Carrera vs. Carrera S

[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.

[BYprodriver]

Sounds like a well thought out plan to me. I agree with your desire to avoid the 19" life if possible. Having driven several 996's with 17" & 18" you can easily feel the difference good & bad. I have never driven a 997 so I don't have "concrete" evidence there, but many Excellance magazine test drives address your concern & may be your best source of info. As I recall the adjustable suspension (PASM ?) helps ride comfort alot & may be the best solution. I assume you are buying your 997 thru a local dealer & they should be able let you test drive 997's with & without 19's.

[BeemerMike]

Thanks for the help. I certainly will test drive both before I order, but sometimes what can seem OK during a short test drive can become less than OK after you drive it a few thousand miles, so I wanted to get some "real world" experience by people on the forum.

Yes, I've read the Excellence articles, which is why I'm leaning toward the non-S for a street car. PASM is certainly an option to consider, but I generally try to avoid unnecessary electronic complexity if I can find an acceptable alternative (and yes, I realize that the rest of a modern 911 is filled with electronic complexity).

[sjf]

I just bought a 2001 with 19" wheels and 30 profile tires. Last night had a flat with one of the rear tires. Did not even know the tire went down, other than an extreme amount of noise from the opposite side. I think the PSM was hammering the brakes due to different size. By the time I figured it out, tire was trash. That size tire is an odd one and not well stocked. Quoted 2 days to 2 weeks to get a new one.

Have not noticed a harsh ride at all. Have had issues with another car with the lower profile tires in Minnesota where we have as many potholes as the 10,000 lakes, and just as deep. The holes can easilybend up a nice rim. In TX your roads may be better.

[dtakenname]

YouTube - 997 Carrera PDK 1/4 mile Drag Comparison - Carrera vs. Carrera S vs. Carrera 4 vs.Carrera 4S (HQ)

S kicks ass.
just don't get the PDK.

[RKC]

Not an exact comparison really, but I switch my 19" summer wheels for 18" snow tires. I imagine much of it is compound & taller sidewalls, but the ride is so much better on 18's when PASM is on firm that it is really quite a nicer car for general driving.

Part of this too might be the switch time - usually around now. I took the car out on dry pavement at 6:30 this morning (29 F) on the original PZeros, and they were hard and slippery. So it could just be that they ARE harder flexing as it gets cold, and when I switch to the 18's on Thanksgiving weekend, the change is that much more noticeable. Maybe in July (or Texas ) it would be less so....

Anyway, I got the car in 2009 and drove it the 1,200 miles from Miami in 1.5 days, and it was fine for a long trip even on the 19's in the summer. But it was new, and I was excited, and coming from a sport-shocked 1987 Targa. Living with it everyday for 1.5 years now, it could use softer tires for the day to day driving. At least for my regular driving style, and the fact that I don't track or autocross....

I understand the PASM worries, but I've found that it is nice to have a softer setting for around town. At highways speeds, I usually put it to firm to stop a slight floaty feeling. The firm setting is just like my 87 sport shocks, but the seats in the 997 are more firm than those in the 87, and that sometimes makes it feel too firm overall. I liked the ride in the 1987 firm car with the slightly softer seats better. Obviously, YMMV, but you might want to take a look at all the seat options as your trip is a kind of Grand Tour. That said, long-day comfort is great in the 997, as is the lumbar adjustability, etc.

I suppose it isn't really the sitting in the harder seats that is the problem, but the getting in them: I had the 87 for 10 years, and after 1.5 years with this one, I still sometimes plop down in the seat and hit my back on the side bolster - which is way harder than in the old car.....funny thing is, the headrests in the 997 are way softer, which is nice when you stretch your neck.

FWIW - I have the Bose stereo and it is great - except it is sounds so good that you can actually hear the difference between the radio/CD and a CDR you've burned from iTunes. You always hear stereo folks say MP3's/iTunes doesn't have the range of real CD's - and this seems proof. I travel a bit, and have those Bose noise-cancelling headphones, and can't hear the difference anywhere except in the car....

[signature65]

I really wanted an "S" but went for a C2 instead. Mainly the price difference kept me away from the S.

I am totally happy with my non S. I had S envy and before my purchase I felt like the S was the one to get. After buying the non S tho I have realized the C2 is still an amazing and capable car. Remember the non S isnt just the "Base" car. Its the car Porsche Created to put a few add ons on to make some diffferent versions.

I love my 997 and one day may upgrade, but for now im completely happy