I have a buddy looking at a 2006 - 2007 911. I have a 2006 911 S and love the low end torque. I didn't test drive the regular 911, so I can't give him advice as to the difference between the two. The broker is is working with is telling him save a few bucks and get the regular 911 (maybe because he has one on hand he is trying to sell him). Can some of you give me a good overview of both cars? I know the HP difference on paper, is it really noticeable? Would love to help him with some advice as to the pro & cons of each car.

 

Read up here....!
There are plenty more somewhere,I have seen them...maybe try the search function.....

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...ifference.html

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...ver-skill.html

Stacy

 

Engine, brakes, suspension different, PASM standard on S, Bi-Xenon standard on S, 19" & wider wheels/tires (rear) standard on S, S rides about 1/2" lower, S is about 55# heavier, gets 1 mpg less, different steering wheel, different instrument dials and dashboard trim, different exhaust tips, S is .2 to .3 sec quicker in straight line 0 - 60 mph; and the BIGGEST difference - you get the little "S" emblem glued on after the 'carrera' on the engine lid. Standard will ride a little bit smoother on the 18" wheels and withstand pot holes a bit better. The torque curves are significantly different as you suspected. Only us Owners would recognize the differences between the two if we were looking at them, so the snob appeal to the layman is the same. MSRP difference on the two was about $10 grand, on used maybe 5K at best.

Is one "better"? That's up to the buyer, and of course they are both 2nd class citizens to the GT3 or turbo, and Lambo owners consider all of them 'starter cars'.

 

If your friend is the kind of guy that has to have the 'best' of things,then it will be hard to dissuade him from the S. However, many people claim they can't tell much difference, including Total911 magazine! They actually think the base Carrera is the best buy of all the variants.

 

Buy the S the extra options are well worth the money IMO.

 

+1 if only for the extra option which come standard on the S.

 

The price gap is becoming wider though . Once upon a time it was about 7K to buy the S over the base car but now with PDK (vs manual), fancy seats choices , and techno gadgets that 7K can easily turn into 20K on a 2010 car .

On the 06 --it's a no brainer and that was his specific question so to the OP --get the S.

 

All those extra's can be added to a base car as well, so it is relevant. If you equipped a 2010 997 and a 2010 997S both with PDK and Sport Seats would the difference change? I think that you are saying a base versus a well equipped S the price can get quite high.

 

You are correct but what i notice on the various inventories is that the guy buying the base car is trying to save a few bucks . The engine is basically the heart of that vehicle and if the buyer mindset goes into cost cutting with this and sees a 10 base cars with manual , regular seats , and just a few convenience options .. that's all he needs to justify the gap. If one looks at the various on line 2010 cars .. the S cars are priced from 97K to 115K but the base cars are in the mid 80's . That's a huge gap .

Keep in mind .. most guys who car shop simply walk into the dealerships and browse rather than custom spec the car .

 

You need to compare apples to apples. Additional options are add-ons affecting equally the price of either car. You need to compare a base Carrera and a base Carrera S? One gets a lot of value w/ a S - 3.8 engine, PASM, better brakes. A lot of value still.

 

I agree with both of you . The snag is that the guy who buys the base car may not have the same experience with those differences , or it may be his first Porsche , or it's a big stretch to make it to the base car over the used CPO or Cayman s .

They don't see "engine, brakes pasm " as quickly as they see 20K savings . Usually they have a checkbook and have their wife with them too and just hearing her say " I think the little 997 is cute" might close the deal .

 

Some buyers are green and have no info, but I think most Porsche buyers are knowledgeable. One can order an S w/o options w/ a discount today and end up perhaps paying the same as loaded Carrera on the lot.

The other side of the coin is... that same 'green' customer probably does not need an S to begin with as his first 911 anyway.

 

Hey guys, drkside asked about an 06 or 07 997.1, not a new one.

 

A lot of value from one perspective, but Brembo brakes are better than 'S' brakes, PSS10 coilovers are better than PASM. One can do all those upgrades over time and get much better car in the end. It all depends of original intentions - what this car is getting bought for, if most of car parts getting modded in the process - it makes no sense at all to invest additional $15K in front of it all.

 

The only place where he will care if he has 'S' or 'non-S' will be on this forum. In real life he will be too overwhelmed with his new toy to think about great effect of .2L engine displacement difference.
Only advice will be not to hurry and test drive a lot of cars, 'S' or base. Then he will decide for himself what is it what matters to him. If he has budget for 'S' car - it is a no brainer to get one. If he does not - it is not as important as to check if base car has all options he wants to have.