The 997 Appreciation Thread
Discussion
Currently on the look out for a decent 997.2
Question regarding S or non S models is the 3.6 much slower then the 3.8? It'll be used as a daily, fast road and odd trackday probably no more then a couple per year.
Any must have options?
Sports Exhaust would be good but understand you can get a xpipe mod that would do away with then need for Sports Exhaust
Sports seats, I understand these are a lot narrower then the standard seats, is this true. My frame is one for comfort not speed.
I'd ideally like a sunroof but used to struggle in my old 993 with a helmet on and sunroof, is this still the case in the 997?
Question regarding S or non S models is the 3.6 much slower then the 3.8? It'll be used as a daily, fast road and odd trackday probably no more then a couple per year.
Any must have options?
Sports Exhaust would be good but understand you can get a xpipe mod that would do away with then need for Sports Exhaust
Sports seats, I understand these are a lot narrower then the standard seats, is this true. My frame is one for comfort not speed.
I'd ideally like a sunroof but used to struggle in my old 993 with a helmet on and sunroof, is this still the case in the 997?
Options to look for:
1. Sports chrono pack with sports exhaust.
(The change in the car's personality after pressing the sports plus button is remarkable. Sports exhaust: at the right revs - the sound is great) It sounds like the roar you'd get from strapping yourself onto the back of a shewolf after midnight, squeezing your thighs and digging in in your spurs to make her howl at the moon.
2. Paddle shift steering wheel
(Far better than standard fiddle button wheel, with PDK gear change is virtually instantaneous. Left down, right up - simples! Crack that bull whip, one flick and your either up or down a gear.
3. Sports seats far more comfortable than standard
(They are not as restrictive or as rock hard bucket seats. They just have an extra bolster around shoulders. Which with the heat option are quite snug. When looking for mine I just sat - engine off - in a 997.2 with standard seats. I was underwhelmed. With the sports seats I did the same thing. Totally different. It was like I was cycling my bike for the first time without stabilisers except this time my father had his protective arm around my shoulder. The bike just felt more special.
4. Bovee1000 for streaming your Spotify playlists Is a must. An aftermarket iPod/USB connection. Fits in centre arm rest.
Take your time finding the right one. 997.2 many say it's the last great true Porsche before they became GT cars with attitude. Good luck.
1. Sports chrono pack with sports exhaust.
(The change in the car's personality after pressing the sports plus button is remarkable. Sports exhaust: at the right revs - the sound is great) It sounds like the roar you'd get from strapping yourself onto the back of a shewolf after midnight, squeezing your thighs and digging in in your spurs to make her howl at the moon.
2. Paddle shift steering wheel
(Far better than standard fiddle button wheel, with PDK gear change is virtually instantaneous. Left down, right up - simples! Crack that bull whip, one flick and your either up or down a gear.
3. Sports seats far more comfortable than standard
(They are not as restrictive or as rock hard bucket seats. They just have an extra bolster around shoulders. Which with the heat option are quite snug. When looking for mine I just sat - engine off - in a 997.2 with standard seats. I was underwhelmed. With the sports seats I did the same thing. Totally different. It was like I was cycling my bike for the first time without stabilisers except this time my father had his protective arm around my shoulder. The bike just felt more special.
4. Bovee1000 for streaming your Spotify playlists Is a must. An aftermarket iPod/USB connection. Fits in centre arm rest.
Take your time finding the right one. 997.2 many say it's the last great true Porsche before they became GT cars with attitude. Good luck.
I'm constantly changing my mind what weekend car to buy next and find myself regularly considering the 997 3.8 S with a manual box. It's a logical choice as I could use it year round for all purposes and I have a fantastic Indie just down the road from me.
I once had a nearly new Boxster 987 S as my only car and loved it. My resistance to pulling the trigger on a 911 is the head saying it looks the same as the Boxster inside, is faster in a straight line but lacks the mid engined handling balance and is much more expensive.
So, can some owners please explain what sets the 997 apart from the 987 and makes it special. To my mind good use of budget would be something with some miles on it and a Hartech engine rebuild, rather than splash out for a 997.2.
Re the 997.2, I've read that it's not without potential engine problems. Is that true?
Many thanks.
I once had a nearly new Boxster 987 S as my only car and loved it. My resistance to pulling the trigger on a 911 is the head saying it looks the same as the Boxster inside, is faster in a straight line but lacks the mid engined handling balance and is much more expensive.
So, can some owners please explain what sets the 997 apart from the 987 and makes it special. To my mind good use of budget would be something with some miles on it and a Hartech engine rebuild, rather than splash out for a 997.2.
Re the 997.2, I've read that it's not without potential engine problems. Is that true?
Many thanks.
guyvert1 said:
SFTWend said:
Re the 997.2, I've read that it's not without potential engine problems. Is that true?
Many thanks.
What is the source of your concerns?Many thanks.
Fl0pp3r said:
Can we play? 
