My Carrera Fantasy...

[channella]

Currently a Boxster owner, I really like the 997. It's a penny or two expensive for me, but I've been having a play on the car configurator. I decided to see how I could spec a C2 within the base price of a C2S, so I wondered what you owners thought?

My other objective was to get to an even more focussed driver's car if that is sensibly possible, in the hope that the suspension and diff might help make up for the 30bhp deficit. The base price of the C2 is 58931, to which 2932 for leather, screen tint and VTS is added as "no-option" options. To that I therefore spec'd as follows:

Sports suspension (-20mm) and limited slip diff.
19" Sport Design wheels
5mm spacers
Sport shifter
Sports seats
Bi-Xenon headlights
3-spoke sports steering wheel
Rear wiper
Red exterior, black interior

That covered the objectives, but with some space in the budget I added:

Stainless steel tailpipes
Floor Mats
Red seat belts (to go with red exterior)

I guess some might ditch these last items and, say, the steering wheel in favour of the sports exhaust, but I like a combination of style performance and subtlty!

Anyway, one thing I don't think I have ever seen is a comparison of the C2 with the lowered suspension and limited slip diff with the C2S, since in this spec. that's where the C2 might offer something to make up for the lower engine output.

How'd I do?

 

[okellyt]

PSE is a must

Oops there goes the budget!

A recent Porche Mag (911 world?) had two unusal spec cars one a £75k C2 loaded with sports focussed goodies including ceramic breaks[:-]

 

[snarf]

I think playing with the configurator is just about the best part of the Porsche buying experience. Given the constraints you have placed on yourself I think you did ok but there are one or two things you might want to consider:

* I believe that the tracker is also a "no option" option now and the annual VTS fee of £200 is a further cost.
* I didn't spec the rear wiper and over 7 months and 5000 miles of driving I have not yet regretted it - some also claim it spoils the lines.
* I didn't spec the PSE but many here will tell you its a must have, it can, however, be retro fitted.
* TPMS is a must have IMO - detected a slow puncture just yesterday that might otherwise have gone unnoticed for a few days. Difficult to put a price on the peace of mind I get from the ability to check tyre pressures while driving.
* I went for the Carrera sport wheels and these are bad enough to clean - the sports wheels look great but cleaning? Ok if you have very small hands and long thin arms.

Edit - While I was writing the above the response from Okellyt was posted - glad to see my comments re PSE were on the mark []

 

[Ronnie C]

Andrew, you are doing things that are kind of contradictory.

You don't want to spend the extra money that the S would cost, but you spec a lot of options that are standard on the S and more importantly, work against your objective to get to an even more focussed driver's car.

18" wheels actually equate to better handling; 19" wheels are just visually better.
5mm spacers - don't improve the car's "driving" characteristics
Bi-Xenon - again don't improve the car's "driving" characteristics
Rear wiper - unnecessary cost - I've had my 97C2S as my daily driver for over 2 years now and trust me, you don't need this option.

Don't get me wrong, it's your money, but I will point out that you are paying for options that are standard to the C2S and as you spec more and more options to the base C2, you will get nearer and nearer to the price of a C2S which offers more than just the extra 30bhp. The braking system is much, much better - test drive the two versions and see for yourself. Then there are some other standard parts to the S not available on the base.

I do highly recommend the sports seats and sports shifter.

As for things like floor mats and stainless steel tailpipes, you really should get those thrown in for free - I did when I bought mine.

Good luck with your decisions. Whatever you end up with you will enjoy.

 

[Guest]

The other alternative is to go for a fully loaded up, 12-18 month old C2S for the same outlay as a new C2. That's what I did - 6,500 miles on the clock.... []

The 2 things that my car didn't have, that I would have liked, are: TPMS (as Allan has indicated) and the rain-sensing front wiper / dimming rear-view mirror.

I avoided cars with the rear wiper. Personal choice.

 

[channella]

Thanks, some interesting comments. If I was in the process of speccing a real purchase, there would be some things to think about. This would have to be my daily drive too, which is a requirement I forgot to mention.

Just a few responses:

I chose the bi-xenon and rear wiper, because I expect to be able to see as best I can the hazards ahead, and those behind are being left safely in all conditions and at any time of day. So it is interesting you're not finding the rear wiper something you miss; I'd have thought that the rear window would get dirty quickly.

I wouldn't really expect the wider track to make any difference.

I got this spec within a few £ of the C2S "base price", but remember that the C2S base price will have nearly £3k of leather/VTS/top tint added. So whilst some of these options are standard on the S, its the standard items of the S that aren't available as options that are the consideration - engine size and power etc. Although I didn't realise the braking systems were different. And of course If I started looking at the C2S, then there'd be x51 to think about, and a few options later we'd be getting close to GT3 territory... []

I agree with the comment about wheels - I'd be happy to stay on 18's, but then the sport suspension and LSD is not available. I confess I went for looks rather than cleaning, since the Carrera II wheels are the same price. Staying on 18's deletes the suspension, and so this would save over £2k on my spec, easily accommodating the PSE - but is that an aural or performance change?

As to the TPMS, I have a big dial Intercomp gauge and weekly checks for that.

 

[snarf]

ORIGINAL: boxster27
As to the TPMS, I have a big dial Intercomp gauge and weekly checks for that.

I know this is all hypothetical and at the risk of being a bore I really think TPMS should be mandatory (I believe it already is in the USA, it's certainly another "no option" option on US 911s). One of the very first reviews I read of the 997 was of a test drive on a German autobahn, they were trying to prove that the claimed max speed could be achieved when the TPMS system alerted them of a deflating tyre. Imagine the possible consequences if the test car had not been fitted with TPMS. No weekly check can safeguard against this scenario.

