Porsche 997 Carrera vs Carrera S – What you need to know
One of the most beloved Porsches to come out between 2000 and 2010. The 997 Carrera was not only a step in the right direction in many people’s eyes from the kind of middling averages that many associates with Porsche coming into the new century, but it was also a combination of visually appearing bodywork with sound mechanical engineering.
This blog post aims to cover the head-to-head between the standard Porsche 997 Carrera and the Carrera S. From their compared specs to value to money and the overall driving experience – Here is everything you need to know:
Highlights
- The Porsche 997 Carrera and Carrera S were produced from 2004 to around 2012, both being part of the 997 generation of the Porsche 911.
- The Carrera 997 features a 3.6-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine with 325 brake horsepower and various body styles (coupe, convertible, Targa).
- The Carrera S, a variant of the Carrera 997, comes with a larger 3.8-liter engine producing 385 brake horsepower, sport-tuned suspension, improved brakes, and more aggressive styling.
- Key differences between the two models include engine size, power, suspension, brakes, and bodywork, with the Carrera S being more performance-oriented.
- The Carrera S is generally more expensive than the Carrera, with price differences increasing in newer models.
- In terms of daily driving, both models are suitable, but the Carrera may offer slightly more comfort, while the Carrera S prioritizes performance.
- Modern standards for comfort, convenience, and performance differ from the time when these models were produced, so the choice between them depends on individual preferences and budget considerations.
A summary of the Porsche 997 Carrera
The Porsche Carrera 997 was produced from 2004 up until around about 2012. It was the fifth generation of the flagship 911 series and was available as a coupe, convertible, and Targa body style. The 997 was much beloved due to the number of options available to consumers across its 8-year lifespan.
The Carrera 997 is powered by a rear-mounted, horizontally opposed six-cylinder 3.6-liter engine. This means that pistons move horizontally rather than vertically, which has some performance changes from vertically mounted engines and results in a distinctive engine sound that adds to the adoration the 997 Carrera enjoyed.
This powerful horizontally mounted engine produces 325 brake horsepower in the base model. It had a six-speed manual transmission as standard, but a tiptronic transmission was optional (this was before the 7-speed, or even 6-speed, transmission became standard for all Porsches.
A summary of the Porsche 997 Carrera S
The Carrera S variant of the Porsche 997 had several upgrades over the base Carrera model that justified the increased price tag. It features a far larger 3.8-liter engine that produces 385 brake horsepower, giving it significant performance capabilities over the standard base model.
The Carrera S also has larger composite brakes, a specially sport-tuned suspension designed for high-intensity driving and even track conditions, as well as a totally overhauled limited-slip differential. This is another step on the way to improved handling and cornering capabilities in race conditions. Other notable features of the Carrera S included:
- Larger wheels.
- A brand-new sports exhaust system.
- A more “aggressive” body shape/design.
Overall, the Carrera S did a pretty damn good job of building on what the standard model already did so well. Let’s look a little more in-depth at how they are different.
Porsche 997 Carrera vs Carrera S – What are the key differences?
The Porsche 997 Carrera and Carrera S are both versions of the same 997 generation of the Porsche 911, with the Carrera S being the more powerful and performance-oriented of the two. A 3.6-liter powers the standard stock Carrera horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine that produces 325 brake horsepower, while the Carrera S has a larger 3.8-liter engine that produces 385 brake horsepower.
The Carrera S has a sport-tuned suspension, better brakes, larger wheels, and more “aggressive” bodywork and styling than the Carrera, as it is intended to be a step up from the base model in terms of its place on the race track.
The Carrera S is more expensive than the Carrera due to its additional features and performance enhancements, although they do have similar running costs.
Overall, their biggest differences are that the Carrera S is a more performance-oriented and powerful version of the Carrera, with the Carrera being geared more towards daily driving and comfort. One is better suited for practicality, and the other is better suited to the raceway.
Porsche 997 Carrera vs Carrera S – How do they compare price-wise?
The Porsche 997 Carrera and Porsche 997 Carrera S differ significantly in price due to a few key differences. As a general guideline, the Carrera S is going to be quite a lot more expensive than the Carrera if we are comparing models of the same year.
However, the newer base model Carrera might cost around the same as the older Carrera S models. Here are some examples of prices you might expect when they first came out and then now.
The base price of a 2008 Porsche 997 Carrera was around $75,000, while the base price of a 2008 Porsche 997 Carrera S was around $87,000. Similarly, a 2012 Porsche 997 Carrera had a starting price of around $77,000, while a 2012 Porsche 997 Carrera S had a starting price of around $91,000.
You can already start to see that the gap between the newer S models and the standard models is widening compared to way back in 2008. In today’s market, you could probably find a well-loved 08 standard Carrera for about $35,000-$40,000, with the S coming in closer to $45k-$55k. On the other hand, the later 2012 models will cost between $55k-$65k for the standard models and closer to $75k for the S.
Porsche 997 Carrera vs Carrera S – Which is better suited to daily driving?
In terms of daily driving suitability, the general idea at the time was that the S was meant for racing and more fun-centric driving while the stock model was better suited for being your daily driver. However, times change and our expectations from our vehicles change with it.
In terms of features and functionality, any of these models are going to feel very dated by 2023 standards. And while it is true that stock models might be a little comfier, with comfort slightly outweighing performance in their design, they are pretty darn similar.
Our advice is that the stock model is better suited for being your day-to-day car. But, the S is pretty close by modern standards, so you might want to opt for the increased performance if you can find one for the right price.
Porsche 997 Carrera vs Carrera S – A summary
As you can see, both of these cars are great little runners even by modern standards. We have mentioned the term modern standards a few times in this blog post because our ideals of what a car should be, what comfort should be, and what convenience should be today are far different than the 10-15 years ago that these bad boys came out.
Neither will feel overly comfortable or luxurious compared to a brand-new GTS. So why fret over it? If you care more about performance, go for the S and if you care more about saving 20% off the price tag, then go for the standard. But that’s only one blogger’s opinion. Only you know which is best for you, as always, the most important opinion is yours.
