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So there are endless threads debating the merits of the .1 vs the .2. So I wanted to start a bit of a different discussion. This one is intended to be drama free, so please keep it that way. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and their preference. My goal hear is to understand more about people’s thinking about why they chose what they did.
I started off my search solely focused on .2’s. But now I find myself more open to .1’s, especially after driving a manual one recently. I opened my search back up to .1’s and have seen some nice cars. Tthat got me wondering....where am I going to end up?
Mezger engine. Price. Availability. Didn’t really see the value difference for my purposes. Didn’t care about the updated PCM since I wanted a fresh headunit with apple CarPlay.
I actually started my search for a .1 because Mezger and more availability of 6 speed but had a tough time finding a clean one and/or trusting one. I dealt with a few real shady dealers as well unfortunately. Some of the private owners were asking a lot too. I ended up with a CPO .2 TTS with some miles on it for a decent price and am loving it even though it's pdk.
I’ve been trying to find the right 997 for me as soon as I traded my 991C4S-PDK-Coupe for a 964.
I was so intent on a 997.2C4S PDK Coupe. .2 engine was just really good. When I moved up to check for Turbos, now the .1 became a consideration as it doesn’t have the issues of the 997.1 cars. I know I will only get a coupe/MT. As soon as Hans Mezger died, I knew I needed to get another Mezger-based engine so it was easy to select a .1 car.
My 911s are not daily driven and not for track as well. They are meant for nostalgic weekend and cars and coffee trips to spend time with fellow car buddies. Due to those factors, it felt the best for me was a .1 MT Coupe.
if I intent to daily drive the car and bring it to the track sometimes, I would probably get a .2 PDK instead.
I was open to both but I was looking for a specific set of options during my search, 6spd/PCCB/Adaptive Seats/Painted Seat Backs/Carrara White. I found individually they were common but together on one car it was getting hard to find more than 4-5 clean examples in .1 or .2. Found the .1 that met what I was looking for and picked it up, never considered waiting for a .2 at that point.
I'm in an 09 6mt coupe. As an average Joe, price realistically played a part, but even if I had Bezos Bucks I'd go for an 09 as my ultimate 997 Turbo. The Mezger heritage and romantic connection to the old days are what tips me in that direction. The 9A1 is a better, more modern engine, sure, but it's also less special, shared across base Carreras and Boxsters. May sound snobby and superficial but it is what it is.
Price, although to be fair I had no idea who Hans Mezger was when I bought my car, or even what a .1 or .2 car was... I intentionally bought a high kms car to save $$ and reduce depreciation. Happy with my decision and have put 70k kms on it, loving (almost) every second of it.
That said, in hindsight and equipped with a LOT more understanding of Turbos and Porsche in general, I would have traded out of the .1 and bought a .2 a year or two in to
ownership, so as to avoid the repair bills inherent with the .1 cars, and also to have PDK.
997.2s were the only cars I looked at. .2 because of PDK, 3.8, PCM3.0 & exhaust tips. Other criteria was unmodified, low miles, Coupe, Areokit, silver/grey flawless paint & red interior. I specifically looked for a turbo and not an S. I did not want center locks or ceramic brakes. Steel brakes have red calipers which fit the color combo. I found the exact color turbo; it was a high spec car with all options of the S without ceramic brakes & center lock wheels. It was perfect and I pulled the trigger. The price could have been better but I was willing to pay a little more for exactly what I wanted. A month prior I almost made a deal on a similarly speced cabriolet for many thousands less and ultimately passed because it wasn't a coupe. The cab was a smoking deal but a friends advice was to not buy a car you do not want just because its a good deal. Glad I listened.
Price point I set that met my budget, so essentially a 997.1
Features - Cab, non MT, sports chrono
Exterior color - not black
interior color - natural, cocoa, red