Hello:
I searched (here and Google) but I did not get a sufficient answer:

Were the Carrera C2S brakes (red calipers) a factory option for a 2008 regular C2? I looked at a pre-owned Porsche certified black 2008 C2 (Rusnak Porsche, Pasadena, CA). It's clearly a 3.6L Carrera but the brake calipers are red. I called and I was advised that this was a special order since this vehicle was custom ordered. Then I saw also a 2008 meteor gray C2 at Hennessy Porsche with the red brake calipers. It could be an aftermarket kit, i.e., Brembo or the like or just a paint job, but the Rusnak Porsche has clearly readible PORSCHE on the Calipers. Can someone of the experts please shine light on the issue?

Thanks a million in advance,
~ Bernd

 

I'm not 100 percent on this but I believe those are painted calipers rather than the actual C2S brakes .

 

Thanks yrralis1.
I'm truely amazed how quickly you answer to those many questions during the day and how often you post here. Sometimes, I just log in to see your comments on various topics (and I don't even have a Porsche yet).

On a different note, the black C2 at Rusnak is very appealing. I REALLY have the hardest time to make any decison what P-car I like and I'm basically all over the place: new 2009 to pre-owned 2006 and back, from C2 to C2S and back, from red to silver to black and back, and so on. I guess that I need "professional" help or just buy the damn thing and be happy with it. But the German and, in particular, the scientist in me drive me into some kind of "analysis-paralysis" which is fun yet unproductive. I now think that a nicely optioned low mile 2007-2008 pre-owned C2 would the right beginner car but then I do have two very attractive 2009 offers for C2s (not C2Ss). Decisons, decisions.

Sorry for deviating from the topic,
~ Bernd

 

Tough choices . From an outside observer position I see that you are already asking about the brakes on an "S " . Even though the C2 is a great car I speculate that once attained you will ask about the other "S" parts. If you get an 07 you will wonder about an 09 .

Then there's the cost issue . The 07S -09S
Bargain 07 S with under 10K mi = 55K
Bargain new 09 S = 80K

My guess is that the 09 C2 is priced right in the zone . It's a stretch above the used car but it doesn't price you out of the market like a new S . That's what attracts you to it .. plus its new with no previous driver history .

My feeling is that if one is already at 70K he has to either wait until he's got the rest or go the full monte. If one doesn't want the car expense to wreak financial stress .. then save the money , get the 07 and you'll have something to look forward to . Just make sure that you run all the inspections on the 07 which will give the peace of mind of facing future reliability expenses.

Good luck.

 

OP:

When I was shopping around for a 997.1 C2S I was told by the dealer that just about every option or standard equipment on the C2S was also available on the C2 as an option. There was an article in excellence not long ago that highlighted the fact that you could have a weakly optioned 997S and a well optioned standard 997 and the regular C2 could potentially be the sportier car. They did a comparo between a bare bones C2S and a super optioned C2. It was interesting read because in several ways the 3.6 in the C2 is more fun option. The 3.6 does not suffer from the breathing issues the 3.8 does high in the rev band allowing for a rev happy power band. The author even referred to the standard C2 with its rev happy engine, big brakes, PASM, and sport chronno options as a mini GT3. Highlighting the fact that after 4000 RPM the differences between the two engines become minute. The problem here was that to option a standard C2 out like this would actually make it more expensive than a bare bones C2S. However, in the used market I dont think the premium can or should exist. Also, its not unheard of to find a standard C2 with PCCB brakes!

Edit: If I had the choice between a 997.1 C2S and a 997.2 C2 I would go with the 997.2 (with aero-kit of course) and PDK. The 997.2 with PDK is all the fast you need unless you have money to burn. My fantasy 997.2 would look like this,

-Aero Kit (when available)
-PASM, Chrono, LSD- Damptronics or similar on arrival
-Sport Bucket Seats (GT2 seats)
-Nav, Audio, IPOD
-PSE (later to modded with aftermarket headers and cats)
-PCCB maybe or a later upgrade to Brembo's (expensive option that gets you close to C2S cost but not if you were planning to get a C2S with PCCB- I hate brake dust)
-Emblem delete (replace with 911 emblem)
-Rear seat delete (upon arrival)

That would be a hot car.... just dreaming



Jason

 

Jellis -I won't debate opinion but I will debate facts.

I searched auto trader to see if even ONE C2 is listed anywhere (using Los Angeles --where Op is looking) . NOT even one exists . I found Gt3's . I found C2S cars. I even found a special order Boxter spec's in Germany .. but not ONE C2 .

Your fantasy 997.2 C2 could cost more than a Turbo . Do you have any idea how much it costs to add ceramics after the fact ? Price it .. not at an indy shop but at any authorized dealereship selling this OEM part.

