This is one of my first posts and I just wanted to say that I am grateful to all the members who have contributed valuable advice via this forum. I've grown to become a big-big fan of the 6speedonline and I've learned a lot from all the veterans while reading for long hours at night- about my future car-to-be.

CANDIDATES - PLEASE HELP ME DECIDE

Top Tier (Eur 45-50k)

2006 PORSCHE 997.1 TURBO TIPTRONIC S / 80,000KM - nice all around, tiptronic is ok for commute, yet - like all turbos - it's got boy racer rear wings



2009 PORSCHE 997.1 C4 PDK / 60,000KM - nice all around, but much lower performance than TURBO (it's also a narrow body) love the curves on non-Turbos yet this is an Italian car so have sucked in plenty of hot air during spirited driving. Maybe PDK will compensate?



2008 PORSCHE 997.1 TURBO MANUAL / 140,000KM - my original top candidate, but I just learned today that it has been a "smoker vehicle", I'm a bit worried about the condition of the leather and also the 140k on the clock. I will never feel comfortable in a vehicle that smells like an ashtray, even if I looove the manual/turbo combo. Dealbreaker?



Second Tier (Eur 35-40k)

2007 PORSCHE 997.1 C2S / 60,000 KM - originally my 2nd candidate, nice all around but I heard today that it was imported from Italy so at least 2 owners, Combine this with the IMS bearing issues of this engine and suddenl;y I have second thoughts. Eliminate?



2007 PORSCHE 997.1 C4 / 150,000 KM - least likely as it's got way too many miles and it's a non-S version. Already eliminated!



For background - what I'm looking for:

One owner car is the most important thing for me, as I'm relying on the assumption that the first owner will usually take better care of his baby. I've owned a series of track bikes and used to own a BMW M3 and looking for my next daily driver, 50% commute, 45% canyon driving, 5% track. Don't care much for the commute (other than heated seats for winter) so I'm basing my decision on my weekend canyon driving and the occasional track use. All of the above cars have the Sport Chrono package, mostly by chance.

My driving style:

I would characterise my driving style as spirited freeride (using a snowboard analogy, I see Audi RS=alpine carving; Nissan Skyline=freestyle; E46 M3=freeride). In plain English, I enjoy the driving experience, and like cars which are fun at speed both on the piste (curvy roads) as well as in the park (track) and although I'm obviously a speed addict and love to race, the experience is more important..

Superbike analogy: I enjoy riding my R6 around a track more than a point-and-shoot style monster like a Hayabusha (actually went form R1 to R6 as it was more "freeride"). Funny that my lap times on the weaker/lighter R6 were also better as I probably just feel more at ease.

Preferences:

Indifferent re gearbox, fine either way almost. Manual is pure and keeps value better. Fine with the AUTO as I will be sitting in very SLOW traffic for at least 50% of the time. And the PDK/TIP does have the flappy pedals, so I can get engaged if I want for the rest of the time (ok not the same as rowing, but I'll also be commuting a lot). Prefer the PDK over Tiptronic for sure.. but is it worth downgrading two notches from a 480HP Turbo Tiptronic to a 345HP Carrera Vanilla at the same price point?

As I come from Superbikes, so I was told I should go straight for a Turbo and that I'll likely find the Carreras less exciting. From videos I confirm that I really love the whine and acceleration of the Turbos, the driver experience seems comparable to a superbike . Not sure about those boy racer rear wings though and I also wear a tie to work every day..

Driving resume:

Enjoyed my E46 M3 but I find new BMWs a bit too obvious and too "over the top" to be honest. I've tried around 15-20 cars over the past 6 months, ranging from a Porsche Boxsters to a BMW M4s. I know for a fact that heavy cars are not my thing. I found the Audi RS too clinical and too much "on rails" (alpine carving), Boxster was fun (freestyle teen) and I've fallen in love a bit, but it was slightly too "easy" to drive (blue piste) ie. not challenging/involving enough. The M4 felt like an ex boy racer hooligan who's gotten soft past his prime years (45 year old snowboarder with dyed hair playing it cool in the hütte apres-ski). I suspect the new wave of electric steering has sthng to do with my alienation from these historic cars. Never had a chance to drive an analogue 911 but from what I hear it's more HC (gang of splitboarders) than an M4 (hütte jodlee) and just as freestyle (party animator) as a Boxster.

So... I'm almost 100% sure this is the car for me.. But which one?
Please HELP!!

2006 Turbo Tip 80k



2009 C4 PDK 60K



2008 TURBO MANUAL 140K



2007 C2S 60K



2007 C4 150K

 

Turbo tip! Or keep looking and find a turbo 6MT with no smoke.

 

On this forum, all answers will undoubtedly be for the turbo. Once you've owned a turbo, you won't be satisfied with NA Porsche. GT3 aside.

 

get a high mileage 997.1 turbo and send it to fvd for 3.8 mahle conversion and you will be fine , at least thats what I plan to do .

 

Turbo Tip. Like a Jamie Lynn Lib Tech, it's got enough old school pop, but the modern touches like reverse camber and magna traction make it usable everywhere. Can carve up on the blues but is usable in both the park and for first tracks on that long back country tree run.

It's been snowing, and the freshies are waiting for you...

 

Boy racer wing... really? The turbo wing is low, subtle. Boy racer wing - Evo or STi.

 

If you are used to the rush of the superbikes then you can only go with the Turbo.

The manual gearbox is more challenging and enjoyable. 140k is nothing for the metzger and the smoker signs can be eliminated with a good professional cleaning service.

On the other hand, the tiptronic is prone for the engine have less abuse (over revs, miss-shift) and the gearing is longer than manual. Top speed is reached at 6200rpm and manual is at 6800rpm. The tiptronic also handles alot more power increase without the need to drop the engine for a clutch reinforcement. It is also faster off the line due to brake boosting and because it holds the boost between gear shifts (no lag).

The only time i felt the need for the manual was at the track, but for that, the right car is not a Turbo but a GT3 or GT2. On the street, the tiptronic do its job pretty well. Even at extreme cases, allows +1000hp be driving on street easy.

 

Good idea- I'll keep monitoring the market. I must admit patience is a virtue I keep running short of, so this is a very good reminder.
Thanks!

I'm hearing you.. great analogy THANKS!

Fantastic advice, thanks. I'm learning something new every day! The main criticism I hear about the Tip is that it is slow when compared to PDK standards. Yet from the videos it seems alright- maybe not snap-of-a-finger instantenous like a PDK, but pretty close to what you'd get from a relaxed human hand driving a manual. Or have I missed sthng?

 

Definitely one of the turbos, I just bought myself one two months back, and its a thrill to drive.