Hi guys,

I'm currently in the market for my first Porsche. I already decided not to buy new (depreciation), especially with a 991 just around the corner since I intend to keep the car for at least 3 years. I also decided it has to be AWD, since where I live winter is long and we get a lot of snow.

Right now I am considering two cars (both CPO), a 2007 997.1 Turbo 6 speed manual, lots of options (PCCB, Akrapovic exhaust, SC, etc.), you can see pictures and (in Slovenian ) description here: http://www.avto.net/_AVTO/ad.asp?ID=4188706&show=1 and a 2009 C4S PDK, also with PCCB, SC, Porsche sport exhaust etc. http://www.avto.net/_AVTO/ad.asp?ID=4222772&show=1

The price of the 4S is higher, but I hope to bring it down a little so it is within a few thousand of the Turbo.

The car will be used as a DD (50-100km on a normal day), mainly by myself and to pick up my 4 year old from daycare. Occasionally, I would like to use it for short (up to 3 hours) trips with the whole family (wife+ 2 kids aged 4 and 1). We have lots of hills and mountains here, so the roads are mostly mountain roads connected with highways in the valleys. Lots of good curves, a bit like alpine regions of Italy, Austria or Switzerland. A few times a year, I take longer business trips to Germany (up to 3.000 km in 2-3 days).

I've test driven both cars, and was totally sold on 4S until I drove the Turbo. The power difference is astonishing and everything else being equal I would not even think about 4S. But, the 4S also has its advantages since it is a newer model, especially PCM (touchscreen, iPod integration, MP3, bluetooth to connect my iPhone 4 etc.). I'm also not sure about the engine - The turbo is a proven engine and it would be great to own such a piece of race heritage, on the other hand the new engine has DFI and better economy.

My main concerns (if I put aside my biggest worry that the 4S will not be fast enough for me once I get used to it and there will always be that Turbo nag) are:

1. While I enjoyed driving the Turbo immensely, I'm afraid I will get tired of stick shifting after time.... especially on longer trips. It seems hardly possible, but the thought remains. Especially since PDK is a really great transmission.
2. Clutch on the Turbo - I heard that it usually needs replacing before 100.000 km are up. Is that true? Is it possible to replace with a more durable one?
3. PCCB - both cars have it, so it is no decision maker, but since the car will not be used on track, I expect once the ceramics wear out I will replace them with steel. Is it a difficult conversion?

In short, I think my heart decided on a Turbo and my brain on a 4S. Any thoughts from guys with more experience?

 

I was pondering the same dilemma, and personally decided on the 6 speed.

The real thing that i read in your post is the last sentence, and really think its the only one that seems to matter all that much. with that said, i have made decisions with the pragmatic side of my brain about which car to buy in the past and paid the price- i later sold it and got the car i really wanted. go with what your heart/gut wants. good luck.

 

totally a matter of preference, but the real decision is turbo or no turbo...i can tell you once you have a turbo there is no going back...thats why i started with one!

 

Yeh that damn turbo will bugger you! I think your heart has got it right. And on the stick.....dont think too much.

Absolutely. There is no going back. It becomes just a matter of how much further forward you can go from there on. There really isn't a lot to think about.....other than signing the cheque

 

OK,

the answers seem to all go in one direction... one more question - is there a big difference in navigation between PCM2.1 and 3.0? I guess a can solve the iPhone with an aftermarket handsfree kit and if I understand correctly 2.1 also plays MP3 from cds....so the NAV seems to be the real difference?

 

Just get it bought.

All that other stuff wont matter

 

Yes, there is a big difference between the old and the new v 3.0 PCM. That's why I bought an '09. 2009 997.1 TTs came with the new PCM.

Actually, have you thought of buying one in the United States and shipping it to Slovenia? An '09 from here will cost you less than what you are going to be paying for that '07.

 

Of just buy this instead and never look back.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2010-...#ht_8889wt_843

 

Turbo, 'nuff said...

R911 package as well.. just saying...

 

No brainer...turbo

 

turbo!!

 

Turbo has the GT1 engine too - proven history.

 

Had the same choice, it was a 2009 leftover 4s with all the goodies and PDK or my 997 turbo. I have to say, PDK may be the future, but I'm not feeling it. I just had a panamera loaner, and tried it out for 2 hours of back-road/highway travel, and ultimately chose to leave it in sport auto mode. Why bother shifting, it's better to let the automanual do it.

PDK also does this weird thing as you slow to a stop - it feels like engine braking, then it goes clutch in all of a sudden. I was about to coast to a stop, then it suddenly coasted as the clutch went in (and with all that panameramass it actually launched forward). I would not have clutched at that point, it was a computer program second guessing me. No thanks Mr. computer.

 

This will not go down easy here but – the 09 4S is a thoroughly modern car and with the sport chrono, new PCM, sport exhaust, and PDK this car is a MAJOR upgrade from the 07 turbo. Don’t let the turbo power seduce you. We have both versions as 2010 models and previously had a 07 C4S.<O</O
<O</O

If both were ’10 cars I would go with the turbo but given the description of the two cars, take the 09 S4.<O</O
<O</O

By the way the older PCM SUCKS!<O</O

 

I have all kinds of thoughts and it seems that cars in general are a lot cheaper in US than here - that 997.1 turbo cost EURO 212,000 new!!!! That's almost $300,000 . Unfortunately, if I import I have to pay customs, VAT and special vehicle tax so I'm afraid the price goes up quite a bit. I will definitely explore this further.