991.2 4s ownership experience

Having just taken delivery of a 2018 991.2 4s, MT and as a former owner of a 981 BS also MT, I thought I it would be useful and fun to record my ownership experience with this car using my 981 BS as a reference point. Most of the reviews I have read don't really reflect actual ownership experience so I am hoping this is useful not just to myself but also to others who may be thinking of buying this version of the 911 . I am only going to focus on the driving experience and not electronics and other stuff irrelevant to the drive. Please note that I am just an average enthusiast and not some professional driver who can tease out the nuances and finer points in the driving experience between the two cars. These are just my impressions. My second drive today about 30 miles mostly back roads and a bit of highway. Impressions of the MT: The feel of the 7 speed MT is very similar to the 6 speed in the BS. If anything, it feels slightly notchier ( new car) but clutch engagement is very forgiving and quite similar. Clutch is much lighter so I needed some recalibration. Strangely, I noticed some drivetrain lash/ chatter in the 911 in first that I do not recall in my BS. Maybe a new car. Steering: The steering feels lighter in the 911 and I don't sense any greater feedback than in my 981 BS. It is very accurate and very similar so I can't say that one is superior to the other. Power delivery: remarkably similar and surprising. The turbo six feels very much like a NA motor. I could not sense an abrupt onset of power despite the turbo. Below 3.5k rpms, even the 420 hp six is a sleeper. Not that different in feel from the 3.4 NA flat six. I haven't revved the engine past 4.5k rpms and I am waiting for break in period. Less NVH not that the 3.4 was coarse. Brakes: nothing to say except that the brakes are very strong but these are Porsches we are talking about. Ride: I used comfort settings (tire pressure) today in my 911 with the PASM in normal mode. My BS with 19 inch wheels did not have PASM . Here I notice a clear difference. The 911 rides much better especially on the highway. Feels much more settled and more like a sport sedan than a sports car. Very nice for long drives. In town, I really can't say it is any better. Firm ride and does not like undulations in the road. Cockpit and comfort: As I had hoped, the 911 with its 18-way seats is vastly superior. It is clearly a more comfortable cabin. I get a much better sense of space and comfort and having a glass sunroof makes the cabin very airy and nice. Sunroof open and windows down, it doesn't quite simulate the convertible experience but is close. Very nice. Visibility is excellent. My BS had the 14-way seats and for my body, 5 ft 11 inches and 170 lbs, the 18 ways feel way more comfortable. Sound: I did not get the SE but despite that, in sport mode, the car is not quiet. I can clearly hear the raspiness of the flat six which starts raising its voice past 4K rpms. It is quieter than the 3.4 with the SE but I am happy with the level of sound and am glad that I did not get the SE. Windows down and sunroof open, in sport mode, I could hear the flat six but also the turbo whoosh. Windows up and closed sunroof, it is a little quieter but by no means a quiet car. Tires make quite a racket as well. Handling: Now this is my first rear engine car and that too an awd but already I sense the greater weight in the back. I took an on ramp, a long descending right sweeper with a posted limit of 30. I used to take that ramp at about 70 in my Boxster with little drama. In the 911 , I could already feel the heft in the back which needed some brain recalibration. This car handles differently. At a similar highway split where I took the sharp right fork, again I could feel the lightness in the front compared to my BS. Interesting. Anyway that's all for now. As I pulled into my garage I noticed a screw in my right rear tire. It had gone in about quarter of an inch. I pulled it out. No loss of air. But very strange that I would encounter this in only my second drive.

Thanks for your observations. Looking forward to more in the future!

Thanks for the write up. I enjoyed reading it. The clutch and the rear weight bias take some getting used to but it will feel like a glove soon enough. After I got back from 2750 miles driving my 991.2C4 around Europe and then came back to my Boxster , the clutch just felt like I needed a hydraulic leg to push it in.....it was so heavy. Then I got used to that again.

