opnions part two, this time a 997S.

[clarkey]

I think i've chickened out of a 996tt, and I'm moving towards a 997S after a good test drive today.

What do you think about this car?
http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/cars_search.asp


It is a C16 import. I think it is about £1500 less than the price UK-sourced cars are advertised at. Is this about the right differential, or should I be looking for a bit more? It seems a good spec and a good saving on new, and could be tasty with a lump on Tubi stuck on the back. But what is a good price? £61500? Or is it good value as it is?

I've also been offered a 54-plate manual 997s by an OPC, in slate grey, 4000 miles, spec to about £72,500. They would do a quick deal at £66,000 without much pushing. This is £4000 off what they advertise them at, so does this indicate the first softening of prices at OPCs?

I was also offered a late November delivery Cayman at list, and a spec-changeable one for January delivery, also at list. Good luck to the speculators and their profits.

So, please help me spend my money. I'm carless, and getting itchy feet...... What do you reckon???

Your expert advice is appreciated as always....

[rob05]

Good choice mate very nice car and my next.
Shop around plenty of uk cars out there,if you have cash you'l buy one private for 60-61k,just haggle hard,lots of people ready to sell cheap for a quick sale.
Also dont be affraid to go into opc and ask for serious discount,you might be shocked at the deal you can get!
This time of year dealers are hard up and will do a deal.
Good luck mate i'll keep my eyes open for you.

[jjr1]

I have a 997S and honestly think you can't go wrong with one. That car looks fine but no need to rush in as there are a whole heap of cars for sale. Although I am going out on a limb here the -20mm optional sports suspension is something I would have on every 997 and if you can find one I reckon it will turn out to be a good choice. There is plenty of criticism already of the PASM system and I feel it will only get worse. Like I said though I will be on a limb on this one and very few will agree.

Good luck with the car choice.

[DanH]

Whats put you off the 996 Turbo? Has a nicer interior but lesser performance really swayed you?

[rob05]

Dan
For me the 997 is just in another league compared to the 996 in terms of quality looks interior and i'd rather have the newer model anyday of the week than the extra bhp.
Leave a side specials like your car, i'm talking main stream models.
I think the 997 is the best looking car porsche have made with regards to the C2.
I like thin not fat chicks and imho its a car you can use in all situations its the best value supercar you can buy and performance wise on tight country roads in the right hands it will take some beating,turbos and rsGT3 all included,imho of course.

[clarkey]

I'm not really asking for a value comparison between a Cayman and a 997S - you'd hope that a Cayman always represents better value. I'm not even considering one as I think it will be as disappointing as my 987S was (poor brakes, rattles, loose gearshift).
I found a 996tt very fast, but really not very nimble. I'd also forgotten how dated they feel. In comparison, the 997S felt nimble, alive, modern and really not much slower if you give it a good spanking.

I think my question really was about the relative value of a C16 import to other UK cars available. I'm not convinced you can get a good spec UK car for £61k yet - most seem to be PCM-less and Bose-less, 'normal' spec cars seem to start around £63k. I'd like to be wrong though.

[Adam B]

my view - get the import and save £4k OPC margin. In fact if I was looking for a 997s that would be my one. At least one less competitor for my perfect 996TT X50.

its still under warranty so ignore all the OPC guff about their checks

[clorenzen]

There are so many 997S around for the time being that you can almost get any combination that you want so I would bargain hard. On the C16 issue I think that only the OPC's are trying to protect their margin. All Porsches are produced in Stuttgart (excpt for Finland), they are imported into this country and those sourcing a C16 at a lower price are smarter than the rest - end of story.....

[rob05]

I have seen a couple of cars will all your wish list private for 61.5k,ok both have 12thmls or so but bargin hard and you could be in for a good deal.
If you ever considered lhd 50k will buy you the same with less miles.

[rumplestiltskin]

Having driven a 997S & C4S then only 997 thats gonna get me out of my 996TT is a 997TT

[jjr1]

Having driven a 996TT the only car that is going to get me out of my 997S is a 996GT3RS

[rumplestiltskin]

yep something a bit faster.

[jjr1]

Exactly I would only swap to a car that was more involving or fun and a 996TT is definitely a backward step in that department if you have a 997S with -20mm.

[rumplestiltskin]

Unless "involving" & "fun" doesn't mean performance.
My old Boxster S felt as fast as the 997S I drove.

Not knocking it, just gonna wait for the cooking 997 next year, now that will be a car.

>> Edited by rumplestiltskin on Saturday 12th November 20:40

[jjr1]

Since a 997S with -20mm can lap the Nurburgring faster than a 996TT it would appear it is your car that is slow but hey if you are fooled by that turbo thrust and need all that stupid 4wd gear to make you feel safe, you just carry on enjoying your car.

[rob05]

Are you sure it was a 997s you drove?
For your 987 to feel as fast the 997 must have been runing on three cyclinders!

[rumplestiltskin]

different drivers different conditions etc plus a 997 with suspension mods vs a standard TT. Anyway thats the ring, in the real world, 0-60, 30-70, top speed & pretty much any other increment you choose, the TT thumps the 997 S.
Plus hand over a couple £k & you have 500bhp & 500lbs torque to make the performance gap even bigger.

[bumcrack]

rob05 said:

Are you sure it was a 997s you drove? For your 987 to feel as fast the 997 must have been runing on three cyclinders!

[jjr1]

rumplestiltskin said:

different drivers different conditions etc plus a 997 with suspension mods vs a standard TT. Anyway thats the ring, in the real world, 0-60, 30-70, top speed & pretty much any other increment you choose, the TT thumps the 997 S. Plus hand over a couple £k & you have 500bhp & 500lbs torque to make the performance gap even bigger.

A no cost option is hardly a 997 with suspension mods. In your real world examples I note they are all straight line performance figures that you cite and that sums up the difference. You enjoy your car because it goes fast in a straight line and I prefer mine because it is more fun when it is not going in a straight line.

[magriggs]

In this month's "GT Purely Porsche" mag there's a good (if short) article about buying C16/C98 997s from Autobahn and Camtune. They look like a good bet, especially if you sell them back to the place you got them as there will be no awkward "it's an import" questions.

According to the article, Autobahn have got a brand new C98 997 Carrera 2, manual in seal grey with sat nav for £62.5k. Similar spec Carrera S for £69k. And they're available immediately, rather than a 4 month wait :-)

Hmmm, I hope that didn't sound like an advert for Autobahn. I'd never heard of them before I picked up this mag.



>> Edited by magriggs on Sunday 13th November 15:48