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As far as pricing, sounds like you kept the price reasonable by avoiding extra options. The ones I've seen have MSRP's in the $100k+ range. Do you think any/much of a discount would be possible on one of the few 2005 models out there? (If not, I'd just as soon order a 2006 to my exact specs and have a one year newer model).
Thanks again for your driving impressions - sounds like you have a car you will enjoy for many years to come.
As my name (s4to911) implies, I have owned a 2001 Audi S4 for five years. I went to my local Audi/Porsche dealer about six weeks ago looking at some 2005 S4 Cabs (I wanted a convertible) and there was a Midnight Blue/Sand Beige 2005 911 S Cab on the lot (with navigation, Bose, heated seats, power seats, full leather, Sport Chrono, 19 inch Carrera Classic wheels, sticker about $99K, dealer willing to discount a couple of thousand K) that someone had ordered but did not want.
I drove it and loved it. It took a few days to convince my wife to spend the extra $$ (about $40K more than an S4 Cab). In this time, the car was sold to someone else (I should have put a deposit down).
Searching the internet, I found a minimally optioned S Cab in Midnight Blue/Sand Beige (with Nav, Bose, heated seats, 19 inch Carrera Classic wheels) at a dealer about 250 miles away. I flew out three days later, bought the car, and drove it home. I paid sticker (about $95K) since in the two weeks after the car was delivered to this dealer, there were four offers (at very close to list) until mine. This car was an "extra" allocation offered to this dealer and was optioned by the factory.
I thought about buying a 2006 to take delivery in mid-September (the original dealer felt bad about my losing the first car, and offered me an allocation that had come up).
Now that I have the car, in thinking about which options I really wanted, versus which that I could take or leave are:
(1) Really wanted: 19 inch Classic wheels (look the best in my opinion), heated seats, nav, Bose upgrade;
(2) Wanted but wanted the car more for this summer, so hoping for a retrofit someday: Sport Chrono;
(3) Nice to have but I could live without: full leather, power seats.
I think if you look hard you could find a discount on a 2005 to about $94-97K, depending on the color and the options. There still are some left, at dealers generally in the middle of the US.
If you are willing to wait until October, get the 2006 and option it the way you want. There is a 2.8% increase in MSRP for 2006, but I bet you could option a decent car for about $95-96K. There are lots of comments on the various Porsche boards considering the many options, but I think in the end (like anything) most of the options are personal preference. Even the base car is pretty amazing.
Hope this helps, and good luck.
I've seen this combination up close, stunning imo. The best looking color combo on the new 911 to my eyes.
habitat1,
I can't wait to see what you decide....its a wonder you've held out this long with such a seductive car as the 911.
M
I can live with a cheap looking dash.. The Boxster, by most accounts is a better handling car than the 911 (definitely better balanced)..
Just my nickel (inflation, you know)
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dedav8tr
The conclusion he came to was that "time sharing" exotic sports cars would probably not make good business sense. The business model he was looking at was dividing the ownership up between 6+/- owners, where you would each get the car 1 month "in season" and 1 month "off season". Trading time slots and/or cars would be facilitated through a point system similar to resort time share. Cars proposed ranged from a Porsche 911 to a Ferrari 360, the time share company would tack on a 15% premium to the dealer price, plus an annual fee, as their revenue source for running the operation It's been awhile, but the issues as best I recall were:
A $15,000 to $35,000 investment in a "share" was still considered substantial investment in a depreciating asset, with a 5-7+/- year life. Most prospective purchasers that could afford a 1/6 interest could probably afford to buy the car outright themselves and would prefer to own it year round without it used (and abused) by others. Compare this to resort condo timeshaing where you can get a week in a high end resort for $20k-$30k and, assuming you go with a reputable manager, have it for decades and be able to sell it for at or above what you paid for it.