It will be interesting to read your perspective as you switch back and forth between the two cars. I hope you get your 911 soon. And since you will have both cars, ( I wish I could have kept my BS), you are in the best possible position.

A couple of other observations. I like looking at the car's vitals when I am driving and I don't like distractions. a) TPMS in the 911 will not display tire pressure when stationary but will show the deviation from pressure settings whether they were set at normal or comfort. You have to drive the car at 15mph to get a tire pressure reading. I guess when stationary, from the difference in set tire pressure, one can judge if one tire is low as long as you remember the previous reading. b) Instead of a stalk to toggle the various displays on the multi-function screen as in my 13 BS, it has been replaced by a 'bubble' scroller on the multi-function wheel. The small rubber roller feels quite flimsy. I leave it to display oil temp., coolant temp, oil pressure and turbo boost. Seems like a standard setting. c) I can't turn the upshift indicator off like I did in my Boxster . d) too many gauges in the cluster as is typical of 911s . Very distracting for the driver so best not to look at them except the tach and the digital speed readout. e) no dash reflection in the windshield in my two-tone blue and graphite interior while driving. Actually, in a car like this, fidgeting with a PCM touch screen and swiping etc. while driving is not a good idea.

A common question that folks may ask is whether the 911 is a better touring car than the 981 ? Well, I have had the chance for several longish highway drives in my 911 and I can say without any reservation that yes, it is a significantly better touring car than my 981 Boxster S. The ride is much better, the cabin just feels more open and airy and there is less din despite the noisy tires . It is by no means a quiet car. But one can hear the Boss stereo clearly and the 18-way seats are just about perfect for my body. It is a car with a vastly expanded range of use for me.

Anand, I'm coming from a 981 Cayman (except went from PDK to manual) as well and your impressions and experience are spot on!! I definitely felt that rear weight distribution when getting on an on ramp! Similarly with the 18 way seats! I previously had the 14 way and could get some back pain after a couple of hours on the highway. I had no problem with the 18 way seats after driving 4 and half hours. The transmission felt "notchy" at first but this has improved if not almost disappeared. Similarly, l I believe I also experienced some drivetrain lash/ chatter at first and happy to report that this has resolved (it does occur when the car is still cold though). I'm also happy to report that good things happen above 4000 rpm.

That's great about the transmission. I am glad I am not just imagining it. I think it is good to share experiences wih this lovely car. I completely understand now why folks love the 911 . I still can't believe I own this car.

I still can't believe it as well !! Come to think of it, neither of us are new to the brand and the interior are similar to the 981 yet the 911 feels special. Out of curiosity, how many looks do you when walking away from it ?

Somewhere in the Midwest:

I've only had my car for a week and I check in on it every few hours when I am awake and at home. My wife has asked me if I want to sleep in the garage. I like staring at it. Good thing it is not a woman or I'd be arrested for stalking. The drive is what I truly enjoy. I was really nervous about blowing 125k on a car and was hoping it would be more user-friendly and that my wife would like it. The car so far has exceeded my expectations and my wife likes it. She did not like my Boxster and did not like riding in it.

Two questions for you, Anand: is there more legroom, and is there less tire noise at speed? Tx Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Anand thanks for your thoughts. I have had a 2016 Boxster Spyder for about 18 months. I love it but the ride is firm and my wife complains that she gets car sick in it (probably my driving). This week I will be picking up a 911 GTS cab with manual and was counting on it being less harsh on long drives so as not to get unwanted looks from my passenger. Sounds from you like this will indeed be the case.

I find it roomier and with comfort entry, it is also easier getting in and out than my Boxster . And yes, it is less noisy than my Boxster with the top up but I had the SE in the Boxster . There is tire roar and I am pretty sure if I switched to Michelins , that sound too be reduced. As I said before, it is by no means a quiet car but is quieter than my Boxster .

