Nobody really needs a 911 but everyone would want to have one. If you are going to order a 911S, I don't think you need any of the other options to push it to the edge. The stock 991S or heck even the stock 991 base is more than enough for a weekend fun drive car to be pushed to the limit unless you are a hard core trackie.

 

Op...sorry for this..

Man, you've got great avatar!!

 

As several people already pointed out, owning a Porsche itself isn't necessary, so we're talking about what enhances the experience when we decide to spend this much on a toy. The quick answer is 'everything'. Only a couple of options seem to be divisive ones, changes that some people detest but others enjoy. All the others are worth what Porsche asks for them if you want an option that moves the car in that direction. Personally, I don't care whether my air vents are covered in leather, but I know people who do and the option meets their desire. I do like fine leather and the "natural leather" option feels like a top-quality saddle leather on every surface I personally am likely to touch. (Fondling air vents is a specialized taste I suppose.) One friend prefers the hard-core sports car emphasis. He probably would omit the clock if he learned it added a pound. (It does not.) Another friend shares my feeling that a sports car walks the line between luxury touring and track times, so fine leather and fine music are just as appropriate as performance options. I can pick up another Formula Ford if I want a stripped ode to speed. But that's just me. The important point is the Porsche options work well or can be omitted as each person's taste and wallet permit.

In general, the base model of 991 is a world class car without adding anything. Playboy just made it their Car of the Year explicitly referring to a configuration "under $100,000". Car and Driver probably would do the same, except the 'cheapest' 911 is outside their limit for consideration. The base car is more than fine, it is brilliant, but the personalization comes from adding options that move the base car in directions we each desire. Desire, not need. So go for it. If it sounds good, and you can afford it, it isn't likely to disappoint.

Personally, I was looking to bring a little fun back into my life so I emphasized options that do that. I chose a C2S Cabrio, added some luxury features I normally would scorn, like Burmester and Natural Leather, and then added what I consider a first-level set of performance-oriented options: PDK, PSE, and Sport Chrono.

I agree with the strong endorsement of Sport Chrono. I would add that I don't know why Porsche Marketing couldn't use a more effective title for the option, since the stopwatch is the least important (and certainly least useful) part of the option package.

The only two options that seem divisive among Porsche fans are the PDCC and the new cruise control with Porsche Nanny or some such title. The PDCC provides enhanced contact patch control which improves track times at the absolute limit. Some people attribute improved comfort on rough roads to PDCC as well. Personally, I think the classic Porsche 911 feel is harmed by over-stabilizing the body angle. If I were jousting for best time of the day, I'd want PDCC, but I'm old and just want to enjoy my car, so I leave that out.

The Adaptive Cruise Control sounds as nearly useless as anything could be on a sports car. At least to me. I've put in over 1.2 million miles with a good share of that on California freeways in heavy commuter traffic. I haven't been able to come up with a scenario where I want to match speed with the car in front of me. What it sounds like is a case of Porsche developing technology for manufacturers with a different type of driver in their target market and then fielding it first with their own cars as a show of faith. Or perhaps for extended field testing. But that's just me. Perhaps less experienced freeway drivers like the idea of committing their vehicle to follow the driver in front. I cringe.

Those are the only two options I put in my automatic refusal list when I asked my dealer to search the database for cars I could choose without waiting for a custom build. Everything else is just money, and you get what you pay for, but the car won't be a dog if you leave off this or that.

Oh yes. The Sport Exhaust sounds wonderful with a Cabrio, though I admit I usually suppress it unless I'm in an area where it's just me and the car -- or just me and a hundred rabid Porsche fans, like a race track. It is slightly louder than I feel comfortable imposing on strangers. But that's fine too. That's why it has a button to close the valves and quiet things down.

Putting the top up with the Cabrio makes it as calm and comfortable as a coupe. In fact, the acoustical quality of the interior volume is better than my 997 coupe. I didn't explicitly compare that to a 991 coupe, so I can't be sure if it's also better than the current coupe. The visibility is great, and I suspect some strong attention was paid to the acoustic effects of the top with the Cabrios.

Top up or down, the Burmester is a sound system you'd be hard pressed to match at home with the larger space to be filled. Again, many people won't care. Those who do care for fine music when cruising or idling around town will get their money's worth.

Gary

 

I agree with everything you said, well done.

I agree the adaptive cruise is not an option I would like on my Porsche. We are about to take a several hundred mile holiday journey in my wife's new Q7 TDI. It has adaptive cruise and I think on some of the highways we will be on it will be a nice thing to have. The group is traveling at 75-80 the cruise keeps you at safe distances as the speed varies. Keep in mind this is all theory because I have not tried it on a long trip but it seems good in theory.
The Audi by the way is very nice. Enjoying it quite a bit.

Have a nice holiday

Bill

 

Rear view:
It has both a digital and an analog for time of day, but the analog is unique in that is doesn't have a minute hand.

ChuckJ

 

Now that I have a couple thousand miles on it I can say that in regular driving I have used Sport+ less than 1% of the time and would probably not miss it unless I was on a track. I would miss the G-force meter which is a fun and useful reference tool. I don't know if I would notice the dynamic engine mounts if they weren't there for regular driving. I think it would not be terrible to skip Sport Chrono, but it is fun to have occasionally. Just IMHO.

 

IMO, SC is an almost indispensable option. The dynamic engine mounts alone are reason enough to get it. We all know what they are supposed to do so I won't bother you with that. The dynamics of the car a changed dramatically.... more info here. I believe that much of the handling improvements of the 991 is due to the addition of the DEM's. Most of the reviews have been based on 991's with SC.

I wouldn't buy a 911 without the SC package. Just my 2p worth.

 

Any savvy automobile enthusiast would want one, that is.

 

I'll be darned. Learn something every day. I had no idea that small hour circle kept track of the hour of the day as well. I just assumed it rolled over the hours of a timing event.

Gary

 

Yea, but I do have to correct myself. It has an hour and a minute hand (as well as the big second hand.

ChuckJ

 

Thanks Chuck for the clarification.

Hehe, So you took the picture at 7:38 luckily when the Hour hand AND the minute hand were in the same spot, leading you to believe that there was only an hour hand?

I actually thought the Lighted dot was the hour, and the white hand was the minute...lol

I have to ask if there are many members that would order the SC with a NON-S 911? I have heard the PSE on an S2 CAb and it sounded great, but how about the PSE on a Base Model...?

 

Hate to admit it, but I did think it it was a two handed clock and was fooled by the picture at that hour of the morning. Shows how much an older guy needs his coffee.

I have the SC with PDK in the base. I haven't used launch control yet, mainly because I haven't had it on the track and I can't find a place to do it and it's so quick without it. but I do appreciate the rest of its components and compared to many of the other options, it's almost free. I got the base because it had better performance than my 2009 S which had plenty and again saved some money.

ChuckJ

 

What does the dealer know that I don't?

There's a nice 991, 7MT, PSE, Bose, Sunroof, Carrera Classic wheels, Premium + coming in with no SC. For a spirited street DD, just how much do those engine mounts really change the experience?

 

As discussed in this thread via various posters including me, SC gives you more than just the engine mounts. The most important thing it provides besides the mounts is Sport Plus, which transforms the car into a totally different car. The engine mapping is changed, the suspension stiffens up and the car feels a lot more nimble.

 

I get that, and thanks. While driving cars with and without SC, and going to Sport+ I feel an improvement, slight though it might be TO ME.

What I don't get is why a dealer would spec out a car with lots of other pricey options, but not SC.