997 GTS advice please
Discussion
I have just moved back to the UK and am in the market for a 'new' car/cars. I am considering a second hand M5 for family duties but am also looking for something more fun and involving to drive. My previous 'fun' car was a heavily modified Lotus exige, but I'm looking for something a little less raw, which will have limited/no track use.
I haven't owned a Porsche before but am drawn to the 2WD 997 GTS. Unfortunately there appear to be none for sale anywhere near me to try out.
I think my ideal spec will be manual with, alcantara/leather.
This one seems very nice to me:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
My questions are:
Is there a 'must have' spec or anything which should be avoided?
Can you fit child seats in the back (isofix fittings etc)
Is there anything mechanical to be aware of with these cars?
Has anyone had any experience with Chappell Sports Cars, good or bad (please PM if you prefer)
And finally, is £62k a crazy price for this?
Many thanks for your help
I haven't owned a Porsche before but am drawn to the 2WD 997 GTS. Unfortunately there appear to be none for sale anywhere near me to try out.
I think my ideal spec will be manual with, alcantara/leather.
This one seems very nice to me:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
My questions are:
Is there a 'must have' spec or anything which should be avoided?
Can you fit child seats in the back (isofix fittings etc)
Is there anything mechanical to be aware of with these cars?
Has anyone had any experience with Chappell Sports Cars, good or bad (please PM if you prefer)
And finally, is £62k a crazy price for this?
Many thanks for your help
Number9 said:
Is there a 'must have' spec or anything which should be avoided?
Can you fit child seats in the back (isofix fittings etc)
I suspect you'll get differing views on alcantara versus leather and centre-lock wheels or not.Can you fit child seats in the back (isofix fittings etc)
I have a white GTS in alcantara with manual gearbox and centre-lock wheels. To me these are what make the GTS more interesting than the C2S - with the benefit of the wider rear. Leather dashboard is a plus, as is Sports PASM (with manual) in my mind.
Child seats fit in the back, I have Porsche's own Junior Seat G1 but no isofix fittings in the back seats.
Good luck with the hunting!
Thanks guys.
I agree PDK is the future. But I would like to think there will always be a place for manuals amongst enthusiasts. I also remember someone posted recently that the PDK in their GTS was nowhere near as good as more modern PDK's and ruined the experience for them. This is likely to be even more noticeable in a few years time with PDKs constantly improving. I wonder if a manual would be more satisfying for longer
I agree PDK is the future. But I would like to think there will always be a place for manuals amongst enthusiasts. I also remember someone posted recently that the PDK in their GTS was nowhere near as good as more modern PDK's and ruined the experience for them. This is likely to be even more noticeable in a few years time with PDKs constantly improving. I wonder if a manual would be more satisfying for longer
I've gone for a manual with buckets. The feel from the steering and gear change As others have said is so sweet.
What's the right price for these cars?? There is not a lot of them around paricularly in manual. They seem to start from £57k with around 30k miles on the clock and 3 month warranty and fairly ok/basic spec up to £62k for lower miles, improved spec and 2 yr warranty. PDK about the same price and 20k + miles brings you down into the late £50's.
I would strongly recommend you have a look at a couple to check out the different interiors and see what you like. Check the wear on the seat bolsters (seem to crease a lot and I don't like this) more than standard 997's. I also didn't realise how much the extended leather/alcantara improves the interior of the car and makes it feel so much sportier and special. I have a 987.2 Cayman that is very well spec'd and has the standard plastic dash and this looks fine with leather sports seats, however in the 997GTS I felt the plastic dash and door cards let the whole car down and made the alcantara sports seats look plain imo.
I did consider looking at the Chappell Sports Cars as I know a couple of guys who have dealt with them and think they are a good dealer. In the end I didn't want black and found a 'too good to pass up' car at an OPC. My price was very similar to Chappell one which is the top end of the 2GTS market at the moment so if you can negotiate then you may not be stung so hard.
Personally I hate to lose money on cars but it is a reality particularly if you chop them in too quickly. But £57k or £62k is a hell of a lot of money and I would want the best one out there with the best spec and if you look after it, it going to sell quicker and for more money when change time comes around.
Hope you find the right car for you and let us know what you end up with.
What's the right price for these cars?? There is not a lot of them around paricularly in manual. They seem to start from £57k with around 30k miles on the clock and 3 month warranty and fairly ok/basic spec up to £62k for lower miles, improved spec and 2 yr warranty. PDK about the same price and 20k + miles brings you down into the late £50's.
