I have driven manual 911's for nearly 20 years and currently have a 997.2 base car, 6 spd. I had pretty much made up my mind that I would trade my car for the new 991 base car with a manual tranny but when I went to the dealer today to leave a deposit I decided to test drive a 2012 Carrera GTS and in one word: WOW

The difference between my base 997.2 and the GTS is vast. I cannot tell you how impressed I was with the PDK. I dropped the hammer and the acceleration and precision of the shifts was amazing. I had never considered a PDK before today and now I am giving it serious thought.

Over all the car felt solid and the Alcantara steering wheel and sport seats just added to the quality feel. I don't know that I would pay $125k for it but it was definitely the best Porsche I have ever driven and felt faster than a stock 996 turbo I had driven some years ago. My mind cannot even imagine what the Turbo S PDK must be like.

The sales guy, who was very helpful and even let me drive the car on my own which my local dealer would NEVER do, even tried to talk me out of the GTS and said the new 991 S will be even better than the 997 GTS. He also spoke very highly of the new 3.4 litre base car which will rev more freely than the current car. In fact, the new 991 will have the same exhaust standard that the GTS has when you press that little button to open it up some.

I'm still not sure what I will end up doing but I left there thoroughly impressed with the GTS and getting back in my car it may as well have been a toyota camry the difference is so astounding. New 991S at MSRP or perhaps a GTS discounted 10%? What to do

 

I came away with a similar impression after going to a Porsche Event earlier this year when I drove a C2S cabriolet with PDK and SC. I have always been a 3 pedal guy but that test drive made me a believer. It was borderline exhilarating to upshift and the throttle blips on downshifting were sublime.

If I decide to go with a 991, I think I will just get the base with PDK, SC, PSE, ventilated seats and possibly sunroof. Those options alone will make the car $5K more than what my fully loaded C2S stickered for in 2007. The 991 S I priced out was $20K more than the base and double the difference between the 997.1 S and base which when I bought my 911 was around $10K and definitely more palatable to the wallet.

Either way you can't go wrong IMO. I think in the end, I will want the 991 because of it's new platform although obviously as seen comparing the 996 and 993, newer isn't necessarily better

 

I was in your situation....then i picked the GTS and have no regrets

 

I agree. Just for good measure I also test drove a 2012 Carrera S with a 6 speed and not only did the steering wheel look and feel cheap ( even when compared to my base car) but it just felt awfully sluggish compared to the PDK GTS.

 

Depends on why you are getting the car. I think the 997.2 GTS PDK is an incredible car. Put the aero kit on it and it is my dream car. It is a culmination of all the improvements of the model run. BUT, if you are wanting have the latest, then a 991 C2S PDK would be the pick. It will drive as good (or better) and be contemporary for a longer period of time. If you go with the GTS, get 10-12k off sticker. Either choice is awesome!!!

 

You should be able to do better. I just used the USAA car buying service this morning to price a GTS for someone else. With a couple of appearance options I wouldn't be interested in myself, the price offered by three local dealers was $107,600. Take away those pricey options and you could add back the PDK and arrive at a little under $107,000.

Your options list may vary of course, but that was one very nice GTS he had spec'ed that I looked up for him. I also saw that a base Carrera was to be had from about $75k, though you can add that one up pretty fast with a heavy hand on the option list. If those results are typical, buying a 997.2 will be very tempting until they run out.

Gary, who would be tempted himself if he had more miles on his own

 

Personally, I wanted to make sure I got the 997.2 platform and did go with a build to order GTS. The comment above regarding the culmination of improvement, etc, etc.

While the 991 appears to set the stage for a long run of a new platform, I've never been big on first release of anything.

Now when Porsche comes out with the 991 GT3 with PDK (?) I'll be seriously tempted. Separate thread on whether or not the 991 GT3 will or won't have PDK.

Good luck.

 

The model runs tend to be pretty lengthy and the offerings within the models get nicer and nicer as the model run goes on. To get a 991 in its first year is to accept more kinks and less options/variability, all while paying full msrp. If you want a car NOW go for the GTS, and keep it for a few years into the new model run. The way this economy isn't evolving, dealers aren't going to be able to get full msrp for long on the 991.

 

The GTS is one of the better 911 variants. I test drove a 2012 GTS with PDK, Sport chrono, sport exhaust, sport pasm and carbon interior package. I believe the MSRP was $125,000. I was very impressed with the car. The GTS is going to have good resale value because it is the 911 everyone wants and not a lot of them were made. Buying a new version Porsche is always a bold move because they are quirky cars and the consumer helps Porsche sort out the defects for the next model year to get it right. Based on what I remember from my test drive I would say get GTS and sell it in a couple of years and get a second year 991.

dave-t

 

^+1 You're reading my mind with a 991 GT3 PDK as the next step.

 

I have not driven a GtS but I do have my PDK 997.2S and it is modded ( FVD complete system , software , Werks1 box, Bilstein ) which I think brings it close .
I still would drop my current car in a nanosecond for a bone stock Gt3.

Regarding the Turbo S PDK .. I keep reading posts in the 997tt section where a select few have posted that thwy regret buying the car .
I still think the 997.1tt with its Gt1 platform and its mod friendly capability is the best street 997 out .. but NOT in stock form.

I like PDK but after 8K miles with it the novelty has eroded .
I don't know if my next car will be a PDK.

 

Larry,

Not to hijack but I'm curious why you did the bilstiens. Was the base set up too soft, hard?

To tromero

I think the gts is the car to get now, even with the 991 coming for many new buyers and upgraders.

However I'm not sure going from a base 997.2 to a gts is worth the cash.

I would test drive a few more to be sure.

 

I just got the new Excellence magazine this morning and there is an article comparing the Cayman R to the GTS and they liked the Cayman R better, interesting.

dave-t

 

Larry you bring up an interesting point. While I was seduced by PDK during a 20 minute test drive I am wondering if I will be happy living with it for a few years or will I grow bored and yearn for a 6 speed. The PDK + sport chrono is nearly $8k worth of options so in that regard the 6 speed is definitely the better play. I had planned on ordering a base 991, 6 speed with Fuchs and a few options like sport seat and XM but the GTS experience left me question that. One thing I really noticed about the GTS is that when you press the little sport exhaust button it really freed up the engine and it revved much better. My 997 and the 997.2 S 6 spd that I drove just after the GTS felt choked up by comparison. The sales guy said the new 991 will have the same sport exhause the GTS has as it's stock exhaust which is a big plus. Blue tooth/ipod are also stock which were expensive options on the 997.

 

On the other side, I have 2K miles on my manual C2S and love it overall, but there are times I yearn for the PDK experience. Variety is the spice of life.