Thinking about a Porsche and stuck between a base car and an S badge? This episode is for you.
Will and Derek break down what actually separates Porsche base models from S models, going past forum noise and badge ego. If you have ever heard “you only buy a base because you can’t afford an S,” you will want to hear this.
In this episode you’ll hear:
– Why Porsche created base and S trims in the first place
– How the split goes all the way back to early 356 and long-hood 911s
– Real differences in power, torque, brakes, wheels, and cooling between base and S
– Why older, lower horsepower cars benefit more from the S upgrade
– How modern turbo motors shrink the gap between base and S
– Why a base 997, 991, 986/987 Boxster, or 981/718 can feel closer to an “old school” Porsche
– How S models can be too fast to enjoy on real roads
– Why the base often lets you use more of the rev range and more of the chassis
– When an S absolutely makes sense for track use, canyons, or big straight roads
– How this plays out with 991.2 vs 992, Carrera T, and air-cooled vs water-cooled cars
– Practical advice for first-time buyers and repeat Porsche owners
Will talks through his own journey from “unapologetic S snob” to someone who now respects base cars in a serious way. Derek argues that many experienced drivers quietly prefer the base, and that real driver engagement lives in the cars everyone overlooks.
If you are cross-shopping:
– Base vs S 911 (997, 991, 992)
– Base vs S Boxster or Cayman
– Base vs S Macan or Cayenne
you will get clear, honest guidance on what actually matters and what is marketing.
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to Rennthusiast Radio
01:00 Why base vs S feels like Boxster vs 911
03:00 History of base vs S from 356 to modern cars
06:30 Psychology, pricing, and how Porsche moves you up the ladder
10:30 “Embrace the base or say yes to the S”
13:00 Real power, torque, and brake differences
18:00 Will’s S snob phase and what changed
24:00 Air-cooled vs water-cooled: why S matters more in old cars
29:00 Why base feels more like a classic Porsche on real roads
35:00 991.2 Carrera S vs 992 Carrera T back to back
40:00 Tunes, torque, and modern turbo tricks
44:00 Practical buying advice: who should pick base, who should pick S
50:00 Listener challenge: defend your side in the comments
Watch Will’s builds and ownership stories on the Rennthusiast YouTube channel.
Watch Derek’s reviews and road trips on ElevenAfterNine.
Listen to Rennthusiast Radio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps.
Tell us in the comments what you own, base or S, and whether we got this right or completely wrong.
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