PatrickBateman

I have owned my 3.4 L 911 for three years now. I drove a friends E30 manual (325i) and had more fun in it than my 991, which is 3x as powerful and newer. That was eye opening to me.

I like the looks of the 991 more than the 997, but I hear the 7MT is geared so tall it’s not enjoyable. I’ve found threads discussing shift feel of the 7MT, but less about the actual gearing and overall experience. That has led me to look back to a 997.2; which offers a similar PCM (albeit poorer resolution) and hydraulic steering.


I don’t daily the 991, but I do drive it multiple days a week. 3.8L 7MT is out of the question due to cost, and a 997.2 S is out of the question due to their higher susceptibility to bore scoring.

Therefore, the showdown is down to: 997.2 base 6MT or 991.1 base 7MT.

Is the 7MT fun and engaging to drive? Do you find yourself stuck in one gear without the ability to row through the gears? Does the tall gearing highlight the lack of torque the .1 cars have?

Thanks all! Pic of my current 991.1 PDK. If I stayed with a 991, I’d transfer the GT3 parts to the new one. If I got a 997.2, I’d source an aero kit.

Noah Fect

997.2S has the same 3.8L 9A1 engine as the 991S, doesn't it? Haven't heard a lot of complaints about bore scoring on any of the 9A1s. It happens but you might as well worry about stray meteors.

BSO

Deleted as OP wants feedback on 991.1 7mt only.

NiteJav

I had a 991.1 in PDK and currently have a 991.2 in stick. (c4 vs c4s) With the 991.2 the turbos have given the car a lot of low down torque. You can cruise around town in 6th at 35 mph if you want, or just row away just for fun depending on your mood. It really gives you the best of both worlds, row a little or row a lot. Either way its more involving to me for street driving and I love it.

PatrickBateman

Do appreciate the replies from 991.2 owners and I understand the turbos add torque the .1 could use, but it’s not something that I am open to so I’d like to keep discussion centered around the MANUAL experience of the two models and iterations I’ve indicated, 991.1 v 997.2. Thank you

jeffleept

I think bore scoring was more noted in the 997.1 cars. 997.2 CS should be fine. If you're really concerned a proper PPI will pick it up anyway given the car will probably have some miles on it by now.

If it's a non-daily, I'd pick a 997.2 CS over a 991.1 base. Especially if you throw a numeric shifter in there. Much more of a mechanical feeling car, tighter interior makes it feel like the car is strapped around you.

If you want to shift more often, find a canyon road.

NF4710

I’ve driven all the cars discussed. Some will say it’s sacrilege but as all .1S owner I don’t think you give up much getting the base car - it gives you more opportunity to wind it out. The way I see it if I want a torque monster I will go electric. What I enjoy is the tactile and aural experience and the fun of shifting gears. The 997.2 is a sweet ride but felt a bit dated to me. The 991 definitely felt bigger and more refined but also somehow more usable.

NF

PatrickBateman

So do you have pdk or 7mt? How do you find the gearing? Any experience with 6mt and thoughts when both are compared?

spiderv6

Lack of torque? What? Huh? Ok, there is no turbo shove but there is plenty of oomph to put a huge smile on your face. My wife’s turbo’d SUV would beat me off the line and a mile down the road, and I love driving it, but it’s just a completely different experience.

Yes the gears are tall but what’s not to love about getting it wound up to 3rd and hauling *** and letting the thing scream at you.

You got to drive it to decide. Don’t get all wrapped up in descriptors of torque and tall and blah blah.

2016 991.1 C4S

PatrickBateman

Will try to find one local. You have an S which has a not so insignificant amount more power/torque than the 3.4 I would be getting. I have a 3.4 now, just in PDK… while it’s faster than the 7MT, it still feels slow. I’m fine with that, but I am trying to decide between what has the better, more engaging drive between 997.2 and 991.1, all else being equal outside the 6/7MT

MingusDew

you’re getting a lot of replies from 991.2 folks coz you said:

991.7mt

You should update your post. You accidentally put 997.2 vs 991.2 instead of 991.1 which is what you meant.

I owned a 991.1 7MT Base with regular PASM, Sport Chrono, Torque Vectoring and Power Steering Plus.
It was a fun car, but I wanted more.
Now I’m looking at a 991.2 Carrera T 7MT for more excitement, tech and the other updates with the .2

The gearbox would benefit greatly from a Numeric Short Shifter which makes it act like a bolt-action shifter.

You never have to touch the top 3 gears unless you’re on the highway so it never bothered me.

There’s something about driving any manual 911 that just feels amazing though.

997.2 is probably the next 993, but I don’t think they’re worth the premium personally.

You can’t go wrong with either.

NF4710

7MT. Love it. The 6 speed does feel a little better but I think the 7 speed is 90% of the fun. I love it because I can go over 80 on the highway at lower RPMs while the engine is warming up. All modern Porsche ICE cars have gearing that is too tall IMO

NF

Zylinderkopfdichtung

I’m glad that you had that experience with an E30. I had a similar encounter with an E46 ZHP and liked it so much that I bought one. BMW earned “The Ultimate Driving Machine” moniker because of cars like that (and lost in with the F30, in my opinion).

I think there’s more at play here than just the PDK versus manual in a 911 The E30 is vastly more fun at legal speeds that almost anything with a fixed roof. Front engine, rear drive, and a lightweight and balanced chassis without too much power is a formula for fun at slow speeds. It’s engaging, with each limb working together yet feeling different feedback from each part of the car. I don’t think that a manual version of what you’re driving will scratch the itch that the E30 gave you. I don’t think any modernish car can. As cars have gotten more complex and heavier the driver engagement has waned. Our 911s are hardly immune to this.

I suggest doing some drive homework. Drive an E46, E9X, air cooled 911, 987, etc. and see what speaks to you.

My ZHP:

SH2

Was in the same thought process with my 2019 however, I knew I’d miss having the PDK, therefore, searched for an alternative, one that would provide the excitement of a manual, fun to drive muscle car with great exhaust. Settled on a Shelby GT350, plenty of them around and far more comfortable and easier to get in and out of.