997Gen1 or Gen 2. Is there really much difference?

[Budweiser]

Drove my first NA 997 Gen 1 (C2S) today and was very impressed when comparing it to my current 996 C4S which feels a lot heavier and less nimble. The 997 was better in every way, as I suspected it would be, being a new model. I am considering moving the 996 on and buying a 997.

Not having driven a Gen 2 997 I'm wondering how much better it is, if at all, from the Gen 1? I will definitely be buying from my local OPC (Colchester) so will benefit from the two year warranty they offer.

I would love Guards Red with full aero kit.

I would value opinions on which represents the best buy and if there is a measurable difference between the two.

Thank you..

[WindyMiller67]

I have a 997 Gen II but have never driven a Gen I. The Gen II's DFI engine is more efficient and arguably more reliable in terms of the Gen I engine worries/scares which have been done to death on this forum (eg bore scoring).
The PCM 3.0 is much better if sat nav and Bluetooth phone are important to you.
If you like changing gear manually, I don't suppose there's much to choose, but if you were considering an automatic, the PDK is arguably better than the Tiptronic.
I hope the change goes well!

[wilkos]

Personally I think gen2 is worth the extra money for pdk alone, but drive both and chose for yourself.
I chose gen 2 non s over gen 1s. Just as quick and has all the gen 1s extras (bar PASM).
Quieter better interior, significantly more economical.

But only you can decide if it's worth the extra for you, so drive both and decide.

[Magic919]

Some changes I noticed when looking. Some are options.

PCM
Touch screen
Voice Control
Universal audio interface
Bluetooth
Bi-xenon lights
Dynamic cornering lights
LED lighting and DRL
New intakes
Door mirrors changed
DFI
PTM on AWD
PDK
Launch control with PDK
Heated steering wheel
Larger rear discs on non-S
SPASM
Ventilated seats
Hill-start assist
Locking rear diff AWD models. (Option on 2WD)
PSM enhanced
ABD
TPM improved
Airbags improved
Centre console redesigned
TV tuner
VTS

[Ekona]

The retuned suspension is worth it alone, never mind having an engine not made of chocolate.

The gen1 is a great car, but the gen2 is a cut above.

[Bluey Green]

I went from Gen 1 C2s to Gen 2 Boxster Spyder. I can only compare the two examples I had but the Gen 2 car feels much better quality - build and materials. Feels way more solid despite stiffer suspension and being a convertible.

[mollytherocker]

Budweiser said:

Drove my first NA 997 Gen 1 (C2S) today and was very impressed when comparing it to my current 996 C4S which feels a lot heavier and less nimble. The 997 was better in every way, as I suspected it would be, being a new model. I am considering moving the 996 on and buying a 997.

Not having driven a Gen 2 997 I'm wondering how much better it is, if at all, from the Gen 1? I will definitely be buying from my local OPC (Colchester) so will benefit from the two year warranty they offer.

I would love Guards Red with full aero kit.

I would value opinions on which represents the best buy and if there is a measurable difference between the two.

Thank you..

I suppose if you are buying from an OPC and intend to keep the warranty for the entire period of ownership, then the engine risk of the gen 1 is all but irrelevant.

[ChrisW.]

To me the engine risk of the Gen 1 is never irrelevant ...

[RajC]

My c2s gen 1 has been an amazing car !

[jimmy p]

Read the recent engine threads on 911uk and make your own mind up, when and if I update from my 993 it will have to be a 997.2

[Callughan]

I went from owning a 996 C4S for over 4 years to a 997 C4S for less than 6 months. Even though more capable probably not worth change, would go for gen 2. On both you loose PSE sound quality

[Budweiser]

Thanks for the replies, very helpful. £45K is the top end of my budget so all things considered (even with the two year OPC warranty) a Gen 2 is the way I want to go.

I want to get the highest spec I can with a manual gearbox.

Any thoughts of 'the must haves' would be appreciated...