 

[Dylan1]

i too reckon ive used the rear wiper twice in a year on the cs-to clear early morning dew-hardly enough reason to specify-and i agree with others about the style reduction!!
BTW volvo estate takes me back to the fun days of 5 kids on long trips.....cant say i miss that particular driving experience....even tho the kids were easier to control then...

 

[snarf]

BTW here's my spec:

GT Silver/Ocean Blue/Top tint U2/FE (no option option)
Park assist 635
Auto dim mirrors P12
Sports chrono 640
Sport shifter XCZ
Stainless steel tail pipes X54
Carrera sports wheels XRR
Heated Seats 342
Cruise control 454
Fire ext 509
Adaptive sports seats P01
Tyre pressure mon 482
Three spoke mf wheel 431
Porsche crest in head rest XSC
Sat nav module 670
Telephone module 666
Prep pack carpets (dealer fitted)
Bose sound 680
Coloured wheel centres 446 (no option option with XRR)
Carrera logo on storage lid CUV
Porsche VTS T93(dealer fitted no option option)

 

[snarf]

ORIGINAL: dyllan

i too reckon ive used the rear wiper twice in a year on the cs-to clear early morning dew-hardly enough reason to specify-and i agree with others about the style reduction!! ...

Dyllan am I right in saying that there is no wash function with the rear wiper? If so this must make its use somewhat restricted.

 

[garyw]

I have the rear wiper fitted, it was a no cost option but felt after having it on my previous coupe it was worthwhile.
There is no wash function on the rear wiper, however I find that the rear screen does usually stay pretty well clear/clean whilst moving.
My car is secured outdoors and I find that the rear wiper is invaluable when reversing of the drive, also on motorways in the rain when slowed in traffic an excess of water does lie on the rear screen, I find it a great relief being able to clear the water giving me the vision rearwards. (Yes I do have doors mirrors I know [])

As far as looks go I don't feel the wiper distracts from the lines but agree it is a personal preference.
Would I spec it again... too right.

garyw

 

[okellyt]

ORIGINAL: snarf

BTW here's my spec:

GT Silver/Ocean Blue/Top tint U2/FE (no option option)
Park assist 635
Auto dim mirrors P12
Sports chrono 640
Sport shifter XCZ
Stainless steel tail pipes X54
Carrera sports wheels XRR
Heated Seats 342
Cruise control 454
Fire ext 509
Adaptive sports seats P01
Tyre pressure mon 482
Three spoke mf wheel 431
Porsche crest in head rest XSC
Sat nav module 670
Telephone module 666
Prep pack carpets (dealer fitted)
Bose sound 680
Coloured wheel centres 446 (no option option with XRR)
Carrera logo on storage lid CUV
Porsche VTS T93(dealer fitted no option option)

My view of a Fun C2 outrageously specced

GT Silver/Terracotta
Aero Package
Park assist
Sports chrono plus
sports gear shift
Lowered Sports Suspension 20mm lower and Limited slip diff)
PSE
Standard 18 Carerra wheels
Ceramic Disks
Fire ext
Sports seats
Tyre pressure mon
Three spoke thicker leather trim sports steering wheel
Porsche crest in head rest
Sat nav module
Bose sound
6 Cd change upgrade
Coloured wheel centres
Bi Xenons (once you've had them you'll never want to travel at night without)
Porsche VTS T93(dealer fitted no option option)

Closely follwoed by bankrupcy

 

[Adam2S]

You cant have -20mm/LSD suspension with 18" wheels - 19" must be selected if you take it.

Try it on the configurator, its true - surprised me. Anybody care to speculate why 19" are required for -20mm?

 

[sawood12]

Well I can't get my Carrera S specc'd for less than £80.5k. I've gone for the stripped out (as much as possible) mini-GT3 997S rather than speccing up a standard Carrera:- The only options i've specc'd are the -20mm LSD suspension, X51, Aero cup kit (i've seen it in the flesh at Nottingham OPC and it was simply stunning. I don't care about the facelift 997, it wont look anywhere near as good as this), short shifter and Bose stereo.

I'd wait for Xenon lights to come up on ebay and retrofit them for a fraction of the cost, also i'd get the wheels painted in the body colour for a hell of alot less than the £705 Porsche are charging. I'd use Rainex on the rear window in lieu of the wiper. Anyway much like Andrew the thread starter it's all academic for me, but if anyone on here with this spec of 997S is thinking of selling it in about 10yrs time then give me a shout!

 

[channella]

Great fun, the Porsche Car Configurator.

But just every now and then I start to think could I... just maybe... what kind of deposit would the Boxster raise... could I sell the idea to MBH...

Off to have another play with some of the ideas mentioned.

 

[isuk]

Just thought I'd chime in on the wiper front. I've owned 3 997's now - a C2, C2S and now a Turbo. Only the C2S did not have a rear wiper and I found it a real PIA in drizzling rain in the conditions garyw described - low speed on a motorway in the wet. Lets face it, in most driving these days you are lucky not to hit slow moving traffic at some point and the rear screen does get covered by water in these conditions. Reversing out of any space after being parked in the rain is also made more tricky by not having a wiper to clear the screen. I barely notice the rear wiper on the car but accept that some people think it somehow spoils the lines. I personally think the front wipers are far more visible as they are not shielded by the trailing edge of the bonnet as they are on many cars these days. My partners Cayman also has no rear wiper and it drives her mad at times that she has difficulty seeing out of the rear.

 

[Dylan1]

correct-as others have said-no wash function-which is a shame,bearing in mind the incredible wash on the headlight bi-xenon function!!
i guess i havent driven many times on slow motorways,where it may be useful but overall function definately limited by lack of wash function