Will throw in a couple more observations. a) I can't for the life of me tell that this is turbo car. Throttle is very linear. With my turbo Volvos, it is very easy to tell because of the abrupt onset of power. b) Car is a pussycat below 4000 rpms and driven reasonably. It is not a crazy torque monster with a jumpy throttle. No need to 'fear' the 420 hp. I don't have to drive it like a maniac nor is the car straining to be free to do 100+ mph. c) Car can carry crazy amounts of speed into corners. d) And this is just me. I always felt a sort of frenzy driving my Boxster . Needed to drive it fast. This car not so much. After back to back long bicycle rides yesterday and today, I was tired and wanted a more relaxed pace for long drives in the afternoons. The 911 is happy to oblige. I can easily see this as my only car.

Have about 600 miles on my car and took it on a short trip to VT with my wife. Some additional observations: a) Nice touring car. Quite comfortable on the highway but is not a luxury ride. Concrete sections, the Pirelli tires are noisy but otherwise not bad. I think Michelins will be better with 19 inch wheels. 18-way seats are perfect for me and much more comfortable across the shoulders than the 14-ways that I had in my Boxster . b) Sunroof open, windows down, I can the hear the flat six clearly. Closed, the sound is more muted. Not very noisy but very pleasing and I wouldn't want it any noisier. No drone without the SE. Visibility is excellent. c) Clutch and shifter have settled in and I don't experience any chatter in first. Very easy car to drive. d) Two tone graphite and chalk leather interior is gorgeous. After this, I don't think I can ever go back to the standard interior. e) dark blue car attracts almost no attention. Very grateful for that. It is great to be able to personalize a new car. Can keep the price reasonable for a 911 and get the options one wants and not the ones picked by the dealer such as in this manual 4s for 143k. https://porschenashua.com/inventory...entory/new/Porsche+911+Carrera+4S+Nashua+New+Hampshire+2018+Carmine+Red+1342765 Edit: Can't get a tire pressure reading or the difference from set pressure when the car is in the garage. Have to drive it first up to 15mph. The car is crazy fast. I have to be careful.

Oh one more thing to add. I can buy the 19 inch winter wheel and tire package from my dealer for 4500 ( Porsche wheels) and they offer storage for 250 bucks a year including swapping the tires and wheels twice, once in the spring and once in the fall. Not too bad. I don't have to carry heavy wheels and tires to the dealer in multiple trips.

That is a good deal. It is $400 for the same tire swap and storage down here.

OK my first gripe if one can call it that. The clutch in my 911 is so much lighter than in the Boxster S that I owned that I am still trying to determine the right amount of pressure to apply and the part of my left foot to use to press it (the clutch). In my Boxster , with the heavy clutch, I used to use the ball of my foot. In the 911 , I find I have to use just the top of my foot so that I am not slamming the pedal to the floor with excessive force.

FWP are Us. Take the second left, go 100 yards, take a right.

A very nice car, my C4S, even in a moderate amount of rainful. I went for a longish drive in some heavy rain today just to get a feel for the car and the awd system. Car instills a lot of confidence even though hardly any torque was being sent to the front wheels even in slightly hard corners. My car is leaps and bounds more comfortable and useable than my previous sports car. Some of it is attributable to the options I chose. But it just feels like a much better car with a more sorted out suspension and the back seats with a glass sunroof makes it feel so much roomier although hardly like a sedan. It is a lovely car, perfectly-sized and the trepidation I felt while waiting for it, wondering if I had made a huge mistake in trading my Boxster , is completely gone. Best decision I made (speaking only for myself).

I agree with the traction. It is fantastic in the wet. I've driven mine several times now in the rain and it just feels stable and gives me confidence. Love it!