I did try and arrange a 997.2RS get together earlier this year, but in the end it was just me an 30 other GT3’s - mainly 991’s It would be ace to sort something out pref when there’s a better handle on the Covid situation so I can put a package together for an exclusive weekend event.
SFTWend said:
I'm constantly changing my mind what weekend car to buy next and find myself regularly considering the 997 3.8 S with a manual box. It's a logical choice as I could use it year round for all purposes and I have a fantastic Indie just down the road from me.
I once had a nearly new Boxster 987 S as my only car and loved it. My resistance to pulling the trigger on a 911 is the head saying it looks the same as the Boxster inside, is faster in a straight line but lacks the mid engined handling balance and is much more expensive.
So, can some owners please explain what sets the 997 apart from the 987 and makes it special. To my mind good use of budget would be something with some miles on it and a Hartech engine rebuild, rather than splash out for a 997.2.
Re the 997.2, I've read that it's not without potential engine problems. Is that true?
Many thanks.
Primary controls will feel almost exactly the same between all 9x7.1 cars as they are the same car from behind the front seats forward. Engines are all the same too and the gearbox internals are basically the same but just with the engine and gearbox location flipped around. So you will be hard pressed to notice any difference. Yes the 3.8 is quite a bit more pokey than the 987 engines but can you really feel the difference - we're talking tenths of a second here and there so I won't comment on that. I moved from a 986s to a 997 c2s and it felt amazing. But a lot of that was new car excitement. Mine had the standard exhaust and I never found it lacking. These cars sound great. Obviously if you had a Boxster then the change to 911 will probably be most noticeable in terms of the fixed roof which will make the cabin quieter and better insulated and there is a roomier feel to the cabin as there is space behind you. Obviously you get the big chunky haunches at the back end too which some people love. Only you can decide if so and how much. The Boxster is a bit bendy having no roof and clearly the 997 - assuming coupe - is way less so.I once had a nearly new Boxster 987 S as my only car and loved it. My resistance to pulling the trigger on a 911 is the head saying it looks the same as the Boxster inside, is faster in a straight line but lacks the mid engined handling balance and is much more expensive.
So, can some owners please explain what sets the 997 apart from the 987 and makes it special. To my mind good use of budget would be something with some miles on it and a Hartech engine rebuild, rather than splash out for a 997.2.
Re the 997.2, I've read that it's not without potential engine problems. Is that true?
Many thanks.
Engine problems on these cars are well documented. Some people think it's all balls or due to the extended service intervals or the way people drive them. So I dont want to go on too much about this but you have mentioned Hartech so you clearly know something about this already. Don't assume Hartech engined cars are easy to find because they are not. And the buoyant market is full of people like me and you thinking the same thing. We would all like a Hartech engined car as a second hand buy for reasonable money. So you're swimming in a pool with lots of other sharks but not many fish to eat. They do carry a bit of premium when they come up but obviously with the gen 2 cars just above that premium is limited. Buying a car without is obviously an option but if you end up paying for a Hartech rebuild yourself you will never ever get the money back selling the car after. If you are keeping long term this isn't an issue.
Buying a 17 year old Porsche carries all manner of risks. I thought I'd learnt them all when I went shopping for a 996 around 3 years ago. I found a car which I thought was low risk as it had received a recent engine refresh and suspension and rads and condensors and clutch. But within 12 months I ended up spending about 3000 quid for just pipes, tubes and cables. Then the gearbox imploded and I took a punt on a second hand box from German eBay. So in summary cars of this era will need all sorts of jobs and you will get stung with some bills. Trust me on that. Also the manual gearboxes are a known weak point which is not commonly discussed.
This then brings us round to the 997.2 which will have virtually no engine risks compared to the 997.1 cars. Although you may want to avoid a car which has not had extra oil changes. Some people get anxious about the extended service intervals on these cars. Only you can decide if that's a concern. The new gen car is a bit less raw and a bit more civilised. These changes are only subtle but some people claim to prefer the gen 1 for these reasons. The main concern for a buyer choosing between gen 1 and gen 2 seems to be the engine woes of the gen 1 against the price hike of the gen 2. But its worth remembering that the newer car might not need so many new pipes, tubes and other bits and bobs. Even simple jobs like renewing bolts or nuts on exhausts or manifolds on older cars can quickly escalate into expensive repairs as they have disintegrated into nothing and need drilling out of the block and retapping.
The gen 2 is also a lot (ok maybe just a bit) more powerful. A gen 2 3.6 has basically the same power as a gen 1 3.8. I think the gen 2 3.6 is potentially the smarter choice as its a bit unloved.
Its worth mentioning PDK here because I know everyone in PH land loves a manual but the PDK is worth mentioning because I think it makes more sense as a second hand buy in terms of risk and expense. Obviously you will never need to buy a clutch and flywheel if the PDK box is working as these are integrated. You will also never need to renew the clutch fluid pipe, slave cylinder, shift cables or the shift mechanism itself. All of which I have done to my 996 and they add up.