The depreciation and maintenance costs would be significantly accelerated by the continued use of the vehicles. Most higher end sports cars and exotics are not designed to be driven 20,000+ miles per year. In the event of significant repairs, fingers would be pointed as to which driver was responsible.
For sports cars, there is often as much prestige in owning the vehicle as there is in driving it. That prestige factor is significantly reduced or eliminated by the time share concept. So the value needs to be derived from driving the car like you stole it for the two months you have it. Again, not good for repairs, maintenance or depreciation.
Bottom line, my associate concluded that time sharing sports cars did not have nearly the perceived appeal or benefits of time sharing a high end vacation condo. He punted the idea and is back to making millions in real estate.
Good luck whatever you decide.
Hmm.. yeah... pretty obnoxious.. Sorry..
It is sort of like showing up at the class reunion in a new Porsche, then having to admit you rented it..
regards,
kyfdx
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Jim
I'm really hoping you (or others) can help me with a major quandry.
I'm totally convinced on the Porsche 911. Test drove it -- blew me away. Found a beautiful Carmon Red Metallic 2005 Carrera S at a local dealer. Options are fine. (has the sports package and chrono.) dealer will take $4k - $5k off.
Key issues:">
1. I have a VW GTI and am looking at a Carrera S.
2. I live in NJ.
3. I have a 5 year old and one on the way.
Questions:
1. Is it ridiculous to think that I can use my Porsche to carry one or more of my kids around? My wife has an SUV and does most of the child carrying, but I know I'll be drafted into service from time to time.
2. In NJ, I'm assuming a convertible is probably driveable 2 or 3 months out of the year. And I'm also assuming that when there's snow or ice, i'm SOL in the 911. Any feedback here?
3. Given 1 and 2, I'm thinking that my options are to: a) buy a Carrera 4S for the AWD and therefore be able to drive the 911 in somewhat more ugly weather; b) get an inexpensive third car for when it's snowing, or i have to drive the kids, or leave the car at the airport (like a Honda Accord or Infiniti G35).<img src=" :confuse:
Please advise! I'm DYING to get my hands on a 911, but I've got to address these issues before I can make the final purchase.
1. I took my wife and kids (girls 7 &10) to do a test fit in the 911 last week. They all fit fine. I'm 5'7" and my wife is 5'1" so we could easily position the front seats to give them enough leg room in the back. However, my 10 year old complained that the rear seat back is uncofortable - given that it is virtually straight up and down. The coupe offers a more reclined rear seat, but less head room (infinitely less than the cabriolet with the top down!) My conclusion - the 911 cabrio would work fine for our kids for short trips. However, if you think you'll ever get a car seat in the back of a 911 for your upcoming arrival, forget it.
2. In DC I drove my last convertible - a Honda S2000 - with the top down at least once or twice a month every month of the year. I find driving a convertible at 50 degrees more comfortable than driving one at 85. I think your estimate of the 911 Cabrio only being drivable 2-3 months is excessively conservative. Realistically, I think it is very usable 6+ months a year. On the snow and ice front, that's another story. Unless you plan on getting a full set of snow tires and wheels, the 4S alone won't be much help. It is really geared towards dry performance, not turning the 911 into a Cayenne. The standard tires - 295/30 series rears on the 911 S - are completely incapable of handling snow. And even with snow tires, do you want to drive a low slung $90k+ sports car through the New Jersey winter slush?
FWIW, I still haven't decided between the 911 and Boxster S, but am leaning pretty strongly to the 911 for its "practical" ability to ferry the kids around town. Good luck with your decision.
All of these items aside, I would have thought a 911 clutch would last far more than 8,000 miles unless you were really doing something severely wrong. I've been driving sticks for 30 years and only had two clutch replacements, both at over 100,000 miles and both prior to 1990. My semi-retired 1995 Maxima may finally be needing a new one at 11 years and 154,000 miles, due more to inactivity over the past year than anything else. And the cost from the Nissan dealer is $450, parts and labor.
