On a manual car (non-turbo) the Sport Chrono is a way for Porsche to extract an additional thousand dollars or so from the buyer. It doesn't make the car accelerate any faster, turn any sharper, or stop any shorter. It is not a performance option, it's just an electronic geegaw.

On a PDK car, Sport Chrono is a necessary option in order to extract vital performance options from the computer-controlled transmission.

For a less opinionated treatment, this is post you want to read.

 

I personally really like the sport chrono package as it comes with the sport button that make the gas pedal more responsive. Of course it only change how much gas is applied based for the same amount of gas pedal travel, but still that make it so much more fun

For the PDK, is it simply essential.

either way I would not buy a car without it. I think you can retrofit it via a Porsche part though..

 

I've bought two 997 cars with Sport Chrono now and I swear never again. I'm embarrassed for Porsche that they sell the damn things. I find that sport mode actually makes the car worse, because it makes it harder to be smooth on the throttle. Why would you voluntarily give up control for no gain? I just don't get it.

 

Wow, that's an unusually strong opinion. I agree that it's not a good option on manual cars, because I also feel that smoothness and control is more important than a twitchy pedal.

But I know that a lot of people like it. I think it's just an "experience" thing for the people who like it; especially with PSE it makes you feel like you're kicking in the afterburners when you press the sport button.

One issue for me is that I want to develop muscle memory of exactly how hard to blip the throttle to down-shift, or how hard to squeeze through a corner, and if you have two different throttle mappings there's no way you can develop consistent muscle memory. I want the car's controls to act the same way all the time.

 

Where do you guys see pricing right now?

Most of the asking prices I see are higher than Kelly Blue Book.

And Kelly Blue Book is higher than Excellence magazine.

 

Sport Chrono also changes the way PSM engages. That is the reason I added it to my car.

 

Great thread - am also in the same boat looking for a 997 as a DD.

Hopefully this doesn't qualify as hijacking this thread, but I think relevant to the topic: what are the "must have" options (tried searching but most threads on this are older)?

 

Hi - I have a ~20 mile each way reverse commute, mix of surface roads and interstate. Of course, all the other DD duties. I wanted a C2S, though was also open to C4S, but preferred the lighter front end and rwd feel.

6 speed manual transmission. Love the PDK, but it never felt like I wanted to own one. It does a better job shifting than I can do on my best day, but I always felt more in control of a manual. If it were a serious track car that I wanted to be competitive in, well it'd be a no-brainer, but for spirited driving feel for this lifelong manual driver, I chose the manual. If PDK, then Sport Chono was a MUST have. I felt like I was driving a Camry in the PDK car in "Normal" mode. I preferred in test drives to drive the PDK in "Sport" mode with the suspension in "Normal" mode - that's two button presses to drive off.*

Without PDK, I strongly preferred NO Sport Chrono, since I think the dashboard mounted chrono is undesireable. I may someday add the sport button to give better control of the PSM with an intermediate setting, but it's not been a priority to me yet.

Must-haves for me were self-dimming mirrors, nav-sat radio for navtraffic (didn't want a windshield mounted GPS in thi car), Bluetooth, iPod. Taken together with the DFI engine, 997.2 came to be the answer.

Really wanted power comfort seats w/adjustable lumbar (can you tell I'm a 50 year old?), heated seats, and ventilated seats (amazingly comfortable in the summer heat).*

PSE didn't ring my bells. Couldn't hear it in the cabin, didn't have performance effect, and seemed like a very costly option. I ended up with a car that had the Sport Tailpipes, which are holding up nicely with no blackening and a nice look.

Other performance options didn't make my must have list... It's a Carrera S. That's a lot of car as a DD, for me.

Good luck with your searches! Have fun, and I promise to write another post soon recounting my experience with the variety of choices, and their effect on my enjoyment of Porsche ownership.

Cheers,
Marc

 

Your car is basically exactly how I would option it, undergoing the same thought process. Good to have another data point. Thanks!

 

true - but is wider than 996 I believe

 

"IMS issues exist for any 997.1 car (MY05 - MY08)".....it is possible to be a bit more specific:

I have a late-May 2005 build Carrera (3.6) that I always assumed had the earlier IMS bearing and cover. The car is in with a specialist for a new clutch and flywheel at present and it turns out I have the larger 22mm bolt on the IMS cover and hence the later bearing that was installed until the 2008/9 change to Direct Injection (whereby the completely redesigned engine has many less moving parts including the IMS).

My experience concurs with the Porsche shop manual for the 997 that shows the larger IMS bearing cover and nut were installed at engine number 695 07475 (3.6) - my car has an engine number in the 695 09xxx range and has the larger nut on the IMS cover and 685 09791 (3.8 S).

Although it seems certain there can still be occasional IMS failures with the factory updated bearing/cover they appear to less common, although part of this could be down to the fact that the cars are newer and many still under warranty - I suppose only time will tell.

I had planned an LN upgrade (not possible with the later bearing) so will now continue to rely on driving it hard on occasion and to increase the frequency of the oil changes over the Porsche schedule.

 

It is. I owned a 2002 & 2003 996 C2 and Targa. They are not as wide as my 2008 997S.

 

if you have any desire to ever run car on track - do not get ventilated powered seats, opt for adaptive sports - they will hold you way better.

but if it is a street only car - ventilated option is a very nice one indeed.
also - heated steering wheel with MF controls.

 

Here are the width numbers:

Narrow Body
* 996 - width 69.70"
* 997 - width 71.18"
Wide Body
* 996 - width 72.00"
* 997 - width 72.91"

Keep in mind on the 997 cars that these are narrow bodies:

997
997S
997 Cab
997S Cab
GT3

The wides are the following:

Carrera 4
Carrera 4S
Carrera 4 Cab
Carrera 4S Cab
Targa
Targa S
Turbo
Turbo S
GT3RS
GT2
GT2RS
GTS

 

Mine was too and that is exactly what I miss the most.

But there are always trade off's in life and I love my 997. When I need to leave for work early I can now take my Porsche without feeling guilty about waking up the neighbors.

If I had the dough and the space I would own both.