All 997s come with leather upholstery as standard, but electric seat adjustment was an option. Other standard features include climate control, electric windows, four airbags and rear seats that tip down to create a useful storage shelf. Popular options were a sunroof for £864 and satellite navigation that cost £1,260 when the 997 was first launched.
The Gen 1 997's sat-nav is widely regarded as outdated and clunky to use. It's also expensive to upgrade, so better to just buy a portable sat-nav. Gen 2 sat-nav is much better and cheaper to improve with upgrades available for around £150. For the Gen 2 cars, Porsche simplified the PCM (Porsche Communication Management) with a larger seven-inch touchscreen. It is also compatible with an iPod, Bluetooth or USB devices.
Nav outdated on Gen 1 cars, much improved later
A Bose stereo is seen as desirable by many buyers, but upgrading the standard stereo is simple and cheaper if the car doesn't have the Bose set-up.
As you check the interior, look for the rubber coating on some switches and the centre panel that may have worn away. It won't affect the operation of the car but can make the cabin look scruffy. Also look at the driver's seat outer bolster for wear or scratches.
The Sport Chrono pack is easily spotted by the stopwatch mounted in the top centre of the dash. It allows you to individually configure up to three ignition keys, so the car will automatically go to your preferred settings for climate control, auto wipers and door locking and even if the rear wiper comes on when you select reverse gear. It also offers the chance to record lap and split times for track driving.
PHer's view:
"The interior seems generally good quality and a nice place to spend time. The only niggle would be the familiar flaking of the rubber coating applied to the temperature and fan rocker switches. I may do something about that at some point. Another minor issue is the windows freezing in position during winter, which means difficulty opening and closing the doors."
Neil Wallis