The affordable 997 thread

[onewhippedpuppy]

You can find 997TTs for $60k all day long, and I've seen them in the $50s.

I haven't driven a 991 yet but the performance speaks for itself. As a DIY mechanic the engine access scares me a bit, but when buying a nearly new car you hope that's less of an issue.

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

You can find 997TTs for $60k all day long, and I've seen them in the $50s.

I haven't driven a 991 yet but the performance speaks for itself. As a DIY mechanic the engine access scares me a bit, but when buying a nearly new car you hope that's less of an issue.

You know, it's true the rear bumper comes off for a lot of stuff but it's really not that hard - nor very time consuming..
I did my first oil change last w/e (bumper stays on!) and it was the easiest/fastest oil change I've ever done on a Porsche, and I include the 356 in there ;-) Unclip the fans, Oh hey here's the oil filter, upright no less (no mess). Boom done !

That car has issues with some vacuum operated valves (bad batch), door panels warping, some TSB on squeaking gas tanks, but by and large those are peripheral crap. Mechanically I am yet to hear of any 991 issues. Drives like a cross between a Cayman S and a 997, with less tire noise. Better turn in than a 997, more shoulder room too, giant cubby behind the rear seats... Not to highjack the 997 thread but I'll say it one last time, as a wanna-be 997 buyer, given the price of 997.2 and the non-replaceable IMS on 997.1, I'd either buy a nice late 996 or an early 991 at this point...

[NutmegCarrera]

Just pulled trigger on an 03 C4S
Waiting patiently (well, not really...) for its arrival this week.

Started my search for a 997.2, and came to same conclusion.

Found a beautiful car with low miles and ims done.
Probably overpaid, but condition is showroom.

Plan on driving it.

[Rodsrsr]

Just joined the 997.2 Carrera S club. I have been checking the Carmax website daily and the good ones go within a few days, sometimes even the same day. Picked up this 2009 with only 23,800 miles in exceptional condition. Before everyone asks, I paid in the low 50's so I cant say I got a screaming deal but I definitely got a screaming car.

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by Rodsrsr

Just joined the 997.2 Carrera S club. I have been checking the Carmax website daily and the good ones go within a few days, sometimes even the same day. Picked up this 2009 with only 23,800 miles in exceptional condition. Before everyone asks, I paid in the low 50's so I cant say I got a screaming deal but I definitely got a screaming car.

Good work! Tip or manual? Chrono?

If it eases your mind, my wife put 87,000 miles on hers in five years and we never spent one penny outside of the scheduled services, breaks, and tires. You'll love it!

[Rodsrsr]

Im loving it so far. The interior reminds me of my 76, no joke!. Its kind of like if I had a wish list and could put unlimited money in my mid-year....3.8 direct port motor, 7 speed PDK with launch control, yes the PDK rocks...giant turbo brakes and modern a/c and computer controlled suspension, and you have a 997 Carrera S. My first impression coming off my Cadillac CTS coupe was how different it felt, it actually feels and sounds a lot like a normal old school 911, only refined. It kinda brought some new love back to my 76.

[Rodsrsr]

Thanks for the reassurance Craig. Im hoping I am as fortunate. Here is my neglected 76 3.2 turbo. I'm strangely wanting to drive this car now. lol.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by Rodsrsr

Just joined the 997.2 Carrera S club.

Very nice. Step one should be removing that "Carmax" decal from the decklid (if you haven't already). I hate dealers that feel the need to "brand" their inventory like that. Any length of time on the lot (out in the sun) and it can become a paint issue (ghosted image). As if the branded dummy plate and plate frame weren't enough... [/rant]

[Rodsrsr]

Originally Posted by Eric Coffey

Very nice. Step one should be removing that "Carmax" decal from the decklid (if you haven't already). I hate dealers that feel the need to "brand" their inventory like that. Any length of time on the lot (out in the sun) and it can become a paint issue (ghosted image). As if the branded dummy plate and plate frame weren't enough... [/rant]

Right you are. I got it off with a hair dryer but there was some slight ghosting. A few waxes later and its mostly out. I'm on the fence with selling the gray one, yes its scary fast, but its just that overall the 997 is so much more refined. Maybe Im getting old.

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by Rodsrsr

I'm on the fence with selling the gray one, yes its scary fast, but its just that overall the 997 is so much more refined. Maybe Im getting old.

Maybe it is age, but a LOT of us are doing it. I was an air-cooled snob for too long. Now I love the refinement and conveniences of my 997TT. After buying my wife the 997S, it got to were driving my 911 hotrod was painful. I even sold my SC. Used some of the procedes for the Turbo. Steaming music, ice cold A/C, unbelievable brakes, and more reliable...I'm converted.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Rodsrsr

Thanks for the reassurance Craig. Im hoping I am as fortunate. Here is my neglected 76 3.2 turbo. I'm strangely wanting to drive this car now. lol.

