New 997.2 Owner
 

Greetings!

Just picked up a stock 09 C2 last week and I think I am already over it.
In my mind this was the thing to have...all the old issues and problems with the 996 997.1 worked out. It's the right size with the right look and no electric steering, turbos, or slanted console. Simply it's well made, beautiful, comfy, fast(enough), and a 911.

Two previous owners all bought and traded at same dealer and has a good service history. The right color combo silver/red and the internet's recommended options PDK, SC, and PASM. I finally have a 911!!! everything was perfect, for now...

This week I have drove it 4 out of the 5 days and I just don't get it...I'm very happy to have such an amazing car, but it doesn't really feel any different than our touring 535i with a JB4, maybe I'm missing something. I drove my 02 WRX with an automatic this morning and had more fun in it. Also had a 04 986 Boxster with a manual and I think I had more fun in it also...I just didn't enjoy the looks completely or the M96 woes.

Maybe it's the roads I drive on, maybe I should have waited for a manual, or maybe I just need to mod it. Anyone else have a similar experience and want to share? What did you end up doing?


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...e42c78093b.jpg

Moving this thread to the 997 forum.

Did you not drive it before you bought it or did your emotional connection change once you purchased?

Cars are very personal. You feel some and some you dont. Although most will disagree with you on this forum, if it isn't for you then it isn't for you.

What do you not like about it.. the power band, handling, gearbox, styling, etc... the comparisons to the 535 doesn't make much sense. It's no where near the same car in any regard. Can you explain more about it being the same.

Should have bought one with a 6 speed manual! ;)

Just a suggestion ... Put the PDK in manual shift. Put the PAST in Sport. Go out and find a twisty road. Keep the RPMs above 5K. Flick the wheel and feel the response. Set your lines and hold them. Do this for at least 30 minutes. Then report back.

Oops ... PAST = PASM.

Went from a 335i M Sport with factory chip etc. loved it but for dependability and BS dealer service. This was my 7th Porsche but first 911. Admit it seemed strange at first compared to the 335 and Cayman S before. It grows on you. Plan on keeping it a long time. It's my extra car. Only take it out when I can enjoy it.

What's your definition of fun? Are you looking for more noise? Do you need to row through the gears?

platinum997 is right in that the emotional connection might not be there. I enjoy driving mine even in stop and go traffic :-)

I also would take Wayne's advice (PDK manual shift + Sport PASM + twisties then report back)

Best of luck sorting out your wants vs the 911. It is a great car. It tool me th better part of a year to fully appreciate my 997.2.

The reality of the matter is you bought a 345hp car that doesn't have a ton of torque with a rather unengaging transmission. Trying to mod this car for speed, and this is just my opinion, is going to be a waste of money. Your best bet would be to install a Sharkwerks x-pipe and do the Gundo hack (if you don't have PSE), so at least you can gain some aural pleasure from the car. I would do this right away--it's fairly low cost and I can guarantee it will put a huge smile on my face. I somewhat bored of my 911 last month and did this mod and now the first thing I want to do when I wake up in the morning is to go for a drive (even if I have no where to go).

I drive a 6-speed C2S and I have a *TON* of seat time in the F10 M5, and while there's no doubt the M5 is a much faster car (it's faster than 99.9% of cars on the road--a flat out beast), it is no where near as engaging as the 911. So I'm really not sure about your 535 comparison either...

Drove the base car... did nothing for me..
Should have went with an S

BTW PDK is amazing in manual in sport plus - I have no woes about losing a stick

This is right on target.




I drove a couple of base 997.2 and also drove 997.2 S. And also 991 base. None of those cars did much for me. The 997 GTS (Sport PASM, PDK, Sport Chrono) I have is a lot more fun, feels more buttoned down, and gives me what I'm looking for. I think it has more to do with suspension for me than it does the power.

That said.. there is a lot more enjoyment to be had in the twisties or on track than just driving the car to work.

