Discussion
Any owners who can tip me over the edge? I am going to see one next week. Black with decent options, coupe. 4s.
What is it like to live with. Had an older turbo in the past, and way back had a 996 c4s. I am hoping this will be a good car to go out for the odd hoon, but same time can load up with family and go for a gentle trip when required.
Feeling it may be a little dated now? But it is a second car, so not overly concerned about that. Any pros and cons of this model which may help me make a decision? I am so bad at taking decisive action at times.
What is it like to live with. Had an older turbo in the past, and way back had a 996 c4s. I am hoping this will be a good car to go out for the odd hoon, but same time can load up with family and go for a gentle trip when required.
Feeling it may be a little dated now? But it is a second car, so not overly concerned about that. Any pros and cons of this model which may help me make a decision? I am so bad at taking decisive action at times.
My first 911 was a 997.2 T4S PDK which I kept from 2013 to 2018. It was black too.
I loved it. The Targa rear opening hatch made it even more practical than a coupe.
I had some warranty issues: an O2 sensor went, a valve lift solenoid went and a rear light cluster filled with water (all fairly common).
Try to find one which has had the steering wheel replaced with the metal gear shift paddles. The buttons aren't intuitive and on track days I found myself shifting back up as the inside of my thumb inadvertently activated the buttons under heavy braking.
Another worthwhile option is the PSE (switchable sports exhaust).
The PDK gearbox is super smooth and under normal driving, the car just wants to get into 7th gear ASAP which means you can turn in 30+ MPG if you have to motorway munch on one of your family trips.
The AWD is worth having for getting a good launch out of a roundabout and quick launches in the wet.
I think the 997.2 is dating better than the 997.1 perhaps due to the front DRLs and LED rear lights.
You won't be disappointed. I know I caught the wave of prices going silly, but in 5 years, I sold mine for 15% less than I paid for it - not many cars hold their value so well.
Good luck with the search.
I loved it. The Targa rear opening hatch made it even more practical than a coupe.
I had some warranty issues: an O2 sensor went, a valve lift solenoid went and a rear light cluster filled with water (all fairly common).
Try to find one which has had the steering wheel replaced with the metal gear shift paddles. The buttons aren't intuitive and on track days I found myself shifting back up as the inside of my thumb inadvertently activated the buttons under heavy braking.
Another worthwhile option is the PSE (switchable sports exhaust).
The PDK gearbox is super smooth and under normal driving, the car just wants to get into 7th gear ASAP which means you can turn in 30+ MPG if you have to motorway munch on one of your family trips.
The AWD is worth having for getting a good launch out of a roundabout and quick launches in the wet.
I think the 997.2 is dating better than the 997.1 perhaps due to the front DRLs and LED rear lights.
You won't be disappointed. I know I caught the wave of prices going silly, but in 5 years, I sold mine for 15% less than I paid for it - not many cars hold their value so well.
Good luck with the search.
My one and only Porsche was a 997.2 Turbo S. I bought it at 3 yrs old in late 2013 and kept it for almost 4 yrs. I didn't use it for work, but used it for any other trips and did around 30k miles before selling it. I did quite a lot of European trips and it was a good car for long distance fast journeys, it was surprising how much stuff you could get in it, but only if there was two of you! Main downside was tyre noise at 80+mph but otherwise very comfortable.
Performance was as you would expect, it was phenomenal quick off the mark and I once managed a brief stint at 185 mph on the autobahn one morning when it was rock steady. Downside for some would be lack of exhaust note, it sounded more like a jet at full thrust tbh, but I liked it. I'm sure there are plenty of options in terms of exhausts if you wanted a different sound.
Main downside for me was the handling, particularly that the first response to any acceleration with steering input was an initial attempt to understeer and if you lifted there would be a brief hint of oversteer. It was fairly minimal but always required a slight degree of steering input to correct which I found disconcerting. I wondered for a while if it was just a problem with my car and had the steering geometry and wheel alignment checked a couple of times but it didn't help.
Overall it was a great car, I loved looking in the door mirror and seeing the massive rear wheel arch with the air intakes and I think it one of the best looking recent 911's, up there with a 993 in my opinion. And every time you took it out, it felt like an occasion, or even just looking at it sitting in the garage! I bought it because I wanted the opportunity to own and drive what is undoubtedly a genuine supercar, and having done that don't particularly feel the need to have another one.
I bought in late December from an OPC and got a good deal at the time. When I came to sell it I traded it in to a independent Porsche dealer so bought retail price and sold at trade price. Despite that I only lost around 7k in the whole time I had the car and drove over 30k miles. On financial terms alone it was the best car I ever owned!
Performance was as you would expect, it was phenomenal quick off the mark and I once managed a brief stint at 185 mph on the autobahn one morning when it was rock steady. Downside for some would be lack of exhaust note, it sounded more like a jet at full thrust tbh, but I liked it. I'm sure there are plenty of options in terms of exhausts if you wanted a different sound.
Main downside for me was the handling, particularly that the first response to any acceleration with steering input was an initial attempt to understeer and if you lifted there would be a brief hint of oversteer. It was fairly minimal but always required a slight degree of steering input to correct which I found disconcerting. I wondered for a while if it was just a problem with my car and had the steering geometry and wheel alignment checked a couple of times but it didn't help.
Overall it was a great car, I loved looking in the door mirror and seeing the massive rear wheel arch with the air intakes and I think it one of the best looking recent 911's, up there with a 993 in my opinion. And every time you took it out, it felt like an occasion, or even just looking at it sitting in the garage! I bought it because I wanted the opportunity to own and drive what is undoubtedly a genuine supercar, and having done that don't particularly feel the need to have another one.
I bought in late December from an OPC and got a good deal at the time. When I came to sell it I traded it in to a independent Porsche dealer so bought retail price and sold at trade price. Despite that I only lost around 7k in the whole time I had the car and drove over 30k miles. On financial terms alone it was the best car I ever owned!
Well, I am loving it so far. It is a composed car at regular speeds you can just scoot along with no worry in the world.
Put your foot down, or activate Sport Plus and the car is transformed. Just the way I remember 911s.
The usual twitchy bobbling front end, the usual burning pork smell after a spirited drive, the usual steering feel and progressive brakes, the usual characteristic and random noises.
My first PDK car and I am very impressed. Doesn't seem to confuse itself, certainly a step up on the old tiptronic.
Put your foot down, or activate Sport Plus and the car is transformed. Just the way I remember 911s.
The usual twitchy bobbling front end, the usual burning pork smell after a spirited drive, the usual steering feel and progressive brakes, the usual characteristic and random noises.
My first PDK car and I am very impressed. Doesn't seem to confuse itself, certainly a step up on the old tiptronic.
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