Do I need a 911 in my life? - Page 2 - 911/Carrera GT - PistonHeads UK

As my forum name suggests, I am a big Boxster fan, having owned a 981 GTS, a GTS 4,0 and now a Spyder RS. I love open top motoring and how they combine performance with nimbleness. At some point in the not too distant future, I will be adding another car to the fleet - it will need to be ‘interesting’, sporty, reliable, capable of long distance cruising and it will have a hard top. I’m planning to spend £30-£60k. My shortlist is a BMW i8, a Jaguar F-Type…and a 911. Now, I know the 911 is an all time great car but while I really like them, it’s never been a must have car for me - I don’t know why - and I’m wondering if it’s the safe option. So, what makes a 911 so special and worth sticking to the Porsche family rather than trying something completely different? I’m especially keen to hear from people who have moved from a Boxster to a 911 or have one of each!

No

As much as I m a big 911 fan, if you re keeping the Spyder I d definitely be looking for something more different! (Otherwise a 911 variant of your choice would surely have been the perfect answer to your question) Probably need to decide if you want something a bit lairy and hot-rod like (in which case a V8 F-Type, V8 Vantage or a daft AMG seems a good idea) or something a bit more chilled for those long journeys. An M3/M4 of some sort if you ll consider more than a 2-seater? Maserati coupe for something a bit different? Alfa Giulia QF? I do like the i8 but it’s definitely a bit Marmite so go and try one if you haven’t already. The tech aspect that was quite a novelty at launch is rather less so now, still interesting things though not really sporty from a driven characteristics point of view, and if it’s for regular use or regular long trips I think the doors and lack of luggage space would get wearing. Edited by Mr.Grooler on Sunday 2nd August 23:14

If I had a Spyder RS, I think a manual 911 Coupe would be a very worthwhile addition with that budget. In my view a 997.2 C2S manual for a more modern feel or a 996 C2 for a slightly more involving driving experience. You could also consider a manual 996 Turbo - would give you the additional diversification of adding a turbo engine to the garage [probably also the one with the best grand touring/long distance credentials].

I have a Spyder RS along with a 992 turbo S cab and a 718 Cayman GTS 4.0. My daily is an M3 comp touring and my wife has an M4 comp convertible. I used to have a G87 M2.For £30-60k and a brief of something interesting, sporty, reliable and a good long distance cruiser, I would be going BMW M. The Porsches I have are better drivers cars, but the value proposition of BMW at this price point is too strong to ignore, along with all the benefits that a 2y old car gives over a 10-20y old one.

Unless you're moving into a GT3 or one of the later 911 Turbo S models, I personally wouldn't bother. Whenever I'm asked this question, my answer is usually the same: GT4, GT4 RS, Spyder or Spyder RS. For me, they're among the best driver's cars Porsche has ever produced. You're already in what I consider to be one of the finest cars Porsche makes. The BMW i8 has never really done anything for me. A 5.0-litre Jaguar F-Type SVR, however, is a completely different proposition—glorious supercharged V8, a fantastic soundtrack, and definitely worth a look.

I've 4 911's (one currently) and a 981 Cayman S. The Cayman is the best car I've owned. No, you don't need a 911 in your life.

For me it’s 911 or nothing from Porsche. They look (much) better, generally drive better, and there is no detuning nonsense either. But I haven’t had one in years so you definitely don’t need one. I’m not sure what your expectations are or which model you’re thinking of but I see them more like GTs these days.

cliffords said: No ..but Yes

I have a 986S and, despite growing up dreaming about a 911, I'm not sure I'd make the change now. I don't need the back seats, the engine is arguably in the better place, and mine has enough go to get me into trouble as it is. AM V8V is what I'd be going for in your situation OP. Cracking looking thing, scratches the V8 itch, and they seem like they're cheaper to get into. Honourable mention for an R8 as well.

Just try one. Only way to find out. If you like the 911 on a test drive you will come to love it - they grow on you.

Have a look at the latest 9werks video, that may help. Personally I've owned a number of modern Porsche's but never a 911, current car is a GT4RS and as much as GT3 might tick a box it's not as raw as the Cayman.

Personal choice, I have been the owner of various 911’s for the past 15 years. I have tried other makes/ models but the 911 is the car for me. My wife has owned various Boxsters/ Caymans which I also drive, they are also great cars but a different driving experience

GT3 SC would be my choice. if you have teh budget

I have had each generation of Boxsters including 2x718S and a 718 Cayman. I currently have a 2022 model year 992 Targa 4S. The 992 will be out of your proposed budget but going from a 718S to the 911 is a big leap in many ways. Some tangible and other not so. The fit and finish and the performance upgrade is an easy one to pick out on the later models, the earlier ones not so much, but it is the way you feel when driving a 911 is different. To me every Porsche is special (Even a broken down Taycan) but my 911 just makes me fizz in a way none of the Boxsters ever did, and I really loved them all. The 911 is much more expensive to run. fuel, insurance, tyres, service cost etc are all more. But then no modern Porsche is exactly cheap to run. Ultimately you just have to go and drive a few different cars and see what makes you happy. I didn't know I needed a 911 in my life until I bought mine and I am so glad I did.

