2005 Porsche 911 Cabriolet (997) Manual

PORSCHE 911 997 CARRERA CABRIOLET

Highlights 

• Full Porsche main dealer and specialist service history

• Low miles

• 321bhp, 3.6-litre flat-six engine

• Six-speed manual gearbox

• Excellent overall condition

• Well-maintained

• Long, advisory-free MOT

Overview

With so many generations and indeed iterations of Porsche's perennially popular 911 to choose from things can get a little, well, overwhelming. Should you keep things old school and opt for one of the earlier and arguably purer air-cooled models? A 930 turbo perhaps? What if you fancy a touch more modernity though. You could opt for a newer 991 with all the bells and whistles in that case. There is one model, however, that perfectly bridges the gap between those older 911s and the current crop of technologically endowed Stuttgart stars, and that car, ladies and gentlemen, is the 997.

Breaking cover in 2004 the 997 marked a return to form for the 911 after the somewhat divisive styling of its predecessor. The Luddites who opposed the switch to water-cooled engines of the 996 were now more gracious in their acceptance of progress and the new 911 was lauded by both the press and the car buying public for its ability to seamlessly combine excellent handling and performance with reliability and modern tech without feeling bloated. 

Eminently engaging to drive but with enough creature comforts to keep things more than agreeable on longer jaunts the 997 was available with a host of engines over its nine-year production run with arguably the purest of the bunch being the 3.6-litre Carrera cabriolet, like the one we have available here.

The naturally aspirated flat-six engine produces a highly respectable 321bhp so it has plenty of get up and go and the addition of a six-speed manual gearbox keeps things fun and engaging when driving enthusiastically. Being a convertible it's perfect for summer road trips and as far as maintenance goes the car comes complete with full Porsche main dealer and specialist service history which is a huge boon. 

Presenting beautifully in a full black on black colour scheme this Porsche 997 Carrera certainly looks the part, too and has covered a mere 59K miles from new. The vendor informs us that the only reason for sale is due to a knee injury which makes driving a manual transmission difficult but the car itself performs exactly as it should.

History and documentation

• 2005 model year

• Original book pack and wallet

• V5C present and correct

• First registered 06 May 2005

• In current ownership since Aug 2023

• Two keys

• Service history with original service book showing main dealer and specialist inspections at the following intervals: 2007 @ 6,650 miles (minor, main dealer), 2009 @ 12,179 miles (major, main dealer), 2011 @ 18,667 miles (minor,brake fluid, main dealer), 2013 @ 25,007 miles (major,drive belt replaced,brake fluid, main dealer), 2014 @ 26,512 miles (spark plugs, main dealer), 2015 @ 29,619 miles (minor,brake fluid, main dealer), 2017 @ 33,415 miles (major,brake fluid, main dealer), 2019 @ 38,421 miles (minor,brake fluid, main dealer), 2021 @ 43,309 miles (minor, specialist), 2022 @ 45,100 miles (minor,drive belt checked, specialist), 2023 @ 50,662 miles (major,spark plugs,drive belt replaced,brake fluid, specialist), 2025 @ 58,375 miles (minor, specialist)

• 2, 4,6 and 8 year condition reports

• Main dealer airbag system checks in 2013, 2015 and 2017

• Full records of every MOT throughout the car's life

• Some service history receipts

• HPI clear

• ULEZ compliant

• Advisory-free MOT until July 11th 2026

• 58,917 indicated miles

Interior

• Full black leather interior remains in great condition overall

• Minor wear and tear to the usual high traffic areas commensurate with age and mileage

• No signs of any major damage

• The carpets look to be in top condition with only the driver's mat showing minimal signs of wear

• The vendor reports that everything is in perfect working order 

• All console heater, radio and instrument buttons were replaced in2023

• Removable wind deflector shield included

• Multi CD changer

• Satellite navigation

• Cruise control

• Climate control

• The area under the bonnet is clean and tidy and comes complete with warning triangle

• Engine bay is clean and presents well

Exterior

• Bodywork is in excellent condition

• Vendor reports the paintwork polishes up well

• No noticeable dents or scratches

• There are a few very small stone chips which have been previously repaired

• No evidence of any previous damage repairs

• The vendor informs us that the headlights and front sidelights have just been machine polished

• Hood is fully working and is in excellent condition, showing only the typical witness marks where it is folded

• Hood was refurbished and protected about a year ago, as reported by the vendor

• The original 19” alloy wheels present incredibly well with no damage to report 

• All four tyres are Bridgestone Potenza Sports that the vendor reports are new with approximately 300 miles on them

• Looks good underneath with no damage or signs of oil leaks 

Mechanical

• 321bhp, 3.6-litre flat-six engine

• Six-speed manual gearbox

• Rear-wheel drive

• 0-60mph in 4.8s

• 177mph top speed

• No mechanical issues to report

• The vendor informs us that the the clutch was replaced in November 2024 at 57,000 miles, the car had new front discs and pads at 51,000 miles and the battery is less that two years old and is maintained by a smart charger

• The vendor also reports that the car starts perfectly every time whether hot or cold, sounds as it should and drives perfectly. The engine is smooth and quiet and pulls well, steering is precise with no shake or vibration, braking is fantastic as you would expect from a Porsche and it pulls up in a perfect straight line

Summary

Considered by many to be the perfect 911 the 997 has a lot going for it, especially one with a manual gearbox, low mileage and full Porsche main dealer and specialist service history like this one. Well-maintained and clearly loved throughout its life this particular 911 is an eminently usable example that looks as good as it no doubt drives.

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Hitchin, Hertfordshire.