997 GTS / most fun cabrio
Discussion
Hello chaps there have been numerous posts on the 997 GTS which have been v enlightening over the years.
My position is that I am looking to buy a 911 again after a few years away from the cars. I last had a 996 Turbo S coupe manual which was a monumental car but a bit too efficient and not fun enough for a weekend fun car.
I am fortunate enough to have a F430 Spider manual as a weekend car and a 6.3 V8 C63 estate for the school run. I have identified a new gap in car requirement ie a convertible that can take more than one offspring on weekend runs to events or friends and so on. It has to be fun to drive, more fun than the the C63 which is a hoot, I have no need for enormous turbo S performance or wet weather efficiency and so on. And it has to be a cabrio.
If they made a 997 GT2 cabrio I would buy one in a shot. But in the real world, I am thinking of a 997 GTS cabrio (2WD). Or, is there anything else I should consider? And what are the must haves for GTSs? 991.1 felt a bit remote to me. I love the 991.2 GTS but it’s out of my budget right now.
My position is that I am looking to buy a 911 again after a few years away from the cars. I last had a 996 Turbo S coupe manual which was a monumental car but a bit too efficient and not fun enough for a weekend fun car.
I am fortunate enough to have a F430 Spider manual as a weekend car and a 6.3 V8 C63 estate for the school run. I have identified a new gap in car requirement ie a convertible that can take more than one offspring on weekend runs to events or friends and so on. It has to be fun to drive, more fun than the the C63 which is a hoot, I have no need for enormous turbo S performance or wet weather efficiency and so on. And it has to be a cabrio.
If they made a 997 GT2 cabrio I would buy one in a shot. But in the real world, I am thinking of a 997 GTS cabrio (2WD). Or, is there anything else I should consider? And what are the must haves for GTSs? 991.1 felt a bit remote to me. I love the 991.2 GTS but it’s out of my budget right now.
I’ve had my GTS manual coupe over 6 years and love it. Longest I’ve ever owned one car (I’ve had 25+ and most of them sporty) and don’t think I’ll ever sell it but...
Not sure it’s worth paying a GTS premium for a cab, different sort of car, why not consider a 997.2 C2, C2S or C4S can and save some cash (Although I’ve no idea what the premium is for such a GTS!)?
I think those 3 are worth considering. Didn’t gel with my 997.1 turbo btw
It does seem like many people see their 997 GTSs as keepers. Interesting what you say about your Turbo also, they seem more blunt and less engaging.
It has to be a cabrio..I imagine the difference over the C2S will still be marked. I have driven some pretty hardcore cabrios and love them!
It has to be a cabrio..I imagine the difference over the C2S will still be marked. I have driven some pretty hardcore cabrios and love them!
Had a turbo cab and coupe and found both a little one dimensional (even with a nice aftermarket exhaust which sounded great). For me, all speed and capability, just not engaging until you're at road speeds that are just unacceptable, and I like to be engaged too much for that to work for long before I was going to get nicked.
I think a GTS cab will be awesome, but I also think the base Carrera, S or 4S cabs will be great too and gives you a broader selection. Sounds like manual will suit you also and that removes the whole “that old PDK isn’t as good as the new PDK” thing as a good manual doesn’t age. I personally think the 997 PDK was fine BTW.
My GTS has the Porsche short shift, sharkwerks centre silencer delete and a TPC PASM unit and it’s the perfect set up for me.
I think a GTS cab will be awesome, but I also think the base Carrera, S or 4S cabs will be great too and gives you a broader selection. Sounds like manual will suit you also and that removes the whole “that old PDK isn’t as good as the new PDK” thing as a good manual doesn’t age. I personally think the 997 PDK was fine BTW.
My GTS has the Porsche short shift, sharkwerks centre silencer delete and a TPC PASM unit and it’s the perfect set up for me.
