997 S PDK or 997 PDK

[mex99]

Interesting...

I have been told the 3.8 is a new engine too with the 40% fewer parts and no RMS issue. The engine is down on displacement 3800 vs previous 3824 and is of course DFI. You will note the compression ratio is also different to allow for the precision of fuel addition and I assume a change in piston size? You can physically see it sits about 2" lower.

Anyway I am no engineer but we really shouldn't be worried about reliability of Porsche engines.....I know for a fact they expect the gen 2 engines to be good for 300-500K miles of very hard driving and that the pdk box and clutch(es) will outlast that.

Derek identifies some financial savings with the 3.6 which people may wish to consider depending on their individual circumstances, but since as you need add PASM and 19" wheels to a 3.6 you rapidly approach the same cost...running costs are slightly lower but incidental I would assume for most.

The beauty of the carrera range is that you can spend your £70-100K on whatever you want, and that is what each individual should do. For me, (and considering the GT and turbo as different cars) I don't see why people do not choose the best that Porsche can do which is their best engine with their best gearbox with their best suspension set up, ie C2S with pdk and SPASM.

Here are some other thoughts, not all serious:

3.8 has 10% more power
3.8 has really noticeable torque difference
If you get a 3.6 people think you are a cheapskate
3.8 I think has better brakes
3.8 has >100 bhp pr litre (normally aspirated) - supercar territory
Haven't driven the 3.6 but the S accelerates like a rocket!
3.8 is cooler

Remember of course my bias!!

 

[DSM]

ORIGINAL: mex99

Interesting...

I have been told the 3.8 is a new engine too with the 40% fewer parts and no RMS issue. The engine is down on displacement 3800 vs previous 3824 and is of course DFI. You will note the compression ratio is also different to allow for the precision of fuel addition and I assume a change in piston size? You can physically see it sits about 2" lower.

Anyway I am no engineer but we really shouldn't be worried about reliability of Porsche engines.....I know for a fact they expect the gen 2 engines to be good for 300-500K miles of very hard driving and that the pdk box and clutch(es) will outlast that.

Derek identifies some financial savings with the 3.6 which people may wish to consider depending on their individual circumstances, but since as you need add PASM and 19" wheels to a 3.6 you rapidly approach the same cost...running costs are slightly lower but incidental I would assume for most.

The beauty of the carrera range is that you can spend your £70-100K on whatever you want, and that is what each individual should do. For me, (and considering the GT and turbo as different cars) I don't see why people do not choose the best that Porsche can do which is their best engine with their best gearbox with their best suspension set up, ie C2S with pdk and SPASM.

Here are some other thoughts, not all serious:

3.8 has 10% more power
3.8 has really noticeable torque difference
If you get a 3.6 people think you are a cheapskate
3.8 I think has better brakes
3.8 has >100 bhp pr litre (normally aspirated) - supercar territory
Haven't driven the 3.6 but the S accelerates like a rocket!
3.8 is cooler

Remember of course my bias!!

Which thoughts aren't serious? []

 

[dereksharpuk]

ORIGINAL: mex99

If you get a 3.6 people think you are a cheapskate

Of course I am a cheapskate []

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Although it doesn't directly affect me since I am not contemplating the purchase of either at the moment but I have taken a great interest in the Gen 2 cars and the new engine in particular, the comment about the 3.8 not being a new engine rather surprised me.

Given that Porsche said the old engine wasn't suitable for the implementation of Direct Injection I would find it surprising that they should suddenly find a way to adapt the 3.8 (which is basically the same as the old 3.6) yet go to the obvious enormous expense of developing ONLY a new 3.6. It just doesn't seem logical.

Also, the word is that the Gen 2 GT3 will feature the "new" 3.8 engine - and I can't see that happening if it's based on the old design.

I think a bit more technical information is needed here to lay this one to rest.

Regards

Dave

 

[Grant]

They are both new engines!

Porsche have been rather shrewd with the launch of the 997.2, with the first series the S vastly outsold the standard Carrera., with the series 2 Porsche have seen the tougher time ahead & made the standard car that bit more attractive!

The base model now has the larger 330mm brakes, self adjusting clutch & Xenon lights that featured on the previous S + a wider rear tyre footprint & "enhanced" PSM (previously only on the 4WD cars) with the more powerful engine & a fast changing PDK gearbox it will have the measure of a prefacelift "S" which is plenty fast enough.

Of course you don't get PASM (10mm lowered!) or 19 inch wheels as standard & the S is now even faster, ballsitic in fact, so much depends on how you will use the car, as the car is a tad more GT maybe the base model now has the edge for value! Of course an S with 20mm lowered PASM & sports exhaust is a big temptation!

As ever you need to drive both & see what works for you.