Porsche 911 997 Carrera 4S v GTS: what's the difference?

[@warrenlucier5796]

I really like the gen 2 997 GTS and my preference would be with a 6 speed manual and 2wd.

[@qikqbn77]

I have owned a 997.1 Carrera 4S for 15 years. Got the 4S for the wide body look and added traction. Have put 100k miles on it myself. Absolutely love this car. The GTS models were always a high water mark for the 997. It was nice to have the wide body look with only 2wd. What is interesting is that the GTS was marketed as a "get a discount" on all the options included model when it first came out. A similar spec'd Carrera 4S with the X51 package would have been the more expensive option at the time. The GTS will always be considered the epitome of the last NA-NONGT3 997 models along with the Sport Classic and Speedster, so they do get the collectors premium price attached to them now. But mechanically the Carrera 4 GTS would be virtually identical to a Carrera 4S with X51 except for the suspension. The GTS came with a sportier suspension, so that is probably what you were feeling in the steering difference. I have found people think PDK cars are more powerful, but that has a lot to do with PDK programming and gear ratios that immediately revs higher and shifts at higher rpms then the average 6spd driver would start doing. Drive the 6speed aggressively and you will be in the power band more often. Still prefer the added engagement of a manual gear box. Center Lock wheels also really limited any kind of aftermarket wheels selection or wheel spacers for the enthusiast that likes to dial in the stance. Amazing cars and I have no intention of selling my 997 C4S, even after 15 years of ownership. They are that good..

[@simongs1]

Great comment. I have owned a .1C2S, also for 15yrs and have no intention on selling it, for many of the reasons you mention. It's had a DMS remap to give it 385BHP, the same as the X51 power skit, rides on KW coilovers, so it's kind of a GTS before they were invented!

[@cartergarnon6299]

Great comment ❤

[@adebanji007]

Nice video. I still have my 997.2 4 GTS. 68K miles now. Done most of Western Europe Perfect road car. My only issue is the centre lock wheels.

[@TobyD]

Lovely cars. Having owned 997.2 GTS and 997.1 C2S (both manual), I love the extra power of the GTS but prefer the extra drama and feel of the .1. Best for me would be X51 .1 manual (either 2 or 4 wd). All fantastic & splitting hairs. 997 is my favourite generation, and I’ve tried a few before and after. 👌

[@judemurphy3356]

Would have either of them 997 is my favorite 911 by far.

[@cartergarnon6299]

The blue mic is a legend. I say make it a permanent trademark.

[@New777Wine]

I'd still take a manual gen 1 Turbo over both!

[@NickJeffery-d7v]

Great video as always! Loved my 997.2 Carrera 4 GTS (currently for sale at Paragon) and now my 991.1 Carrera GTS 👍🏻 a real Swiss Army knife of a Porsche such is its real world breadth of ability 👍🏻

[@carfan3762]

There we go, how interesting I found your exchange of thoughts and impressions with your host on both these 997.2s. It so happens that the first Porsche I acquired back in 2011 was an identical one to the white 4GTS in this video. He only difference being that mine was equipped with the optional carbon bucket seats, ideal when giving the car the beans on twisties, but tiring and ultimately uncomfortable on long distance journeys, both for my wife and myself. What I liked about the car, on top of its very satisfying capacities (precision, grip and road holding, braking efficiency (the standard brakes), was its size, absolutely perfect. What I disliked : the Alcantara wrapped steering wheel (awful looking after a couple of years), and the PDK box broke down and had to be replaced after only 3’000 km. Luckily Porsche took the expenses on its behalf. Like you Lee, I also felt that the exhaust could have had a bit more soul to it ! All told a great car and a great introduction to the 911 universe. I presently drive a 992.1 4GTS with PDK, which I regret. My next 911 will have a manual gearbox. 😎

[@sgoody1]

Do you ever get GTSs specced originally without alcantara?

[@carfan3762]

@ No you don’t. But you can ask for leather on the wheel if you so wish.

[@sgoody1]

Thanks. But originally it would have come with an alcantara wheel.

[@carfan3762]

@ Exactly.

[@pjwesterby4485]

@@carfan3762 Yes you could - full leather was a no cost option (which ironically cost Porsche far more than Alcantara).

[@Compo67]

Loved this video but it got me thinking how a 997.2 C2 manual 3.6ltr with LSD/Torque vectoring and PCCB brakes, Sports Chrono would compare to drive. I have a pre-production launch car and the steering and suspension are fantastic on British B roads. Solid shocks not PASM. The engine is very punchy and revs really easily. Owned 8 years now.

[@markjordan6318]

Another super video Lee & Andy - loved the comparison. Naturally I am biased as to which one I would have as an owner of a 997 GTS (rear wheel drive). Before purchasing it I had driven loads of 911’s but never owned one. Decided to stretch myself & get the best I could a few years back. When you consider the level of spec I think that the GTS stacks up very well & now might be considered a bargain price for what you got! 997 GTS - for me just the perfect package. 👍

[@beresd]

My 'base' C2 (july 2001) was £55,000 when new. fast forward to inflationary now, £100,321.07. They have always been the 'same price'

[@gurpreetsarang8929]

Great video Lee 👍

[@daggidding4478]

Hey, Andy is on😃 I always read his contributions to T911

[@steviemarco7353]

Please do the Powerkit video as I'm looking at C2, C4S and GTS and would possibly try and retrofit a powerkit if to a CS or C4S as GTS prices are a premium and also few and far between.

