Hello everyone,

I am very new to this forum...actually, I signed up today. I have been reading for hours on here and there is really a lot of great information! I have wanted a Porsche ever since I was a kid. I have now been looking for a 997 for over 3 months and can't seem to find the Porsche thats right for me. I am looking at the 2005's and can't decide if I should spend the extra money for the S or just find a regular 997 and gradually move to an S. I know that the 997 does not come with bi-xenons and does not have the wheels, red calipers, additional hp/torque, but is it really worth the difference? I have been doing some research on kbb.com and found out that the blue book value for a private party sale on a 997 is arond $63K and around $67k for the 997 S with 15,000 miles on it. I have been looking on autotrader, ebay, craigslist, etc forever and can't seem to find what I like. Did anyone else here go through this crazyness I am going through? I would really appreciate your input/help.

 

Go for the S .. its well worth the extra 4K.

 

Have you tried cars.com

 

Welcome. Keep searching for an S. If you get a non-S, after you buy it, you will be forever wondering, "should I have held out for an S?" Good luck with your search.

 

Yes, I went through the same "crazyness". After more then 9 months trying to decide on the "S", C2 or C4, Cab or Coupe, I finely bought a C2S and have been extreamly happy. The information and comments/views you'll find on this forum are an excellent resource for making your decision.

It was easy for me to justify/rationalize buying the "S". The C2 versus the C4 was a little more diffidult, but opted for the traditional rear wheel drive. The most difficult for me was the Cab or Coupe decision.

While I enjoy the openess of a Cab, I struggled with the incremental cost versus the amount of time I'd use it. After several test drives I decided the enjoyment of the windows down/sunroof openess of the Coupe was the best option for me.

IMO the C2 and C2S are great cars. I strongly suggest you get the "S". I believe the incremental cost versus options/features of the C2S is easily justifiable.

 

997Nut-
I too am going through the exact same craziness as you, but I would venture to say at even a higher level of frustration as I am specifically looking for the correctly optioned used "tip" coupe, which there seem to be a total of ZERO on the market. I have been looking now for over 6 months, and my wife is so sick of my constant searching AutoTrader, ebaymotors, cars.com and craigslist, that she cant wait for me to buy ANY car already and be done with it. I thought I found the right car this weekend in Connecticut (I live in Los Angeles) -- I started negotiating with them over the weekend but when I called them this morning to close the deal, I was told that the stealership sold the car out from under me last nite to a local buyer. I have been looking at both the 997 and 997 S, but you can do better than 15k miles -- all of the cars I have been looking at have had under 10k miles. Aggresive pricing should be 65-67 for an 05 997, and about 70-73 for a 997 S, and thats after a CPO.
Best of luck to both of us!

 

With history as a guide, you will find that the majority of cabriolets today area produced in Tiptronic form. Obviously, the coupes are generally favored with the 6-speed. Finding that combination of Tip and coupe will be difficult, as you know. If anywhere, you should have good luck in LA, but clearly there is a trend there. Why the Tip? For the wife?

 

997nut, if I was in your position I'd be more concerned with finding the right combination of color, options, and condition than looking specifically for an 'S' or 'non-S'. Yes, the 'S' performs better and has more stuff standard...so when making the decision on a new car purchase, it's easier to justify one or the other...but with used cars, a good deal on a clean, low mileage, one-fanatical-owner non-S in the color you want with the options you want is money better spent on an S off a used car lot with questionable history.

baileybonds...hold tight for another year or so, and I'll have a used Tiptronic coupe for you in LA...

 

I'm not alone it seems.

After driving an 05 C2 last weekend, I am completely and totally obsessed with finding "the one". Wife is also already to the point of "just buy one!". I've searched and the closest I've got so far was the C2 I drove at a dealership near me in WA state. It's perfect, but I want to hold out for an S. If I don't, I'm afraid the power mod bug will hit me and I don't want that to happen.....again.

 

Thank you all for some great reply's! I have a feeling we are all going to get along very well. I see that I am not the only one that is going nuts or went nuts over the purchase of the 997. What is driving me crazy as well is going to Porsche dealerships and dealing with prices that have been marked up extremely. I am leaning towards the 997 S. I agree with you guys, I think the S is worth it. Anyone know of any dealerships in the Los Angeles area that are reasonable and willing to make a sale at a good price. I am open to private sales as well.

One more quick question...Anyone ever bought a Porsche from a wholesale auction. I have a buddy that keeps telling me to buy it from there. He said it is about 3-4k less that wholesale. I don't know if that would be the safe way to go though.

997nut

 

When buying used, I stay away from dealers and especially auctions.

Take the time to search out a fanatical owner looking to, say, sell his car for a new GT3 or Turbo.

 

Edgy01 - I'm buying a tip because in L.A. as a daily driver, there is no other way. Years ago, I had an M3 convertible stick that I initially loved, but learned to hate it just by driving it everyday in L.A. I just wont go back to a daily driver as a stick - even if its a 997.

Smithee - A year! How about a month? Seriously though, if I'm still sans 997 in a year, then I need your gun not your car...

 

Hold out for the "S". The included options & extra power are well worth it. Youv'e waited for a long time, as you say, so this is not the time to act precipitously. Take it slow and wait for the right car to come. Good luck & we would love to have you become one of us.

 

No question. Hands down. Get the S. The larger engine, 19 inch rim, suspension package, Xenon light will hold up the value well over the next few years. Everyone will want the used S. They may not want to spend 10k for the new S, but the extra 3-4k for a used one is so very well worth it.

Don't get the S and you will forever kick yourself everytime you see an S go by.