The Porsche 992 Turbo S vs Turbo – What you need to know
The Porsche 992 Turbo and Turbo S are two of the most impressive engines that Porsche has come out with in recent years. Just when you think they couldn’t possibly top themselves, what do they do? They come back even stronger.
This blog post will cover a brief summary of the Porsche 992 Turbo as well as the 922 Turbo S – what their differences are, which of the two is the most powerful, which of the two is the most reliable, and an objective opinion of which of the two is the best overall.
As always, we will do our best to give you all the facts with as few opinions as possible to try and give you a level playing field to decide which you might prefer. Let’s jump right into it.
Highlights
- The Porsche 992 Turbo and Turbo S are high-performance models known for their powerful engines and advanced handling technology.
- The 992 Turbo is powered by a 3.8-liter engine producing 572 horsepower, while the Turbo S fine-tunes the same engine to deliver 640 horsepower.
- Both models feature an eight-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
- The Turbo S accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds, while the Turbo does it in 2.7 seconds.
- Key differences include the Turbo S having lighter engine components, PCCB ceramic brakes, a PASM anti-roll bar, and torque vectoring.
- In terms of raw performance, the Turbo S is superior, but the Turbo offers 95% of the power at a lower cost.
- The choice between the two depends on individual preferences and budget considerations.
The Porsche 992 Turbo
The Porsche 922 turbo is built off of the base 992 models. Surprising, right? The 992 Turbo is known for its powerful performance and advanced handling technology that has cemented itself as one of Porsches greatest 8th gen 911s.
The Porsche 992 Turbo is powered by a 3.8-liter engine that produces an impressive 572 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. The Porsche 992 Turbo boasts a twin-turbocharger setup and comes equipped with an eight-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Part of what makes the Porsche 992 Turbo so popular is that it accelerates from 0-60 mph in only 2.7 seconds, which is absurd when you think about it. It has a top speed of 199 mph, partly thanks to its sleek and effective aerodynamic aesthetic design.
The Porsche 992 Turbo S
The Porsche 992 Turbo S is the top-of-the-range limited-release variant of the 992 Turbo and offers even higher levels of performance technology. The same 3.8-liter engine powers the Porsche 992 Turbo S as the 992 Turbo, but it has been fine-tuned to produce a breathtaking 640 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque.
It also comes with an eight-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The Porsche 992 Turbo S accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in a slightly quicker 2.6 seconds, making it one of the fastest Porsches on the market.
It has a top speed of 205 mph thanks to its advanced performance features, such as rear-wheel steering, torque vectoring, and adaptive suspension. Many people claim that the Porsche 992 turbo walked so the Turbo S could run. And it’s hard to argue with that.
992 Turbo S vs Turbo Differences
While they are very similar, there are some key differences to consider. Firstly, while the Turbo and Turbo S both have the same engine, the Turbo S has a slightly lighter engine with some slightly more punchy components, such as fuel injectors and more effective natural air cooling systems.
Additionally, the Turbo comes with standard Porsche sport brakes, whereas the Turbo S comes with PCCB ceramic brakes that are much more effective in stopping power. The Turbo S also comes with a PASM anti-roll bar that solidifies what many people suspected, the Turbo S is perhaps better meant for track conditions.
The Turbo S also comes with torque vectoring, which allows the ECU to vary the amount of torque sent to each wheel, meaning each wheel receives the precise amount of power it needs at any moment.
This is especially useful when cornering, as each wheel sees massive shifts in how much power it needs at any one microsecond.
992 Turbo S vs Turbo – Power Comparison
Of course, the Turbo S is more powerful. And you would expect that, considering the S stands for sport. It is meant to be faster, punchier, and more adaptable to its environment. However, that is not to say that the standard turbo model is by any means slow.
In fact, it is far from it. While they do indeed have quite hefty differences in top speed and raw horsepower output, they are almost identical off the line.
And given there are very few instances where either car would have time to make it to its respective top speed, the only time you would notice that one was more powerful over the other was if you were racing them head-to-head on an actual race track, which is exactly where the Turbo S wants to be!
992 Turbo S vs Turbo – Reliability
Both cars came out very close to each other and are, in many ways, simply a carbon copy of one another. They are almost like twins. Not identical twins. But twins nonetheless. While the Turbo S is obviously superior in several ways, that does not necessarily mean it is more reliable.
In fact, given each engine is more or less the same, you could argue that the Turbo S (with its extra power output) is far more likely to break down from overexertion well before the standard turbo model does. On the other hand, the Turbo S has far superior braking power and is, therefore, more reliable in that regard from a safety standpoint.
And since both cars are all-wheel drive, you can expect the Turbo S to wear down equally, just as the standard Turbo does.
And since it’s going that much faster, it would degrade faster all around. Tires, axles, wheels, suspension – all will last far longer on the Turbo than the Turbo S. Assuming they both receive similar care and maintenance, of course.
Which Is Better Overall?
In terms of raw performance, the Turbo S clearly takes the cake. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better. If it was me, and I were choosing between one or the other, I would probably go with the Turbos simply because you are getting 95% of the power for about 70% of the price.
Economically speaking, it’s cheaper to acquire and maintain without many noticeable differences. Fiscally, you have to go for the standard Turbo.
But imagine money doesn’t matter and we are somehow getting to choose whether to receive one over the other, free of cost, and free to maintain for life; how could you not go for the Turbo S?
It’s one of the fastest production cars of all time. And who doesn’t want to let their friends know that they are driving that?