Did you buy the 911 brand new, with minimal delivery miles (under 10) on the odometer? I got into a dispute wiith one Porsche dealership that claimed that every car they sell has been test driven at least a few times. I've seen (and smelled) some horrific test drives by idiots that didn't know how to drive a stick. Fortunately, I have numerous dealerships to chose from, the majority of whom respect my position of not wanting a car that has been test driven to the tune of 80-100+ miles. ,
(1) You can carry around small kids in your 911 Cab or Coupe. I have a 7, 5, and 3 year old, and all fit fine in my S Cab in the back. The 5 and 7 year olds have Britax Starriser boosters (they fit perfectly) and the 3 year old has a Century five point forward facing car seat (also fits fine). For a newborn, my guess is that you can put in the infant carrier car seat without the car base, using only the attachments for the lap belt. Once the kid grows out of that, and until he/she can get into a forward facing seat (probably from about 7-8 months to about 18-20 months), there are rear facing seats that will fit (the Porsche 997 boards at Rennlist and Rennteam are full of suggestions). Porsche makes an airbag deactiavtion switch for the passenger seat front airbag (retrofittable) so a car seat can go in the front, but my wife says no way. My kids love the car, and argue with each other about who gets to go with daddy. Controlling this behavior is another problem entirely.
(2) I live in Pittsburgh (like NJ weather but with lots of hills in addition). I plan on driving the car from March to November. The car is extremely stable (despite the rear engine) and I suspect that the major issue is the summer tires..if you replaced them with winter tires I bet the car would be fine. However, with the low ground clearance and snow, salt, mud, etc I decided to keep my 2001 S4 for a winter car. I was only going to get about $17,500 for it in trade (which is only a little bit more than difference between a C2 and C4 in price).
(3) Do you have room for a third car in your driveway/garage? How much can you get for your GTI in trade? If you can't get more than 15K and have room, it may make sense to keep the GTI as a third car, and get the C2.
Good luck
I ended up buying from Lancaster Autohaus in Lancaster (which is about 90-120 minutes from the DC area)--I found the car on their website. They are about 4.5 hours from Pittsburgh. They were fine, and the process was very easy.
I am waiting for the ship to arrive on this shores to take delivery of my new 991S coupe, which I ordered back in april, i did get it with tiptronic since I live in LA and there is no way in hell I am getting stuck in traffic and have to shift constantly...
I am getting all kinds of options so it should be quite an awsome car. To all out there who have one , any tricks or ways of driving that I should know to enjoy the experience fully..
thanks to all.
In any event, I've all but decided to go for a 2006 997 S (with sports chrono) that I can order this week for late October/November delivery. I am leaning towards the coupe, but my wife is lobbying for the cabriolet.
Regading "tricks" or driving tips, I would definitely recommend a Skip Barber or comparable performance drving school. I took BMW's professional drving course offered as standard when I purchased my M5 in 2003 and it was exceptional. I had not taken a course since I had purchased an M1 in 1979 and had forgotten how helpful the experience was.
Good luck and enjoy your car - to the extent possible on those LA parking lots
What do you mean ?
You can put the mp3's on a disc or the stereo has a mini card feature ( like the new audi's do ? )
Thanks
When does the plant assembly shift to 2006? If there are no changes in the specs, then this is probably a mute point and I get to pay about $1800 extra for the privilege of a 2006 VIN.
Inevitably though, the subject of competing cars comes up, and so here's my question, if you would indulge my curiousity (I have my OWN answer already but I'd like to hear yours).
Why did you choose a 997 rather than a considerably less expensive Corvette, which can put up similar or better "numbers" regarding acceleration and handling?
Please let me know if there were other factors in your decision besides performance, and what those might be, and if you actually looked at or drove a Corvette.
This is just for my curiosity, I'm not collected data or anything. I'd like to see if we think alike or differently on this matter.
You may also include other cars you considered prior to deciding upon a 997.
thanks very much!
