Originally Posted by grgallo

I'm 8 months in to my 997 experiences, a 2008 C4 S factory aerokit car. I've taken care of an early Boxster, 3.2 Carrera Coupe, and '89 951 and also have an '11 Spyder. I've driven the 996 Turbo, the 2011 997 and many BMWs and an Alfa GTV. My favorite? The '08 C4 S. analog, fast enough, responsive, mechanical feel and noises. what could be better? I especially love fourth gear at 4-5,000 RPM on the big road. That 3.8L is happy. I note a few comments on shifting the factory gearbox, I' OK with it. Am I missing out if I don't install a Numeric?

Originally Posted by Graufuchs

Appreciate the kind words. GT3 would be incredible but the prices are wild currently...another toy is 4-5yrs away, we will see what the market look's like.

The second is Seal Grey with Grey interior.

Originally Posted by Coolwnc

I have a Seal Gray with Black interior....love it!

Originally Posted by nellborg

I've got a 2011 997.2 C2S with 45k miles. I've had it for 4 years. Love the car, but couldn't help pining for something newer - like a Cayman GTS 4.0. I knew that if I were to get something new, then I'd have to make a decision on whether or not to keep my 997.

Yesterday, I got a txt from my local Porsche dealer who's an hour away from where I live. They got a 2019 Boxter S as a trade-in and they asked if I'd like to give it a test drive, so I said sign me up for that.

Not only did I take the Boxster for a test drive, but I took a new 2024 Cayman GTS for a test drive, too. The GTS with full Cognac leather interior was absolutely stunning to look at and sit in, and felt luxurious driving down the road. I succeeded in not purchasing it right then and there - which was not easy to do.

As I left the dealership, It only took until shifting into 2nd gear in my 997 that it became immediately clear - my car is way more fun to drive. It's smaller, feels lighter, the inputs feel more direct, the steering feel is way better, the sounds and vibrations from the engine are better, ...I could go on, as you know. The Cayman and Boxster felt large and bouncy and like I was sitting on a sofa that was on top of an air mattress which was connected in some roundabout way to the wheels. The newer cars weren't even that much, if at all, quieter than my car was, either. I could see them being less fatiguing for driving 500 highway miles, and more comfortable for the passenger, and a much nicer place to sit while waiting to pick someone up, but that's about it. It also became obvious that if I were to add a new Cayman GTS some day, I would definitely keep my 997.

One other thing - The manual shifter in the Boxster and Cayman felt really loose and sloppy and pretty much identical to the OEM shifter that came in my 997, i.e. am I going into 2nd or 4th? 3rd or 5th?. The Numeric shifter and cables, that I had installed in my 997 by a Porsche garage (Kelly Moss Racing,) is so much better to drive with that it's hard to believe that Porsche still designs it like this.

Originally Posted by margus

I grew up with a dream of 964. Owned 944 earlier and couple of Cayennes. When it was time for a the first 911 I'd test driven various 991's. Amazing cars, but for some reason they did not excite me as much as 964 did. But 964's shoot up in price, and didn't look daily drivable anymore where I live. After testing various config 996 and 997's, a manual 7.1 4S was the "compromize".

Since owning it I've though a lot about "upgrading" (and red every single thread in rennlist about it). I came close to swapping to GTS, but at twice the price it doesn't really make sense for me. And every time I drive 991 I realize how much more interesting the 997 is to drive.

I'd still like to restomod a 964 one day. But a new dream I have is the 991 touring. I haven't driven one, so maybe once this happens I'm convinced that a CSR is the only "upgrade" for me instead. Either way, it's likely the 997 is a keeper.