Edgy01

If you are going to actually keep the new car for more than 3 years stick to the 08. The 09 engines, although a new design, still need to be thoroughly shaken out. It will take at least a year in the hands of owners to discover what the Achilles Heel is of that DI engine. As a long time Porsche owner, trust me. issues will be found on the DI engines. Go with a design that has been around for awhile. I never buy the first year production of a major change.

DPorcella

Wow, lots of thoughtful advice, but the question is so binary that it was predictable that people would split about 50/50.

I'm gonna mull it over for a few days, thanks to everyone who has thoughts. Only Pcar people would understand my anguish!

Will not track it, purely a pleasure car.

JM993

You'll love dirt. No cars to run you over (SCARY) and much more involving. Plus you can get the same (or better) thrills threading through the trees at 25mph than blasting down the road at 100mph on a street bike. It's a great sport.

Give me a shout if you ever decide to make the switch

adfsouth

Here's the way I see it..... If I had the choice between a 997.1S and a 997.2S, I would choose the 997.2S (no brainer). Between the 997.1S and the base 997.2 I would go 997.1S.....the $ you save is just bonus coverage. Speed of the .2 base model is real close to the .1 S, however I prefer certain performance aspects of the .1S. For instance, Big Red Brake Calipers are larger and make pad swapping for frequent track use a breeze, whereas on the new base model, the calipers are of a closed-back design and need to be removed. Also, I like the PASM feature for various reasons (although mine are enhanced by Bilstein Damptronics). Oh yea, and I prefer the look of 19" wheels for the street (standard on the .1 S).

Regardless, you cant make a bad decisioneither way......

lockmk

I'm having difficulty believing anyone who recommends the older car over the newer one has driven both. Aside from the subjective styling factors like lights and rim design, the newer base model is a vastly superior car. The interior, particularly the dash area, is way ahead of the old design. The suspension is much better, the engine is more economical and the new 3.6 feels more urgent than the old 3.8. Any 09 will hold it's value better as well. Apart from the better residual of the new shape there will be so fewer of them available on ther used market 2-3 years from now as fewer are being built.

redridge

always buy the newest you can afford..... SOP

KBS911

Vastly superior may be a bit of an overstatement. Either car will perform beyond the capabilities of most. The 08 0-60 times were 4.6 sec v.s. 4.5 sec and top speeds of 182 v.s. 188. That is not a vast difference.

I think the point is that there are big savings to be had on 08's which except for the trained eye look virtually the same. Engine and suspension mods increase track times but again when comparing an 08 S v.s. an 09 C2 the differences become moot.

DPorcella

Again, thanks to all who weighed in. I'm STILL undecided, however leaning toward the 997.2 because of some of the new stuff (you know DFI, bigger screen, better trade-in when the 991 comes out).

jwdwight

JMarch - I agree....I have both Porsches and dirt bikes! Oh...and airplanes too. Three very bad and expensive habits. But worth it. And to your point, nothing like riding single tracks through the forest like you described!

JM993

I jealous as you live in the Mecca of dirt biking. Someday, I must ride in CO.

jwdwight

Let me know when you want to come to Colorado! It is an amazing place to ride athough they keep trying to close more and more trails on us.

DPorcella

I hope you guys are also keeping your hearts healthy with a good dose of off-road mountain biking I KNOW that's available in Telluride and the Bay Area.

fjpdds

Having both, I'd go '09.
Drove Base at PSDS. Intstructors say as fast as 997.1 S.
PCM &Tech is improved a lot.