From the first time I sat in my 911, and did a semi-spirited run up & down the Katy Freeway, I knew this was the car from me; from looks to performance to price to warranty, it ticked all the boxes. About 32 months and 27 K later, I still love it, and look forward to driving it. Life's too short. If you don't love the car, move on to something else. Good luck in the hunt, & hope you find "the one."
T

dont know if you have a C2 or C2S , if you wanted max performance you shouldnt have settled on a C2 with a smaller motor, you should have got the S with best motor

I have an E39 M5, so not the beast of the F10 but still a ton more torque and acceleration than my 997.1...but I find the 997 more fun to drive especially on twisty roads. As Tom said though, life is too short, if car is not for you I would move on. I think you will find that most people on Rennlist have dreamed of a 911 since they were very young so there is a huge emotional connection with the car...maybe you don't share that dream and if not I can imagine it being a bit of a disappointment.

/\This-

I recently purchased a 2005 C2S 6-Speed as my third car. My daily is Gen II CTS-V Sedan with some very light mods. While not as quick as that F10, still a beast with power everywhere, great brakes and suspension setup. Love that car. Having said that, the 911 is so much more engaging and such a viceral experience. All I want to do is get in this 12 year old car and drive it.

Probably just not the right car for you and nothing wrong with that, just a bummer that you purchased something that you're not into.

Prevoius car was a Mini S, had to "learn" to drive my 997.
 

My first month driving my 997.1, had me wondering if I was doing something wrong. I loved the sound, was concerned about the strange smell after driving, and it didn't feel any quicker than the Mini I traded in. Once I realized that the engine came to life above 4000 rpm, I "got it". The Mini was fun, but it's not 911 fun.

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions!

This is the 3.6 and currently is plenty quick/fast for my nerve.

I took your advice and went for a drive yesterday and tried out sport-plus in manual mode and it was quite enjoyable, other than an odd clunk on acceleration/deceleration...feels like trans or engine mounts may need replaced.

My comments on driving the 535 vs 997 was purely based on the roads I commute on(95% highway). Steering and acceleration feel around the same...lots more road noise in the 997 as expected. The steering in the WRX to me mind you feels a lot lighter than both everywhere.

I need to get an exhaust and possibly engine mounts.

Thanks again!

dw

Yep, 95% highway is the problem. I have owned various 911's continuously for about 40 years, and to be honest, they are not highway cars, in particular the newer ones with the very wide low profile tires because of road noise. Now back roads, where you can go thru the gears, are an entirely different story. Also, I have PSE on my 997.2, and I love it, but I don't think it would be worth it for 95% highway driving. Mike

Regarding the clunk in the PDK, that is normal from my understanding - this first gen PDK can be a little clunky in sport mode sometimes, so I wouldn't rush to change the mounts unless the car has high miles or your shop is telling you they are shot.

Hopefully the more you drive her the more you'll love her!

Two things learned from my limited (1 month) experience with an 09 PDK. It has become far less jerky and "clunky" as I learn to drive it in its different modes. Coming from a tiptronic it is taking me a while. Also, had the 6 year PDK service done at the dealer and I really think it smoothed it out to some degree.

Welcome to the club - that's a great color combo. Here's my humble advice....invest $35 bucks into joining your local Porsche Club and sign up for the next HPDE. You'll be amazed at what your base Carrera is capable of and will have a hell of a time. Would love to hear your thoughts after one of those.

There are some nice areas of improvement on the exhaust for the 997.2 Carrera. Three main areas are the headers, center muffler, and side mufflers. Our center muffler bypass x-pipe is the best bang for the buck to get started on more sound, especially if you have factory PSE. Shot you over a PM, would be happy to work with you :)

545i v 997.2 C4S
 

I think commuting with my 545i (SMG) is more enjoyable than my 09 C4S. This is due to the high-rev power band of the C4S. Unless you drive aggressive from light to light, the C4S really doesn't feel or seem faster than the BMW or Honda Odyssey (which I also have). The new 991.2 seems to have fixed that problem by lowering and flattening the power band to make the car feel faster in normal driving. Turbo charged engine is great in adding low-end torque, which makes normal driving more fun if you don't mind a little turbo lag.

