lomac92

I've always been drawn to the 911 and I've recently started to consider making the jump and buying my first one(first Porsche all together). I've come across a 2011 997.2 base Carrera manual, with an asking price of $63k (Canadian dollars), it has 125k km. It's a beautiful car and I can't stop thinking about buying it!

While this is still a significant amount of money for me to spend on a car, it's definitely something I am able to afford at this point in my life (I'm 29 years old with no kids or debt and comfortably make six figures) I also have a company vehicle as my daily driver - so this would be purely a toy. In my head I am able to justify the purchase because I believe the 997.2 is appreciating rather than depreciating and that the overall vehicle is quite reliable.

My questions for all the Porsche experts are: Is this good value for a 997.2 base? Would you shy away from a vehicle with this many km on it? Am I missing anything, is a 997.2 a good place to start right now in 911 ownership or should I wait until I can afford more car?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Optionman1

If my math is correct that's slightly over $50k US, which for a 997.2 manual coupe is a very good price. Get a thorough PPI. They are great cars and at that price I think you have almost no downside assuming it checks out mechanically.

BucketList

$50k for a base seems a bit high, but in this market, it's probably normal. For reference, my 2009 C4S with 72k miles (just shy of 125k km) and full leather was $46k back in 2018. So $50k in today's tight market plus the premium for stick seems about right. The cars are very reliable statistically and have the 2 major issues with the earlier cars (scoring and IMS) engineered out. Before someone chimes in, yes there have been a few scored bores on this forum, but the reasons are inconclusive and seem to be related to flogging the car when cold in cold weather. The vast majority have had no scoring issues and cam drive is all internally lubricated in the 9A1 motor so no IMS issues. If you really like the car, pull the trigger, but do get a thorough PPI as the previous poster said. Make sure they do a borescope just for peace of mind.

Floyd540

Buy the car. The milage means nothing. That is considered low milage. The 2011 997.2 is the last year for RWD 997 series and they got lots of improvements and standard options over the early .2 cars. (Mine is a 2011 also. ) The base car is the best one in my opinion as it does not have a lot of silly stuff like painted brake calipers. It is fast. You will love it. .2 MT's are now rare on the marketplace and late ones are even harder to find. Have it checked out and buy it. They have no known issues. Forget the internet stuff and be a car guy.

groovzilla

Great deal on 2011 Manual - Get a professional PPI to make sure you are not buying trouble.
Also since very cold weather in Canada I'd get Bore Scope Inspection as well

Goose 993

I just got a manual 997.2 earlier this month and have put about 1,000 miles on it so far. Has been easy to drive and there is enough power when needed. The example I found had just shy of 100k miles but had great previous owners who could elaborate on the details of the car, coupled with maintenance records.

groovzilla

Don't let non-educated Porsche owners scare you if they are negative about higher mileage 997 example. Save $$ buying a higher mileage example and spend the extra $20-$30K on hookers and booze. ---->Or in my case my wife allows sushi & vodka's
Having been in this game for looooong time, these 997's will look/drive/feel almost like new at 100K-175K miles PROVIDED they have been lovingly cared for & serviced. I would buy a 100K-130K mile 997 any day of the week as long as it was cared for properly.
Wonderfully cared for and serviced example exist just have to be patient finding one.

Goose 993

I guess I am either really not picky or just got lucky, my search lasted 6 days.

groovzilla

Glad to hear it!
Like every Porsche Model since the 356, as these cars gain higher miles the prices come down and it is great pocket to buy. Usually at 90-110k miles new clutches installed, major services like water pumps/thermostat/coils/plgs replaced and all ready for another 100K of fun.
When the 991's get closer to 100K miles prices will fall and I'll be diving in.
Almost bought one w/60K miles manual trans but had the ugly optional black glass sunroof which looks hideous on silver. This was 3 years ago but price was right at $70K
Now prices insane

Ripking

Good price for a .2 in this market provided a PPI comes back clean. Buy and enjoy!

Petza914

You've come to the wrong place - we talk people into buying 997s here not out of buying them.

Seems like a fair price on Gen 2 manual - pull the trigger and try to get the smile off your face.

detroitex

I think the biggest question to answer is whether you really want a sports car as a second car (I can't tell if this would be your first fun car, or just your first Porsche). Will you use it enough to feel good about having it (particularly in Calgary) and to keep it in good service? And who will service it? If you do some of the work yourself, learning about German engineering in the process is highly satisfying. Otherwise you will need to find a shop (Porsche or independent) you can trust. Can you store it somewhere safe, protected? If you have good answers to these questions, then a sports car is for you.

For a first sports car or Porsche, a base 997.2 is about the best choice you can make. I'm an automotive engineer by trade, and did my homework before buying my 2010 Carrera 2 PDK Cabriolet. As others have mentioned, all the mechanical (and aesthetic) bugs when Porsche switched from air- to water-cooled and the new body style had been worked out by 2009. Car is very reliable, and just the right amount of fun to drive. If you want more fun, your next Porsche can be an S, turbo, or GT, and will be an easier jump financially if you already have one in the market. Some say the 911 got too big and electronic after the 997.2, that it is the sweet spot of the water-cooled era.

To answer your question about the mileage (and it was in km, folks, so only about 75K miles), having put almost 300K miles my last Suburban I have found vehicle age to be more a negative factor than mileage: mileage wears out specific components (brakes, bearings, ball joints) that can be fairly easily replaced whereas age (particularly oxidation - rust and UV) degrades everything (seals, plastics, rubber bushings, metal panels, wiring harnesses & connectors, vinyls) that make up the entire vehicle. So I wouldn't worry too much about the miles if the overall condition looks good (particularly if it was properly previously stored).

I hate talking about money, so I will go with what the others are saying about your 2011 opportunity. As a data point, I paid $39K one year ago for my 2010 with 65,000 miles. It inspected very well except for brakes.....shop wanted almost $3K so I did them myself and learned about wheel removal tools, lifting pucks, rotor wear indicators, pad wear sensor monitors, etc.

BucketList

Another point albeit an emotional one. When you go out to your garage the day after you buy the car and you see it sitting there, you will savor the moment, grinning like a kid!

Jaws1

OP, that’s a very good price and if this car is being advertised for sale I encourage you to jump on it because if it is in decent condition it will sell quickly. Just make sure that the sale is contingent upon a PPI. Also, if you buy it and decide 911 ownership isn’t for you, the car can always be sold without taking a loss. That’s the beauty about 911s - depreciation is low or non existent. GL

Prairiedawg

Since nobody is talking you out of it, I will. Don't do it, it's a trap.