Shifty a Visiting Host
If you sell any time in the next five years, I'd say the '06 will probably bring $5K more than a comparable '05 with the same mileage..
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I ordered a 997S C back in April for an August/September Delivery and it is a 2006 Model, So your will be too.
For some, "quantity" is the holy grail. I have a golfing buddy who proudly talks about his new 7,000 square foot ex-urban house with 8 bedrooms, 6+ bathrooms and 4 car garage on a 1.5 acre lot. And that's exactly the way he describes it. But in my eyes it's a big brick faced, vinyl sided box with virtually no architectual character inside or out. Not to mention that it sits in a tract subdivision of other big boxes all built in the last 3 years by a national homebuilder that I happen to know cuts more corners than Michael Schumaker in a Formula 1 race.
We, on the other hand, are looking to build a much smaller custom 4-5 bedroom Arts & Crafts bungalow, with stone, slate, mahogony, architectural shingles, and top of the line craftsmanship and details, on a less than 1/4 acre lot in a real in-fill neighborhood that has vintage homes dating back to the 1890's. The construction costs of our home will be approximately 4 times the cost per square foot that the mega-box costs to build. My buddy probably thinks I'm nuts for paying that much to build a "little" house on a "little" lot. I, on the other hand, couldn't imagine trading off an architectually distinguished home in a real neighborhood for a 7,000 s.f. big box in Tim-buk-tu.
Everyone has their own value system, budget and priorities. For some, the new 997 offers the quality and refinement that they are willing to pay for. Others may look no further than the "numbers" and think the Corvette is a deal by comparison. But if I look closely at how the Corvette and Porsche 997 are engineered and built, the quality of their interiors, the fit and finish of the exteriors, and "how" they drive and handle, not just their 0-60 or skidpad "numbers" - it's easy for me to see a huge difference.
I haven't made a final decision to buy a 2006 997 Cab S yet. But if I don't go with it, I will likely end up with a Boxster S. Even another Honda S2000 is a (very) remote possibility. But not a Corvette. Quality and refinement have always been more important to me than "the numbers". And yes, I did drive a Corvette about a year ago just to confirm that I hadn't missed any revolutionary changes in the Chevy approach to a sports car. I hadn't.
What feedback exactly have you been getting on the '03 targa?
The dealer just sent me an emailsaying : that all 2006 cayennes have the MP3, but he is not sure about the 2006 997S. When you were refering about this subject, you meant 2006 997S.
Thanks
Boxster S -- was most fun to drive -- pure joy. Quick, precise shifting, and handled very, very well. Downside for me as an avid golfer is a very small trunk and also some noise on the highway (e.g. truck tire noise goes right through the top even when up). Golf clubs fit if you take them out of the bag, but you have to spend some time working it which seems like a hassle on a day to day basis. Otherwise for the money, this would be my choice.
Corvette -- was noticably faster, quieter and more comfortable with plenty of storage room for 2 golf bags in either coupe or just barely in convertible (with top up). Excellent value, many more options for the money than the Boxster e.g. Nav, power seats. Negative impression was manual transmision which was not nearly as precise and therefore somewhat stressful for me to drive, though I would probably get used to it. Also nav system which was not operable while driving (?) or maybe I could not figure it out. Driving position gave me less confidence; even though it's actually slightly smaller than a 911, the low position and style make it harder to see around in tight situations. My wife felt nervous with all the speed and less precision.
911 felt very refined while driving, an absolutely gorgeous car inside and out. Having owned one of these before, there is nothing that feels the same. It's not that it's better, certainly not justified for the money, it's just different.
We have narrowed it down to a 2005 911 or a 2004 C4S Cab. We saw a 2004 C4S today and my wife liked its appearance very much with the cool turbo body parts. But the dealer wants $104-108K for a used C4S because they only made 1500 of them and a brandy new 2005 Cab S costs about the same.
