Discussion
Hi Guys, after some advice, this is my first post so go easy with me!
I've always fancied a 911, it's what you may call my dream car. I've been hooked ever since having a ride in a family friends 996 turbo cab. I live about 100 mile round trip (motorway) from the office and go in ~ 4 times a week. For the commute I purchased a BMW F10 520d (2010) which is lovely and kept my BMW Z4m roadster for sunny weekends (on the rare occasion we have some).
At the moment the 520d is a lovely place to be, doing 50+ mpg, all the gadgets including a DAB radio and iPod to keep me busy but is uninspiring to drive. Do you think I would regret swapping the 520d for a 997.2? Given that 99% of my driving is stuck on the M1 chugging through roadworks.
Thanks in advanced.
I've always fancied a 911, it's what you may call my dream car. I've been hooked ever since having a ride in a family friends 996 turbo cab. I live about 100 mile round trip (motorway) from the office and go in ~ 4 times a week. For the commute I purchased a BMW F10 520d (2010) which is lovely and kept my BMW Z4m roadster for sunny weekends (on the rare occasion we have some).
At the moment the 520d is a lovely place to be, doing 50+ mpg, all the gadgets including a DAB radio and iPod to keep me busy but is uninspiring to drive. Do you think I would regret swapping the 520d for a 997.2? Given that 99% of my driving is stuck on the M1 chugging through roadworks.
Thanks in advanced.
I think you will regret it unless you consider doing the same in the z4m would be great. I commute 30 miles day in my 997.2 but down a mix of A and B roads and miss the Golf GTD I had before but its still ok BUT outside the commute the 997 more than makes up the difference. Your doing more miles on the motorway and a 997 is a so so mile muncher but entirely doable.
I have a 997.2 C4S and a daily commute around the M25 of 40 miles each way. My C4S is a manual, but my choice of vehicles to do the commute is in order is; bike; Mini Clubman; C4S and then Cerbera.
By all means buy the 997, but that type of journey isn't going to help you enjoy the ownership experience.
By all means buy the 997, but that type of journey isn't going to help you enjoy the ownership experience.
I do a similar amount of miles in my Cayman (noiser in side than the 997).
It's not a great car full stop in terms of NVH but the driving at the weekends and evenings make up for it, I wouldn't have it any other way.
I will say ditching the 19's for 18's made it significantly quieter, maybe 15/20%? Yes really that much (tyres were comparable so I'm sure its down to the sizing).
One last thing I do have a big diesel bus like yourself but I still find myself doing the commute in the porsche. what does that tell you!
It's not a great car full stop in terms of NVH but the driving at the weekends and evenings make up for it, I wouldn't have it any other way.
I will say ditching the 19's for 18's made it significantly quieter, maybe 15/20%? Yes really that much (tyres were comparable so I'm sure its down to the sizing).
One last thing I do have a big diesel bus like yourself but I still find myself doing the commute in the porsche. what does that tell you!
I also have a 520d touring as my work car for a 25 mile commute on mostly B roads. Nothing wrong with it does the job superbly well but I take my 997.2 in on Fridays on a 40 mile commute around the coast roads just to have some fun, not sure I would use it for the 100 mile motorway trip on a cold and wet winters night. Buy one and ditch the Z4 and you have a great combo depending on how you feel on the day.
Interesting thoughts re a commuting car. I used to use a Z4 MR for my 13 mile commute and enjoyed it thoroughly and running it for quite a short distance never seemed to do it any harm. I know this is going off topic slightly, but I do wonder if a 996 or 997.1 would suffer from never quite warming up properly on such a short commute and if it would hugely shorten the life of the engine.
I wouldn't.
I'd miss the luxuries; things like DAB and heated seats are important for the motorway slog! Just as useful is the wave of torque from a diesel, which helps driving become that bit more more relaxing.
It's not to say the 997 would have any trouble doing the commute, but after a few weeks i reckon you'd be wanting the 5 Series back. It's for that very reason why day-to-day i have an A5 diesel.
I'd miss the luxuries; things like DAB and heated seats are important for the motorway slog! Just as useful is the wave of torque from a diesel, which helps driving become that bit more more relaxing.
It's not to say the 997 would have any trouble doing the commute, but after a few weeks i reckon you'd be wanting the 5 Series back. It's for that very reason why day-to-day i have an A5 diesel.
Similar situation - I have a 2012 E220 for the commuting and family duties. I can't get rid, as it is one of the main family cars. It's comfy, returns >50mpg on a motorway commute, swallows enormous amounts of luggage, has all the toys etc etc etc. As soon as the sun comes out, I commute in my 987 instead though. Simple fact: the 987 is an enjoyable thing to drive and puts a smile on my face - much more alive and engaging than the Merc. However, on a cold, wet dull day the Merc is a better tool for commuting along miles of congested motorways. When the kids are bigger, and don't need child seats, buggies etc I may well swap the Merc & 987 for a 997.2, but that's not an option just yet.
I commuted 100 miles per day for two years in a 'chipped' 997TT and enjoyed it very much. Wound up putting 70k miles on in two years with other trips and thoroughly enjoyed it. Costs were reasonable and the only failure was a front radiator. It gives you the feel good factor compared to a diesel. Now commuting in a Boxster Spyder for the same reason!
I spent 2 years commuting in a Lotus Elise and 7 years in a 3.2 Carrera.
I did try an Audi S3 which was expensive to run (it ate pads and tyres and depreciated quickly) and a 535d M-sport Touring which was big, fast but dull.
The 996 turbo is so much more fun. The feel through the steering wheel and pace is addictive.
A 997.2 will be perfect for your commute. It may seem a little less refined for a couple of days whilst you adjust, then you'll discover the fun driving again.
All PH's should use their 'fun' cars on Friday, just to brighten up the commute for the Eurobox millions!
I did try an Audi S3 which was expensive to run (it ate pads and tyres and depreciated quickly) and a 535d M-sport Touring which was big, fast but dull.
The 996 turbo is so much more fun. The feel through the steering wheel and pace is addictive.
A 997.2 will be perfect for your commute. It may seem a little less refined for a couple of days whilst you adjust, then you'll discover the fun driving again.
All PH's should use their 'fun' cars on Friday, just to brighten up the commute for the Eurobox millions!
Just do it if you can. I commuted from Surrey/Sussex border into London for 12 years in, variously, 993, 996, 997.1 putting on a lot of miles and never had anything other that regular servicing and one puncture. Makes you feel a bit better about a cr*p day, even if you're sitting in the dreaded A3 queue at 7.00 in the morning.
Hello all
Long time lurker first time poster blah blah blah.
Just to say I've been using a 997.1 S to commute for about a 110 mile round trip (Birmingham to Loughborough) for probably 2 years or so now. Before I had a 350Z so I guess that gives you a picture of what I find acceptable, and before that I had a BMW 330 Cd. Also, bear in mind I rarely commute more than 3 times a week, and perhaps if I had to do 5 times a week things may be different.
Anyway. Upshot is I think it's completely fine. I go up the M42, and across on the A512 (I think). The 997 is absolutely fine on the motorway in terms of comfort. Sure, the sat nav is not awesome (although it's fine), and it's mildly annoying not to have integrated ipod and bluetooth (I use a FM transmitter and a little bluetooth thing on my visor), but those are not really issues. Yes, it's not the 'ideal' commuter car to schlep up the motorway in, and if you are more interested in DAB, 16 speaker surround sound, and having your buttocks massaged by the finest German engineering while enjoying automatic cruise control, you will find a 997 somewhat spartan.
But, then, if that is you, why buy a 997 at all then?
The 997 is fine and dandy on a motorway cruise, and will return around 28mpg doing so. I average around 24-25 over the course of a typical work week which involves the odd 'pressing on' moment here and there, and some town driving too. No different from my 350Z (probably better just on the motorway cruise component), although of course considerably different from the 330cd.
Do I ever get annoyed with having to downshift and blip manually? No. Not even after driving home from a long day in the dark and some fool has pulled out in front of me.
Do I ever get annoyed that I don't have the latest tech toys to play with, or heated seats, or massaged buttocks? No.
Simply put, it is not too long from now that you will not ever be able to buy and run a car like this again, if you are a reasonably normal person. Even the new 991 is not the same car.
Buy a manual 997, drive it, maintain it well, and use it as long as possible, until the end of the world as we know it is nigh. Then park it up, and wait for the Mad Max - esque dystopia to hit.
That's what I'm doing. And not even in the nastiest downpour at 11pm on the M42 have I regretted it. (seriously, it's far less nervous than the 350Z!!).
One day these things just won't exist for us anymore, and I want to say I was part of it then.
Long time lurker first time poster blah blah blah.
Just to say I've been using a 997.1 S to commute for about a 110 mile round trip (Birmingham to Loughborough) for probably 2 years or so now. Before I had a 350Z so I guess that gives you a picture of what I find acceptable, and before that I had a BMW 330 Cd. Also, bear in mind I rarely commute more than 3 times a week, and perhaps if I had to do 5 times a week things may be different.
Anyway. Upshot is I think it's completely fine. I go up the M42, and across on the A512 (I think). The 997 is absolutely fine on the motorway in terms of comfort. Sure, the sat nav is not awesome (although it's fine), and it's mildly annoying not to have integrated ipod and bluetooth (I use a FM transmitter and a little bluetooth thing on my visor), but those are not really issues. Yes, it's not the 'ideal' commuter car to schlep up the motorway in, and if you are more interested in DAB, 16 speaker surround sound, and having your buttocks massaged by the finest German engineering while enjoying automatic cruise control, you will find a 997 somewhat spartan.
But, then, if that is you, why buy a 997 at all then?
The 997 is fine and dandy on a motorway cruise, and will return around 28mpg doing so. I average around 24-25 over the course of a typical work week which involves the odd 'pressing on' moment here and there, and some town driving too. No different from my 350Z (probably better just on the motorway cruise component), although of course considerably different from the 330cd.
Do I ever get annoyed with having to downshift and blip manually? No. Not even after driving home from a long day in the dark and some fool has pulled out in front of me.
Do I ever get annoyed that I don't have the latest tech toys to play with, or heated seats, or massaged buttocks? No.
Simply put, it is not too long from now that you will not ever be able to buy and run a car like this again, if you are a reasonably normal person. Even the new 991 is not the same car.
Buy a manual 997, drive it, maintain it well, and use it as long as possible, until the end of the world as we know it is nigh. Then park it up, and wait for the Mad Max - esque dystopia to hit.
That's what I'm doing. And not even in the nastiest downpour at 11pm on the M42 have I regretted it. (seriously, it's far less nervous than the 350Z!!).
One day these things just won't exist for us anymore, and I want to say I was part of it then.
W12JFD said:
I commuted 100 miles per day for two years in a 'chipped' 997TT and enjoyed it very much. Wound up putting 70k miles on in two years with other trips and thoroughly enjoyed it. Costs were reasonable and the only failure was a front radiator. It gives you the feel good factor compared to a diesel. Now commuting in a Boxster Spyder for the same reason!
Out of interest what was the cost inc depreciation, servicing and tyres etc over the 70k in 2 years?Tempted to use my 997.2 turbo as a daily but currently using an M3 as a daily.
6 years and 111,000 miles in a 997 C4S all weathers.
Have other cars as well but it's always great to get in a 911 at the end of a day compared to something more functional.
The idea that a 997 is too hard core to commute in seems a bit daft unless you've got a GT car. Heated seats, sat nav, air con etc. It's no Caterham/Elise!
Have other cars as well but it's always great to get in a 911 at the end of a day compared to something more functional.
The idea that a 997 is too hard core to commute in seems a bit daft unless you've got a GT car. Heated seats, sat nav, air con etc. It's no Caterham/Elise!
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