If you're not going to track the car, and you're not going to be shifting above 4000 RPMs all the time, I'd stay away from the GT3 and get the Turbo/S. The Turbo/S is meant to be the "benchmark" and the car that delivers the most power in an "easy to use" manner. That being said, if you want a convertible you will have to wait a while (no timeframe is certain, yet)... spy shots only surfaced last month I believe of a Turbo convertible being tested.

 

Turbo / Turbo S sounds like what you want.
These are the more comfortable street cars.

Get the GT3 if you plan on tracking.

But, these are all versatile cars. The GT3 will work well on the street and the Turbo / Turbo S will work well on the track.

 

Thank you all for your help. I think I'm goin to go for the Turbo S.

 

With all your new found money why don't you hire Edmund's or KBB to research and compare your fantasies? They could oversee the development of a briefing prepared by Bill Gates accompanied by a video shot by Stephen Spielberg. Dr. Phil could then be brought in as a consultant to ensure your choice/s makes good rational psychological sense. BTW you may also want to consult with Warren Buffett to ensure you're spending your new wealth wisely.

Why did I write this and what's the lesson?

1) I don't care about your new money; it's not important and has no bearing on the conversation.
2) If you want advice, ask for it. This is a Porsche enthusiasts website, we're here to help. Most people on the 991 Turbo webpage can afford to buy whatever they want so don't try to impress us. You haven't joined the club yet.

 

Listen to me, I'm not trying to impress anybody. I was just trying to give some quick background before asking any questions. I'm young and I just wanted to give you guys a little background on why someone as young as me is inquiring about expensive cars, that's it. If I offended anyone than I'm sorry but there really should be need for this. Quite frankly I don't like your sarcasm at all, there's no need for it. I don't care what you think, at all or anyone else.

 

Although 4ocious could have said it a bit more nuanced, he has a bit of a point. When you're considering a 911 GT3 or Turbo, you have money. No doubt about it, otherwise you weren't consider buying such a car, so no need to mention it. sounds a little bit swanky...
I'm young too, but how I got my money is not of anyone's business and not important either.

Back on topic,

Have you driven a GT3 or a Turbo? Those are completely different cars with different characters.
The GT3 is a pure sportscar with a racing attitude, the 991 Turbo is a very refined sportscar with a GT attitude. Both are very fast 911s, but operating on the opposite end of the 911 spectrum.

If want a perfect daily driver, that can do a trackday once in a while, get a Turbo. If you want a thrilling semi-racing car, suited for public roads, get a GT3. The ride in a GT3 will never match the Turbo, the sense of thrill in a Turbo will never match a GT3. The 991 GT3 will be more livable on a daily base as the 997 GT3, but it still is nothing like a Carrera or a Turbo.

The Turbo is way more practical than a GT3 and also more practical than a R8. If you are jot planning to track the car a lot, I would definitely go for a Turbo (S). Had the oppertunity to drive the car yesterday for a couple of hours and I was deeply impressed. The looks are a point that I'm not completely sure about yet, but the power and speed is addicting. Steering feel is a lot better than a Carrera and the car feels even more nimble and agile than my Boxster, despite of its weight. This is all due to the rear wheel steering, which is of course also on the GT3.
The sound isn't as bad as I thought it would be, but the sound of the NA enigine in a carrera is better, not to mention that of the GT3.

The R8 is somewhere in between the Gt3 and Turbo and maybe a very good alternative in your case.

Since it is your first porsche, I think it is wise to testdrive first before you buy one of these cars (although you can't testdrive a GT3 yet).

Good luck with making a difficult choice.

Suzy991

 

Suzy, did you test drive the Turbo (S)? How does it feel compared to a 4S?

 

Yes I drove a Turbo S.

Things that I noticed right away:
- Feels more nimble and agile because of the rear wheel steering. You don't feel the system work, but you definitely feel that the car is very agile because of it.

- The torque of the turbocharged engine is addictive. Even if you don't drive the car above 3500rpm, you're very fast. The turbolag is barely noticeable. The car is because of that torque at low revs very easy to drive in a relaxed mode. Hit the pedal hard and you're in a true sportscar again. Someone at another forum described it as dr. Jekyll and mr. Hyde. I think that is the best way to describe this car. Best of both worlds I think and the very best daily driveable sportscar.

- Steering feel is definitely better than in a C4S, although I do not dislike the steering feel in the C4S, but the Turbo (S) is more communitive.

- The speed and power of the car is fenomenal, but because it does it with so moch ease, it can be tricky. Sometimes, without other traffic around, you don't have a clue that you're driving way above legal speeds. (Which can be a pain in the *** here in Switzerland)

- PDK is in one word FANTASTIC! IMO even slightly better than in the C4S I drove, but I'm not 100% sure about that, didn't drive them back to back, so difficult to say. The shifts are absolutely perfect, especially in Sport or Sport+. The PDK seems to be telepathic in auto mode. It simply does exactly what you are thinking.