Love my 997 GTS....as a weekend car/getting the kids in it it’s a three seater for me. I’m just over 6ft there is no room behind me. Mine is a coupe. I know what you mean about the 996 Turbo I drove a mate’s back to back with my 997 GTS about six months after I got it....I was very happy to get back in mine. He sold his 996 Turbo about six months later...I just thought it was quick but a bit dull.
c4sman said:
Had a turbo cab and coupe and found both a little one dimensional (even with a nice aftermarket exhaust which sounded great). For me, all speed and capability, just not engaging until you're at road speeds that are just unacceptable, and I like to be engaged too much for that to work for long before I was going to get nicked.
I think a GTS cab will be awesome, but I also think the base Carrera, S or 4S cabs will be great too and gives you a broader selection. Sounds like manual will suit you also and that removes the whole “that old PDK isn’t as good as the new PDK” thing as a good manual doesn’t age. I personally think the 997 PDK was fine BTW.
My GTS has the Porsche short shift, sharkwerks centre silencer delete and a TPC PASM unit and it’s the perfect set up for me.
Thanks! In general I prefer manuals, my 996 Turbo S had the short shift which I liked a lot, but I live in London and so many of the drives will be through the suburbs picking kids up from parties and sports and so on, so I think I will go for PDK. I know suburban London isn’t exactly the Nurburgring but you have to make the most of what you have, another reason why I would like a car that is fun at lowish speeds. I think a GTS cab will be awesome, but I also think the base Carrera, S or 4S cabs will be great too and gives you a broader selection. Sounds like manual will suit you also and that removes the whole “that old PDK isn’t as good as the new PDK” thing as a good manual doesn’t age. I personally think the 997 PDK was fine BTW.
My GTS has the Porsche short shift, sharkwerks centre silencer delete and a TPC PASM unit and it’s the perfect set up for me.
The sharkwerks centre silencer delete sounds like an excellent addition. Is it worth getting any ECU remapping?
c4sman said:
BTW you have a great car collection already and I would love add an F430 spider to the GTS and M3 V8 in the carnage!
Thank you! The 430 Spider is an absolute thrill. If you are considering it, I would only get a manual one, though, F1 of that generation is nothing like as good as PDK. Cheib said:
Love my 997 GTS....as a weekend car/getting the kids in it it’s a three seater for me. I’m just over 6ft there is no room behind me. Mine is a coupe. I know what you mean about the 996 Turbo I drove a mate’s back to back with my 997 GTS about six months after I got it....I was very happy to get back in mine. He sold his 996 Turbo about six months later...I just thought it was quick but a bit dull.
My thoughts exactly about the 996 Turbo. I learned the expensive way, I had a 996 Turbo first, found it needed extra excitement and replaced it with the Turbo S, which was a bit quicker but no more fun really. Yes exactly, I would think of the GTS as a three seater which is perfect. Typical scenario is giving one offspring and a friend a lift home.
As well as the extra edge in performance and handling, I also think 997 GTS is going to be pretty solid on the residuals, having slipped back a bit now, and that helps with the wife. I had considered C63AMG cabrio and even an early Ferrari California, as fun 2+2 convertibles, but depreciation and running costs respectively will be too high to justify for a car used only occasionally.
Having said that 991 2S cabriolets are temptingly cheaper now, as are 997.2 S cabrios. But am I right in thinking GTS just has that extra fun edge?
I haven't driven either. The 997.2 C2S is 385bhp and the GTS is 408bhp but basically the GTS is the last of the 997.2.
I'd save £15-20k and take a manual 97.2 C2S as the manual if light to drive. I'd actually have to take a coupe.
Seems to be more C4S Cab if you're looking PDK. Which has the distinctive rear reflective strip.
I'd save £15-20k and take a manual 97.2 C2S as the manual if light to drive. I'd actually have to take a coupe.
Seems to be more C4S Cab if you're looking PDK. Which has the distinctive rear reflective strip.
Centrente said:
Thanks! In general I prefer manuals, my 996 Turbo S had the short shift which I liked a lot, but I live in London and so many of the drives will be through the suburbs picking kids up from parties and sports and so on, so I think I will go for PDK. I know suburban London isn’t exactly the Nurburgring but you have to make the most of what you have, another reason why I would like a car that is fun at lowish speeds.
