[BeemerMike]

I hope this is the right place for this kind of help.

I'm thinking about ordering a new 911 for European delivery in the May 2011 timeframe for a two-month (or so) European motorsports tour (F1, MotoGP, Isle of Man TT, LeMans), and I guess maybe some non-motorsports sights! The initial big decision is Carrera or Carrera S. Other than saving about $13k by going with "just" a Carrera, and giving up 40 hp and having to limp along with only 345 hp, one big difference for street driving suitability is the 40-series 18" wheels and tires of the Carrera vs. the 35/30-series 19" wheels and tires of the Carrera S. To me it seems the 18" wheels/tires would be much more suitable for street driving than the 19", which I suspect would be fairly harsh for anything other than the track. I can probably get over the "S" envy and red brakes envy issues in order to get a car that would be more suitable for street driving. 40-series tires are not exactly high-profile.

Options would be roughly the same for either:

Certain
Model delete
Colored wheel centers
Sport seats
Rear wiper (yes, I'll drive it in the rain, and it rains a lot in Houston)
Heated seats (once you have them, you can't live without them)
19" Carrera Classic wheels (if I go with the S)

Probable
Sport shifter (unless a good reason not to)

Maybe
Sports suspension and locking rear diff (if I go with the S, might as well go all in S)
Bose sound upgrade

OK, thoughts and opinions appreciated.