997 Gen 1 or Gen 2 - what to buy?

[Gibbo205]

Gen II engine is definetely better.

Its only weakness is noise, the gen1's with PSE sound better for sure.

But as it stands a Gen II is about 10k more, which I'd not be willing to pay.

I'd rather buy a sorted Gen I C2S/C4S with good spec for 35k with warranty rather than pay 40-45k for a Gen II regular C2 or C4 with basic options.

[mollytherocker]

Gibbo205 said:

I'd rather buy a sorted Gen I C2S/C4S with good spec for 35k with warranty rather than pay 40-45k for a Gen II regular C2 or C4 with basic options.

I would do exactly the opposite.

MTR

[Ian_UK1]

mollytherocker said:

I would do exactly the opposite.

MTR

This^^^^ Having owned both a Gen-1 and Gen-2 '7S (and having heavily modified the Gen-1) I totally agree with the above. No contest. The engine in the Gen-2 is so much stronger (both in terms of performance and, so far, fragility) and the PASM suspension is in a different league. PDK is something of a mixed blessing. In absolute terms it does make the car faster, but you certainly lose some driver involvement. The gearchange logic can also be absolutely infuriating at times, especially in normal mode.

[MadMark911]

I went through this debate about a month ago and I was going to buy a Gen II - but then I started speaking to people and realised the difference in price wasn't worth the additional cost to me.

So I ended up buying the car I fell in love with - a highly specified, Cobalt Blue late Gen I 997C2S on a 57 Plate (2008 MY) with a good, annually renewable warranty from 911 Virgin. She's just turned 4 years old today!

Leave it 2 years and I'll be after a GTS though .....

[HoHoHo]

MadMark911 said:

I went through this debate about a month ago and I was going to buy a Gen II - but then I started speaking to people and realised the difference in price wasn't worth the additional cost to me.

So I ended up buying the car I fell in love with - a highly specified, Cobalt Blue late Gen I 997C2S on a 57 Plate (2008 MY) with a good, annually renewable warranty from 911 Virgin. She's just turned 4 years old today!

Leave it 2 years and I'll be after a GTS though .....

I remember that one, it's absolutely lovely!

[Dr S]

If PDK is not a must for you, then I'd go 7.1

There is not overly much between the two models and prices of 7.1s are much more attractiv. With the 991 you will anyway not be driving the current model no matter your choice

And 7.1s are really good fun

[Gibbo205]

MadMark911 said:

I went through this debate about a month ago and I was going to buy a Gen II - but then I started speaking to people and realised the difference in price wasn't worth the additional cost to me.

So I ended up buying the car I fell in love with - a highly specified, Cobalt Blue late Gen I 997C2S on a 57 Plate (2008 MY) with a good, annually renewable warranty from 911 Virgin. She's just turned 4 years old today!

Leave it 2 years and I'll be after a GTS though .....

This is what happened to me basically, was looking at several 997's and even drove a 997 Gen II C2 and although it was good and was circa 42k at the time, when I came across the car I purchased it was essentially a decision made immediately after test driving to buy it. Yes for a Gen 1 it was expensive but its a very very unique car, with a very high and custom specification. The performance with the X51 bits I am very happy with and the sound is unbeatable. But I will admit it seems to be rare to find extremely clean examples of the C2S in manual with aerokit with all the right options ticked, infact I think there is only one for sale at the moment. Wheras from looking at Gen II's to get the spec I'd want one in I'd would have had to spend even now well over 50k.

[c2mike]

Well under £50k...
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3367615.htm

[MadMark911]

HoHoHo said:

I remember that one, it's absolutely lovely!

Thanks! And it drives even better after it's major service - in fact it feels like a much newer car than it actually is!

[MadMark911]

Gibbo205 said:

This is what happened to me basically, was looking at several 997's and even drove a 997 Gen II C2 and although it was good and was circa 42k at the time, when I came across the car I purchased it was essentially a decision made immediately after test driving to buy it. Yes for a Gen 1 it was expensive but its a very very unique car, with a very high and custom specification. The performance with the X51 bits I am very happy with and the sound is unbeatable. But I will admit it seems to be rare to find extremely clean examples of the C2S in manual with aerokit with all the right options ticked, infact I think there is only one for sale at the moment. Wheras from looking at Gen II's to get the spec I'd want one in I'd would have had to spend even now well over 50k.

