I'm moving to Houston from Dubai where I currently drive a 997.2 Turbo. I can't bring the turbo back unfortunately for specification reasons, so I will need to buy a new car in the US and I am trying to decide what to get for my daily driver.

My first thought is to get a 991 S. However, I am visiting Houston now and the roads are really terrible - worse than when I lived in DC. I am concerned that much as I like a firm ride, this may be too much either for me or for the car!

Any Houstonians have a view on this?

P.S. is anyone in the GCC looking for a 997.2 Turbo Cab?

 

Not familiar with Houston’s roads, but I lived in the DMV (District, Maryland, Virginia) for over 37 years and cannot imagine worse road conditions! Wow! Also consider a 4S or GTS!

 

No, there are much worse. Connecticut for example. Or Cairo.

Or downtown Houston.

 

You can include New York as some of the worse roads

 

and Detroit

 

And greater Pittsburgh. I would love to have Maryland and Virginia highways here.

 

I would occasionally drive my 991 on the downtown roads. As you pointed out the roads aren't great and will produce a rough ride, take precautionary measures and be aware of potholes popping out of nowhere . The roads in the suburbs are great and would recommend you taking your car out on those.

 

No post hijacking intended, the tailgaters scared me way more in that area with their enormous trucks. Driving at 75+ at half a car apart. If you drive on the right within the speed limit you get some hate driving. People use whatever lane to pass (osmosis style).

 

Similar to Connecticut highways. You’re traveling at 75 mph in the left lane in a 55 zone at night in heavy traffic. The cabin lights up because there is a tractor trailer on your bumper. But they will not pass when you pull right. Go figure.
Merit parkway through south Connecticut during rush hour, words cannot describe it.

 

I lived in Houston 4 years (2010-2014) and agree the roads are not good...however; it doesn't really matter as the traffic is horrible at all times of day and you will be limited to stop and go traffic on all major freeways. You can go outside the loop on weekends and look for clear zones. All this said, you will find there is a plethora of nice cars in the area and all suffer the same. Cheers!

 

I've owned 2 911s. One was a 4s and the other was a turbo S. The road noise due to streets and the driving experience was too noisy and loud. I talk on the phone a lot. Sold them and bought an AMG 63 coupe. More quiet and comfortable, but at the expense of the thrill of performance and handling on a good road. The problem is...there are not a lot of good roads. This isn't a Houston issues. Same goes for Austin, San Antonio and Dallas/Ft. Worth.

 

Texas roads in general suck, but there are some decent roads these days as Texas is building better roads now than they used to. Plus, San Antonio and Austin have the hill country to play in. Porsche has gone the way of the fast and furious crowd by putting larger diameter wheels on the car than needed. If you have 19" wheels on a 991 it'll be fine. You just need a little more sidewall than a 20" wheel allows if you think the ride isn't ideal on 20" wheels.

 

I appreciate all the replies, thank you. The reason for the question is I'm trying to decide between picking up aa 991 S or an S4 when I move to Houston. Head says S4, but the heart says 991.

Plus I have been spoiled the last few years in Dubai where the roads are generally pretty smooth and fast.