Some downsides IMO:
- The thrill is less than it is in a C4S, because the car does everything so incredibly easy. This is a downside and a benefit at the same time if I'm honest. I don't want to drive inspired ALL the time. The thing I did miss most in that area, was the exhaustnote. Although not sounding bad, it is no comparison with for example a GT3. The push that you get from the torque makes up for that IMO.

- The looks.... I still think it is not as pretty as a C4S. However, in the right color, the car looks better in person than on pictures.


In the end, the car just amazed me. I personally never liked any 911 Turbo, mostly because of the looks and also because of the engine. I like NA engines normally more in a sportscar. The 991 Turbo S really changed my mind. I am seriously considering this car over a C4S now. It is of course more expensive, but the difference isn't that big in my case, because of all the options I want on the C4S. A lot of those are standard on a Turbo S.

Suzy991

 

I've driven a 997 Turbo briefly and still loved it. Never driven a GT3 before but reading and watching reviews about the 991 GT3, they were saying that you could use it as a DD, so that's why I was thinking about ordering that. But in most people's hands and for sure mine the Turbo S would be a better choice for me. So I think I'm probably going to order an Audi R8 V10 Spyder and the Porsche Turbo S coupe. I think these will be the best fore me. What do you think Suzy991?

 

I think that is a nice choice. Although I would personally switch both. An R8 V10 coupe and a Turbo S cabriolet. But that's purely personal preference, because I like the R8 coupe more than the spyder and I like the 911 Turbo S coupe and cab equally.

In fact... A Turbo S cabriolet would be enough. No need for the R8 IMO. It adds nothing, other than being a nice car. I would rather spend that on something else, that gives you a different, more emotional experience in driving. Something like a GT3 or a 458.
The R8 and 911 Turbo are quite similar. Both very powerful and both AWD but not very emitional cars. R8 sound better though...

Suzy991

 

if you want the best of both worlds, buy a Gt3 and make it a turbo.. thats what i'd do if i knew what i know now. i have spent a grip of $ making my car handle as close to the Gt3 as possible. the other way around, all i would have done is put new pistons in, have a shop fab me some parts for the turbos and IC's, and that would have been the way to go.. i love my cab, but knowing what i know now, i would have bought a Gt3 and a BMW convertible at the same time and closed shop. i will someday soon, buy that gt3.. its a fun ride!!! however, is not even close to the rush of a turbo.. two completely different cars!!!!!!!

 

As usual, the thorough and excellent description by you

I see many threads regarding the hesitation at take off on the other 991 CS2. Did you see any of of this hesitation when you put your foot on the gas?

You're spot on when you talk about a highly customized C4S and a Turbo. I did the exact same thing - heavily customize it then realize I wasn't so far away from the Turbo, price wise. Recently, I have been really liking Guards Red over my original white. It goes great with the glass roof (Black & Red exterior) What colour did you drive?

 

Well I drove a Audi R8 and I loved it. But I also love the Porsche. I know they are very similar but also very different in some respects. I love the look of the 911 Cabrio's but my thought process is if I order the Turbo Coupe I can get the glass roof.

 

I didn't feel any unusual hesitation, but I didn't feel that in other 991s that I drove either.

I drove a Rhodium silver car. They also have a white Turbo and a black Turbo S, but both were for a testdrive with other customers. I didn't have the chance to compare the Turbo and Turbo S but I don't think that there is much difference, especially when driving on public roads.

I'm still not sure what to do if I'm honest. It is the looks that's holding me back from ordering a Turbo (S). Also the fact that the car is too fast for use on public roads (from a rational point of view) is something that holds me back. Switzerland has more speedcams than roadsigns and the fines here are very, very high. That said... Even a base Boxster is too fast if you look at it from a rational view.

What I like about the Turbo (S), is the fact that because of the low end torque, the car feels (and is) fast at legal speeds. I have a BMW M550d as a daily driver, which has even more torque than the 991 Turbo S, but that car made me realize that it is more fun at legal speeds. It's a diesel and doesn't make much revs, sound is poor, but the car is fun to drive. Same goes for the Porsche 991 Turbo (S), which has the additional benefit of being a true sportscar when you really push the pedal to the metal.

A C4S needs to be driven slightly more aggressive to get that fun/rush and that means often breaking the speedlimit, but is a little more rewarding.
Not a problem on beautiful mountainroads without speed cams, but on main roads with traffic and lots of speedcams it feels like a puppy that isn't allowed to play. Unfortunatly it's not Germany, where you can unleash the car more often. (Although less and less)

On the other hand... The looks of the C4S still are so much better than the Turbo, which has a messy design IMO. The Turbo cab however looks better than the regular cab though, but I don't think I want a cab. Difficult choice to make. Also waiting for some more details on the Targa.

Untill that time I'm happy with my Boxster S...

Suzy991

 

Ever got the chance to try the new gt3? Wonder how it compares with the turbo?
Nice review!