[@richardsholl5977]

Don’t think there’s any X51 kits left in Europe. My specialist purchased what he was assured by a local OPC was ‘the last kit’ a few years ago for his 3.9 997 engine build.

[@sp3483]

997.2 4S/4GTS ditched the passive viscous clutches. It's the electro-mechanical system borrowed from the 997.1 Turbo. It's an active system.

[@richardsholl5977]

n.b. that a few uk 997 GTS were spec’d with 5-bolt hubs rather than centre-locks. Interesting too that the ‘GTS interior’ wasn’t mentioned: alcantara seat inserts/steering wheel with plastic dash…

[@mattdedasc]

The GTS is a lovely thing. But I don't understand the need for centre lock wheels on a car like that. I almost bought a 997.2 4S as daily and bought a 991.1 instead. I'll probably buy one of those as a toy and make it 2wd with trick bits .

[@johnnycashlesscomedy8616]

Great video for the 997.2 enthusiast. My question is this. Is the X51 power kit retrofittable? I own a 997.2 Targa 4S, and while the original owner (bought mine with 11K miles on it) ordered almost every mechanical option, there was no X51 kit. If no power kit can be fit, I'm thinking of the Cobb Accesport to provide a little extra torque and the PDK shift points it alters. I'm a city driver and could use a bit more low/med torque. (my Vette C7 manual has so much torque and is quite fun) The other question is that the video mentioned better steering in the GTS. Is that due to the GTS or the 4 wheel drive?

[@jeremybaker8173]

Yes they are retro fittable. Any good Porsche speciality (or main dealer I guess too) would do it. JZM and RPM technik do them. They’re not cheap probably 8-10k but still comes in way less than buying a GTS over an ‘S’

[@stevereno6799]

Any GT or Turbo Porsche will hold it's value better than the other models, and deservedly so.

[@stevemyers2092]

doesnt seem like your (hand held) mic is working - seems to be coming through your wireless.

[@911aircooled5]

Always buy the best Porsche that you can. One does not loose money then, especially with that lovely GTS (for only 3k more!). GTS is great value for money and best pure road going 911.

[@rivaterrier]

It’s not a bad video but no real surprise regarding the conclusion. Even though the GTS is probably peak everyday 911 the premium over similar mileage condition Carrera S is pretty eye watering. And the price to change from a lowly 997.2 Carrera is bonkers. About double.

[@julianhawkins9423]

Oh come on, know your stat figures before doing this video🙄 I would love one though - saw a white GTS 997.2 this morning. Stunning examples 👍

[@jimwilson7193]

Nice vid ❤

[@waxy954]

For me the GTS feels like a lot more outlay for not a significantly better car. Is it £20k better than a C4S? No! Plus at £65-68k, that opens up a whole lot of other cars in that budget too

[@robver26]

Lots of black and white 997 GTS - prefer it in grey

[@KosmicHRTRacingTeam]

You can in fact spec an S the same as a GTS. Exactly. The GTS was actually the "value" v bargain car vs the exact same high spec S (powerkit being the big option). Things have changed a bit since then, so now the GTS moniker adds additional cost. In other words. And exact same spec S costed more off the showroom than the GTS, but that same exact S would sell for less than the GTS on the used market.

[@9WERKSTV]

You cannot, I repeat cannot, spec an S with centre lock wheels.

[@richardsholl5977]

@@9WERKSTV - true. 👍

[@georgedimopoulos4121]

And more importantly you couldn’t spec a rear wheel car with the wide body.

[@PointNemo9]

Must be so rare with a manual

[@mikelyon5595]

The prices in the US are inflated!

[@jameswalter3136]

Yeah! I'd love to pay $50 grand for a well specced 997 C47

[@jf9601]

Motoring journalist talk such nonsense sometimes. “Car A is better than Car B at carrying speed around corners” when both are limited to the national speed limit of 60mph on public roads. There is no difference on public roads - on track yes, but with dawdling drivers and heavily policed roads, neither car is anywhere near 8/10ths - 4/10ths maybe. The main difference one will notice with a 911 is 2wd vs 4wd; manual vs PDK; coupe vs convertible; 3.6 vs 3.8. A 911 with more torque is less fun on the roads.

[@stevereno6799]

You poor thing you must live in England or somewhere else as described as you say. There are tons of great roads around San Diego where you can drive "spiritedly" and explore the limits of your skills and your Porsche. I must differ with you, torque, the immediate response of power to throttle input makes a car much more fun to drive on the streets. And, for the record, the main difference between 911's is how sorted they are! In fact I would venture to say that based on your asinine post that you do not own one and may not have ever even driven one!

[@autonomousindividual7780]

Oh my!

[@jf9601]

@ my friend, you’re right; I live in the UK and own and drive 2 x 997’s, neither of which are tracked. My 911’s are 2wd and one even has Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2’s shod front and rear. These journalists were driving in the UK on UK roads - there is no way that a C4s would drive any differently to a 4GTS on our roads. In fact, a C4 would be more fun with its lower torque figure and free revving 3.6 litre engine. On track it would be noticeable, perhaps in the US as well, but not in UK roads, which is my point.

[@9WERKSTV]

Cheers for watching! I'm looking forward to seeing the videos you create, as you sound like you really know what you're doing. Keep me posted, I'll be waiting! Lee.

[@AndyBrookes]

​@@jf9601of course you can feel the difference between the cars on public roads, you don't need to be hammering the life out of them. You best get back to driving something more befitting your lack of sensory skills. Maybe a Honda Jazz is just the ticket 😂