slicky rick

the 997.2 S is simply the best all around sports car porsche made! efficiency, reliability, ease of maintenance, technology, good looks. this car simply has it all…well the exhaust sound leaves something to be desired - easily remedied - cheaply - gundo!

z3mcoupe

I was looking to spend around the $50k mark which would bag a nice .1 S, or a high mileage .2. In the end, the .2 Targa4 I bought was available at the right time, for the right price.

There was a beautiful green with cocca .1 S car for the same price and that was a tough call....but the .2 color combo was also good. Throw in the PCM & DI engine and it was an easy decision. My .2 has 83k miles on it, and I'm going to run a scope soon to check for carbon deposits. My GTI (also direct injection) had to get cleaned out, so I'm curious to see how these Porsche DI engines fare against the build-up.

I think the real bargain of the 997's, is the base .1 Carrera. I've seen them in the 30's with 50/60k miles which is an excellent buy in my opinion.

myw

bingo!

06C2s

Wanted a manual drove a .1 S and fell in love. My car bought last month only had 24K on the clock and had all documentation and literally looks and smells brand new. For the same money I would have been in a .2 standard Carrera with double or more miles, also seem to be less manuals in 997.2's

96redLT4

For me it was an easy. When I bought mine in 05 the 997.2 was not available!
J

Thedips

.1 for looks and price and the color i wanted popped up had to get it

gota911

Almost three years ago I was looking to get another 911 (I previously had an '04 996 C2 coupe) and decided to skip the 997.1 and get a 997.2. Primary reasons that favors the 997.2 were:

• new 9A1 engine with 385 HP
• DFI
• No "IMS grenade" waiting for the pin to drop out
• greatly improved PCM and Nav
• refined PASM suspension (vs. 997.1)
• preferred the restyled exterior, especially the front bumper and the lights.

It really was a "no brain-er" decision.

makemann

I chose the 997.2 because of all of the previously mentioned upgrades over the .1, but especially due to PDK. It is an amazing transmission that puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.

I searched for 14 months to find one with all the right options in the exact exterior and interior color combination I wanted in the price range I felt comfortable. I loved the search process, although I drove my family nuts.

eviligloo

I can't imagine searching for 14 months!! I'm at about the 3 month mark and am already driving my wife nuts. I check every single day multiple times a day so it feels like I've been searching for a year.

So in summary so far:

997.2 - upgraded interior / no IMS grenade
997.1 - money / wasn't out yet

destro

I searched for ~6 months, like you daily, multiple times a day. My requirements where:
+ Carrera S Coupe
+ S-PASM
+ Sport Seats (or Adaptive)
+ Manual
+ <30000 miles
+ Bright colour not Yellow (Blue, Silver, Red, White)

Only found 1 other car besides the one I bought that matched the above (a few weeks before I finally found the car that I purchased), so hang in there and get what you want.

In the end I found a car that matched everything I would get from factory plus a few little extras. Well actually I'd get Paint to Sample: Mexico Blue or Mint Grün if I bought new, but love the Guards Red regardless.

Blu311

I have been casually searching for over 9 months... and depending on what prices do it might be another year. But if the right car comes up for the right price I'll be on it... I would prefer a 997.2, but need to stay under $50k (total cost) right now so thats not easy without getting a high mileage or accident car. Some 997.1 look good, there are a few locally with under 50k mi for high $30's low $40's... just not with the colors and options I want.

So in the end... I prefer a 997.2 (for the reasons mentioned by others) but if a killer deal pops up, I'd buy either one!

(BTW, I did notice prices dip a little in Dec-Feb... if this happens similar to last year, it'll be the time to buy)

Psymon

997.1 for me... exactly one year ago.

1) I was choosing between 996 TT/4S/Targa vs 997.1 C2S at similar price point.
2) my first 911 and plan to keep for 2-3 years. So 997.2 was still too "new" at the time and I would get a bigger hit on depreciation then 997.1 when selling
3) used the "saving" to cure the mod-bug which is biting me now (a 3rd party full body kit with conversion to 997.2 and new set of rims on the way, so look-wise I'll happier than the 997.2).
4) performance-wise it didn't feel the difference would matter to me much given it's my first baby-step into the 911 world.

There will always be a next one....

Geros

I paid the premium for a 997.2 S PDK.
Since my previous car was a E46M3 SMG, I was looking for:

Big step in performance,
A transmittion better than tiptronic.

I rented a Carrera S PDK for 2 days and felt in love immediatelly.
After a 2 months search I bought an identical low mileage car.

PhilD

I can't imagine searching 3 months, but a lot of people do and longer. I purchased a .1, wasn't really looking to buy anything, stumbled across this one locally, liked it, so bought it.

Caballo Blanco

I loved the 997.2's options (PDK, LED/design/engine upgrades, etc.) but just couldn't fathom paying an extra 15-20K for them.

I wanted an unloved base model at higher mileage for cheap in a Non-Midlife Crisis color (sorry ketchup and mustard, lookin' at you guys). I've got 2 kids that are compelled to destroy anything even remotely approaching 'pristine'... so buying a museum piece was unwise. Scratches, wear, minor boo boos, they were all fine with me for a 'starter' 911.

One day I was surfing and a white 2008 C4 tip with high miles came up locally for dirt freaking cheap. Bought it with no reservations whatsoever. Sure, the dealer was trying to off a car with electrical problems, but eventually (at my insistence and for free) removed a junky sat radio that some 16 year old Best Buy installer hosed up, and I had a non-CPO car that had been CPO 7 months beforehand. That's all you can reasonably ask for.

Will I get a 997.2 or a 991 next time? Sure. I'll want one of the higher power trims, but I'm very happy with what I've got. You can't lose either way, just be happy with your reasoning, and be sure in your decision making process.

And for goodness sakes, don't buy one at all if you're going to fret about IMS on the forums all day. You're far more likely (God forbid) to total the thing in a smash up than to IMSplode.

Happy hunting. Hope you get just what you want.