eric997florida

I plan to keep my car for quite awhile but was curious to know what other posters think of the longterm value of the 997. Some will argue that the 993 was special for certain reasons and that the 996 was the "Ford Taurus" years. The value I speak of is not monetary, although that is an indication, but its intrinsic value to the Porsche brand. To be honest this is my first Porsche and I had never studied all of the models over the years but the 997 seems to be "the return to its roots", albeit with modern conveniences. Model changes are inevitable and future designs are difficult to predict so we can only base our judgement on what has already been done. So with this in mind I look forward to your comments.

Jerry Fisher

I have recently purchased a 997S after many years of looking/lurking etc. The car is incredible.
How will it stand in Porsche history? Who knows at this point. However, I see no reason to think this
variant of the 911 theme will be thought of in high regard.

When I showed the car to a friend of mine who has owned 4 (late 60s thru early 80s) 911s he was immediately struck by the similarites to his cars. He said it was like coming home to an old friend.

There will always be a new model. There will always be a faster verison.
Old friend/new friend/historically significant car---right now, I don't care. I just love driving it and looking at it.

911Dave

I'm a current owner of an 86 Carrera and a past owner of an 86 928. Although I have never owned a Porsche less than 18 years old at the time I bought it, I have driven newer ones, including a 997 S. I have studied the entire Porsche history, including the racing history, and I can't fathom how the 997 represents a "return to its roots" as you put it. To me it is a further refinement of the 911 concept whose development has progressed in a single direction for 40+ years. It is big, heavy, complex, quiet, easy to drive, and highly refined. You will find none of those qualities in a "classic" 911.

To your other point, the 997 is a marked improvement over the 996.

larrytrk

Back to it's roots means back to beautiful oval headlights!!

joey c

i feel that the 997 although is a great car,it will just be another model in years to come..it seems that the 993 is still considered the best in many eyes..and that the 3.2 is among the best 911s ever built..its a classic...i dont see the 997 being a classic..its miles better than the 996 though imho..j

stubenhocker

to me, the 997 will be viewed in future to be the perfect blend of old tradition with modern technology. A bridge between the classic and the modern. Finally an interior that can be considered worthy of the rest of the car.

TheOldMan

The 997 is a great 911. Its legacy cannot be known until we see what is next from Porsche in three or four years. In my opinion, it is far superior to the 996 models and more refined than the 993.

My take is that the car market is at a place that we have not seen for over 34 years. Coming into the early 70s, cars were getting faster and more powerful each year. I remember cars with 454Cu in engines that could output over 500hp. There was a horsepower race amoung car manufacturers and there did not seem to be a limit on what they would do next. Then there was an energy problem, casused by international politics, with fuel shortages and the next thing we knew, 55mph speed limits. Cars became pathetic for a long time after that. Horsepower dropped, cars got smaller and were chocked by emmision control systems.

Now we look at the current market. Cars are getting faster, horsepower is back up to where we left off in the 70's, with all big guys racing to create faster more powerful cars. At the same time we hear the politicians and environmentalists screaming about global warming, energy supply and the rest of the doom and gloom scenarios. Whether the doom and gloom is true or not is another debate, but the fact is sometime in the next 15 year there will be a regulatory change in the US and EU that will change the car market. New polution rules, fuel economy standards and speed limits are all possible. And with these changes, the characteristics of the cars sold on the market will also change. In other words, the horsepower race will eventually stop, as regulatory laws restrict the economics and technology of building powerful, energy consuming high performance cars/trucks. History will repeat itself.

And when it happens, the last cars of the new generation of supercars will have lasting value and cache. I have no idea when it will happen, but I doubt in 15 years you will be able to go to your local mercedes or porsche dealer and purchase a 600hp supercar, nor your chrysler dealer and get a hemi engined SUV that outputs over 500hp.

The 997 series is the best watercooled Porsche 911 produced to date. Equally, the 993 was the best air cooled produced. Time will tell whether they have lasting value or will fade into the history books as just another car. I am going to keep mine just because I love it. But at one point there will be a tide change in the market and the last of our supercars will gain certain long term value.

Crazy Canuck

Arguably the "purest" Porsche since the '73 RS has been the 996 GT3.

Don't get me wrong, the 997 is a great car, hell I have one, but it is not a special model in the history of 911s. It should hold its value a little better than an early 996 because, to many, it is better looking, but not much.

John NY-Naples

For me, value is defined by how much I like the car, as opposed to what someone else may pay for my car in the future. I have a 1991 Carrera 4, which I do not believe was very highly regarded among Porsche enthusiasts, but I find it to be a very special car with its classic lines and loud engine. The 997 may not have great economic value as a used car, particularly based on the volume of sales, but I think it's the best Porsche I've ever driven.

porschedog

The 996 represents the "Ford Taurus" years?????? Ouch. No need to be nasty.
(Ford wishes it could build a car that good)

Alan Smithee

The high points of 911 history tend to skip generations...they were 1970-1973, 1979-1989, 1995-1998, and now 2005- with the 997. Nothing against the original cars, the magnesium-block narrow body/big bumper cars, 964s, or 996s...there were some great models in there, too...but in general they're not the most desirable.

Priorities have changed over the years, so what made the early cars so special...truly race-bred structures and drivetrains, which led to near bulletproof road cars...is not what makes the 997 great. I've had 911s from the 1970s and 1980s, and what makes the 997 special is its combination of fantastic performance and great looks, along with daily comfort and low maintenance not seen in 911s of previous generations.

If the pattern continues, the 998 will have some initial teething problems and perhaps some awkward styling, followed by an update that mixes current trends with traditional traits and sets sales records once again.

OCBen

Here's an earlier thread that should prove interesting:

https://rennlist.com/forums/997-forum/136871-why-has-porsche-copied-the-993-so-much-with-the-997-a.html

Congo

perhaps the last 6-cylinder 911

continued the luxury trend

KevinJax

As the owner of a Porsche Taurus, I have to say that I actually really like the headlights on my 02 C4 Cab. In fact I would have preferred Porsche to take th 997 to a more edgy style rather than making it look so much like the 993.....but that's just me. Also, having driven he 997, I would not describe it as "far superior" to my car. I would describe it as a meaningful update. Hey, my Porsche-Ford doesn't leave me "wanting".

gota911

WOW, I didn't know Ford moved the Taurus' engine to the rear! But knowing Ford, they retained the front wheel drive!

Say what you want about the 996, but at least they have a spare tire and dipstick!