The sharkwerks centre silencer delete sounds like an excellent addition. Is it worth getting any ECU remapping?
Defo get the sharkwerks on 997.2 to make the car sound better at all speeds, but I wouldn’t bother with a remap on a N/A 997. I’m not convinced there’s much on the table without more hardware changes (although the sharkwerks is meant to give you a few BHP just as a bolt on). The sharkwerks centre silencer delete sounds like an excellent addition. Is it worth getting any ECU remapping?
The more I hear on how you’ll use the car (which sounds spot on BTW), I think you go look for any Carrera S, 4S or GTS cab PDK that fits your budget / colour and spec requirements. Things like sport chrono (useful on a PDK), sport exhaust (important on the 7.2 to combine with the sharkwerks), Bose, sports seats or standard, wheel design etc.
Regarding GTS residuals, they aren’t as strong on a PDK cab as a manual 2wd coupe, so I wouldn’t let this drive your choice, and who knows what the residuals future holds.
I think a 997 PDK cab is a great choice for fun ferrying around. Also the more you use them, the better they feel.
Edited by c4sman on Sunday 27th September 22:25
c4sman said:
Defo get the sharkwerks on 997.2 to make the car sound better at all speeds, but I wouldn’t bother with a remap on a N/A 997. I’m not convinced there’s much on the table without more hardware changes (although the sharkwerks is meant to give you a few BHP just as a bolt on).
The more I hear on how you’ll use the car (which sounds spot on BTW), I think you go look for any Carrera S, 4S or GTS cab PDK that fits your budget / colour and spec requirements. Things like sport chrono (useful on a PDK), sport exhaust (important on the 7.2 to combine with the sharkwerks), Bose, sports seats or standard, wheel design etc.
Regarding GTS residuals, they aren’t as strong on a PDK cab as a manual 2wd coupe, so I wouldn’t let this drive your choice, and who knows what the residuals future holds.
I think a 997 PDK cab is a great choice for fun ferrying around. Also the more you use them, the better they feel.
Thanks. Very useful info and spec advice. The more I hear on how you’ll use the car (which sounds spot on BTW), I think you go look for any Carrera S, 4S or GTS cab PDK that fits your budget / colour and spec requirements. Things like sport chrono (useful on a PDK), sport exhaust (important on the 7.2 to combine with the sharkwerks), Bose, sports seats or standard, wheel design etc.
Regarding GTS residuals, they aren’t as strong on a PDK cab as a manual 2wd coupe, so I wouldn’t let this drive your choice, and who knows what the residuals future holds.
I think a 997 PDK cab is a great choice for fun ferrying around. Also the more you use them, the better they feel.
Edited by c4sman on Sunday 27th September 22:25
c4sman said:
It looks like a nice one. Being offered by HWM - not Hendon Way, I presume? However one of the reasons I got out of my Turbos was that I don’t need or want 4WD. If it were a C2S..
Is there not that much driving difference then between a PDK Carrera S and GTS?
Yeah it’s a 4GTS. Still think a 4 is worth thinking about as it will still feel more engaging than a turbo due to different suspension set up and engine. I was quite surprise how much fun I had in a mates 996C4S when I had my first 911 (997.1S manual coupe). Felt quite agile and light on its feet.
However, if you want a 2 then you should get a 2 so you never have to think “I wish I....”!
Happy hunting.
BTW Hendon look like they’ve got a very rare, 2wd GTS cab manual which I know is not for you but must a one of a very small number of manuals! There only circa 100 UK manual RWD coupes, so I wouldn’t be surprised if there are more than single figure similarly specified cabs! Sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong.
However, if you want a 2 then you should get a 2 so you never have to think “I wish I....”!
Happy hunting.
BTW Hendon look like they’ve got a very rare, 2wd GTS cab manual which I know is not for you but must a one of a very small number of manuals! There only circa 100 UK manual RWD coupes, so I wouldn’t be surprised if there are more than single figure similarly specified cabs! Sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong.
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