, air feels cleaner than in my previous car.
The verdict is still outstanding on ventilated seats and sunroof as it's been too cold lately to use either. Probably can do without the sunroof, it doesn't open that much anyway.
As strange as it sounds what I miss the most are a few little details to make it look a bit more special: coloured wheel centres (just to make the wheels look a bit more interesting) & the headrest crests. Never thought I'd miss these bits, thought they're a complete waste of money when I ordered the car. They probably are a complete waste of money!
Far more importantly here is what I don't miss: Sports chrono (the sports button is enough & the clock makes an annoying reflection on the windscreen at night), Sports exhaust (it's loud enough as is and I found the exhaust made hardly any difference on the S), reversing camera or surround view (there's great visibility over the rear wheel arches, better than any other car), larger wheels (see comments above), auto folding mirrors (a guy on a bike recently clipped mine and it just rotated without damage, would have been damaged if it was auto folding), upgraded interior trim (standard is fine and matches the texture of the switches), rear wiper, upgraded lights
The only question I keep asking myself is whether my choice of beige leather which certainly lifts the interior & makes it look more fancy was right or if I should have gone for black leather or sports tex with red belts, both of which perhaps look a bit more classic. The beige leather also gets stained from dark blue denim, needs to be wiped regularly which can't be good in the long run even if done gently. Will post my verdict on the seat ventilation & sun roof after the summer.
Thank you everyone who contributed when I was placing my order!
Gassing Station | 911/Carrera GT | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff