997 S PDK or 997 PDK
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adrian996
New member
Hi. If I were you I'd steer well clear of any PDK for the time being. Apparently the Turbo version of the engine simply shreds the current PDK 'box and they're going to have to "toughen it up" before they match it to the new Gen 2 997TT. IMHO that does NOT bode very well for the longevity of the 'box mated to either the 3.6 or the 3.8 engines as they're not that much under-powered compared to the 997TT......?
InnerSphere
New member
Not so much underpowered, but under torqued 
Torque is what destroys most drivetrain parts, unless it's massive amounts of revs
To answer the original question, the only real difference is power. If you want more, get the Carrera S, if not, get the Carrera. The only way to answer this question is to drive the cars and decide which you prefer. No amount of theorising on a forum is ever going to really answer the question for you.
Torque is what destroys most drivetrain parts, unless it's massive amounts of revs To answer the original question, the only real difference is power. If you want more, get the Carrera S, if not, get the Carrera. The only way to answer this question is to drive the cars and decide which you prefer. No amount of theorising on a forum is ever going to really answer the question for you.
dereksharpuk
New member
I have tried both. I have gone for the smaller engine for the following reasons:
1. The engine is more modern with fewer parts, thus more reliable.
2. It is much more economical.
3. It creeps into a lower taxation bracket; my car is only £210 per year!
4. The engine sits lower and thus the stability should be better.
5. I don't need the extra power as the 3.6 produces just about as much as my old 997S and with PDK delivers it better.
6. The insurance is much lower, I pay less than £500 pa fully comprehensive protected ncb.
1. The engine is more modern with fewer parts, thus more reliable.
2. It is much more economical.
3. It creeps into a lower taxation bracket; my car is only £210 per year!
4. The engine sits lower and thus the stability should be better.
5. I don't need the extra power as the 3.6 produces just about as much as my old 997S and with PDK delivers it better.
6. The insurance is much lower, I pay less than £500 pa fully comprehensive protected ncb.
ach
New member
Thank you to all!
I am going to try both next week. My personal feeling when I am looking at the specs of these two cars BEFORE I tried them is that they seam to be pretty close and at the moment I am thinking the way Derek has just explained.
I understand though that they may feel very different when driven... Will see)
I am going to try both next week. My personal feeling when I am looking at the specs of these two cars BEFORE I tried them is that they seam to be pretty close and at the moment I am thinking the way Derek has just explained.
I understand though that they may feel very different when driven... Will see
)
dereksharpuk
New member
Don't forget that with an identical spec (except instrument dial colour, number of exhaust pipes and engine) there is a £4000 saving by buying the C2 and then arguably the 3.6 engine is better than the 3.8. Moreover, if you spec the sports exhaust as I have, you get 4 exhausts on the C2 anyway.
dereksharpuk
New member
Yes, both engines are of course new as they both have direct injection.
But the 3.8 is basically the old design, modified, whereas the 3.6 is totally new and will form the basis of all new boxer engines. Interestingly, the 3.8 still has the idler shaft which can give problems. On a recent trip to the Isle of Man a newish Boxster S suffer an idler shaft failure which resulted in requiring a complete new engine. The 3.6 does not have an idler shart and has many fewer parts.
dereksharpuk
New member
As I understand it, in simple terms this is a drive shaft for ancillery items such as valves. If the shaft breaks, valve(s) can hit the tops of the cylinders with catastrophic consequences.
Although Derek's cab has similar spec to mine I opted for the S. My previous 997 cab was the reg 3.6 and I always regretted that extra bit of power that the S had. I think that both engines are very similar apart from the crank stroke and the extra tax does not make much difference on a car costing about 88k with all the toys. When you add the larger wheels and PASM there is not a great difference in the price and those red calipers look the business......
Steady on there ! I think both the new 3.6 and 3.8 are the new design, with the same features such as direct injection, and 40% fewer parts than the old flat-sixes. This time they're more or less identical, the only difference being the swept volume and the power output.
Are you sure? From what I hear both the new engines ARE new. the 3.8 is now actually smaller than the old 3.8, so what is it based on if not new?
An idler shaft usually changes direction of rotation or is used to gear speed down. For instance the camshafts need to rotate at half the crankspeed and an idler can be used to arrange this, though gears are also often used.
First time I've heard valves referred to as 'ancilliary items!!
dereksharpuk
New member
Well I was speaking in lay terms []
Your description of the layshaft is correct, but in my simple mind anything that is not crankshaft driven (ie the gearbox) is ancillery, though I suppose we should be pedantic and only include truely ancilleries such as oil & fuel pumps etc and not camshaft.
I have been told that the 3.6 is all new, whereas the 3.8 is not.
] Your description of the layshaft is correct, but in my simple mind anything that is not crankshaft driven (ie the gearbox) is ancillery, though I suppose we should be pedantic and only include truely ancilleries such as oil & fuel pumps etc and not camshaft.
I have been told that the 3.6 is all new, whereas the 3.8 is not.
dereksharpuk
New member
Rob, are you sure? I have told (& read) that only the 3.6 is brand new with many fewer parts. Moreover, Porsche tell me it is lower which suggests that it is not the same. Perhaps I should check. I have been wrong before [
] There is a beer on it!!!!!
john crannis
New member
Quite a shock to hear the 3.8s engine is not completely new, where the 3.6 is, am I correct in saying with a small increase in cubic capacity over the previous engine. Would like to know where I might find an explanation as to why the 3.8 engine is not completely new, and retains the idler shaft as Derek mentions. Where would I find a drawing showing the basic differences please.
Having sold my 996 3.6 C4s was looking to place an order for a gen.2 Carrera S. but am not so shure now!
Having sold my 996 3.6 C4s was looking to place an order for a gen.2 Carrera S. but am not so shure now!
dereksharpuk
New member
John,
As previously stated, I am only repeating what I have read and been told. I may be wrong; certainly Rob thinks so. Either way, the 3.8 engine is, at the very least, much modified, in particular it has direct injection. I would most certainly go for the Gen 2 (I did [] ), but you may like to re-read why I went for the smaller engine. It was not just because IMHO it a different engine. Why not, as you suggest, get drawings of the engine, check the respective weights (there is a clue) and ask your OPC engineers (not sales!)
As previously stated, I am only repeating what I have read and been told. I may be wrong; certainly Rob thinks so. Either way, the 3.8 engine is, at the very least, much modified, in particular it has direct injection. I would most certainly go for the Gen 2 (I did [
] ), but you may like to re-read why I went for the smaller engine. It was not just because IMHO it a different engine. Why not, as you suggest, get drawings of the engine, check the respective weights (there is a clue) and ask your OPC engineers (not sales!)
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