So if anyone has advice on which of those to go with I would appreciate it. The dealer was advising to go with the C4S which he had in stock because of better future resale value due to rarity. Same engine as 2005 320 horse and 4wd.
Thank you
We have narrowed it down to
A question for the community:
I'm buying my first Porsche and love the 997. I've narrowed it down to two cars:
1) A pre-owned 2005 C2S w/ 1800 miles; or
2) A 2006 C4S
The difference in price on a 42 month lease is about $300 per month.
And the C2S doesn't have the sports seats that I would get in a new build, but otherwise has the exact same options I'd get.
I live in the Northeast, and I can definitely see benefits to the C4S, but I like cash flow as much as the next guy.
Any perspective?
Thanks.
Your dealer must think you are a rich fool with the "value due to rarity" pitch. In every conceivable way the new 997 911 Cab is a better car than the 2004 C4S. Engineering, performance, interior quality, exterior styling, etc. And that's the base 997. Jump to the 2005 997 "S" version and you are that much further above the 2004 C4S.
I don't have personal ownership experience with the 911 (yet) but have picked the brain of a friend of ours who has owned a minimum of 2-3 Porsches at all times since about 1975. His current two are a pristine classic 356 and a 2003 911 Twin Turbo coupe w/X50. In one of our past discussions, he strongly discouraged me from considering the C4. It's one thing to have AWD to help put 450+ horsepower to the pavement, but in the standard coupe or cabriolet, it adds weight, up front expense, maintenance and repair costs and does not significantly improve the performance unless you like driving in the rain. Some (he) would say it is a net negative to the overall performance and "feel" of the 320 hp 996 911.
If you want to buy something rare, I suggest a Dali or Picasso. If you want to buy a sports car for $100k+/-, the 997 Cab S is by far the superior choice, IMO. And long before you think about peeing $104k+ away on a used C4S, check out the prices on used 911 TT Cabriolets. For not much/any more money, you could impress your wife with a real Twin Turbo, not just a C4S with "cool turbo body parts".
P.S. In your assessment of the Boxster S, I had little difficulty getting my Calloway bag in the rear trunk without taking the clubs out. It also can be ordered with PCM 2.1 (Navigation system included), although not too many are stock ordered that way.
I
I'll repeat the disclosure that I do not personally own a 911 (yet), but have researching the heck out of it and picking the brain of several friends and associates with Porsche 911 experience.
We live in the DC and have a second home in PA. I have been advised against the AWD system in the non-turbo versions of the 911, for the reasons listed in my post above: added weight, less nible feel and handling, higher expense, added maintenance and potential repair costs. And adding the AWD, but keeping the ultra high performance low profile summer tires will not help much with winter performance. By the time you add the cost of another set of winter wheels and snow tires to the mix, you could have leased a Honda Pilot for those 42 months to have as a backup vehicle.
Also, not sure where you are located or what dealer you are working with, but after the initial (no discounting) response I got a couple of months ago, I can now custom order a 2006 911 base or "S" for November delivery at $3,000 to $4,000+ off MSRP. Keep that in mind when negotiating the price of a 2005 pre-owned C2S.
No way.. I hear that Dali guy is painting like crazy... they will be all over the place..
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And yes, my friend, 2004 C4S's routinely sell for more money than 997 Cab S's, so I must not be the only rich fool out there who likes the unique look of the car. You can buy slightly used Cab S's on ebay right now for $90K, soon to be $85K when the 06's come out; try to find a C4S in similar condition for the same.
So that's why buying a rarer 911 can be wiser in the long run than buying a less expensive Boxster which is produced in much higher volumes and depreciates like a normal car.
But you do what you want, I guess it's better to be a rich fool than just a fool.
It is an entirely different experience driving a 997 than a 996, from the apperance of better fit and finish in the 2005 to better handling and acceleration. A lot of this is subjective, so if you drive both and like the 996, then get it.