Damn, that's a pretty car.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Maybe it is age, but a LOT of us are doing it. I was an air-cooled snob for too long. Now I love the refinement and conveniences of my 997TT. After buying my wife the 997S, it got to were driving my 911 hotrod was painful. I even sold my SC. Used some of the procedes for the Turbo. Steaming music, ice cold A/C, unbelievable brakes, and more reliable...I'm converted.

I am enjoying driving both. My C4S has been great for the long weekend trips with my wife. She loves the car and has taken some turns at the wheel.



I recently bought back this ROW SC with a bunch of mechanical upgrades, Fordahl suspension, Chris Powell built 3.2 and trans, and drove it 2,600 miles in 3 days. It is raw, loud, lacking in any real creature comforts. It will see some track duty and upgrading of the cosmetics over the next few years. Prepping for a Hill Climb at Maryhill in October. I won't sell it again.

[Halm]

Originally Posted by jhynesrockmtn

I recently bought back this ROW SC with a bunch of mechanical upgrades, Fordahl suspension, Chris Powell built 3.2 and trans, and drove it 2,600 miles in 3 days. It is raw, loud, lacking in any real creature comforts. It will see some track duty and upgrading of the cosmetics over the next few years. Prepping for a Hill Climb at Maryhill in October. I won't sell it again.

I did something similar. I sold my '05 997 and bought back my SC. No question the 997 is the better car, but for me, I get far greater enjoyment from the air-cooled car.



YMMV

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by Rodsrsr

Just joined the 997.2 Carrera S club. I have been checking the Carmax website daily and the good ones go within a few days, sometimes even the same day. Picked up this 2009 with only 23,800 miles in exceptional condition. Before everyone asks, I paid in the low 50's so I cant say I got a screaming deal but I definitely got a screaming car.

Ah yes, thanks for substantiating my claim... All 997.2 FS are black and PDK ;-) That's what I found when looking as well... I really wanted white and stick, never found one under 50K miles and under $55K...
I heard from a couple folks that those were made during the recession, lower numbers, 90%+ PDK... Not sure what the deal is with black, feels like 90% of cars FS are black with a few silvers sprinkled in!
It's a nice car though, enjoy it, don't worry about pricing, you are spot on the market for a Mk2 !

[wildthing]

Over 50K? Jeez... And I thought the Bay Area had a premium.

This one is at a dealer: https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/ctd/d/2009-porsche-911-carrera/6285959580.html, but there was one private sale last week listed for $55K. I thought for some reason last year they were all already below $50K.

[Deschodt]

ha ha, another black w/PDK. Love it !

yeah, they're not going down at all... Goes to show you what the market thinks about the rare IMS issues of the mkI. This is 991 territory now...

[speeder]

I'd rather have a 991 at that point. In fact, I'm tempted to buy a 991 w a few miles on it and drive it for a while, see how much I like it. You can always get your $$ back w these cars when you're done w them and I doubt there is anything stronger on earth than a 991. You could probably drive it through a tornado.

[willtel]

To me the 997 is the sweet spot. The 991 is just such a huge car for what it is.

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by willtel

To me the 997 is the sweet spot. The 991 is just such a huge car for what it is.

The 997 was the sweet spot for me as well. It was gonna be "my last modern 911" before electric cars take over... I spent 6 months looking and test driving cars I did not really want (PDK, black cars, overpriced, or all of the above)...

Then my wife figured out the 991 was only $5000 more and asked why I wasn't getting that instead, tons to choose from... I gave her the "I read it in a magazine reply": it's bigger, it's got electric steering, it's got a PDK adapted gearbox, blah blah... Then I drove one and I realized magazine writers are a nitpicking bunch.

The 991 has more shoulder room inside, but it's not really that much bigger in measurements - it's mostly a visual thing (and compared to what anyway, a 997 looks bloated next to an early 911). The steering feels perfectly fine to me. The gearbox shifts great, 7th is stupid but if you ignore its existence there is no problem of missing downshifts. It handles amazing, traction of a 911, turn in of a cayman... Most of all it feels better built, it's quieter inside as far a tire/road noise (I drove another 997 after the initial 991 test drive and it felt like an oxcart in comparison), the LCD multifunction gauge is way cool, etc... Very few mechanical issues on the 991 also... The maintenance issues are also overblown, taking off the rear bumper presents no difficulty, changing oil is faster and less messy than on a gen 1 997/987 in my experience, you can do a lot on that car yourself...

Mostly, I was looking at 09 997s with 50K miles+ for $50-55K... latest 997s like black edition 2012s were $60K+. I ended up paying $60K for a 2013 991 with 100000 miles only, and it was still under warranty!!! My color, stick. Oh and you can use normal tire pressures on these (32/36)... If you have an older aircooled car in your stable, either a 997/991 will feel modern and bloated (and effing fast). So for the $, I went 991 and zero regrets...

[Rodsrsr]

Matt J thanks for the compliment! @wildthing over 50k seems to be the norm for a 997.2 Mine only has 23800 miles though so maybe thats a factor.