I have both . (09 C2S , 08 M3, 07 997tt) . The M3 is a practical car . It has comfort, speed, good handling, cheap to own (free maintenance), and has delivered 25K mile of total reliability. HOWEVER --it's boring !!!!! There is very little excitement with the car and sometimes I feel as though its a sophiticated Mustang with it's pumped up fenders and big bump on the hood. As a daily driver the M3 gets my vote . The only problem is you won't want to drive it every day but with a C2S you will.

 

 

I own a base 997 and I'm in agreement with other posters here that it is a great car -- Plenty fast, classy, reliable, and less expensive than other alternatives. I have done a number of upgrades to mine; headers, exhaust, intake, chip and the car is defiintely not slow. Not sure what you are after though. For your budget of 50k you should be able to get one easily with some money left over for mods.

 

It's been reliable so far, I have only had it for 2 months. It's my daily driver and I have a full aftermarket warranty. Personally, I would not buy a car like this without a warranty.

 

Again I am not sure I understand what is it you are asking about.
All I am saying is that there are some ways to alter default curves on both 'S' and base cars if stock version is not what you like.
I also say that stock base car with no sport chrono option may seem to be dull and it is fixable.

Absolute gain of power from simple mods is an arguable thing but it is there. I did it to my car, I dynoed it in same shop and I have my results I trust. Do not really care what rest of the world may think about it... Supercharger or turbo will give even more. It is all up to the car`s owner what to do. Monetary expense is also a relative thing - you do it over time and spread it so it does not hurt much. If you have a spare $1-2K a month you`ll be fine.

Comparing WRX to 997 is not really working here, those are very different cars with completely different feel.

 

I really wanted GT3 from the begining but what freaked me out was the info about replacement price of ne engine - my 3.6L is somewhat $14K if core is good, GT3 engine is $45K. I can swallow first one but second freaks me out frankly. Turbo is even worse. So, I have to merit my monetary reserves quite realisticly in this area. It does not mean that if someone can afford it it should not be done - why not.
For me I will do it el cheapo way - will put turbo kit on my '06 C2 and if I`ll be lucky enough hopefully I will get 20-30K miles out from it before it blows. Will see.

 

one thing i dont know is what the sport chrono does on a manual. i understand that you spread things out, but when just the exhaust is 2500 its a lot to swallow. as for comparing the wrx to a 997, that was not my point. what i meant was that the wrx is a non S just like the sti is the S version. there is no way a wrx is a better car than the sti. i dont want to get a non S if the S is that much better.

best thing to do is to just drive them both, so thats the next step.

 

The sport chrono isn't just a gauge. It doesn't change horsepower or torque but it does offer a different throttle response and on the S it changes the PSM setting to "medium" as opposed to being either on or off

 

I've owned two TL's and bought Cindy an NSX when we retired. The dealer wrecked the NSX last Fall so we bought a Carrera. I would say the Carrera is as much fun as the NSX and that's saying something. We chose an S model, but I tried the straight Carreras as well and the difference wasn't performance, believe me. As someone else observed, you won't approach the capability of either model, even on track, unless you have serious race experience. Both of these are bloody fast cars.

Much as we loved that NSX, it was ten years old and the world has moved on. If it hadn't been cruelly murdered, it will still be great to own, but in th same sense that a Ferrari Lusso is still great after half a century.

Although I tracked my TL, you can't even speak of it in the same breath as an NSX or 911 for entertainment value. The Corvettes are very nice choices. We know a dealership owner and I looked at them as a courtesy when he knew we needed a new sports car. The price was certainly right and they handle well, but it just didn't feel the same as the Porsches we drove later in ways that were important to us. Didn't try a GTR. From the descriptions, things that bothered testers would have ruled it out for us completely.

Try a Porsche. I think you'll love it, but let your intuition rule when you're buying a fun car.

Gary

 

i just bought a Targa 4 as my DD. And i live in MONTREAL... I've had a ton of cars, just sold my 08 Cayenne S for this small car, and yes i'll drive it in the winter..

 

No real reason here to discuss Porsche mods pricing strategy. Naturally it is same set of bended pipes as for WRX but what can you do. It is Porsche and its price tag comes along. If you do not like it - do not get into it. Ferrari is even pricier, but that`s life.

To work on Porsche is much easier than to work on any Japanese brand, BTW. German engineering is truly something wonderful in this regard.

As of WRX I do not like this car and do not like this brand, so, I cannot say anything good about it at all. Supra was a nice car with a lot of potential. Acura NSX was a nice car. WRX is a sewing machine on steroids, makes a lot of noise but not much torque. I`m just not a Subaru fan, nor Nissans. I just do not dig those cars.

 

Exactly! Cars are meant to be driven!

 

ara;2792697] "has the car been dead reliable? there is the inherent fear of impending doom with a non warranty car. is it your daily driver?"

My experience has shown the 997.1 to exemplary; 14k no issues. Yet I would NOT go without a warranty. DD means alotta mileage; I'll put 18k a year on mine. The Porsche technology is still advanced. This isn't a Nikon pro camera or a PDA/cellphone and sh_t happens. I wouldn't go 'used' without one. CPO adds some cost but covers so many possibilities.

 

+1 very well written. I agree 100%.

 

again i don’t think you understand. i was simply pointing out that there are some of us who do not wish to throw on a turbo or a super charger to get the power we desire from a car. especially when it is a custom mod to an already expensive car. if the S takes care of the extra needs, that in my eyes is a better choice. for some people stock will never be enough, and i can understand that and have done mods before.

i am not sure what there is to dislike about subaru so much. they make a spot on AWD system, are great in all weather application, have a car for every need...not much to dislike. if it is the design i can see that as that is all subjective. your supra was a celica on steroids, the NSX was a great budget supercar and not even in the same category as either the WRX or the supra. and to that i am not sure how an STI that makes 300hp and 300tq stock (more than a C2 torque stock) does make much torque. i am not sure you have the impression about the WRX or more so the STI.

i was not trying to say they are anything like a P-car. all it was, was is the C2 to C2S what the WRX is to the STI? people say "oh you don’t need the extra blah blah blah, that the STI has so the WRX is fine." well i have had both and trust me just because you cant hit the STI limits as a DD it is better, in every way.