I thought I'd spend a few minutes typing out my initial thoughts and opinions on my car thus far. These are simply my opinions and are meant to be honest, not intended to offend.

The Experience
I really haven't had much seat time in a 911. I drove my friend's 997.2 GT3 a few miles and test drove a base 991, PDK 991 Carrera S, 7MT 991 Carrera S Cab, and a 7MT 991 Carrera 4S w/ Sport Chrono. All of this has been in the past year. I honestly had never even been in a moving 911 of any previous generation before this year. Despite having a lifelong mission to end up in a 911, I had no real world experience for wanting one. I don't know when the desire started, but it was early (like pre-teen early). I have built it up in my mind so much so that I was concerned about being disappointed.

For me, I must say the experience the car provides is, dare I say, better than I expected. I hate to be another gushy forum member thinking my car is the best thing ever created, but I think I have no choice but to join the club. The car is darn close to perfect. I don't know how to explain it. The "experience" of owning/driving/staring at is better than I had hoped it would be.

Ride
I ended up getting Sport PASM without PDCC and added RSS 7mm/15mm spacers. This thing is super tight. I hadn't driven a Sport PASM car, so I was unsure what to expect. I really, really, really like it. That being said, I am used to modifying a cars suspension and have had some pretty stiff rides in the past. If I was a person that wants a soft, comfortable ride, Sport PASM is the wrong choice. I was surprised at how stiff this thing is. For a sports car, it's perfect. If you are used to big GT cars, be ready to have your spine adjusted.

I was a little disappointed in myself for getting a couple of fluff options in full leather and Burmester and skipping the only performance option left other than PDK/PCCB in PDCC. I'm sure it's better but am okay not having it. I just tell my non-track going self that the car is lighter without it, and we all know how important it is to save 5lbs to help me pretend I'm better than everyone else.

Options

Carrera S Powerkit: Sorry I don't have a review yet. I haven't had the car above 5,000 RPMs yet. I decided to vary RPMs below 5,000 for the first 500 and start driving normally after, so that means game on this week! I'll keep you posted.

Burmester: In full disclosure, I pretty irresponsibly ordered Burmester without actually hearing it. When I jumped in the car and drove it home from the dealership, I didn't even mess with it. After getting the car home, washed, polished, sealed, etc. I actually turned it on. My first impression was, oh crap, this was a complete waste of money.

At age 34, I think of myself as a new technology adopting yet old school audiophile. I'm a sucker for a smooth sounding pair of mono-blocks powering some good old fashioned silk dome tweeters housed in quality crafted wooden box. That being said, I still love a "rip your face off" home theater with a ridiculous sub. I am very sensitive to "bright" sounding speakers. Usually, most anything with a metal dome sounds harsh to me. My B&O system, that everyone seem to rave about, in my S4 makes my ears bleed.

Out of the box, it is very harsh, heavy left balanced, and is extremely low-frequency heavy. It sounded basically exactly like I was hoping it wouldn't. I was a little surprised it would be tuned so poorly. Now every single other audio/video device needs some calibration/tuning, so I guess it makes sense this one would too. Last night I spent some serious time messing with the very limited adjustment options through PCM. I haven't read the manual yet, so maybe there is a sub-menu I'm missing.

Other Burmester owners' input would be much appreciated. I came up with the following: Bass -2, Treble -4, Balance Right 3, Fader Rear 1, Burmester DSP setting "Live." I'm usually not a fan of messing with the original recording, but the live setting takes away some of the harshness.

So at this point, I guess you're thinking I hate it. For a factory installed system that saves me from tearing apart a new car, I do really like it and would still recommend it. Unlike a quality image on a high-end TV that is pretty standard, audio speakers are very subjective. The ribbon tweeter Burmester uses just happens to be a bit outside my personal preference, but it is by far the best factory optioned audio system I've ever heard. Even if I had heard it prior, I would have still bought it. Giving money to Bose goes against everything for which I stand.

Leather: I got the full leather package. It looks nice. If I could do it all over again, I would have simply done leather seats. I've survived to this point without a leather dash and would have been fine without it in this car.

