It hasn't taken long for the 997-era Porsche 911 to achieve something approaching classic status. The implication was always there, thanks to a more traditional 911 look than a 996 and the same famed driving experience. But think what's happened since: the 991 only had electric steering, the 992 only has turbocharged engines. A decade or so ago a two-wheel drive 911 with a manual gearbox and a naturally aspirated flat-six was arguably the norm; nowadays it's the limited-run, big money special. Or even if that isn't 100 per cent accurate, it's a certainty that a 2010 911 will have a far more traditional feel than one from 2020.
All of which means that the 997 sits in a real sweet spot at the moment; it will be old enough and simple enough to feel like an authentic, analogue driving experience, while still sufficiently modern to use on a regular basis. Get the updated PCM infotainment system in and, really, it's hard to imagine wanting much more.
Performance? Alright, that's where things get a little trickier. Because, like every 911 since time immemorial (or so it seems) the fast ones are desirable. You won't get in a 997 GT3, still, for less than £75k, and even the run-out Carrera GTS - the widebody, rear-drive, Powerkitted sweet spot, to many - can command £70,000.
So, what to do? Well, you could do an awful lot worse than looking at RPM's range of 'CSR' upgrades for the 997. Specifically, one like this, a 997 CSR Retro. We've driven the CSR in both 996 and 997 form and reported on the Retro package, and this car - in theory - represents the pick of the bunch. Because it's a 997.2, which should alleviate any engine concerns, enhanced with upgrades from both the CSR and Retro catalogues.
Of course, colour matched Fuchs wheels with sill graphics won't be to all tastes. However, there's plenty under the skin to appeal as well, with three-way adjustable coilovers, a Wavetrac limited-slip diff, uprated brakes and a CSR exhaust. Combine that with some racy seats, harnesses and a half cage and the makings are there for a really nice retro road racer. Or, if that sounds too uncompromising, the standard seats (all four of them) are still with the car, and the cage is removable - that's not an option with a GT3...
There are some nice touches to remind you this Carrera 2S isn't just any old 997 when you're inside, too; note the retrimmed door cards, the houndstooth seats (done to the standard chairs as well) and CSR rev counter.
You'll want those reminders, too, because a CSR 997 is a fair bit more than a regular Carrera. This one, a 2009 car with 42,000 miles, is on offer at £57,995. For reference, this C2S is a comparable base car, yet on offer at £40,000. As always, though, there are two ways of looking at these things: while approaching £60k is a lot for 2009 Carrera 2S, we know from experience that the CSR package certainly makes a base 911 feel a lot more special - there's a thread here with owner contribs, to support that. Second, picking up a project secondhand is always going to be a lot more affordable than taking it on yourself. Heck, worst comes to the worst, it's a silver 997 C2S under the wrap, with lots of the standard parts still with it - as discussed, that's going to remain a desirable sports car for a long time to come.
Us? We'll take the CSR just as is, thank you. The boundary between homage and pastiche can be a hard one to navigate, but this treads the line just nicely, celebrating heritage without trying to entirely mask the car's original status. Which sounds like exactly how to do retro-influenced 911, in fact. And anyway, Porsches would be boring if we all liked the same ones, right?
SPECIFICATION - PORSCHE 911 (997.2) CARRERA 2S
Engine: 3,800cc, flat-six
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 385@6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 310@4,400rpm
First registered: 2009
Recorded mileage: 42,000
Price new: £70,360 (2008)
Yours for: £57,995
(Spec for standard C2S)
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