One thing that is interesting to hear is talk about resale value and "rarity." Look, we are all dropping close to or above $90-100K for these cars, from what I hope for many if not most of us is very disposable income (this car to me is really an extreme luxury). This is a purchase with your heart, not your head.
It is never a wise business decision to invest in a depreciating asset. Sure, a rare Porsche may be worth more in the future--provided you keep it pristine in your garage and never drive it, so there is no damage, dings, stone chip marks, etc when you sell it.
If you need to feel like you are making an investment to make you feel better about the purchase, OK, go with it--but there are better ways to make money, as I am sure you know.
I bought this car to drive it--period. Its a Porsche, so I think I won't get totally killed on the resale. The joy I have driving it is worth every bit of depreciation that I am going to take.
Sorry to jump on, but it appears to me that YOU don't know what you are talking about in this instance and, rich or not, you would be foolish to come even close to paying $100k+ for a used 2004 C4S Cab.
First, there is nothing particularly "rare" about a 2004 C4S other than the number of buyers that wanted to buy one new. Porsche increased its production capacity with the 996 model and could have produced as many of its 911's in AWD format as the demand warranted. The fact is that most Porsche purists don't want an AWD 911, especially the 996 base model with only 320 horsepower. To claim the C4S is rare because of anything other than limited demand is simply incorrect.
Second, while it is true that some Porsche purists have bid up the price of late model air cooled 993's, there is no love affair with the 996. It's neither as "pure" as the 993, nor nearly as good as the new 997. I personally agree with S4to911, I would choose the 997 S Cab over the 996 Turbo Cab. I would trade off 0.5 seconds 0-60 for the upgraded interior, better handling and other refinements.
Third, if you really want a used 2004 C4S Cab, shop around. I believe the price for a pristine one with under 5,000 miles should be closer to $75,000 - $80,000. I was in DC earlier this year and saw one at Select Auto Imports for around that price. They are reputable, as one of my business partners has bought his last two cars from them.
Finally, don't kid yourself with the economics of buying a "rare" car.. You want to talk really rare?? I owned a 1979 BMW M1. BMW's Motorsport Group made a grand total of 455 of these over a 4 year period of time. I sold the mine in 1983 (we were moving out of the country) for $55,000. I put $50,000 of the sales price into an investment account subject to an agreement with my wife that it would be available for a future sports car purchase when we returned. That fund, as of yesterday's stock market close, is now worth exactly $2,134,557.80. That's a compounded annual return of 18.6%. I have purchased several sports cars in the interim 22 years out of other discretionary funds, but decided to keep the "sports car" fund intact as a lesson to our kids of the importance of saving and the value of compounding (not to mention a pretty good fund manager).
If you really like the 2004 C4S more than the 2005 997 S, that is certainly your perogative. But I do think you are being shnookered into thinking you are getting something that you are not, and potentially paying an extremely inflated price for it. I hope at least that you shop around a bit more.
I guess I have to tell my Salesperson to be aware of the fact that Late models 05 and 06 997 and 997 S have an MP3 capability
Again, Thanks for the info.
The reason for the discrepancy is that you have to take into account options (and mileage) when valuing a Porsche (and other cars like classic Corvettes) because they influence the supply demand equation. The car in question has ceramic brakes ($8K), navigation ($3K), full leather, carbon fiber interior, special wheels, sports exhaust ($1K), power memory seats, and 4K miles so that accounts for the higher price vs. more normally equipped, higher mileage version. A car with fewer options and just a few more thousand miles would be worth significantly less.
I give up..the only person who added to this question was the person who had driven them back to back. It's hard to find dealers with both models in stock at the same time so that information was helpful, so thank you.
Still waiting for the $75-80K C4S
I also don't need to be reminded that options and mileage need to be taken into account when valuing a Porsche. And I assume, as a previous 911 owner, that you don't need to be told that the resale value of $8k ceramic brakes on a car that isn't going to see a lot of serious track time is potentially a negative, due to the very high cost of maintenance and potential repairs (chipped rotors are $3k +/-).
