Expert advice on speccing a 997

[Maverick73]

Right I'm new here and finally giving up my love of BMW M cars for a proper sports car. About to place an order for a 997C2S and would be interested to hear views on my spec - if I am underspeccing it for resale then please give me your years of experience.. My spec (keep it nice and simple) - basalt black, turbo alloys (bit OTT but hey), sat nav, sports seats, park assist, cd changer and thats about it. Tempted by the rear wiper (most have it) but I cant help but feel it spoils the looks of the car. I cant wait until March 07, how will I survive...

[997gt3]

Possibly add cruise control and heated seats??

[Geneve]

997gt3 said:

Possibly add cruise control and heated seats??

Absolutely agree. Wouldn't buy a road car without them.

you're right about the rear wiper - buy a bottle of Rain-X.

[tonylal]

Heated seats a must for re-sale. As is multi-function wheel and phone module. All of these are mega-money to retro-fit and are highly sort after on the 2nd hand market.
If it's a question of cost then find a dealer demo or pursuade the OPC to register a car now to your spec and put a deposit on it to show your commitment, they can then deliver it to you in a month or so. OPC's don't have to run their demo's for 3 months as they have such a small share of the market that they fall outside of the EU new car supply act 2000.
If you are not keeping it long term then wait for the 07 plate, as the demo will not save you anything short term as it will be a 56 plate and therefore priced accordingly at trade in time.

[bennno]

i would add...

basalt black
pcm sat nav
phone module (ESSENTIAL)
-20mm sports suspension (think includes LSD)
Sports Seats (Essential, so much better)
Switchable sports exhaust.

I think the turbo wheels look bling and will date badly - the standard S ones look good.

My last new 996 was pretty much in that spec and it looked cool, plus it sold back to the OPC in minutes.

bennno

[adam b]

tonylal said:

Heated seats a must for re-sale. As is multi-function wheel and phone module.

surely you jest? I would personally spec heated seats and phone module is desirable but certainly not essential. Avoid the MFSW as it is based on the nasty thin wheel rather than the decent sports wheel fitted as stadnard to the S.

Personally I think the turbo wheels look crap on the TT and imagine they would look twice as bad in a I-wanna-be-a-TT way on a C2S. Drop them quick and get BOSE and sports exhuast.

[Dr S]

agree with the above:

minimum: sports seats and heated seats, sat nav, cruise, full leather, BOSE, CD, automatic mirrors and wipers
ideally: sports exhaust, sport chrono (not for the bl**dy clock but the more aggressive right pedal), phone module

matter of taste: short shift, sports suspension (inlcuding LSD) instead of PASM

Edited by Dr S on Wednesday 22 November 08:26

[asm911]

I think there are 2 options that are an absolute must for your spec. Porsche sports exhaust and short shifter. I have these on my 2s and it makes the car that much more complete. Heated seats/cruise are not essential IMHO. The top options for resale i think would be nav+phone modules and BOSE.

[softinthehead]

another one spending thousands extra speccing his car on the basis of what someone else may or may not want when he comes to sell it

God forbid you should buy the car that YOU want

[Maverick73]

Gents - thanks for this. Soem good advice, looks like I might have to drop those alloys....

[clorenzen]

I have the adaptive sports seats and there are very good. Furthermore I would not bother with the phone module as it requires a 2nd SIM card and is fiddly to operate and not worth its money. I had the dealer install a Nokia Bluetooth kit which works over the speakersystem with a separate microphone and a little buttom in front of the gearleaver. It hooks up with your mobile phone on entry and you can use that to dial/speeddial or voicetag numbers. Much easier than using the little numberpad and the soundquality and reception is much improved from the standard Porsche system.

[softinthehead]

without wishing to climb on the old soapbox (and then doing just that ) if you look at the 6-7 suggestions you received they have a few common themes but some quite marked divergences of opinion; the short shift and the alloys as examples. So if all these were prospective punters for your car, only 1-2 out of 6-7 would entertain whatever choice you had made.

ergo: you should buy what you want

My advice is to spec what floats your personal boat, keep the car for 5 years and then (when eldest has finished school) I will buy it - cos I dont give a flying F*** whether its got PCM/phone/ipod/crono - i will switch them all off and enjoy the drive.

Every used car has a buyer out there somewhere. ask Henry

[Adam B]

Maverick73 said:

Gents - thanks for this. Soem good advice, looks like I might have to drop those alloys....

I agree with softinthehead to a point, although I could point to many examples of terrible spec cars that sit for ages on forecourts or sell for many thousands less due to lets say very personal tastes (and even Henry has a gold convertible 911 that has done just that although I am sure he factored its undesirability into his price).

Also the Porsche options list is a minefield for the unaware and a straw poll here will give you a good idea of what people look for in a used 911, so I understand why people ask.

That said, re. turbo alloys - that was my personal opinion but one that many have voiced on seeing the new TT. If you love them go for it but there was some logic behind my opinion:

a) they look crap (alright, alright this is subjective)
b) unlike previous turbo alloys they are only fitted as std on the TT therefore look a bit sad wannabe on other models
c) will add zero to the desirability as people will not expect a C2S to come with them, the same cannot be said for BOSE
d) unlike nav/phone modules/BOSE/sports exhaust, wheels are easy to replace or swap for any new owner if they shoudl so desire
e) expensive option

I am looking for a 996TT in a month's time but if I get frustrated in not finding the ideal example I may get a C2S. FWIW it will have to be manual with the followng kit: nav module / sports exhaust / BOSE and I will then give priority to any which also have phone module/adaptive seats/heated seats. Things that will put me off are the skinny MFSW, turbo alloys or these hideous ruffled seats unless I can knock sufficient £K off to replace them.

[Dr S]

...you would not want to be seen dead on these ruffled seats...

[mikeg996]

Any new 997 is going to get caned on depreciation, regardless of whether it's got PCM, phone adaptor or whatever. Either pick up a year old one, choose whatever options you like and just take the hit, or buy a 996 GT3 - the thinking man's 997.

[bund]

My advice is either spec it how you want and do not take in consideration how much you will lose or buy a used one. Id say thats expert advice.

[Adam B]

I forgot to say my C2S will obviously be used. Doubt I will ever buy a new Porsche.

[Maverick73]

Thanks again. appreciate real advice from Porsche owners rather than a dealerjust trying to ramp up price of car with options, saying certain ones are esential for resale value etc etc. I know I will take a big hit on resales when it comes to sell it but that's the price you pay for getting a shiny new car. When I come to sell it in a year or twos time I promise not to cry. That said anyone looking for a beautiful M3 (2004) with 16K miles on the clock shout before my Porsche dealer takes me again from behind with a trade in price.

[Vesuvius 996]

My 997 spec...


Carrera 3.6
White
Black leather
Short shifter
Sports exhaust
Chrono [for sharper right boot]
19" alloys (Turbos not shown on pic...]
Carbon interior pack
Sports seats


Any views?

Edited by Vesuvius 996 on Thursday 23 November 13:20

Edited by Vesuvius 996 on Thursday 23 November 13:20

[sleep envy]

Vesuvius 996 said:

Any views?

to me it looks like a fridge magnet in white