I would strongly recommend you have a look at a couple to check out the different interiors and see what you like. Check the wear on the seat bolsters (seem to crease a lot and I don't like this) more than standard 997's. I also didn't realise how much the extended leather/alcantara improves the interior of the car and makes it feel so much sportier and special. I have a 987.2 Cayman that is very well spec'd and has the standard plastic dash and this looks fine with leather sports seats, however in the 997GTS I felt the plastic dash and door cards let the whole car down and made the alcantara sports seats look plain imo.
I did consider looking at the Chappell Sports Cars as I know a couple of guys who have dealt with them and think they are a good dealer. In the end I didn't want black and found a 'too good to pass up' car at an OPC. My price was very similar to Chappell one which is the top end of the 2GTS market at the moment so if you can negotiate then you may not be stung so hard.
Personally I hate to lose money on cars but it is a reality particularly if you chop them in too quickly. But £57k or £62k is a hell of a lot of money and I would want the best one out there with the best spec and if you look after it, it going to sell quicker and for more money when change time comes around.
Hope you find the right car for you and let us know what you end up with.
I've gone for a manual with buckets. The feel from the steering and gear change As others have said is so sweet.
What's the right price for these cars?? There is not a lot of them around paricularly in manual. They seem to start from £57k with around 30k miles on the clock and 3 month warranty and fairly ok/basic spec up to £62k for lower miles, improved spec and 2 yr warranty. PDK about the same price and 20k + miles brings you down into the late £50's.
I would strongly recommend you have a look at a couple to check out the different interiors and see what you like. Check the wear on the seat bolsters (seem to crease a lot and I don't like this) more than standard 997's. I also didn't realise how much the extended leather/alcantara improves the interior of the car and makes it feel so much sportier and special. I have a 987.2 Cayman that is very well spec'd and has the standard plastic dash and this looks fine with leather sports seats, however in the 997GTS I felt the plastic dash and door cards let the whole car down and made the alcantara sports seats look plain imo.
I did consider looking at the Chappell Sports Cars as I know a couple of guys who have dealt with them and think they are a good dealer. In the end I didn't want black and found a 'too good to pass up' car at an OPC. My price was very similar to Chappell one which is the top end of the 2GTS market at the moment so if you can negotiate then you may not be stung so hard.
Personally I hate to lose money on cars but it is a reality particularly if you chop them in too quickly. But £57k or £62k is a hell of a lot of money and I would want the best one out there with the best spec and if you look after it, it going to sell quicker and for more money when change time comes around.
Hope you find the right car for you and let us know what you end up with.
What's the right price for these cars?? There is not a lot of them around paricularly in manual. They seem to start from £57k with around 30k miles on the clock and 3 month warranty and fairly ok/basic spec up to £62k for lower miles, improved spec and 2 yr warranty. PDK about the same price and 20k + miles brings you down into the late £50's.
I would strongly recommend you have a look at a couple to check out the different interiors and see what you like. Check the wear on the seat bolsters (seem to crease a lot and I don't like this) more than standard 997's. I also didn't realise how much the extended leather/alcantara improves the interior of the car and makes it feel so much sportier and special. I have a 987.2 Cayman that is very well spec'd and has the standard plastic dash and this looks fine with leather sports seats, however in the 997GTS I felt the plastic dash and door cards let the whole car down and made the alcantara sports seats look plain imo.
I did consider looking at the Chappell Sports Cars as I know a couple of guys who have dealt with them and think they are a good dealer. In the end I didn't want black and found a 'too good to pass up' car at an OPC. My price was very similar to Chappell one which is the top end of the 2GTS market at the moment so if you can negotiate then you may not be stung so hard.
Personally I hate to lose money on cars but it is a reality particularly if you chop them in too quickly. But £57k or £62k is a hell of a lot of money and I would want the best one out there with the best spec and if you look after it, it going to sell quicker and for more money when change time comes around.
Hope you find the right car for you and let us know what you end up with.
Good luck with your search. You are about a couple of months ahead of me. I placed a deposit recently on a new CGTS- but having second thoughts & the 12 month wait is painful. I don't want to pay over list or same as list for a used one. Also I regret selling my last 911's (a 993 & 996 turbo) so seriously thinking about getting a 997 GTS instead.
