Another 'I test drove a 997' thread...

[jrl]

Paul - What about the 993 made you go with it?

A 997 GT3 under $100K or a 996 TT under $45K deliver incredible value. I obsess at times about dumping my cars ('84 911, '86 930, '96 993 C2), getting one of those, and being done with it.

What holds me to the old ones, ironically, are their limitations - another way of saying charm and personality. Making the most of what they are just seems to beat out-of-the-box superiority for me.

[EarlyPorsche]

The original 997 engine has not shown the same problems the 996 engines did as far as I have heard. I think the main reason to get a latter 997 is only for the PDK transmission.

[porschenut]

PDK is nothing more than a fast-shifting tiptronic as far as I can tell. I don't see any attraction to it at all.

[RKC]

Must be spring fever....

I drove a 2007 Targa 4 yesterday, and a 2009 targa 4S. Awesome cars, and, yes, I'm considering selling the old car....

Something about the old car is just so right...but AWD, no salt worries in Chicago, where we seem to get 9 months of winter lately..... Always bought used cars since I don't drive much (commuter train), but the new ones are deals right now, plus the new sales tax break....We'll see.

[Paul K]

Originally Posted by jrl

Paul - What about the 993 made you go with it?

It's a '96 with 54k miles. I was sold on its looks, feel (gearbox, power), airbags, awd and working A/C, plus I stole it.

Basically I got everything I wanted at 1/4 the price of the 997.

Except heated seats. And I should be able to upgrade to them for less than $1k.

Here she is:



Cheers,

Paul.

[jrl]

My son's '06 GTI has the 6 spd DSG transmission, kissin' cousin to PDK. Tremendous piece of engineering, lightning quick shifts, excellent modes/software. Nothing like any manumatic or sequential manual transmission I've driven. Vastly superior, in a $25K car no less.

Every car I own is a manual, but I'd take DSG in the GTI any day. Wouldn't want PDK in a Porsche, but I bet it's going to be a big success, for good reason.

[jrl]

Paul - Great car, no wonder the 997 mimicked its styling.

Best thing about it: Will lose little if any value.

[craigyirush]

Originally Posted by Talewinds

To the original poster's point. Every time I read someone opining about how much better the older Porsches are than the newer ones I absolutely HAVE to assume that they've never driven one. Having driven just about all of the different 9 series cars and liking all of them I don't know how someone could turn up their nose at the new ones, especially the 997. I got in one and went OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!! Balls.

+ 1. I drove a friend's 996 this summer. What a great car - powerful, superb handling, sounded good. What's not to like?

[grudk]

Originally Posted by Talewinds

To the original poster's point. Every time I read someone opining about how much better the older Porsches are than the newer ones I absolutely HAVE to assume that they've never driven one. Having driven just about all of the different 9 series cars and liking all of them I don't know how someone could turn up their nose at the new ones, especially the 997. I got in one and went OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!! Balls.

I've driven the 997, 996 in most iterations. They don't do it for me...not interested. Not saying they are not 'great' cars. But they don't turn me on. The 996 GT3 and GT2 I liked (haven't tried the 997 versions). Almost bought a preowned GT2 but the PPI was bad. Glad I didn't... what was I going to do with it on the street? Or the track? Weak moment. For me, I like to push a car (now only at the track), and the 'limit' of these cars is just too high to enjoy safely on the street. Anyway, to each his own, I guess.

[the]

Originally Posted by porschenut

PDK is nothing more than a fast-shifting tiptronic as far as I can tell. I don't see any attraction to it at all.

PDK bears absolutely no resemblance at all to a Tiptronic.

A Tiptronic is nothing more than a regular old style slushbox automatic transmission with a fancy name.

PDK is a true F1 style manual transmission that can shift automatically. No torque converter, etc. It is technically like the Ferrari F1 street transmission, or BMW's SMG.

The difference between PDK and Tiptronic is night and day.

[ramonesfreak]

Originally Posted by Talewinds

To the original poster's point. Every time I read someone opining about how much better the older Porsches are than the newer ones I absolutely HAVE to assume that they've never driven one. Having driven just about all of the different 9 series cars and liking all of them I don't know how someone could turn up their nose at the new ones, especially the 997. I got in one and went OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!! Balls.

nahh. ive driven the new ones. awsome cars BUT - the biggest difference and most important to me is that the old ones are alot of fun at slow speeds. i just love putting around country roads, 45 mph, staying in 3rd gear...i find the new ones, like all new sports cars, are not the same fun at reasonable, or very slow speeds. they are just too smooth, too big, too fast, steer too easily etc...

must admit i love the Cayman. i think its beautiful and just right

if i won a new 997 in a raffle or something, i would be happy to have it as a daily driver though

[Nickatnyt]

Originally Posted by Paul K

All:

I drove an '09 Carrera 4 yesterday. OMG!! I was expecting to feel distanced from the road,

Seriously? Based on what evidence? There isn't a test driver/writer that doesn't swoon over these cars.

