Has anyone noticed there seems to be a lot of non S Carrera's unsold on Dealer's inventory lists?

 

I know for me, I chose the base model because the S is only 3/10 of a second faster, and for over $10K more, living in Los Angeles, was not worth it. (I do have a 7-speed). In the end, I am really happy. With the Base model, you have to work a little harder to get the speeds. I wouldn't change a thing it is a blast. I also feel the base model should be just as good as a sport model for any car.

 

Not surprising. Although with the price hike, I think some would reconsider an S.

I don't understand the carrera buyer in the US (myself excluded as I am not a typical US 911 buyer). If you're going to do it...go all the way?

I can honestly say that I could use bigger brakes. I won't switch pads for various practicality reasons, but I do run better fluid for the occasional track day (having boiled Blue Racing fluid in my 997.2 [3.6 MT]).

The car is faster than ever, so the 'need' for more power is that much more hollow with the new car. It's really simply having the proper version of the car (as seen in magazines, the local showroom or in someone else's driveway) so you don't have to explain why you don't have an S.

They're all incredible cars. I don't think this debate is as relevant in Europe. All the overseas car mags seem to test the base car in comparisons....

DRP

 

I agree with you. I chose not to have an S mode, with the 7-speed manual, sport chrono package, I bet I can keep up with most S drivers. I know here in

 

I bought the base model too.
I don't track the car.
Added PSE, PDK, full leather and upgraded the wheels to 20 inch as well as a few other items.
The brakes and engine are just fine for my commute and occasional "spirited" driving.
This topic comes up with regular frequency...frankly, it's a matter of personal preference, what I like may not be acceptable to others

 

Depends on person to person

I don't think it's about affordability but it's about what it's worth to you

And the performance difference between C2 and C2S is shrinking

Hence, for some, base with more options is better than S with less options

Or if one wants a loaded all wheel drive or cabriolet then going for the C2 base helps because adding these to the S takes the price into a territory where exotic cars with V8 start to come to mind

When I am buying new I prefer base with more options for that new car feel

When I am buying used I prefer S with more options where someone else has already taken a depreciation hit

So it also depends on situation to situation

 

I thought that too, but look at the torque curves of the base vs. S 991 - they're nearly identical. It's top end oriented too. The 3.8 isn't gutsier, it's simply a hair faster all throughout.

My 997.2 3.6 manual felt gutsier than the 991 (3.4 manual), but whereas the 997 died off as it revved, the 991 picks up and flies...

It's just a different tune to the engines. But the 991 3.8 is the same only more powerful. Theoretically, if you put a heavy enough passenger in the 3.8 it would feel exactly like a 3.4 accelerating.

DRP

 

As much as I hate to say this here, could it be that most of the OP's "lots of unsold non-S Carrera's" have manual transmissions? When I bought my leftover 2012 991 in October the three dealers in Houston had maybe a dozen total between them, the only manuals were two non-S's at two different dealers, everything else was PDK. Since that was THE most important feature to me, buying one of the lot car S's was a non-starter.
Seems to me like my local dealers try to keep a good cross-section of cars in stock to appeal to more impulse buyers. The quirk I observe the most is what seems like a plethora of Cabriolets versus coupes here, not S versus non-S.

 

I also purchased a base. Everyone typically wants more, more, and more. For me, I knew I would not track the car, and couldn't justify the difference in price. So instead I took the difference and got a cab with all the options I wanted.
If money wasnt an issue, I'd have gotten a 4s cab or waited for a turbo to get that kick in the pants but for me a base manual is more than sufficient.
Now if February would just hurry up and get here I'd be able to tell you how wonderful it really is!!!

 

I also think it's a question of what you're looking for and where/how you'll be using it.

I really wanted a manual (shows up in 2 1/2 weeks...) because I enjoy that more than the PDK, and the 3.4 has plenty of pep for the area I'm in (suburbs) where I can be in solid ticket range within .1 or .2 seconds of the S in any case, and can enjoy the extra fraction of a second before having to lay off the gas as well.

Funny you don't think the debate is as relevant in Europe - knowing there would be Autobahn - and mountain roads that allow overtaking - within reach probably would have pushed me to do it. While it has gotten more difficult to find clear stretches (post German re-unification, post-Iron Curtain small-car traffic, more trucks, and all the new 'noise protection' stretches that drop it to 120 kph or 100 kph...), there would at least be the early mornings to really open it up.

Anyway, the fact that I don't track - and additionally wasn't interested in a few of the included S options - just made it not worth it to me personally. To each their own, and it's good to know that Porsche has a configuration for each of our whims.

 

I checked out the dealer in the OP's hometown and see that it has five almost identical base Carrera's, all with PDK and all in the $102K+ price range. That qualifies to me as a pretty "loaded" base car that may appeal to some buyers, but turn off some others ($20K in options, Yikes!). None of my Houston dealers have more than a couple and they are more broad spectrum in price level/options. Seems like whomever orders lot cars in Austin may have mis-guessed his customer base.

 

"Location: NW Pennsylvania" - Now I feel good about early January delivery in Northern Virginia - but I'll keep my fingers crossed for no big snowstorms for both of us!

 

I checked with my salesman and although they have several on the web site, there is only one available which is a demo and discounted $4K.

ChuckJ

 

Mrstep- funny you mention snow. We have had none so far. In fact it's in the 50's which is crazy. you watch, come Jan we will get a blizzard up here as all the snow will come at once!

 

I'm expecting snow first week of January here in the DC area just because my car arrives, but now we can count on a second blizzard passing through in February thanks to you!

It has been warm enough for summer tires (!) here as well, so I'm just hoping for this weather to hold up!