Porsche Owners Thread - If you own one or just like or hate them! :)

[paradigm]

I know that this will have been covered to death in this thread, but finding the information is proving to be hard with searching.

997s, what are the issues, which engine is the strongest, and what are the non-engine related things to check when looking at £35k~ examples?

Any info appreciated.

 

[Maccy]

£35k gets you into a good 997.2 so minimal engine issues unlike the 997.1.
My GTS was up for around £35k before I sold it back to the dealer last week, was on 81k which probably put some people off but the engines are strong and will go on for many miles if well looked after. Full OPC service history is a must IMO but some people are fine with specialists too.
Lots of research online, 911uk forums are worth a visit.

 

[Bradmax57]

I know that this will have been covered to death in this thread, but finding the information is proving to be hard with searching.

997s, what are the issues, which engine is the strongest, and what are the non-engine related things to check when looking at £35k~ examples?

Any info appreciated.

I have a 2009 gen 2 carrera, nothing major has gone wrong with it other than general wear and tear, i would just make sure that all the electrics work as it should, mine had a mix of dealer and specialist history which didnt put me of in the slightest, agree with Maccy have a nosey on 911uk forums thats what I did before buying mine, originally i was going to get a 997.1 but after reading the issues with them decided to up my budget, you should get a decent gen 2 for that money

 

[paradigm]

@Maccy and @Bradmax57. Thanks! I’ll do some more reading on the 911 forums. I didn’t realise 997.2 did away with the IMS bearing, that’s far less worrying. Seems like it’s worth making sure I get into a .2 over a .1.

 

[Bradmax57]

@Maccy and @Bradmax57. Thanks! I’ll do some more reading on the 911 forums. I didn’t realise 997.2 did away with the IMS bearing, that’s far less worrying. Seems like it’s worth making sure I get into a .2 over a .1.

I'm glad I went for the .2 over .1 at the time the difference was about 10k depending on model, come jan or feb I will probably sell mine (i know its not the best time to sell a sports car )

Things i've had to do to mine in almost 4 years other than 2 services (2nd one will be in a couple of months). Tyres front discs and pads, front PASM shocks (they were a bit pricey), spark plugs (were not due till next service but had a coil pack go at start of lock down so thought might aswell just get done whilst they were doing that) think thats about it.

 

[olv]

@Maccy and @Bradmax57. Thanks! I’ll do some more reading on the 911 forums. I didn’t realise 997.2 did away with the IMS bearing, that’s far less worrying. Seems like it’s worth making sure I get into a .2 over a .1.

IMS bearing is a fun topic with the M96 and M97 engines in the 997.1. And by fun, I mean boring. A redesigned IMS is fitted to late 2005 cars which means it’s not a worry. There’s no exact cut off date and the only way to tell which bearing an engine has it to look at it. IMS is overblown in general, IMO. Bore scoring is a legitimate risk on gen 1 997s but it suits me to think that this is overplayed too as I’ve just bought a 997 3.6...

£35k is a good budget for a Gen 2. Definitely get a manual as the pdk, whilst good, is pretty boring. Don’t get wrapped up in 3.6 vs 3.8, the performance difference isn’t large. I’d have a manual 3.6 with sports exhaust over a 3.8 pdk with stupid button steering wheel.

EVERYTHING is optional. Seats (standard/sports/electric/memory/heated), cruise, xenons, stereos, sports chrono, PASM (standard on the 3.8), sun roof and that’s before you get to posher options like ceramic brakes and LSDs.

it’s really very difficult to find a car that has all the options you want, with the engine you want, and the right gearbox, in the right colour and correct wheels that has also been looked after. Thankfully they made thousands of the things so you can take your time.

987s are also really really really good, amazing value and they drive better and loads cheaper so unless you NEED the back seats then a Boxster or cayman is a good choice.

 

[paradigm]

IMS bearing is a fun topic with the M96 and M97 engines in the 997.1. And by fun, I mean boring. A redesigned IMS is fitted to late 2005 cars which means it’s not a worry. There’s no exact cut off date and the only way to tell which bearing an engine has it to look at it. IMS is overblown in general, IMO. Bore scoring is a legitimate risk on gen 1 997s but it suits me to think that this is overplayed too as I’ve just bought a 997 3.6...

£35k is a good budget for a Gen 2. Definitely get a manual as the pdk, whilst good, is pretty boring. Don’t get wrapped up in 3.6 vs 3.8, the performance difference isn’t large. I’d have a manual 3.6 with sports exhaust over a 3.8 pdk with stupid button steering wheel.

EVERYTHING is optional. Seats (standard/sports/electric/memory/heated), cruise, xenons, stereos, sports chrono, PASM (standard on the 3.8), sun roof and that’s before you get to posher options like ceramic brakes and LSDs.

it’s really very difficult to find a car that has all the options you want, with the engine you want, and the right gearbox, in the right colour and correct wheels that has also been looked after. Thankfully they made thousands of the things so you can take your time.

987s are also really really really good, amazing value and they drive better and loads cheaper so unless you NEED the back seats then a Boxster or cayman is a good choice.

Thanks Olv. I do indeed need the occasional rear seats so a Boxster wouldn’t work for me I’m afraid.

I’d also likely be going PDK, I’m done with manual these days, I enjoy driving my S3 and TT on the paddles.

So what would your ideal options list look like (ignoring manual box)?

 

[olv]

I enjoy driving my S3 and TT on the paddles.

