Which 997?
Author
Discussion

iangrier

Original Poster:

631 posts

241 months

Tuesday 27th December 2016
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I'm poised with a budget of up to £35k to buy a 997. I'd prefer a 4S manual. I used to be right on the ball with all things Porsche, but have drifted over the past 10 years (kids / business being the reasons). Can people give me a quick "do's and dont's" on my chosen chariot? I don't want a cabriolet or some pimped up item with black alloys and "genuine GT3 spoilers". I'd like a chrono pack and a second generation 997 (is that the one easily identified with headlamp washers and different rear light clusters?). Also - any problems with these cars in terms of being around 10 years old? Obviously, full OPC service history is key. Although the manual is my preferred "box" - is the auto / tiptronic also to be considered? It will do circa 10k miles per annum. Many thanks.

Magic919

14,456 posts

230 months

Tuesday 27th December 2016
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Gen 2 997 doesn't have any specific problems. The auto is a PDK, rather than tiptronic. Probably best to try it in case you prefer the manual.


iangrier

Original Poster:

631 posts

241 months

Tuesday 27th December 2016
quotequote all
Ooops - it would be a PDK I'm after, not a tiptronic. I guess the PDK appeared in slightly later models; 2009 model year?

Hugo911

220 posts

134 months

Tuesday 27th December 2016
quotequote all
Second gen are all PDK, 2008 was the first of the second gens.

The second gens are the ones to buy, the PDK is a totally different animal to the tiptronic first gen with phenomenal performance.

Also second gen cars aren't susceptible to the engine issues found on the first gen cars.

Plenty of cars about to choose from right now!

Hugo911

220 posts

134 months

Tuesday 27th December 2016
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PS
Make sure you share photos once you've bought one!

Shaoxter

4,592 posts

153 months

Tuesday 27th December 2016
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I don't think you're getting a gen 2 997 4S for £35k. You should be able to get a decent 2S if you look hard enough though, and that would be my pick. Wouldn't consider a gen 1 at all at that budget.

iangrier said:
Obviously, full OPC service history is key.
Absolutely not! There's a great network of Porsche indies which are as good if not better than OPCs.

The_Doc

6,249 posts

249 months

Tuesday 27th December 2016
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iangrier

Original Poster:

631 posts

241 months

Tuesday 27th December 2016
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Now thinking a generation 2 Carrera S. I could possibly sweat the budget to £40k, to get a generation 2 Carrera 4S, but I'd rather not.

Hugo911

220 posts

134 months

Tuesday 27th December 2016
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The_Doc said:
Funnily enough I went to see this car last week, lovely example and can't really fault it. 911V are a great bunch, I'm tempted, so very tempted!

Shaoxter

4,592 posts

153 months

Tuesday 27th December 2016
quotequote all
Hugo911 said:
The_Doc said:
Funnily enough I went to see this car last week, lovely example and can't really fault it. 911V are a great bunch, I'm tempted, so very tempted!
Looks like a great one, only missing the PSE which is retrofittable but essential (along with a centre muffler bypass!)

MrVert

4,456 posts

268 months

Tuesday 27th December 2016
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I recently went through this and eventually got a Gen 2 Carrera, low miles, highly specced incl PSE and PASM and it's a great car.

It's worth spending a bit more, you'll get a much better car, still low miles and good spec. I'd definitely hold out for one with PSE, the DFI engine is too quiet without it. PASM is also worth it, improves the look of the car (-20mm), standard Carrera looks like it sits a bit too high.

I went for a manual and I'm glad I did. So much more involving in my opinion, but totally understand why people go for PDK. The gearing on the manual is spot on and really suits the 3,6 engine.

Good luck with your search, it's always great fun 911 hunting! thumbup

Hugo911

220 posts

134 months

Tuesday 27th December 2016
quotequote all
Shaoxter said:
Looks like a great one, only missing the PSE which is retrofittable but essential (along with a centre muffler bypass!)
What's a centre muffler bypass?

Shaoxter

4,592 posts

153 months

Wednesday 28th December 2016
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Hugo911 said:
Shaoxter said:
Looks like a great one, only missing the PSE which is retrofittable but essential (along with a centre muffler bypass!)
What's a centre muffler bypass?
Also known as the Sharkwerks bypass, it replaces the restrictive centre muffler with some straight pipes. Makes it a bit louder without losing any refinement.

Magic919

14,456 posts

230 months

Wednesday 28th December 2016
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A muffler being a silencer here.

Cheib

25,360 posts

204 months

Wednesday 28th December 2016
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Magic919 said:
A muffler being a silencer here.
The dreaded encroachment of Americanisms....cars now seem to have rims and not wheels!!! They might do in 50 years when someone has invented maglev cars that don't have wheel spokes...currently they definitely have wheels.

A rim is

noun
noun: rim; plural noun: rims

1.
the upper or outer edge of an object, typically something circular or approximately circular.


We have an Amercianisms swearbox at work which hasn't been in place for a while....£1 in the tin for each one and after a month or so it goes towards buying everyone breakfast. Great fun if you're totally immature....

Can I get
I am headed
Vacation
Hit it out of the park

etc etc

Polome

597 posts

154 months

Wednesday 28th December 2016
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Hi been running my 3.6 manual for 4 years after a decade with a 996 so have a few miles under my belt. I would confer with mr moose comments that the 3.6 engine is a peach. I tried both the S and non S models and found it was hard to tell the difference in power even when " pressing on"!! My car is manual and trundles through town well in 3rd but if your driving is predominantly city a PDK would probably work best . I've driven both many times and still prefer manual. For your budget your more likely to get a low miles 3.6 , they having a far higher percentage of manuals whereas the 3.8 are predominantly PDK. Whilst the gen 2 is a more reliable car v gen 1 miles do promote wear and gen 2 cars at this price will be definitely be higher mileage. I don't think fuel consumption differs much between the two engines but if your interested my car has a long term average of 25mpg , best I've seen is 34 on a long stretch of 50 mph roadworks..worst 17 on a hoon with mates. My car has lowered chassis with pasm and the chrono pack so has good stance. As a daily car the exhaust ( to me anyway) is loud enough so PSE was never on my list..it's another avenue to try before you buy. To me a sunshine roof is more important than the exhaust thing but it's personal choice here. The 3.6 is easy to buy , easy on the pocket , not too much tech and still a modern looking car..a good all rounder...good luck with the search whatever you choose.....

Corky

704 posts

269 months

Wednesday 28th December 2016
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
I agree, I have just moved from a Griffith to a 997.2 C2, mine is a manual, not massively specced but I personally prefer simplicity, it is a daily driver and it puts a smile on my face when ever I drive it.

Shaoxter

4,592 posts

153 months

Wednesday 28th December 2016
quotequote all
Cheib said:
Magic919 said:
A muffler being a silencer here.
The dreaded encroachment of Americanisms....
Ooops, I must have gotten myself confused smile

Cheib

25,360 posts

204 months

Wednesday 28th December 2016
quotequote all
Shaoxter said:
Cheib said:
Magic919 said:
A muffler being a silencer here.
The dreaded encroachment of Americanisms....
Ooops, I must have gotten myself confused smile
Gotten is not an Americanism...."Ill gotten gains" is Shakepsearian and earlier I am told by a friend of mine who studied such things at University.

iangrier

Original Poster:

631 posts

241 months

Wednesday 4th January 2017
quotequote all
Okay... a generation 2 997 is my choice. Probably an "S". I'm going to wait until the bad weather has passed up here (Glasgow) and see what's available then. Thanks for everyone's input and advice - much appreciated.