Has anyone had the opportunity to drive both the base and S MT yet? There has been a lot of talk on this site about those two with regards to PDK and the sluggish response down low unless you use the sport button. I wonder how big the diff is between the two with the MT. On paper the 0 to 60 times and top speed differences are minimal. S does have larger brakes, so if you want to track the car that is helpful. However for everyday driving do you really notice the difference in power? I know the MT cars also have a sport button and i hear it makes a big difference in the throttle response of the MT cars.
Not trying to start a debate over which is better, just wondering how much you can feel the additional hp in normal daily driving and if the manuals feel sluggish like the PDK's without the sport button on.

 

I suspect that some of the impression with the PDK softness at low speed is a function of us getting used to the torque at lower RPM. If you apply a little more accelerator when taking off, I'm sure the PDK will shift higher. If that doesn't work, then sport mode or manual shift would. The same hold true with the MT, but there the driver is forced to decide when to shift, the same as PDK in the manual mode.

ChuckJ

 

I tested a PDK and it definitely "felt" faster than my manual, Just play a little with the throtle and you are always in the proper power rev range.
You can drive it in relax mode, press a little the accelerator pedal, it instantly goes two or three shifts down and BAM! it starts moving scary fast.
Said that, I prefer a manual tranny for a sports car, but with the slightly lack of low end torque, the extra work with the gears and clutch is starting to become a tiring experience for me.

 

With respect to just the manual. For those of you that drove both the base and the S, can you tell much of a difference in power in daily driving? My 997 was a base car and I felt it was a little underpowered at times. So this go around I am thinking S. However it's quite a bit more money and would want to make sure I could really feel the difference. With no real plans to track the car, it will be my DD.

 

I don't own either, but have driven both, and I can tell the difference in the base and the S.

 

I've driven both the Base and S 991 7MT. I have a C2S, my dad has the base. (yeah yeah i know). The S is a lot quicker IMHO. Then again I've only driven the base at conservative city speeds (<70mph). So take it for what it's worth, but I am extremely happy that I purchased the 991 S.

 

You may find latest Excellence Magazine of interest. It has a writeup by Chris Harris on the C MT, in which he also shares some thoughts about the C vs. the CS.

 

Does anyone have a link to that article? I just searched their site and the web and I'm not finding it. I'm sure it's 'user error' but if anyone has it that would be great.

 

Ya this decision is driving me nuts - basically 13k difference between the 2 cars on the exact same spec. I think that long term (resale wise) you are going to do better with a well optioned S versus a well optioned Base. I enjoy driving my cars to the limit but even with my current Targa4S there really is very little opportunity to do that as 90% of my driving is city.

 

What do you mean by 'do better'? I have seen this phrase used in this type of thread before, but have never seen it explained.

 

Less depreciation on a percentage level but Porsche is saying only 3 percent difference (56% and 59%) over 3 years. Depending on how you do the math you are out less money with a base but in the Porsche world your options play such a key role in what "you get back" and what you lose.

 

Actually options are basically worthless at trade in time. One would "do better" buying a car with zero options if one defines "doing better" as experiencing the least amount of depreciation.

 

For me to spend the extra 13k I'd really need to feel the difference between the S and the base. From what I'm reading that's not the case. So far my dealer only has the S and only PDK. I'm going to hold out till he gets a base Manual before making my final decision.

 

why don't you go to another dealer to try out? so that you don't have to wait.

 

you can buy my base with MT and you really won't have to wait.