997 C2S test drive, slightly underwhelmed
Discussion
Well, after months of thinking about what 911 to buy and letting the budget creep up sligtly (ie, 2x the original) I finally drove my first 997 today. The car in question was a 3.8 2S car (05 reg, ~60k miles), the condition and history were both excellent.
I have driven 986/987s in the past and always thought they felt 'good' and liked them, however, I found the 997 slightly underwhelming. In particular the steering was too light and the whole car a bit too 'quiet', despite having PSE fitted.
To be fair the test drive was very short and we didn't have any good stretches of road, so could well be that I didn't have enough time to fully appreciate the car? I recall having a similarly underwhelmed feeling when testing an Aston V8 Vantage a couple of years ago on a similarly short test drive.
I still would like a 997 and love its looks, practicality and heritage, its just that it didn't have that 'feeling' I was hoping for, if anything it reminded me slightly of my BMW 530i...
Am I missing something here? Are these such capable cars that one needs to be on the Nurburgring to fully appreciate them?
I have driven 986/987s in the past and always thought they felt 'good' and liked them, however, I found the 997 slightly underwhelming. In particular the steering was too light and the whole car a bit too 'quiet', despite having PSE fitted.
To be fair the test drive was very short and we didn't have any good stretches of road, so could well be that I didn't have enough time to fully appreciate the car? I recall having a similarly underwhelmed feeling when testing an Aston V8 Vantage a couple of years ago on a similarly short test drive.
I still would like a 997 and love its looks, practicality and heritage, its just that it didn't have that 'feeling' I was hoping for, if anything it reminded me slightly of my BMW 530i...
Am I missing something here? Are these such capable cars that one needs to be on the Nurburgring to fully appreciate them?
The 987 is a different experience to the 911 and its qualities are not immediately obvious on a general pootle around. For me the 911 experience is about learning how to drive one quickly without getting killed otherwise, you might as well be driving a 987.
Like any Porsche sports car you really need to be driving her hard to understand what is on offer.
The overall experience can also be effected wildly by poorly specced cars, I like 911s in speed yellow and ceramics pref with a power-kit, a rare find indeed.
I am taking a Gen2 GTS on loan for a week in November, knowing my luck it will be in sales-rep grey!
RiccardoG said:
Well, after months of thinking about what 911 to buy and letting the budget creep up sligtly (ie, 2x the original) I finally drove my first 997 today. The car in question was a 3.8 2S car (05 reg, ~60k miles), the condition and history were both excellent.
I have driven 986/987s in the past and always thought they felt 'good' and liked them, however, I found the 997 slightly underwhelming. In particular the steering was too light and the whole car a bit too 'quiet', despite having PSE fitted.
To be fair the test drive was very short and we didn't have any good stretches of road, so could well be that I didn't have enough time to fully appreciate the car? I recall having a similarly underwhelmed feeling when testing an Aston V8 Vantage a couple of years ago on a similarly short test drive.
I still would like a 997 and love its looks, practicality and heritage, its just that it didn't have that 'feeling' I was hoping for, if anything it reminded me slightly of my BMW 530i...
Am I missing something here? Are these such capable cars that one needs to be on the Nurburgring to fully appreciate them?
The 997 doesn't have the same fun factor as the Boxster so you are right - it is more of a GT car.I have driven 986/987s in the past and always thought they felt 'good' and liked them, however, I found the 997 slightly underwhelming. In particular the steering was too light and the whole car a bit too 'quiet', despite having PSE fitted.
To be fair the test drive was very short and we didn't have any good stretches of road, so could well be that I didn't have enough time to fully appreciate the car? I recall having a similarly underwhelmed feeling when testing an Aston V8 Vantage a couple of years ago on a similarly short test drive.
I still would like a 997 and love its looks, practicality and heritage, its just that it didn't have that 'feeling' I was hoping for, if anything it reminded me slightly of my BMW 530i...
Am I missing something here? Are these such capable cars that one needs to be on the Nurburgring to fully appreciate them?
I also found the sames things:
1. The 997's steering IS lighter than the Boxsters henace has less feel.
2. The 997's PSE can only be heard properly from outside, and is muted on the inside.
You shouldn't have to push a car to silly speeds to have fun - you certainly don't need to in the Boxster.
Perhaps you should try a 997 GT3 / RS - just one turn of the key and it comes alive. I think you will be happily overwhelmed...
I came from having owned a coupe of Boxsters and also struggled with the 997 C2s. Nose very light and on road hardly any more real world fun/pace than a Boxster S. I then took a 996 turbo s for a drive and was completely smitten. Try a turbo. In fact if you like cabs try a turbo cab - you won't be underwhelmed.
Yep - I second all the sentiments here. They come alive when pressing on. It always felt special though. I really fell in love with the power delivery in my late 997 C2S; pretty linear up to 6k revs then a final surge of power up to 7k; a great thing to behold. It's not a car you drive by the scruff of the neck, but the engine does savour being worked up beyond 4k. Also with the 997 PSE, unclipping the brown plug makes is muuuuch louder as the exhaust valve stays open regardless of engine speed/load. I think my C2S was as loud, if not louder than my current GT3, though when wound past 4k, the GT3 makes wonderful demonic wail up to 8k.