Sport Plus Seats: The extra shoulder bolstering is awesome! I highly recommend it. I only have the 4-way adjustment. I set the seat once and haven't thought for once second that I needed more adjustment. If they had 50-way adjustment, I'm sure everyone would think they needed it. If you're worried about lack of adjustability, I'd say it's not a problem. These seats are awesome, and something like 22lbs. lighter!

PSE: Before adding the Powerkit, I was really torn about adding this option as I've always done aftermarket exhausts. There have been enough reviews on this and other forums on the virtues of PSE. Although I'm not particularly sensitive to drone, I was really surprised at how much drone I get with the valves open. I didn't expect a factory tuned exhaust to drone so much. I may get some change as the motor breaks in. Again, it's not terrible, but drone is very noticeable.

New Sport Design Mirrors: There has been plenty of talk about how the new mirrors might help with the resonance created from wind buffeting with the windows down. Well...they don't help. The car still buffets pretty badly.

Manual Transmission: I think it's the second best manual ever behind, AP2 Honda S2000. It obviously makes the car slower than with PDK, but I'm not sorry I got it. I am surprised at how little throttle blip is required to rev match on a down shift. I'm still getting used to it. It feels much different than other cars I've owned. I love the auto rev matching in Sport + mode but am afraid I'll never learn how to do it on my own. I'll be in Sport + about 98% of the time, so I guess manual rev matching isn't necessary.

I'm sure I'll come up with more stuff. I'll try and add to this thread as it pops into my head or I discover it. I hope my crazy opinions help others in the ordering process.

 

Excellent review! Thanks for taking the time to post your experiences/thoughts. Keep us posted thru-out your ownership!


BTW: Car looks great!

 

"The car is darn close to perfect. I don't know how to explain it. The "experience" of owning/driving/staring at is better than I had hoped it would be."

Yup. That feel, and the way Sport PASM works on the 991 are impossible to get across to non-owners. With MT and the Powerkit, you have created the "most traditional" contemporary 911 possible (the GT3 being in another dimension). And man does it look good too!!

 

Thanks for the review, how did you figure out the Burmester defaults to the left or is driver focused. In my Audi you can set where the focus should be.

This article helped me learn more too.

http://www.whathifi.com/blog/hands-o...r-sound-system

 

In my opinion, I'm looking for a center image. If there is a female vocalist that is recorded while sitting on a stool center-stage, I want her voice to be in the center of my windshield. An obvious problem with car audio is that the left speakers are much closer to you that the passenger side. Default settings made it so that I could basically only hear the left side. A slight shift moved the image to the center of the windshield where it belongs.

I too have Audi B&O. The B&O system band aids the center image by adding a rather weak center channel. In home theater your hope is that your center channel will provide the same frequency response as the left and right channels. The B&O system has substantially better left and right separates than the center. Personally I don't like the DSP setting "Driver" focus on the B&O.

I'm so picky, that I would obviously be better building an aftermarket system. I'm just haven't been too keen on tearing apart a high-end car to do something aftermarket.

 

Great review Money. I'm debating the Burmester v. the Bose, so I hope a few others chime with their impressions.

 

If it were me, I'd be considering Base vs. Burmester. If you are into audio, it's definitely worth it.

 

Great review. I was waiting to hit 1k miles before writing up a similar one. You've inspired me to write one up sooner. Stay tuned... Car looks fantastic.
With the SPASM and the SportDesign bumper, how often do you rub. I rub the SPASM stock front lip all the time. I don't know which is lower, the stock lip or the Sport Design bumper. Just curious.

 

I was pretty surprised by the amount of clearance. My Challenge front lip on my lowered M3 rubbed everywhere. I haven't rubbed yet.

 

Drone from the PSE? I've never heard that before. Congrats on the car

 

Nice write up Money!

 

It may be a combination of new motor, new exhaust, and X51. It has significant drone from about 3,200-4,000 RPM under light load. It's not bad, but it's definitely there.

 

Congrats on the car! Agree that the sport seats plus with the extra shoulder bolstering are awesome. I don't need any more adjustability than what they offer.

 

I had a good listen to both at the dealer. To be honest both lack mid range, at least to me. Didn't listen to the stock setup but supposedly its fairly weak. I went with the Bose myself.

 

Great write-up. Happy you're enjoying the car, and it looks awesome!