Turbo lag. Seek and ye shall find. Now I know why I wasn't detecting turbo lag. Because I am/was driving my 911 like my Boxster , keeping the rpms above 3000 as much as I could. Higher gears, say fourth at 2000 rpms, there is a brief whoosh as you hear the turbos spooling ( only hear them with the windows down) and very brief hesitation as the turbos kick in. Above 3000 rpms, the car feels and sound like a NA flat six. The rush in acceleration is insane but I haven't driven too many high hp cars. Fuel economy. Only 4 tankfuls so far but the best I have gotten is 23 mpg which was 70% highway. Backroads, the last tankful, I got maybe 20. Not a fuel economy champ but it is rated 20/28 same as my Boxster S .

I have been shocked at my low fuel economy vs claims. 2750 miles in Europe with 90% highway, I was getting 23 mpg average. Around my town on back roads I am averaging 12.8 mpg through 2 tank fulls. On a separate note, since I got back from Europe, I've had the opportunity to drive the car hard with no passenger and no luggage - a lot less weight (an no one yelling at me to slow down). Wow, this car is just fantastic to drive.

With the PDK in AUTO, no Sport or Sport Plus and *** activated, I get at min 28mph at 70 to 75mph consistently. Conversely on Track at Road America, it's 9mpg in Auto Sport Plus. PDK in Auto, no Sport or Sport Plus and *** activated will disconnect Transmission while coasting. I have seen 36+mpg on my 981 Boxster at highway speeds, PDK in Auto........ It would appear that keeping your cars in lower gears with the MT is the difference especially at 12mpg! A few Track sessions may let out your aggressions, get a feel for what the car can do. I also gained some respect for warming up the P Zeros and a cold Track as I spun 180 on the first hot lap, Road America, Corner 3, last Memorial Day. I had a Cayman in front of me and I knew I was going to pass him on the back straight so I turned to the inside of the corner and applied full throttlr, a move I had done before on hot tires , felt as if I was on ice! Sobering experience. As to rain, with the wide P Zeros, I am not aggressive in rain or wet roads. Most I know don't run on Track in the rain. Last weekend at Road America, Group 2, only two cars elected to run in a light rain coupled with an undoubtably greasy Track. These are great cars but you must have respect for the high speeds they are capable of.-Richard

There is no doubt in my mind that PDK is the superior transmission for performance and fuel economy. The MT (speaking only for myself), for my driving needs is just about perfect for an engaging driving experience. It is a more user-friendly MT than the one in my 13 Boxster S . Perhaps driving in 7th at 70 mph, I might hit 28 mpg. To get 12.8 mpg in street driving is quite an achievement. Three tanks, my average has been about 20. Fuel economy aside, the car is clearly so much better than my Boxster in just about every aspect of the drive. And it better be for the price Porsche charges.

Interesting thread. Today I put a deposit down for a build on a Carrera GTS . It will be my third Porsche bought/ordered sight unseen and no test drives. You former 981 owners give me hope...

I am not a former 981 owner as I retain my 981B. Frankly for just driving on secondary roads, I prefer the Boxster and certainly with a nice sunny day, the Cabriolet is superb. On Track the only thing the Boxster lacks is HP for the straights as it's just about as fast as any 911 in the corners. But on the Tollways and Expressways, the 991.2 Electronics, ACC and LCA are superb. And of course the AWD! You will love your GTS as it comes with a suite of standard features.-Richard

curious, do the 991's come with the same type of TPMS sensor/valve as in previous models? or have they moved it to the BMW style - using the wheel speeds and rotation to measure them?

"I t may depend upon how your 981 was optioned." I would say you are correct. My 981B has PASM, 18 way seats and 18" wheels. Very comfortable ride and seats. Curiously my 981B has full leather and my C4S, the standard interior for winter driving and I can't tell them apart.-Richard

PASM is very nice in the new 911 . The ride is superb compared to my non- PASM Boxster . And the 18-way seats of course are more comfortable. I find it to be a big improvement. Regarding leather, the two-tone blue and chalk (more like a very light grey) interior is very pleasing and looks fantastic with the contrasting stitching. The cabin looks and feels much nicer and having a glass sunroof adds to the open airy feel. I drove a 911 without a glass sunroof and the standard black interior and the cabin felt claustrophobic to me. How one options these cars is extremely important as we all have different tastes. Some folks love the GTS version but I did not want sport PASM with the lowered height or the sport exhaust . Also the aesthetics (black accents, different front) are not to my tastes.

A few things that annoy me about my car. Very, very minor. Info sake only. -The parking sensors scream bloody murder when I start my car in the garage because I am parked close to a set of winter tires for my two Volvos. All I can do is to lower the volume of the warning. But to hear a constant screaming sound when I start the car is nuts. -Electronics do their own thing (German car). Carplay sometimes connects but other times it won't. One day after several tries I gave up. Next day, my iPhone 7 connected fine. Doesn't matter too much to me. Also, memory settings for seats etc. set with with the key have changed by themselves a couple of times. Who knows! -Rear view camera is nuts. If I come to a stop at an incline and if the car rolls backwards even an inch, the rear view camera activates. The hill hold has a brief delay before it engages so before it comes on, a small backwards roll activates the camera. OK, nothing but a silly delay. -Multi-function steering wheel. Easy to hit the wheel heating button which is located right at the bottom of the wheel. If you grab the wheel there, heating comes on. Keep your hands at the spokes above. What I love about this car. Every drive I learn something new. Most of it useless (to me) tech quirks. Did I say this thing is wicked fast and sounds awesome once the revs are above 4000 rpms even without the SE. True Jekyll and Hyde personality. Docile when you are not in the mood and wicked when you are. Very wicked.

This is a great thread and I'm happy you're enjoying your new car. I'm not in the market for a 911 but this certainly makes the 911 .2s look more and more appealing. I have to say I'm surprised about your comments re: shifter quality in your new car versus the 981 . Then again, my 981 is a GTS , so I wonder if Porsche did anything with it on top of the S model? It's so smooth and easy it's like butter. The real test for you, though, will happen once the newness wears off.

I am not in the market for a 911 , but I better stop reading this thread or I will be.

I know. It is easy to love a new toy and also easy to get bored after a while. One thing I did not do well was how I optioned my Boxster S . I did not make the same mistakes with the 911 . Regarding the manual there is some info in this Road and Track article. Ten Things You Learn Driving The New Turbo Porsche 911 Carrera I find the 7-speed to be superb and requires less effort than the 6-speed I had in my Boxster S. And with the much lighter clutch, shifting is easier.

Haven’t updated in a while. I just finished 2k, the break in period. Gas mileage remains low, mostly 20 to low twenties. No issues or problems with my car other than the usual i.e. too much brake dust like my Boxster . The xpel film is holding up well. I have taken the car through several cycles of touchless car washes and have not encountered any problems with the film. Need to apply the sealant soon before it gets cold. Clutch and gearbox have smoothed out so well that they feel like an old friends. Car is an absolute joy. Great highway cruiser and incredibly fast and comfortable. It is even reasonably quiet without the SE. My car’s dark blue color attracts little attention. My new Uniden r3 is a good companion. I will be switching to snows in a few weeks or so. Well that is the plan but it has been so nice and warm for October that I have been driving with the sunroof open most of the time. The glass sunroof is a great option. The opening is large enough for a small car and I can hear all the noises the car makes. On startup, the car is a noisy fella which is great. One of the many joys of owning this car is hearing all the racket when I fire up the car. Nothing lost with the turbo six in this department. So far Porsche reliability has been perfect.

My garage must be similar to yours but I have audibles set to LOW and have no problems. CarPlay is a USB cord connect and for me it's consistant every time. Have you used a different USB connector? My seats have never lost their settings. More than likely you did not have every mode set to your likeing before you set and now each time you start the car the system defaults to the 'old' setting. Happened to me with lumbar. Never ever accidentally turned the heated wheel ON.-Richard