I'd give it another go, but if it doesn't float your boat, there's always an aftermarket exhaust option
I'd give it another go, but if it doesn't float your boat, there's always an aftermarket exhaust option
Dont get the boxster is better than a C2S comparison at all...... owned 3 x C2S and drove a fair few miles in boxsters too..... Of course the engine and exhaust note on a boxster will be louder on the account of the soft top and engine closer to the occupants.... they do go round bends lovely, but a C2S on full chat ... boxster is no comparison.......
This is not surprising. The 98x are so accomplished. A cooking NA 997 is primarily different and is a bit of a slow burner after your current car. The higher abilities require you to push on a bit to feel the difference. However, to me it were the handling differences and the required different driving style that made it exciting. Once you get into it it's just fantastic.
However, to me the step from C2S to GT3 felt much much bigger than from 986S to C2S. The GT3 is the car the 997 shod have been from the outset
However, to me the step from C2S to GT3 felt much much bigger than from 986S to C2S. The GT3 is the car the 997 shod have been from the outset
RiccardoG said:
Well, after months of thinking about what 911 to buy and letting the budget creep up sligtly (ie, 2x the original) I finally drove my first 997 today. The car in question was a 3.8 2S car (05 reg, ~60k miles), the condition and history were both excellent.
I have driven 986/987s in the past and always thought they felt 'good' and liked them, however, I found the 997 slightly underwhelming. In particular the steering was too light and the whole car a bit too 'quiet', despite having PSE fitted.
I would suggest test driving some others. I've recently made the move from a 986 to a 997, I test drove both the C2S and the C4S at the Porsche Experience Centre in Silverstone first. My heart was telling me that I wanted a C2S but after the drive I just preferred the whole feel of the C4S. I've now owned mine for about 2 months and love it more after every drive......it is different to a Boxster, better drive......not sure yet.....but I just love it!!!I have driven 986/987s in the past and always thought they felt 'good' and liked them, however, I found the 997 slightly underwhelming. In particular the steering was too light and the whole car a bit too 'quiet', despite having PSE fitted.
If you can live with the early understeer of a pogoing and vague front end, the 997 is still great as traction and straight line performance do make up for it. I got bored of the traction/straight line speed thing after 30 minutes though when I last drove a friends' 997C2S and missed the Boxster's apex speed and balance. I couldn't live without a sharp and pointy front end even at the detriment of most other things, but we're all different and have different sets of priorities / skills. Not to mention budgets !!
nickfrog said:
If you can live with the early understeer of a pogoing and vague front end, the 997 is still great as traction and straight line performance do make up for it. I got bored of the traction/straight line speed thing after 30 minutes though when I last drove a friends' 997C2S and missed the Boxster's apex speed and balance. I couldn't live without a sharp and pointy front end even at the detriment of most other things, but we're all different and have different sets of priorities / skills. Not to mention budgets !!
Vague front end? Maybe you have an issue? ..Regarding front end feel and turn in the 997 is awesome, yes in time and mileage it 'loosens' up and again depending what you've got loaded in the front (even fuel capacity/fill) can feel differently..... certainly not vague though..... There is a little 'Pogoing' as you call it.... but compared to earlier cars, its almost gone... the best part of the pogoing is when the back hankers down on an exit and you get terrific traction..... one element which is very addictive... not yet got bored of it...Thank you so much to everyone for their replies and suggestions. I've gone and read some of the early 997 reviews of the launch time and some of them also mention steering as the only item which isn't perfect, so, as mentioned above, it really is more part of the "experience" I guess. In fact, the car tested was on reserve fuel, something which probably had an impact on steering too.
Unfortunately the GT cars are out of budget and being tall I don't fit in most of the air cooled 911s either (had to go LHD on my 964 C2 ten years ago). The only other 911 option for me now would be the 996 Turbo, although I am more of a fan of the 997 looks and have concerns for my licence in the Turbo!
This is a third/weekend car for me, I need something for long Euro trips which is another reason to rule out air cooled cars as these often lack air con and other such mod cons.
Unfortunately the GT cars are out of budget and being tall I don't fit in most of the air cooled 911s either (had to go LHD on my 964 C2 ten years ago). The only other 911 option for me now would be the 996 Turbo, although I am more of a fan of the 997 looks and have concerns for my licence in the Turbo!
This is a third/weekend car for me, I need something for long Euro trips which is another reason to rule out air cooled cars as these often lack air con and other such mod cons.
RiccardoG said:
if anything it reminded me slightly of my BMW 530i...
Its a good point. Most modern cars just feel like a bmw 5 series or an audi A3 to me. If you want proper feel and connectedness and less of the glossy polish that inevitably blankets off the chassis and steering from the driver, then you have to choose very very carefully or go backwards in time. A 996GT3 is the latest I could personally stomach as a main weekend drivers tool and I just cant get on with any 997, GT3 GT2 or otherwise.Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff