Porsche 997.1 turbo real life experiences?
Discussion
Hey guys,
I’ve always loved 997 turbos. Manual. I’ve read lots. I went to see 2 cars this week and had a good drive in one. I loved it.
Budget doesn’t stretch to a gen2.
Won’t be a daily I’ve a diesel mondeo, it will do 5-7k per year mostly in the good weather.
I’m happy with 3-5k per year budget to run one. I couldn’t stomach an engine blowing at 30k plus, or chasing random electrical gremlins causing running issues that no-one can sort. I know this can happen and no purchase is risk free, but I'm asking for real life experiences.
At 14 years old are they are too old for a Porsche warranty. The one that’s tempting me has a fairly decent service record. Minor/major in the right order. Invoices present but no extra expense in the folder other than coolant hoses. All done opc.
At this age are they still a reliable/safe ish purchase? Or do I do the sensible thing and spend the same money on an opc 991.1 C2 S. which I also drove this week and liked. But its not a "911 turbo".
Sorry for the ramble.
I’ve always loved 997 turbos. Manual. I’ve read lots. I went to see 2 cars this week and had a good drive in one. I loved it.
Budget doesn’t stretch to a gen2.
Won’t be a daily I’ve a diesel mondeo, it will do 5-7k per year mostly in the good weather.
I’m happy with 3-5k per year budget to run one. I couldn’t stomach an engine blowing at 30k plus, or chasing random electrical gremlins causing running issues that no-one can sort. I know this can happen and no purchase is risk free, but I'm asking for real life experiences.
At 14 years old are they are too old for a Porsche warranty. The one that’s tempting me has a fairly decent service record. Minor/major in the right order. Invoices present but no extra expense in the folder other than coolant hoses. All done opc.
At this age are they still a reliable/safe ish purchase? Or do I do the sensible thing and spend the same money on an opc 991.1 C2 S. which I also drove this week and liked. But its not a "911 turbo".
Sorry for the ramble.
Had a coupe and then a cab. Before I comment, what cars are you coming from and what do you think you are looking for from ownership?
Your running cost budget should easily take care of one with change and their are no major issues outside of consumable, apart from things like heat exchangers and radiators. Engines are super strong if cared for.
Your running cost budget should easily take care of one with change and their are no major issues outside of consumable, apart from things like heat exchangers and radiators. Engines are super strong if cared for.
c4sman said:
Had a coupe and then a cab. Before I comment, what cars are you coming from and what do you think you are looking for from ownership?
Your running cost budget should easily take care of one with change and their are no major issues outside of consumable, apart from things like heat exchangers and radiators. Engines are super strong if cared for.
I've been out of performance cars for a good few years between baby and mortgage. The car will be used for weekend road trips, cars and coffee meets and maybe the odd trip to the continent with work rather than flying if time and logistics worked out. Your running cost budget should easily take care of one with change and their are no major issues outside of consumable, apart from things like heat exchangers and radiators. Engines are super strong if cared for.
OK. My views are these are epic cars for touring so might be the right fit. They don’t exactly thrill unless you push them hard and that’s hard on the road as they are so epically capable and fast. I took my coupe to Bordeaux and it was comfortable, biblically fast and a nice thing to own, cover 600 miles in a day and also nice to look at. Met the wife and child there (they flew) but fitted all of us in from airport to our accommodation and toured around for a week. If your looking for thrills and feel at lower speed, it might not be for everyone (wasn’t a keeper for me), but I do still love them for the thrill of the acceleration.
This is from my coupe during a trip through France that started in the UK at 2am
Should add the only non maintenance repair I had to do was a replacement radiator on the cab. I think these are very strong cars and always desirable.
This is from my coupe during a trip through France that started in the UK at 2am
Should add the only non maintenance repair I had to do was a replacement radiator on the cab. I think these are very strong cars and always desirable.
Edited by c4sman on Sunday 21st June 17:39
c4sman said:
OK. My views are these are epic cars for touring so might be the right fit. They don’t exactly thrill unless you push them hard and that’s hard on the road as they are so epically capable and fast. I took my coupe to Bordeaux and it was comfortable, biblically fast and a nice thing to own, cover 600 miles in a day and also nice to look at. Met the wife and child there (they flew) but fitted all of us in from airport to our accommodation and toured around for a week. If your looking for thrills and feel at lower speed, it might not be for everyone (wasn’t a keeper for me), but I do still love them for the thrill of the acceleration.
This is from my coupe during a trip through France that started in the UK at 2am
Should add the only non maintenance repair I had to do was a replacement radiator on the cab. I think these are very strong cars and always desirable.
Brilliant. That looked like a fun trip. This is from my coupe during a trip through France that started in the UK at 2am
Should add the only non maintenance repair I had to do was a replacement radiator on the cab. I think these are very strong cars and always desirable.
Edited by c4sman on Sunday 21st June 17:39
If you can get an OPC supplied 991.1 C2S with 2 year warranty for the same budget, I'd go for that, simply for your own peace of mind, and they're great cars. I think if you went with a 14 year old turbo, you'd be constantly stressing about what might go wrong and what cost it might be.
Your choice obviously, but I think as you're asking the question, you already know the decision for you.
Good luck, they're both brilliant cars.
Your choice obviously, but I think as you're asking the question, you already know the decision for you.
Good luck, they're both brilliant cars.
irish boy said:
Brilliant. That looked like a fun trip.
It certainly was. Let’s say I was making good progress to average that speed door to door. Saw the other post about the 991. I think it could tick your box quite well also. 997 is an old school smaller car than the 991, but 991 is a great touring car also and is a lot younger and comes with the warranty. Really depends on how classic a 911 feel your looking for. Both great choices. Irish boy.
Had a 997.1 C4S manual cab moved it on at 94k miles as needed Pdk due to dodgy joints. Couldn’t find perfect replacement so had a .2 turbo pdk for a year until the right cab came along, this time a 991.1 C4S pdk cab. N/A engine has nicer noise and character. Turbo was a bit hard core in the suspension dept and needed a DSC box from 9e which made it much better on long trips.
You need to test them both but as much as I love the compact nature of the 997 the 991 maybe a better buy.
Did 200 mile round trip in the 991 yesterday. Averaged 70mph at 33mpg. Turbo wouldn’t get near that and ran Ran long term average of 20.5. The shove is addictive but to have much fun you are in licence loosing territory.
Had a 997.1 C4S manual cab moved it on at 94k miles as needed Pdk due to dodgy joints. Couldn’t find perfect replacement so had a .2 turbo pdk for a year until the right cab came along, this time a 991.1 C4S pdk cab. N/A engine has nicer noise and character. Turbo was a bit hard core in the suspension dept and needed a DSC box from 9e which made it much better on long trips.
You need to test them both but as much as I love the compact nature of the 997 the 991 maybe a better buy.
Did 200 mile round trip in the 991 yesterday. Averaged 70mph at 33mpg. Turbo wouldn’t get near that and ran Ran long term average of 20.5. The shove is addictive but to have much fun you are in licence loosing territory.
I've run an 2008 Mk1.5 for six years now. The bigger expenses have been disks, tyres, and a front rad. All wear items. Otherwise... Umm, a windscreen replacement due to a crack. Bonnet respray following vandalism. 2x new batteries. 3x brake light bulbs which seem to go in pairs.
The only niggly thing wrong is the passenger seat heater cuts out after a few seconds. One to check next year at the twice yearly service.
On the whole, probably the most reliable car I've owned. It lives on the street as well. I think the secret is to drive it regularly.
The only niggly thing wrong is the passenger seat heater cuts out after a few seconds. One to check next year at the twice yearly service.
On the whole, probably the most reliable car I've owned. It lives on the street as well. I think the secret is to drive it regularly.
I recently sold my 2006 coupe that I had owned for 6 years (It is now for sale at Northway).
During ownership, I had 0,1 & 2 other cars. So has been a daily through to only being used for the Le Mans run, and a few other jollies. It was great in that it coped with daily life just as well as being a 'special weekend toy'. Though I do believe they behave better if used frequently.
My experience was that it cost roughly £2k per year on maintenance. As others have said, the maintenance on mine was all the stuff that you would expect (Consumables, Rads / Condensers / Wheel centre caps etc) I had no other unusual issues at all.
Performance is epic, and taking it to Le Mans each year was a joy.
After 6 years I fancied a change, and am looking to swap my daily (Z4) for a Hartech rebuilt 996/7 (I am now on the lookout for either), or may try a lotus, so decided to move the Turbo on.
Feel free to PM me with any questions.
During ownership, I had 0,1 & 2 other cars. So has been a daily through to only being used for the Le Mans run, and a few other jollies. It was great in that it coped with daily life just as well as being a 'special weekend toy'. Though I do believe they behave better if used frequently.
My experience was that it cost roughly £2k per year on maintenance. As others have said, the maintenance on mine was all the stuff that you would expect (Consumables, Rads / Condensers / Wheel centre caps etc) I had no other unusual issues at all.
Performance is epic, and taking it to Le Mans each year was a joy.
After 6 years I fancied a change, and am looking to swap my daily (Z4) for a Hartech rebuilt 996/7 (I am now on the lookout for either), or may try a lotus, so decided to move the Turbo on.
Feel free to PM me with any questions.
Edited by Australiam on Wednesday 8th July 13:38
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