It's more than just the car with a 911. Your Spyder will most likely be more fun on the road, will handle better and give you more confidence, but it is not a 911. I've had a Boxster, Cayman and a couple of 997s. I found the Boxster soft, the Cayman stiff, and the 997 somewhere in between. Within your budget, you should be able to get a 997.2, or, if you're brave, a 997.1. 996s are on the up value-wise, so that could be worth a look if you've got an eye on future values. If you've never owned a 911, the icon, you don't know what you're missing out on. .

Super interesting and helpful feedback. Another vehicle on my maybe list is an AMG GT - they look like a lot of car for the money.

No! I swapped a 986 for a 996, both shifting to rear engine and having a coupe are noticeable, however, if you already have a flat-six Porsche, try another flavour. I vote AM Vantage.

Boxsterjon said: Super interesting and helpful feedback. Another vehicle on my maybe list is an AMG GT - they look like a lot of car for the money. You need to decide what type of car you want, a Porsche 911 and an AMG are totally different cars in every way. In my view, a 911 is a real sports car whereas an AMG is at GT tourer.

Depends. These days for long journeys, I can't be bothered with driving a "soft, everyday" 996 Turbo as it's tiresome and would rather take my soft, poncy Audi TT. I haven't driven a more modern 911, though, and the upper range of your budget might get you a 991.2 which may eat the miles more easily. Otherwise, to me they're interesting to drive and an interesting shape (compared to what you could be doing a long distance in). I don't know what the other cars are like that you're considering, mind. They may also be tiring or may be boring because they're too easy to drive.

Nobody needs a 911 and prices have skyrocketed - however I have several GT cars which are great for the track but bone rattling for the road. Porsche’s approach to user interfaces is quite poor in my view 1 - endless menus. 911s in general are great cars to drive despite the above. You may not need one but a good driving test will give you a comparison with your previous cars.

I have had many friends that have flogged their 911 and ended up really missing it. Usability, I have a 992 3RS and love it, yes, its can be a bumpy hard ride on crap roads but, for me, that's part of the experience.

Boxsterjon said: As my forum name suggests, I am a big Boxster fan, having owned a 981 GTS, a GTS 4,0 and now a Spyder RS. I love open top motoring and how they combine performance with nimbleness. At some point in the not too distant future, I will be adding another car to the fleet - it will need to be interesting , sporty, reliable, capable of long distance cruising and it will have a hard top. I m planning to spend £30-£60k. My shortlist is a BMW i8, a Jaguar F-Type and a 911. Now, I know the 911 is an all time great car but while I really like them, it s never been a must have car for me - I don t know why - and I m wondering if it s the safe option. So, what makes a 911 so special and worth sticking to the Porsche family rather than trying something completely different? I m especially keen to hear from people who have moved from a Boxster to a 911 or have one of each! I have the opposite issue - the 911 has always been a 'must have car' for me. What makes it so special (for me) is a combination of factors, including its shape (obvs), rear engine set-up, engineering quality, history and unique feel, and the fact that it's not just a sportier variant of a more mundane car (unlike, say, an M car). Much of the appeal is subjective and quirky. Lots of people that I know just don't get it, and say that it's 'basically just a beetle'. But, it feels so special to me that, when looking at Porsche sports cars, I can't bring myself to love the Boxster or Cayman, however fruity the engine. And, when I got rid of my 997 turbo a few years ago, I spent a couple of years hankering after another 911 - an itch that I scratched by buying my GT3. But, all that said, it doesn't tick all the boxes for me. My M5 was more practical (when carrying passengers or just lots of luggage or work stuff) and therefore I ran it alongside my Turbo and subsequently my GT3. Also, the engine/exhaust sound can be a bit underwhelming in non-GT models, especially when turbos are involved - so, when I got rid of my M5 and, was looking for a fun alternative now that I don't transport passengers so much or carry lots of luggage, I turned to Aston and got a V12 Vantage S (to run alongside the GT3). I sold it recently, after almost 2 years. The V12VS is an incredible car - the engine and exhaust note are just sublime, the sportsshift gearbox made the car really fun but practical to drive in town as well as on gridlocked motorways etc, the acceleration and handling were ridiculously good, and it had a decent boot! I knew that it was essentially in the same sort of bracket as my 911, but couldn't bring myself to get rid of the GT3. I did loads of back to back drives when deciding which to keep, and the GT3 always came out ahead (if only slightly) because of build quality and residuals, though the Aston pulled on the heart so much that it's the closest that I've come to thinking that I could do without the 911! I'm looking again for something to run as the fun daily, and am considering a BMW M3 / M4, Audi RS3 / 4 / 5 / 6, or even another 911 (e.g. 991.2 Turbo). Funnily enough, I'm not remotely interested in getting a Boxster or Cayman (though, having driven plenty, I can understand why others love them).

Short answer: YES I had two early Boxsters and went 997S before getting hooked on GT3/RS'. The 997S took some time to really get under my skin. The initial test drive didn't feel night and day vs. my then Boxster S, of course faster and a bit more "mature". I had to first work out the rear-engined handling traits. Once I got a 7.2 GT3 I understood what the 911 was about and there was no going back to anything non-GT

as an aside, I paid c. 70k euros for my 1971 911 Targa and it is the most enjoyable car I own, even though it only has c. 130hp. During summer it is my daily, be that city driving or long distance trips. Something that might also be a good garage-mate for your RS. It is not the best long distance car, but it still does the job perfectly well.

Budget perfectly suits a 997.2 GTS, that would make a wonderful stablemate to a Spyder RS.