[Technomad]

That's exactly what I went for last year - same budget too, which got me a 13k mile '09 C2S Gen 2 from OPC. Given that the S has PASM as standard, the only must-have I'd say would be the factory short-shift kit - makes a huge difference to the change and driver engagement (which I assume is why you're after a manual). After that, it's down to circumstance - my own list included xenons, heated seats & universal audio interface. If you have the nav module, make sure it gets the current £150 upgrade - it turns the PCM from an antique in to quite a useful tool and improves compatibility with devices like the iphone 5. In fact, if buying from an OPC, get them to throw it in, as it's something they should be doing anyway. I'm not too bothered about the lack of Sport Chrono on a manual car - and if you want the sport maps, retrofit of the sport button & software is about £500. PSE makes damn all difference to performance, but it doesn't half sound good with it, but probably not worth a £2.5k retrofit. Finally, depending on where you live and how much you'll use it, a set of winter wheels & tyres. Although the car was in very decent nick from the OPC, I budgeted for a paint correction & full detailing, in my case with Gtechniq product - a great move, as dirt, crud and cats now just skid right off it.

http://thumbsnap.com/piZqKeT9

[Budweiser]

Lovely car.

I've really been thrown off track as yesterday i had the pleasure to drive on track and road a new Cayman with PDK and loads of other options. Bloody nora what a brilliant car.It was only a 2.7 with PCB 20" wheels PSMS etc. A lovely road car and very capable on track as well so what more could a man ask for?

Probably hard to find a second hand one with the spec I would want and a new one is out of my budget. Damm.....

[JonN981]

Budweiser said:

Lovely car.

I've really been thrown off track as yesterday i had the pleasure to drive on track and road a new Cayman with PDK and loads of other options. Bloody nora what a brilliant car.It was only a 2.7 with PCB 20" wheels PSMS etc. A lovely road car and very capable on track as well so what more could a man ask for?

Probably hard to find a second hand one with the spec I would want and a new one is out of my budget. Damm.....

I owned a gen 1 997 C2S for 4 years then 6 months ago changed to a 981 Cayman 2.7 PDK. Absolutely love it, great car, no regrets.

[anonymous-user]

Budweiser said:

Lovely car.

I've really been thrown off track as yesterday i had the pleasure to drive on track and road a new Cayman with PDK and loads of other options. Bloody nora what a brilliant car.It was only a 2.7 with PCB 20" wheels PSMS etc. A lovely road car and very capable on track as well so what more could a man ask for?

Probably hard to find a second hand one with the spec I would want and a new one is out of my budget. Damm.....

If you don't need rear seats, the Cayman is a bargain for sure.

But then again the 997.2 is superb too. I recently went from a '02 facelift 996 C2 to an '09 997.2 C4S and the difference is massive. Loads more power/torque, infinitely better interior and love the PDK gearbox. Not sure how it would compare against a 997.1 as I've never driven one, but for me the PDK and stronger engine was enough to convince me to pay the extra. I think the facelift exterior is nicer too, especially in C4S form with the return of the full width rear reflective strip. It's a beautiful looking car.

[toocan]

I had a Cayman S pdk as a loaner last month, great little car - so incredibly easy to drive it hard with so little skill (I'm testament to that!). Negatives id say is it lacks personality, its so very clinical in comparison to a 911 which in turn feels like it could kill you (a good thing for a sports car). Its also cramped inside, my head touches the roof.

PDK is brilliant. Although I do find myself absolutely thrashing a car to get the same level of thrills I would get from a manual at lesser speeds. Argument has no doubt been done to death and its all preference, for me PDK was fun at first but diminished the connection with the car which ultimately had to be substituted with insane speed

Edited by toocan on Wednesday 19th February 16:18

Edited by toocan on Wednesday 19th February 16:24

[toocan]

To add agree with technomad on extras 100%. I spent 6 months hunting for mine (below). PASM (car sits lower) and Sports Exhaust are essential imo, short shifter is so involving

[Paracetamol]

I have access to a Gen 2S pdk at weekends. I also owned a Gen 1. The Gen 2 is head and shoulders above it. The G1 was very satisfying but never a thrill. The G2 is more exciting than my R8 was. Press Sport on the sport chrono and its extremely aggressive. It feels epicly quick in a way that the G1 never did. To me its the first viable replacement the 993

[Budweiser]

Thanks for the replies. Have asked my OPC for a test drive in the Cayman S. They have indicated I might get one for the whole weekend. That I'm looking forward to. After that I'm looking to have a go in a Gen 2 997..

I'll probably land up even more confused....