The BMW 545i also negotiate better the bumps and the dips of the normal road. But take your 911 on a winding mountain road and you will fall in love with it for sure. So I think your problem here is that although you can daily a 997, you will not be using it at its full potential.

People say that having only driven 19K on a 7 year old car is a waste. But those few miles were all memorable miles. I dream of my next drive every time I turn off the keys to exit the car.

I really think the PDK was tripping me up...I'm slowly learning how to drive it in different situations and it has become more enjoyable to use. I sure do miss being able to blip the throttle on downshifts like in the Boxster, but I was never able to shift like this does. I went ahead and ordered the Rennline engine mounts to stiffen things up. I have sticker shock on these bent bits of metal...so that will have to wait. Thanks all for your support!

If you can't feel the difference between a F10 535i and a 997.2 it wasn't meant to be for you. LOL

Seriously, for starters the driving position is not even close. That's a huge difference without even turning the car on....

The base car is not for everyone, and while road quality can greatly affect the enjoyment level of the car, perhaps you are not a 911 person?, it can happen, it takes a large commitment to enjoy this car fully.

While there is always the chance that there is something wrong with your car, I suspect that if this is the first PDK car you've driven, the "clunk"-ing you're referring to will go away once you get acclimated to the transmission.

Your foot will definitely have a short learning curve as you master modulating the throttle in stop and go traffic and at parking lot speeds (especially in sport mode). It will become second nature to you after a few trips.

It helps if you've ever owned an older car with an automatic transmission with a shift kit. Abrupt shifts and slightly jerky shifting at low speeds is the small price you pay for the lightning-quick shifts you're getting. Another payback is the rev-matching downshifts you get in sport mode.

As for the highway manners of the car--my '09 isn't punishing on the highway, but it isn't my first choice for long, boring, steady-speed drives on the freeway.

I too had an E39 M5 several years ago...just bought a 997.2 C2S. It's hard to say why some love one car and others don't. Compared to a large v8 torquey beast the NA Flat-6 Porsches definitely require more revs to move but that's what I love about it! I think it takes some getting used to. Also I'm an MT guy. I recognize the benefit of the PDK but I just want to shift my own gears. It's part of the experience that makes driving do it for me.

I noticed a few of the same things after I purchased it... not so exciting on a straight highway, the sound deadening isn't so great. a few clunks and a driving position that take a little getting used to.

The car also takes some time to get acquainted with. It took me a few hundred miles to really get familiar with it and now I really enjoy it. The lighter front end and unique feedback, the power band and driving position are all very unique with the 997. I would say now say it's def. a reward driving.

In regards to transmission clunks, I noticed mines and was very obvious clunk at low speed. I found that front transmission bolts were loose! Since then, that specific clunk is resolved but there are still random ones here and there. So check the front transmission mount.

I knew hunting down my 997.2 that I would not love it for highway driving

Based on driving the wife's 996 ... hated it even for the 75 minute drive to my folks place. Cruise control at 120kmh is zero fun

I think that's the crux of his issues. Long boring drives on the freeway are better in a comfortable smooth car with good power and a great stereo. My Acura MDX is the perfect highway cruiser for me as it meets all of those criteria.

" "

Driving the 997.2 with PDK will take time to fully figure out the way it likes to be treated. It's like a woman with different personalities. She can be sexy, reserved, aggressive, laid back, hard to figure out, cold, really hot. You getting my drift? Auto, auto + sport, Auto + sport +, Manual, manual + sport, manual + sport +. So many ways to drive it. And they all are different. Yes it clunks. Mine is a 3.8 4S. It's taken me a lot of 09drives and now after 3 years of having my 09 I'm down with all the ways to drive it. Experiment with it, drive it. You'll love it when you and your Porsche understand each other.