Sounds nice and will undoubtedly sell better than a lightly specified newer model when you come to change it. For me, specification and condition were more important than having the newest possible car and seemed easier to justify to myself in terms of £'s spent.

Mark.

[ForzaWhitesGen2]

...am on my 3rd (and last) 997 Gen 1. Really enjoy driving them, a few niggles on my second car and none on my current car (57 plate)... I've drove a couple Gen II and again a slight improvement...mainly related to the engine and pdk option..... not so sure if they sound better though.... Like most things in life...depends on how much you want to spend.... cannot say a better nav system would sway me one way or another.... Colour, mileage and overall spec me thinks...

[c2mike]

It will be interesting to see if the Gen2 premium remains in 2 years time. Obviously will be smaller than it is now, but I think will still be significant with the more robust engine and a lot of improved details.

[Wills2]

I think the gen2 does offer some significant improvements over the gen1, a clean sheet engine, set lower that is stronger with no IMS and another 30bhp whilst offering better fuel consumption.

The front suspension was completely overhauled giving better front end bite and less bobbing, The centre console unit with PCM3 is much easier on the eye and lifts the cabin, also options like Ipod and bluetooth connectivity help the overall package.

On the outside the front PU looks a tad more agressive to me (gen1's have a very neutral face), and the fancy pants LED's at the back are an improvement over the gen1 light clusters, and look quite cool at night.

As for sound well you do need the PSE as the gen2 engine does sound muted without.

In time the improvements will help residuals IMHO however they still have lots of money to burn.

[Manks]

Wills2 said:

I think the gen2 does offer some significant improvements over the gen1, a clean sheet engine, set lower that is stronger with no IMS and another 30bhp whilst offering better fuel consumption.

The front suspension was completely overhauled giving better front end bite and less bobbing, The centre console unit with PCM3 is much easier on the eye and lifts the cabin, also options like Ipod and bluetooth connectivity help the overall package.

On the outside the front PU looks a tad more agressive to me (gen1's have a very neutral face), and the fancy pants LED's at the back are an improvement over the gen1 light clusters, and look quite cool at night.

As for sound well you do need the PSE as the gen2 engine does sound muted without.

In time the improvements will help residuals IMHO however they still have lots of money to burn.

You didn't mention the fairy lights at the front Wills.

[Wills2]

Manks said:

You didn't mention the fairy lights at the front Wills.

I switch those off!

[alcatraz236]

Wills2 said:

On the outside the front PU looks a tad more agressive to me (gen1's have a very neutral face), and the fancy pants LED's at the back are an improvement over the gen1 light clusters, and look quite cool at night.

the enormous wing mirrors are a step backwards though

[Wills2]

alcatraz236 said:

Wills2 said:

On the outside the front PU looks a tad more agressive to me (gen1's have a very neutral face), and the fancy pants LED's at the back are an improvement over the gen1 light clusters, and look quite cool at night.

the enormous wing mirrors are a step backwards though

Thought they were the same?

[Magic919]

alcatraz236 said:

the enormous wing mirrors are a step backwards though

They surely don't have wing mirrors on any modern 911.

[alcatraz236]

Wills2 said:

alcatraz236 said:

Wills2 said:

On the outside the front PU looks a tad more agressive to me (gen1's have a very neutral face), and the fancy pants LED's at the back are an improvement over the gen1 light clusters, and look quite cool at night.

the enormous wing mirrors are a step backwards though

Thought they were the same?

they are bigger on all the gen2's (997, boxster, and cayman)

[Wills2]

alcatraz236 said:

Wills2 said:

alcatraz236 said:

Wills2 said:

On the outside the front PU looks a tad more agressive to me (gen1's have a very neutral face), and the fancy pants LED's at the back are an improvement over the gen1 light clusters, and look quite cool at night.

the enormous wing mirrors are a step backwards though

Thought they were the same?

they are bigger on all the gen2's (997, boxster, and cayman)

Ah I hadn't noticed.