Just bought a 997 - wheel advice

[identity_crisis]

So I pick up a 997.1 carrera in a few days. The wheels are in need of a refurb and will need new tyres all round. I buy and sell used alloy wheels for a living and can usually pick up a set of the lobster claws which are fitted on the car at the moment for about £700 and then sell on the old wheels.

I also have a set of the optional 19 inch classics which I have in stock that owe me £450. One needs a light refurb and also needs 2 rear tyres but cant decide which I prefer. Any thoughts on which would be the nicer option come resale.

Neither option is blowing me away and I keep looking at pictures of both. Im also not going to spend stupid money getting the sport classics so these are my 2 options really.

[identity_crisis]

Found these images of the 2 wheels on virtually identical cars




This is the car im buying

[TheBMWDriver]

Both are not popular, I would say spend a little and get a proper set of wheels.

I have a set of tyres going spare with 7mm on them.

[crystalmethod]

I had a 997.1 which came with Sport Classics but I swapped them for Carerra Classics, which are the lower of the two examples you've shown. Personally I thought they looked great and the only time I contemplated a change was to the modern Fuch style but I then changed cars.

I have seen the other lobster fork wheels look good when they're sprayed black or v dark grey with a silver rim.

[c4sman]

Both look great to me and similar to the above comment the lobsters are starting to look better as time goes on and the gen 1 becomes more classic. Lobsters are also the lightest OEM wheel of that era which is why Porsche made them standard. I have had 3 cars with carrera classics, one with lobsters and two turbos and would edge to the classics overall. They are super easy to keep clean inside and out due to open design with zero tricky corners to collect brake dust (washing them takes about a minute per rim and you never need special cleaners). They also look lightweight and still modern. Got RS spyder son current car but let's not open up the centre lock discussion

[IMIA]

I prefer the lobsters - remind of the 997 and 987 launch

[hondansx]

I like them both a lot, but spacers and H&Rs are a must!

[monthefish]

Good thread on 997 wheel choice here

[identity_crisis]

I think I am going to go with the carrera classics. I also got a pair of 10mm spacers when I bought the wheels with all the extended bolts. I presume they go on the back to fill the arches a little better?

I will be getting the interior completly refurbished including all the carpets as its starting to look a little worn out. It has the sports hard back seats all in midnight blue.

Im thinking about doing something a little different and getting all the dash, plastics carpets done in black but have the seats and door card inserts in red. On thing I hate about the porsche interiors is its all or nothing. If you spec a different colour they colour code everything including all the carpets, headlining plastics etc. It all ends up being to much so most people just end up speccing black.

[identity_crisis]

monthefish said:

Good thread on 997 wheel choice here

Yeah I looked at that before but dont want to pump loads of money into this car. I got it for a very good price as the wheels and interior needs redoing. I had the car inspected by Gary at porsche inspections in essex and he said that its mechanically sound with good bodywork just need some tlc to bring it back up to standard.

Lucky for me I am in the trade so the wheels and interior will cost me about £200 to sort out and I just need to get a major service done at porsche.

[buttercreamt]

To my mind the best look for a stock 997 is a sport design wheel - bar none. Claws look pretty good on silver cars but a bit naff on darker less perfect examples. Don't like the second pic ones at all, they look as though you couldn't afford more alloy to me..

I've been cogitating and deliberating on this for a while now as to what I'd have if I get a 997.1

Call me a tart...

Just my pennies worth..

Edited by buttercreamt on Wednesday 18th March 12:53

[FarQue]

buttercreamt said:

To my mind the best look for a stock 997 is a sport design wheel - bar none. Claws look pretty good on silver cars but a bit naff on darker less perfect examples. Don't like the second pic ones at all, they look as though you couldn't afford more alloy to me..

I've been cogitating and deliberating on this for a while now as to what I'd have if I get a 997.1

Call me a tart...

Just my pennies worth..

Edited by buttercreamt on Wednesday 18th March 12:53

Interesting. My black 997 has 'Lobster Claws' on it and I quite like them. Wouldn't give you tuppence for Sport Designs.

[SI-PEN]

997.1 C4S
Lobster Claw alloys
H&R lowering springs 25-30mm
7mm spacers front
15mm spacers rear

[Gmund]

+1 for lobster claws, I personally think they look great on 987's and 997's. They do pick up chips, and love to collect brake dust. They aren't the easiest to clean either. Think Turbo wheels look really wrong on Carrera's, too! Horses for courses as they say. If we all liked the same, the world would be miserable.

[schaeffs]

I have both on my car - Lobsters with Winter tyres and Classics with Summer. My Car is a GT Silver 997.1 and its lowered.

I narrowly prefer the Classics but the Lobsters look very good when clean. Pic below...

Love the Lobsters on the blue car above - sweet!

[buttercreamt]

I agree Lobster claws are a nice wheel, especially on a standard 997.1. Where they don't look so good is on unclean blues and alike cars.. just an opinion.

I know, the sport designs are an acquired taste but as in my tea, I like just a little more sugar.. they're pree..dy..

Just means there might be more cars around with the wheels I like...

ps: On a clean blue or black = lovely

Edited by buttercreamt on Wednesday 18th March 14:05

Edited by buttercreamt on Wednesday 18th March 14:06

Edited by buttercreamt on Wednesday 18th March 14:09

[JPLandolt]

Factory: Carrera sport


Aftermarket: BBS lm

[buttercreamt]

Carrera sport can look nice on darker cars and great in satin but not keen on lighter silver cars to my eye..

Strangely, I'm all for original wheels on Porsche, so those other rims are not for me..

Oh my god, what is happening to me I'm becoming obsessed.. must stop minor speculation of the ridiculous and get life...

....

Edited by buttercreamt on Wednesday 18th March 14:41

[monthefish]

JPLandolt said:

Factory: Carrera sport


Aftermarket: BBS lm

Both of these look great.

[jakesmith]

In my humble opinion the nicest ones for a non turbo or GT3 997 are the gen 2 Carerra S II rims as seen here on my motor. They are v modern & Ferarri like without being bling, and make the car look really up to date. Carerra classics are the easiest to clean for sure! I like the lobster claws too & have ad them on 2 of my cars.