Don't know of Chappell but looks a nice car. The only thing I would mention is that independents are selling 997 GTS's at either very similar or even higher for a similar spec car as an OPC. So to me in that case I would def buy from an OPC & get a two year Porsche warranty. You can still get a Porsche warranty for your car as long as it has always been serviced by an OPC.
Initially I was going for manual if I keep my CGTS order but on the PEC day with a pro driver I really liked the new PDK (which I believe is the same or similar to 997 GTS with flappy paddles). As my pro driver said "Lewis Hamilton" doesn't have a manual. The PDK is quicker to change than the manual. But it is a personal choice of course.
Someone else mentioned here that prices for 997 GTS's are very near 991 territory. Probably true but the GTS will always be that bit special & will lose less than a bog standard 991.
Keep us posted with your pre-purchase info & post purchase driving info & pics.
Don't know of Chappell but looks a nice car. The only thing I would mention is that independents are selling 997 GTS's at either very similar or even higher for a similar spec car as an OPC. So to me in that case I would def buy from an OPC & get a two year Porsche warranty. You can still get a Porsche warranty for your car as long as it has always been serviced by an OPC.
Initially I was going for manual if I keep my CGTS order but on the PEC day with a pro driver I really liked the new PDK (which I believe is the same or similar to 997 GTS with flappy paddles). As my pro driver said "Lewis Hamilton" doesn't have a manual. The PDK is quicker to change than the manual. But it is a personal choice of course.
Someone else mentioned here that prices for 997 GTS's are very near 991 territory. Probably true but the GTS will always be that bit special & will lose less than a bog standard 991.
Keep us posted with your pre-purchase info & post purchase driving info & pics.
I went through a similar exercise last year against 991 or 997 GTS and after numerous test drives went for the latter. Absolutely love it, fitted a sherkwerks bypass exhaust and it now sounds mega. I have been tracking my GTS and a similar 991 from that time and the GTS has stayed static in price... I think the GTS with it's power kit engine, wide body and hydraulic steering will hold there values well over the next few years... I went for PDK as driving is mixed and I knew that I had a Cayman GT4 coming so it needed to be more user friendly for the wife. Good luck with your decision.
Cazooch said:
I went through a similar exercise last year against 991 or 997 GTS and after numerous test drives went for the latter. Absolutely love it, fitted a sherkwerks bypass exhaust and it now sounds mega. I have been tracking my GTS and a similar 991 from that time and the GTS has stayed static in price... I think the GTS with it's power kit engine, wide body and hydraulic steering will hold there values well over the next few years... I went for PDK as driving is mixed and I knew that I had a Cayman GT4 coming so it needed to be more user friendly for the wife. Good luck with your decision.
Thanks for the reassurance! This car change has been the hardest. I previously have had a Boxster S, 993 & 996 turbo & a few BM's, Audi in between. I wanted to get back into a Porsche but fancied something different. I even test drove a macan - but wifey has a big SUV anyway. The CGTS put a big grin on my face - the sound of the overrun is awesome. However there is something iconic though about the 911 & I regretted selling my last two. As a car to keep I think the 997 GTS will prove to be a classic for the reasons you have mentioned. I had a 997 GTS for a weekend when it was launched. It made me go out & buy a 996 turbo (couldn't afford a new 997 GTS) at the time. Sounds like you have no regrets.
Number9 said:
Thanks for that very thorough response - I'll keep you posted!
IMHO this car is overpriced. I bought a 12 plate black GTS4 Coupe at OPC in Feb15 for less than this car. It has Alcantara, PDK, Bose, NAV, ipod connectivity, Bluetooth, CentreLocks, PASM, Cruise. I started off with leather dash as must have but in the end compromised on this. You soon forget once you get the car.
I have a 5 year old son and tested child car seats out. there is no isofix in 997. Depends what age/ stage you need but for hi back booster (4 years old+) I use Recaro Monza http://www.halfords.com/kids-zone/car-seats-bases/...
Or Maxi Cosi Rodi which fits better but has less side impact protection. There is also the Porsche Seats which are Britax.
You will read a lot on PH about Manual v PDK and how Manual is more desirable though in my experience OPC will tell you otherwise. Having watched the OPC market closely, Black always sells easily with Manual or PDK and this car advertised has the warranty you need.
PS kids also love a GTS
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