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I love my pretty highly modified 997.2, definitely love looking at it. But it’s my third car because I love my cayenne TTS even more lol. I don’t want to drive the 997 everyday, and I don’t think it should be.
I did some research once I saw the car and thought the 997 would give me some of the rawness of an earlier car with enough creature comforts and reliability to drive it 3-4x per week.
Now I feel like I would be better off with an older model that is more of a beater and has more
projects. I’ve found I like the projects more than the car itself. On the other hand some days I find myself looking at newer 911s.
If rawness and fiddling with the car is what you're after, a newer 911 will only move you further away from that as I'm sure you know.
I will say that my base 997.2 6MT took a few mods/projects to get it where I wanted it. Didn't take much though; Bilstein B12 suspension, FF engine mounts, sprintbooster, numeric shifter, exhaust. Done.
I found that the Function First engine mounts and the exhaust introduced just the right amount of rawness into the car for me. It felt "alive" without becoming tiresome. Everything I mentioned above is also relatively cheap and fairly easy to DIY.
As others have said, the 997 really is the goldilocks of the 911 generations. For many, it's the perfect mix of rawness, size, performance, and reliability. If you go back to earlier gen 911s, you will gain rawness but lose performance and reliability. If you go forward, you lose rawness and that "small car" feel but gain performance and reliability.
I beg to differ - but a base 997.1 may be the softest of the bunch in terms of getting that fizzy feeling - but still a great car that could benefit from being sharpened up a bit.
It can, and does everything - 6 years and 40k miles later:
I beg to differ - but a base 997.1 may be the softest of the bunch in terms of getting that fizzy feeling - but still a great car that could benefit from being sharpened up a bit.
It can, and does everything - 6 years and 40k miles later:
I beg to differ - but a base 997.1 may be the softest of the bunch in terms of getting that fizzy feeling - but still a great car that could benefit from being sharpened up a bit.
It can, and does everything - 6 years and 40k miles later:
sport utility / hauler / everything / car
That’s a very interesting rear wheel - on the bike. You (or at least I) don’t see that very often.
THIS! Something often over looked is does your environment suit the car? A 911 in a land of endless grids is going to suck. Just like I wouldn’t want to drive a Hellcat on mountain roads. They’re going to be more fun stop light to stoplight or on highway pulls.
THIS^2! I have an '06 C2S manual and live in the mountains, so all of my drives start out with a spirited drive down the mountain roads and then back up on my way home. My 997 never fails to bring a Cheshire cat grin to my face every time I'm in it. I waited a LONG time to own a 911 and it has never disappointed me. I can imagine, though, if I had to drive a distance to get to roads like this or just sit in commuter traffic I'd have a different opinion.
Sounds like you want more projects to do to the car. These cars are reliable and can easily be used as a daily driver.
Look at upgrading the suspension/lowering, adding in a dsc, putting in a short shifter or numeric racing shifter, sports/fister/gundo exhaust, upgrading stereo or my favorite upgrade all the plastic base stuff to oem leather parts. Detail it extensively.
if you are looking for a car to tinker with it can be done but it costs some $$.
Maybe pick up an older one in addition to keeping this one. Unless you feel the car isn’t right for you.
If rawness and fiddling with the car is what you're after, a newer 911 will only move you further away from that as I'm sure you know.
I will say that my base 997.2 6MT took a few mods/projects to get it where I wanted it. Didn't take much though; Bilstein B12 suspension, FF engine mounts, sprintbooster, numeric shifter, exhaust. Done.
I found that the Function First engine mounts and the exhaust introduced just the right amount of rawness into the car for me. It felt "alive" without becoming tiresome. Everything I mentioned above is also relatively cheap and fairly east to DIY.
.
I concur. The FF Mounts really awakened my car, occasionally gives me some buzz and I can fell the steering wheel come alive when the car starts.
To each his own. I enjoy every second of my super base 997.1. I love the analog-ness of the car and the fact that it has just enough modernization to make it comfortable. She will not stay stock, none of my cars ever do.