What makes a 911 special for me is the rear engine. That might sound obvious or stupid to mention here but its a big part of the driving experience. As you start to hustle the car you will feel the weight shifting around at the back. The 997 has dialled out some of the understeer feel of the 996 so let's not talk about that. I'm not suggesting its like a wagging tail but it is there. Its almost like the car pivots around the rear wheels unlessyou throwthe weight forward. I had my 997 when they were first launched in 2005 so its been a while since then. Some of this chat may relate more to my 996 as that's what I have now. The point is with a 997 (and 996) once you have turned and are exiting a bend and ready to apply throttle you can basically floor it and the car will just dig in and grip with zero drama. So as long as you are not throwing the car around the weight over the back wheels really does push them into the ground and they just grip. You never ever get that feeling like they will spin up or the car will go light and slide because you have been too aggressive with the throttle. If anything there is so much grip your brain will just not understand how much they can deliver. You have to be seriously seriously brutal or crazy to get one of these cars sliding around as in using opposite lock to save it. Turn in initially can be tricky if carrying too much speed but once turned full throttle on the way out and it will grip and go and that's what makes them special for me.
Cheib said:
guyvert1 said:
SFTWend said:
Re the 997.2, I've read that it's not without potential engine problems. Is that true?
Many thanks.
What is the source of your concerns?Many thanks.
SFTWend said:
So, can some owners please explain what sets the 997 apart from the 987 and makes it special. To my mind good use of budget would be something with some miles on it and a Hartech engine rebuild, rather than splash out for a 997.2.
Re the 997.2, I've read that it's not without potential engine problems. Is that true?
Many thanks.
Six weeks ago I went from a 987.1 2.7 manual to a 997.1 3.6 manual. I’ve always loved the 997 shape but was preoccupied by the engine issues for a long time (so much so that I had a V8 Vantage instead for two years). I had similar assumptions to you that a 997 was just a 987 with the drivetrain rotated 180 degrees to make room in the back and that the ~3x premium was difficult to rationalise. In the end I needed the space in the back and if I could retain the steering/brakes/seating with flat 6 then 997 was the winner. Re the 997.2, I've read that it's not without potential engine problems. Is that true?
Many thanks.
My experience so far is that they’re distinctly different. The 997 bobs and dives under power and brakes, the steering is slightly lighter. It’s much louder (mine has Miltek silencers). I would say the 987 is easier and more fun to just go and thrash it but I’m still getting to know the 997 and it feels like there is bags to learn. I need a trackday in it really.
The 997 feels much more like an ordinary car than the Boxster ever did so in that sense it’s less of an occasion but the 997 is faster and more exciting with its unique 911 layout. Really I would have like to have been able to have both.
olv said:
The 997 feels much more like an ordinary car than the Boxster ever did so in that sense it’s less of an occasion but the 997 is faster and more exciting with its unique 911 layout. Really I would have like to have been able to have both.
That's strange as that's the opposite of how I would describe them! My Boxster 3.2S felt like an ordinary car, but the 997 feels more of an occasion.Bert
BertBert said:
That's strange as that's the opposite of how I would describe them! My Boxster 3.2S felt like an ordinary car, but the 997 feels more of an occasion.
Bert
Haha I always find it fascinating how the same Porsches mean different things to different people. That’s what makes them interesting, I suppose. The Boxster, for me, felt different because you’re in a small cabin and the drama of the roof off when you wanted to feel the elements. The 997 is way more spacious and airy inside and in that sense it just makes it feel more ordinary when you’re sat in it. Bert
I’ve got road trips to Cornwall and Scotland in October and November so really looking forward to getting to know it better.
olv said:
SFTWend said:
So, can some owners please explain what sets the 997 apart from the 987 and makes it special. To my mind good use of budget would be something with some miles on it and a Hartech engine rebuild, rather than splash out for a 997.2.
Re the 997.2, I've read that it's not without potential engine problems. Is that true?
Many thanks.
Six weeks ago I went from a 987.1 2.7 manual to a 997.1 3.6 manual. I’ve always loved the 997 shape but was preoccupied by the engine issues for a long time (so much so that I had a V8 Vantage instead for two years). I had similar assumptions to you that a 997 was just a 987 with the drivetrain rotated 180 degrees to make room in the back and that the ~3x premium was difficult to rationalise. In the end I needed the space in the back and if I could retain the steering/brakes/seating with flat 6 then 997 was the winner. Re the 997.2, I've read that it's not without potential engine problems. Is that true?
Many thanks.
My experience so far is that they’re distinctly different. The 997 bobs and dives under power and brakes, the steering is slightly lighter. It’s much louder (mine has Miltek silencers). I would say the 987 is easier and more fun to just go and thrash it but I’m still getting to know the 997 and it feels like there is bags to learn. I need a trackday in it really.
The 997 feels much more like an ordinary car than the Boxster ever did so in that sense it’s less of an occasion but the 997 is faster and more exciting with its unique 911 layout. Really I would have like to have been able to have both.
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