Even Brembos are approx 7K plus install unless they are bought used . You are adding all these parts to this guys car that he hasn't bought and is reaching out to buy. factory aerokit is another 5K (new) . Damptronics another 3K installed approx .

Why not just tell him to buy a Gt3 ? It would cost less than this dream c2 ?

So.... he would be left with the regular C2 .. OR in depreciation freefall with this dream C2 when he could have had a Gt3 and saved money ?

 

I think prices on used cars jumped up, plus just from looking at same saved links I still have I simply do not see much offering anymore. 2006 CPO C2S at Porsche dealer goes now for almost $60K. 2 months ago I could get one for $54K. 07 is usually $5K-6K more.
Again, I got my CPO C2 from private party for $40K. That sort of prices are practically gone now, I do not see anything like this at all in 200 miles area around me, everything seems to sit in $48K+ area. May be it`s just a typical end of summer thing.

 

Not sure what you searched for.... I assume PCCB's. It was and is an option on the standard C2... look at the Porsche Config www.Porscheusa.com and build your own. My dream 997.2 with PCCB's was around 104K.... which does the beg the question, why not just get a GT3... I have a few reasons for this that we can discuss offline (PM me if you wish). But if we are going to split hairs, a GT3 with the same options would be much more expensive than the C2 with the same options. Same goes for a the turbo.

Plus I was just telling him what I would do. I dont see a problem in telling someone what I would do. I have expensive aftermarket parts on my car... so do you... its what I like, I am not sure where you are going with this. I just felt like adding in what I would do If I was buying a new 997.2.....

Edit: BTW if you want to see a 997S that came with PCCB's look up GMG's shop 997... the yellow one. The owner bought that with PCCB's from the factory in 2005. So yes, there were crazy owners out there than purchased PCCB's as an option on their Carerra/S... I probably would... I hate brake dust and not having to replace my brakes except after 100,000 or more miles is appealing. Just me though.

Oh, and yes I do know how much it costs to add PCCB's after the fact. Suncoast just raised their price from 13k to 17K.... ouch

Jason

 

If an average person does not plan to rebuild his car from nose to tail - probably standard C2S would be a better choice and most importantly - save him from that horrible question - 'what if I would get another car'.

Survivability and life span of base 3.6l motor compared to 3.8l is a valid topic but probably not very relevant for most people since none of existing 997 cars is yet even close to that edge in engine lifespan. They will start to die, of course, but later, so we will not have real statistics for next 4-5 years at least.

Again, from my perspective, if any person does not plan to mod car from nose to tail replacing struts, springs, clutch, reprogram ECU - probably from pure stock perspective C2S is more fun.

As soon as you start rebuilding car - all what matters is the base platform. Which is naturally exactly same for both C2 and C2S. And if you plan to supercharge car - it probably makes sense not to get C2S, excatly due to matters explained in quoted text above.

 

Agreed which is why I said, this is what I would do.... ME....Call me crazy... I like modding I like the uniqueness of my 997. But, especially if I did not like modding, if I didnt go to the track etc etc etc.... I still think a standard 997.2 is all the Porsche you need. Its about as fast as my 997.1 C2S!

Jason

 

Did a 5 second google search to magazine comporo's with standard C2's with PCCB's.... This is not the Excellence article I read but its funny because it echo's the same sentiments.......

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....&page_number=1

"For this first drive, which took place near Seville, Spain, I sampled two models, a 3.8-liter, 355-bhp Carrera S with standard brakes, and a 3.6-liter Carrera with PCCB carbon-ceramic discs. Both had 19-in. wheels, a manual 6-speed gearbox and PASM actively controlled shock absorbers, which are standard on the S and optional on the 3.6. To be frank, I can hardly notice a difference in the performance of the basic Carrera and the S. Both are impressively fast, both engines respond instantly but smoothly to the slightest movement of the accelerator pedal and emit a beautifully tuned sound."

Still want to debate the facts?

Jason

 

People always want more than they really need, it is purely psychological. So most people tend to want an absolute best so they would have nothing else left to want.

As life is all about compromises - everyone chooses for himself. Plus hype factor here makes more influence than any actual ability of the car.

 

So true.... but then if your (not you, general term) this type of person, then you run the risk of going down the modding rabbit hole... which I myself have found myself in, quite deep in expensive mods!

Jason

 

Mods are fun. Some people like them, some - not. I like them. I wish my garage would be bigger and had a lift.

911 is built relatively easy to work on, much better than nissan or toyota, IMHO. I can actually sneak my hands in most places on this car. It is a shame not to get benefit of that.

 

I agree.

I can not find an 07S coupe with less than 10k miles anywhere.

You can get clsoe with a base model. But not an "S"