[Paul K]

Originally Posted by Nickatnyt

Seriously? Based on what evidence? There isn't a test driver/writer that doesn't swoon over these cars.

I was basing my expectations on the sentiments referred to below; I had read that my '89 would have less of a 'raw' feel than an SC, and had read that the 996 was even less 'connected'. Plus I figured 20 years would have changed a few things. Guess I was wrong- loved the 997, just figured I could get all I need in a 993 Carrera 4.

Originally Posted by Talewinds

To the original poster's point. Every time I read someone opining about how much better the older Porsches are than the newer ones I absolutely HAVE to assume that they've never driven one. Having driven just about all of the different 9 series cars and liking all of them I don't know how someone could turn up their nose at the new ones, especially the 997. I got in one and went OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!! Balls.

[89911]

I don't think anyone ever says that the new 997's are not a superior car. I think the biggest issue is that for the majority of us here, a 911 is a 2nd (or 3rd or 4th) car and few break $20k in value. If you can afford to keep an $90k car in your driveway and drive it a few times a week (if that), the more power to you. Even if I wanted to tie that kind of money into a car that I drive sparingly, I would have to think hard.

[porschenut]

Originally Posted by the

PDK bears absolutely no resemblance at all to a Tiptronic.

A Tiptronic is nothing more than a regular old style slushbox automatic transmission with a fancy name.

PDK is a true F1 style manual transmission that can shift automatically. No torque converter, etc. It is technically like the Ferrari F1 street transmission, or BMW's SMG.

The difference between PDK and Tiptronic is night and day.

I don't give a hoot about the technological differences. Guess I should have made my point clearer -

Both have a manual mode and an automatic mode.

Both lack a clutch pedal.

Both are desired primarily for their automatic modes.

Both of them make the car easier to drive and therefore LESSEN driver involvement, which is precisely the opposite of what I enjoy about driving Porsches. Driver involvement is the whole point of the experience, and anything but a standard transmission takes away from that.

[Paul K]

Originally Posted by 89911

I don't think anyone ever says that the new 997's are not a superior car. I think the biggest issue is that for the majority of us here, a 911 is a 2nd (or 3rd or 4th) car and few break $20k in value. If you can afford to keep an $90k car in your driveway and drive it a few times a week (if that), the more power to you. Even if I wanted to tie that kind of money into a car that I drive sparingly, I would have to think hard.

Well said. Not only are the new 911s expensive, but they depreciate like crazy. And as I mentioned, I got 95% of what I wanted for a fraction of the price. But having said that, our $20k cars were all new once...

Cheers,

Paul.

[RKC]

Ever since test driving new & used 997's a few days ago, I'm wondering. Too late to special order a 2009, too early for a 2010. And got an offer for my car that seems reasonable, sight unseen. But that depreciation just seems insane, so may go for a 2007 or 2008. Most of those I've seen for sale have only 4,000-8,000 miles on them. And they are $30k less with a full warranty.

I love my car, but I've had it 8 years, and it is 22 years old. Just not sure what to do...

[Bart_dood]

I'd be interested to know what the steering feedback was like on a 997 compared to a non assisted carrera etc.

There are problems starting to show up with the new direct injection engines already; these are not exclusive to porsche however and stem from the lack of fuel washing over the intake valves, causing the crankcase oil vapors to condense and form sludge/carbon buildup quickly.

Here's a pic from an VW eos with DI, it only has 22k miles; some 997's are starting to show the same problems.

[RKC]

Biggest shock was the difference between my 930S aftermarket steering wheel and the pretty thin wheel on the 997 - and much thinner than the heated wheel on the X5. Felt delicate in your hands.

That said, I thought the steering was super - as good and with much of the heft of the old car - didn't really notice a difference. Heavier, to my mind, than that of a 964 I drove a few years back. Heavy/solid enough where I didn't really notice.

Have to say though that may have been due to the streets I drove on - they were like a war zone after our winter here (Ogden Ave in Chicago's Western Suburbs).

The suspension seemed much harder, as did the seats, and the new Targas are supposed to have the softest suspension. I'd definitely go for the 18" wheels as these all had 19"s and they were too hard for the midwest if it is a year-round car.

BTW - I went from 16" Fuchs to 17" Cups, and noticed very little difference. When sidewalls get too thin, you really can feel it on a bad street. With the tax revenues down, I'm expecting our local streets to be a mess like in the 1970's since there will be no money to fix anything for a few years....

Worries about the new-fangled tech on the new engines just pushed me back to the 2007's & 2008's! My car has been flawless except for age-related issues. A new, or newish car with new, questionable tech is not something I would want to deal with....

Just the $30k you'd save on a 1 to 2 year old car would easily pay for a new engine if the RMS issues surfaced.

[zaman fu]

You can pick up a nice 997 for pretty cheap right now. I know someone who picked up a used '07 4S from the Sonnen dealership the other day for just south of $45k.