Your previous posts had suggested that you had driven both cars, acknowledged that the 997 was superior in both performance and refinement, but you were being "advised" by the dealer to pay $104k+ for a used 996 C4S because it is "rare". Isn't he nice, watching out for your financial interests? I was simply trying to give you a more objective assessment, since I don't make a fat commission regardless of what you decide. Good luck either way.
Help!
For all but the most extreme driving:
--the 19" wheels reduce comfort significantly and unnecessarily increase expense (upfront price, tire wear and replacement cost). [as an aside, when is the wheel size inflation going to end?]
--PASM isn't necessary--and only makes the already stiff suspension stiffer
Furthermore, a 30 bhp jump is pretty meager for a "S" badge . . .
However, if you plan to take it to the track, then I'd consider the S . . .
From my personal perspective, I am spending my $$ on traction--and thus have ordered a 911 Carrera 4. It feels like a much better use of $6k--better wet weather traction and the wide rear fenders.
It is unclear to me whether the S or straight Carrera will hold its value better . . . they seem to be making them in equal proportions. And, frankly, I don't care since I will either lease and turn mine in . . . or keep it for 20 years. This is a minor point at best.
Enjoy your test driving either way!
Regards.
I've also been thinking BMW M3 which is a lot of fun too. Decisions, decisions.
If you have any other thoughts, they'd be much appreciated
Again, thanks for your time and info
2 responses:
1. I find that people are often very unrealistic as to what they are buying cars for and what they really need--and fall into the marketing spin. E.g., some people have their Carreras' brake calipers painted red to make them look like those of the Carrera S/Turbo. Or have them painted yellow to look like PCCB. When one is living in this zip code, one has seriously lost perspective--and totally bought into Porsche's carefully stratified caste system. When you consider that a base 997 is one of the quickest, most capable vehicles on the road, how important is it to have the best/fastest/etc. And at what cost (and profit to Stuttgart)?
2. M3 vs. 997: Fundamentally different class of car. It really depends on what you are willing to spend. I had the same decision and decided that I wanted no compromises in car (but that means that hauling my golf clubs in it will be a pain). Accordingly, pick your compromises. A very fast and somewhat convenient car vs. a sports car that compromises convenience.
Regards.
I do agree that the base Carrera is a fine car that would satisfy most. However, after driving the 2005 Boxster S with and without PASM (and sport chrono), I noticed the difference and, given the choice, would order it on the 911. The "normal" mode can be manually selected and is virtually identical in comfort to the non-PASM car. But when the roads are smooth and you want the tighter, firmer feel, that sport button is nice, IMO.
The 19" wheels are mostly aesthetic, but the tires are not significantly more expense or have less treadwear life than the base Carrer's 18" wheels according to the guys I spoke with at the Tire Rack. In the Boxster S's I tested, I could barely notice any difference in comfort between the 18" and 19", with the 19" PASM one set on "normal" mode.
The other two standard features of the Carrera S are mandatory, IMO - Xenon lights and sport steering wheel.
So, when you add up the cost of the aforementioned options that come standard on the Carrera S, they equate to roughly half of the $10k difference in the base price. Is the extra 30 hp worth an additional $5k? I haven't test driven the 911 and 911S back to back, but from those I've talked to that have, they would claim the difference feels like a lot more than 30 hp. In fact, one of our friends who owns a 2003 911TT claims that the 997 911 S is almost as quick.
On the C2 vs. C4 issue, I'm again of the other opinion that carting around an extra 200+ lbs in a sports car for occasionally better rain performance, but a heavier, less nimble feel all of the time is not a trade off I would make. I'll slow down in the rain and not drive in the snow at all.
All of these opinions are purely subjective. However, if you would end up ordering a 911 base with many of the options that come standard on the S, I'd think the S might be worth the incremental difference at that point.