I have owned older Porsches and now newer Porsches. I don't miss the old ones. I have enough car projects. They are called Ferraris.
So true. My two Ferrari experiences were exhausting. The first (550 Maranello), less so than the second (F430). Don't get me wrong, I loved both cars and they were both super dependable, but there was always something that needed to be done. I also found that living near the ocean deteriorated the cars a lot more than I ever expected. Garaged, of course, but there is still salt in the air. The finish on my HRE wheels on my F430 delaminated, rubber seemed to dry rot faster everywhere, the black interior plastic got sticky quicker (after repairing it), my stereo speakers dry rotted and blew, and I'd just kind of had enough. I did very limited wrenching myself because books and papers seem to be the biggest resale driver on the cars, but still. It was always something.
My 997.1S has a ton of miles at 108k, and it has a list of stuff that needs to be done, but I daily drive it and love it. I'll get to the items when I get to it...
The best tongue and cheek comment that I've ever heard comparing the 911 to a Ferrari is as follows:
Owning a Ferrari is like having a mistress....
Ferrari:
You need to plan your time in the car... Think about where you are going in advance... Will there be good parking? I'm not going to valet her. Am I going to need to pay extra so I have no one messing with my car?
Who will see me? Do I want to be seen? Will I be judged? Will an acquaintance, client or my boss see me, causing me an uncomfortable situation?
What route will I take? Are the roads good? Will there be a pot-hole or bump that I'm not thinking about? Will I bottom out in the driveway?
Will I break rule number 1 of Ferrari ownership - "Thou shalt not break down in front of mere mortals"?
Am I taking the proper precautions to not break rule number 1? Am I doing enough preventative maintenance?
Porsche: Owning a 911 is like having a great wife.... It goes everywhere, isn't pretentious, does everything you ask, and is a reliable lifelong companion.
I just love how OP threw a grenade in a room, closed the door and walked away.
nah - I’m still here. All good points. So much feedback it’s hard to know where to start replying.
A few people asked if I bought the correct 997 for me - with the exception of a manual transmission there were no must haves for me. Although I don’t like the looks of a cab as much as my coupe I think I might enjoy a cab more (daily drove Audi TT roadster for about 7 years back at the turn of the century) My car does have sport exhaust that I love. A little more power would be ok but I’m never going to seriously track the car and the non S has plenty of power around town for me.
People asked if where I live has hills/twistys. I guess that is relative but I’d say yes. I’m in north Atlanta. If you know Atlanta roads I’m right off Spalding and close to Riverside too. Both pretty twisty and with some elevation changes. I’ve taken two day trips to north Georgia. Fun no doubt.
updates I’ve made to car - clear side markers, new mats, replaced AC buttons, removed tint, replaced 18” wheels with 19” carerra sports, updated head unit to Alpine with CarPlay.
uodates I’ll make if I keep the car - have new pccm sitting in box (haven’t installed because I’ve been on the fence about selling and I’ve been watching the forum letting others work out the install kinks), my interior is a little rough. Would like leather console but haven’t been able to bite the bullet on the cost. A few other interior bits could be replaced. I’d like the steering wheel with round airbag. I’d like to get a euro rear bumper or lose the bumperettes
tracking the car/joining club: I’ll never be a serious track guy but a few times a year the Porsche center here in Atlanta has a program where you can drive your own car then drive current version of your vehicle. I think it’s around $600. I’ve thought of joining club but I’m not a very social person.
I went to local Porsche dealer recently and they offered me $27k. no thanks.
I’ll likely keep it indefinitely. I do enjoy it when I drive it and it is sexy as hell. If I had more garage room I’d probably be looking for a project car.
when I was at Porsche dealer I asked about wait times. Was told a few years. Maybe I should get on the list now?
thanks for all the feedback. Was hoping to start a conversation and it worked.
03-16-2023, 01:29 AM