Don’t take this the wrong way but it sounds like you don’t like driving.

Personally, at £35k and PDK I would be aiming for a sub £40k 991. You’ll get a much newer car, 991s are amazing. But if you don’t value the older elements of a 997 (steering, gearbox and size) then you end up paying a big premium for the perceived extra reliability of a gen 2. I don’t think gen2s are good value when totally usable gen1s are sub £20k now.

 

[paradigm]

Don’t take this the wrong way but it sounds like you don’t like driving.

Personally, at £35k and PDK I would be aiming for a sub £40k 991. You’ll get a much newer car, 991s are amazing. But if you don’t value the older elements of a 997 (steering, gearbox and size) then you end up paying a big premium for the perceived extra reliability of a gen 2. I don’t think gen2s are good value when totally usable gen1s are sub £20k now.

You are wrong, I love driving, but with a bad left ankle and a wife that won’t drive a manual, a PDK works better for us.

 

[olv]

Prioritise the paddle wheel (which can be retro-fitted for £1k) and sports chrono (easy to spot, there’s a clock in the middle of the dash) because you gain Sports Plus which means the gearbox is snappier, holds onto gears longer, changes down more eagerly and gives you a more responsive throttle. It just makes it feel a more urgent and engaging automatic.

 

[Bradmax57]

Yep agree on the sports chrono if pdk, i dont have it but i've got a manual so I wasnt that fussed, I have quite a few others though, 19" Carrera S wheels (not sure if thats what their actually called), electric memory heated seats, cruise (had retrofitted) sunroof, bose, pasm, I probably would have gone pdk but at the time when I bought mine (almost 4 years ago) they commanded quite a premium. The steering wheel is a bit of a marmite one, I've driven my mates 991 which had the same push buttons rather than paddles and after a while got quite used to it and quite liked the fact you could change up or down with either hand i did however occasionally get it the wrong way around, one thing i'd like to retrofit in mine would be the multi functional manual wheel but they are like gold dust on ebay etc

 

[olv]

There’s a reason Porsche no longer do a steering wheel with buttons to change gear and it’s not because it was so fantastic they emptied the world’s resources of them. I had it in my 987.2 and whilst it’s fine you end up driving around it or not using the gearbox in manual because they get in the way rather than improve the drive. Paddles are just better.

Seats were an area I had to compromise on my current car. I would prioritise manual sports seats (which I had in my 987) over memory comfort seats as the bolsters are better but 12 way comfort seats (which I have now) are good in that the seat base tilts and they have lumbar support.

The market seems fairly spec sensitive with odd spec or high mile cars taking a long time to sell. A manual GTS coupe is a £65k car but an auto 997.1 with a few miles is closer to £15k. There is definitely not £50k difference in how they drive.

 

[naefeart]

Ive actually really grown to like my ‘comfort’ steering wheel in the last 12 months. I love the heating element in winter and the stereo volume and PCM controls. I would have specced a ‘sports’ steering wheel if buying new, but I don’t feel any urge to spend £1200 (+ £300 for the new control stalk) just to get paddles. Please don’t suggest that I simply don’t enjoy driving

You need to drive cars with the options you are interested in. The options I feel I prefer now after living with the car over a year, are different from my wish list prior to buying.

What I am considering is replacing the standard suspension with the X73 kit. I like the lower stance plus I believe it improves steering feel a bit. Concerned it will be too harsh on the road as a daily though. Don’t suppose there are any 981 owners with this fitted?

 

[paradigm]

Yeah I've seen that there is a choice between buttons and paddles. Having driven an early Boxster with buttons, and an old A4 (b6) with buttons, it's not something I'd enjoy, and the both "up and down" on one side of the wheel seems wrong to me also.

Seems that there are adapters to run a 991.2 MFSW with paddles on the 997 (both .1 and .2), so that's an option as well I guess.

I must be looking in the wrong places though as unless prices have changed drastically since you guys last looked, it's certainly not possible to get into a 991 between £35-40K. Even a 997.2 is going to be a push at £35k for a nice one with good options.

 

[Maccy]

Mine came with the multi-function wheel with buttons, I paid £700 to have it changed for a sports wheel with paddles, miles better.

 

[naefeart]

Yeah, but then 997 wheel was hideous!

 

[olv]

it's certainly not possible to get into a 991 between £35-40K

It will definitely be possible to get a nice one between now and the end of the year for that. Probably be a 3.4 but 350bhp and PDK will be quick (especially as the 991 is lighter than the 997) and it won't be a low miler from a dealer but there's nothing super scary on these that buying privately would be a worry.

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/lis...757214&cId=10757178&cId=10755437&cId=10665564

Or something like that, 997.2 4S will always be in demand just for the wide body and light strip across the bum. Change the steering wheels and refurb the wheels and that's a really nice spec.

 

[olv]

improves steering feel a bit

You'll need a 9x7 for that

 

[paradigm]

I think I prefer the general look of the 997.2 if I'm honest, and having the newest vehicle isn't my priority here, having a fun one is.

 

[Bradmax57]

The differences between the 997.1 & .2 are pretty subtle other tag rear lights and front led strips the pcm is better but still rubbish.
Seen quite a few .1 with after market lights to try and make them look like a .2 but most fail imo and look tacky. I think I read that the firm that made the retro fit kit for the 991.1 to have CarPlay are developing it for the 997.2 and will be a definate purchase from me if they do.