I'm somewhat confused here with what car to purchase. Originally, I was for the C4S. I selected all the options, etc, and it came to ~$135k ($145k - 5% discount: PCCB, PDK, carbon, etc). I thought about adding the X51 onto to it right before ordering, and somehow just couldn't justify spending double the base on the car. I made a few phone calls and found out that PDK is happening on the Turbo for MY2010 (saw it in the system with my own eyes), which is a must for me. I just configured a Turbo with similar options and it came to ~$160k (no discounts offered, everyone is selling Turbo's at MSRP).

Is the extra power worth the $25k? Am I going to really be in any worse shape for resale trying to sell a C4S with $50k options as I am a with a Turbo that has $30k options? What would you do if this was your call? I don't mind spending the money, but I do mind doing so foolishly. I've looked all over for a used / one on the lot, and there just aren't any even close. Any opinions are welcomed.

 

I saw a slightly used 997TT for under 100. Buy something like that and pocket the rest.

 

NorthVan, the only way I would buy a used is if it came EXACTLY the way I want it. Seeing as for PDK it would have to be a used MY2009 C4S or a used MY2010 Turbo (which haven't been released yet), the chances are slim. To me, getting something that isn't exactly what I want, isn't saving a few dollars by the compromise, but instead wasting the money on something I won't really care as much for.

 

+1 absolutely

 

Well if a the car you really want isn't a available yet, then I would still buy a used 997TT drive it for a year and then trade it on the new 10 TT. You will take less of a bath then buy a new C4S and trading it in next year.

But it is your money.

 

PDK is not worth 70 grand . Why such avoidance about learing how to drive stick? Even the Tip is a great car . It makes no sense to get either the C4S or Turbo car when the savings is that huge. It's throwing away money .

 

You are certainly correct, PDK is not worth the $70k. That said, the premium over the used one in question is not just due to the transmission. If the choice was between two new cars or two used cars, the difference being $70k, then that would be a different story. I also find it hard to believe that an optioned Turbo would sell for under $100k, I have no idea tho as I haven't really studied the used market much.

I thought several times about getting a manual (I'd really love a GT3) but the fact of the matter is F1 style transmissions are more city friendly (where I live), quicker, and more versatile. Yes you save some money and gain some control, but that just isn't worth it to me. And if I'm going with an automatic, there is no way I would go with another Tip - they're just not designed with a sports application in mind. I do however appreciate the feedback.

 

You'll take a bath on the C4S with $ 50,000 in options twice, once when you buy it and once when you sell/trade it. But, with that said, no law says you can't get what you want. As for the Turbo vs C4S, you'll still take a bath on the turbo when you sell/trade it but not nearly as big a bath given the specialty nature of the car. Just remember, there is a finite market for cars such as these and not a lot of folks are willing to plunk down anything close to $ 100,000 for a new car, let alone a used one, no matter the make so the market dynamics involved between the two cars you're looking at aren't that much different. (PCCB are designed for track use. If this car is going to be driven primarily on the street you may want to rethink that option.)As for the PDK, which I think I might also prefer in the Turbo, it could be a mixed bag at trade in time as in the past the TIPs sell for a lot less than a stick. Prior to the PDK, traditional Porsche buyers in the USA have prefered a stick and are willing to pay more for it. Jury is still out on the PDK and trade in values in the future.

 

You do realize that the 70K can nearly get you both a used Turbo and a leftover 09 C2S PDK almost. You can almost have two cars plus a PDK in one if you simply waited. The markup on an MSRP Turbo is huge and the depreciation on the last ones is even larger . Just ask the guys on the Turbo forum who paid MSRP and see how badly they feel now when guys are buying cars they paid 150K for 85K.
The 997S and Gt3 in contrast has faced more resillience in depreciation so if you were taliking about buying a new Gt3 I'd be right with you . In fact i may buy one myself but the last Gt3 has held its value and with used Gt3's it's a track car so it may face more issues buying used . The Turbo on the other hand is a street car and in many cases are driven by doctors , attorneys and business owners from home to work making them an ideal used car to buy for those reasons.,

 

Your issue is not the PDK it is the options that you are adding on the car. You must have a very long list of options to have put the car up in those number.
I have a 09 C4S...nicely optioned...great car. And it was discounted too from an MSRP of about 111K to under 100K ...That was 7 months ago. Great car.
But if you order exactly what you want with all those options then price is much higher and they are much less likely to lower the price because you are ordering the car. If you want new you always run the risk of losing huge money, but that is the price of buying new. On top of that...I have never owned a car with a ton of options and had it pay off when I go to trade. All the options seem to be worth about 25% of what you pay for them when you go trade it.
D

 

One more thing....
The difference between the current turbo 07-09 and the new PDK C4S (stock vs stock) is much smaller of a gap then the PDK C4S vs the PDK TURBO will be.

 

Larry, a large number of 997GT3's have not been tracked. I find it hard to believe that a car like that does a commute and doesn't get to stretch it's legs. If you are looking for a used one, I am sure that you will find one without track timevery quickly.

BTW, my C2S has seen 20 track days and about 2500 miles on the track in the last year and 3 months, and I have yet to make a warranty claim. Now my car may not be the cleanest 06 C2S around, it has been one of the most reliable.

 

To your original question, it's a no brainer to me. If it's a $15K difference between the two cars that interest you, I'd surely get the turbo. I prefer 2wd/rwd myself, but if I was going to get awd the tt power is awesome.
As to PDK questions, it's solely personal. Get whatever you prefer. No doubt you are paying a premium in the scenario you cite (versus a pre-owned model), but it's hard to really compute 'savings' on luxery items. No one needs these cars. Getting one other than the model and configuration that you absolutely like doesn't sound like savings to me.
By the way, I've driven an F1 Ferrari and it sure didn't seem less sporty to me. It was an incredible experience in fact. But I've not driven a PDK.

 

Thanks to everyone for the feedback. I figured it would be the TT, which I already placed a deposit on, but I guess I just needed some confirmation.

I would NEVER buy used. Ever. Period. I know the depreciation hit is taken for you, but it takes a certain kind of person to trade a car in after less then a year, and I've found more often then not, they don't care for their cars the way that they should be.

I could also buy a used Ferrari 360 and an 09 C4S PDK, 5 Toyotas, about 300 pairs of nice shoes, or 32,000 big macs. Everything can seem very cheap or very expensive in comparison. I've been thinking about it a lot lately, but honestly, they would all be compromises. I'd want the F430 not the 360, the one on the lot would be missing a lot that I would want, etc.

 

mmmm 15,520,000 Calories.....Caloric intake for 6208 days or 17.01 yrs....

I agree with some of the other poster, decking out a C4S with near $50k in add on's is a bit drastic. You have to decide which car is a better fit for you as either a weekend warrior, daily driver ect....and then option the right car as you see fit. Not sure how much that helps or confuses things further but the C4S and TT are completely different animals. I love my C4S as the NA motor has a nice roar to it and I like the throttle response over the turbo for driving around town. My car is a daily driver and in 2 mos of ownership x2 Track/Driving Days. The TT is a supercar just not for everyday use in the type of traffic I drive in. JMHO.