Edgy01

And what sort of problem is the RMS on the 997s? Just how many cases are there with this problem? Let's talk about chain tensioners, etc...

I think you'll find the reliability way up there. But please,--do not go test drive a 997,--stay away from them! (Don't blame me if you change your opinion).

Joe S.

That car is optioned pefectly for what I would want in a 993 TT. If I was seriously considering a Turbo and saw this one I wouldn't mind paying a little more to get exactly what I wanted, but that's just me. 80k doesn't seem that bad for what it is.

H20NOO

I commute 100 miles a day round trip. Last few years my daily driver was an Infiniti G35 6-speed Coupe - Great car. My 98 Cab is used primarily on weekends and track days and has 34k miles on it (29k since I bought it in June, 2001) of which over 4k are track miles. The 993 was and remains a dream come true for me. For now, I have no intention of selling it however, it is a very raw, visceral and, in the tradition of Porsche(that ended after the 993 series), a true "form follows function" vehicle. It's a bit too unforgiving to be my daily driver, especially with the extensive mods that have really sharpened its focus.

I took delivery of a 997S last week and have sold the G35. I've already racked up over 1100 miles on the 997 and can comment on some initial observations. The 997S is remarkably similar to my G35 in many ways. It is far more comfortable and quiet than the 993. It has a dizzying myriad of buttons and computer operated/controlled electronics that make seemingly ordinary acts like changing tracks on the CD a dangerous distraction. Those same microprocessors act as super nanny to override whatever moment of stupidity or insanity my right foot initiates. I actually read somewhere that a dealer told a troubled 997 owner to unplug his battery for 3 hours to let the car re-boot... Ugh.

Compared to my 993 Cab, the 997 feels like it is carved from a solid piece of granite. Sure, the 993 is stout but, the 997 Coupe is the most rigid chassis I've ever driven. It telegraphs the movement of the wheels through the steering wheel and my backside more accurately than any car in recent memory. Again, the Cab's inherently compromised chassis may make the comparison unfair.

The acceleration of the 997, with the X51 (381hp) Carrera Power Kit is impressive but not amazing. I've run it up to 145mph and bounced off the rev limiter several times and I can best describe the acceleration as persistent and linear. In a drag race, the 997 would win but, not by much compared to the 993 with shorter gears, and LWF. The 997 does seem to be getting stronger with every drive and I wonder if the super nanny isn't programmed to override overzealous new owners until a thousand plus ticks have turned on the odometer. I wouldn't rule it out in a drive by wire world.

The PASM and Sport Chrono are simply amazing. It's like having 2 cars. With everything in default settings, the car is as cushy and comfy as the G35, faaaar better commuter ride than the 993. In Sport mode, the PASM instantly firms the shocks up to the equal of the stiffest setting on my PSS9 equipped 993, and too stiff for most street use. The drive by wire throttle travel is reduced by 50% (pedal travel remains the same) making throttle blips on downshift so easy I feel like I'm cheating. A small jab at the pedal sends the revs flying and by luck or super nanny, they almost always land right where you need them for PERFECT double clutch downshifts. And that sound...

And, to top things off, the car has Porsche Sport Exhaust which has internal vacuum activated flaps that convert the exhaust note from docile to devilish with a flip of the Sport switch. I read that someone compared the sound of PSE to flatulence. If I could fart like that, I would have save a fortune.

Handling wise, I believe my 993 my still have an edge but with a singular focus. The 993 steering is more direct and the car turns in seemingly when you think about it. The 997 has a few milliseconds of delay and is less connected just off center, even in Sport mode. The new steering has a numbness not found in the 993.

So, again, the 997 is like owning 2 cars. It has a versatility that the 993 can't. It also has everything that Porsche avoided for so long like hundreds of buttons, gimmicks and gadgets. To look in the 993 and then in the 997 the contrast is striking. As I said in another post on the subject, comparing the two is like comparing a P51 Mustang and a Gulfstream G5. Both are amazing aircraft and flying either would bring a mile-wide smile to most pilots. The G5 is the one you'd almost certainly choose if you wanted to cover alot of ground at high speed in complete comfort. The P51 makes your heart race before it even takes off but it's a more focused, purposeful machine, not meant to meet the wide variety of needs of the masses. At least Porsche managed to maintain one tradition, the 997 stereo sucks.

On styling, the 996 never appealed to me. The 993 is still among the most beautiful pieces of rolling sex appeal ever to grace our highways. The 997 has re-captured some of that sexiness and brought a new wave of buyers. And yes, it does have a soul. Roll the windows down, flip the Sport switch and listen to that gutteral growl between 3-4k rpms and you'll be convinced. The 997 is a worthy successor to the 993 in much the same way that the 993 was to the arguably more visceral but less user friendly Carrera SC or 964. And, in time there will be a new evolution 911 that will make the 997 seem antiquated. And I'll bet you'll find 997 owners proudly defending their piece of Porsche ownership and endlessly debating whether a trade for the new model would in fact be a trade up.

MC

2ndof2

Man, is it just me? I think I feel a tear welling up! Thats a helluv a nice w/up MC. Great comments and comparison.

Bull

No, not just you...I have never read a better write up that completely supports the 993!

H20NOO

2nd of 2,

Thanks for the kind words. As an FYI, the 964 is actually the last of the truly "hand built" 911's. The 993 model introduce major manufacturing automation through the use of robotics, ala the Japanese. If I remember correctly, Porsche brought over a bunch of Japanese auto engineers to introduce Japanese production techniques to the grossly inefficient Porsche production line. Production cost reduction was the primary objective and was required for company survival. The 964 was also far more expensive to produce than the 993 and was actually priced higher if I remember correctly. Today, 997's roll off a largely automated line and utilize Just In Time part and sub-assembly procurement to keep the operation lean and HUGELY profitible.

Regardless, the 993 is going to go down as the pinnacle of the air cooled 911's and that is a very desirable attribute. In my opinion, 993's have effectively bottomed out and will not see much more depreciation. On the contrary, nice example may actually begin to appreciate. There is a huge, growing market in Asia. Watch how many get exported to new-money collectors.

If I had a nice big warehouse, I'd consider buying 8 or 10 premium examples and tucking them away for a decade or so. I can easily see 5-10% annual appreciation on cherry C2S models over the next few years and then 10-15% annually after that.

Snapshot of the future... Barrett-Jackson auto auction, 2015: Pristine, 30k mile 1998 Porsche C2S gavels at $225k. You could buy that car now for $50-60k. Better than the stock market? Probably. Better than real estate? Probably not if you know what you are doing but you'd have to work alot harder at it! Ok, that's enough Bombay Sapphire for tonight.

MC

H20NOO

Actually, I would need a big warehouse and a bunch of investment money... I sure don't have $500k sitting around earmarked for clean 993's!

Ok, one more drink.

MC

Allen

...me too...

95 C4 993

If I had a nice big warehouse, I would considering buying 8 to 10 premium examples.......

......AND DRIVE THEM!!!

Anir

I couldn't disagree more - the 993 has tons of soul, both on the road and at the track.

At 10 years of age, my 993 seems as robust as ever and I truly believe it will age very well with proper maintenance. Then again, my other car is an even older 1992 MB 500E, which is doing equally well. But, please, keep buying new cars. Our economy needs you, and you'll keep Porsche in business so they can keep servicing my cars.

Reynard38

I've driven the 997S and while very impressive, it just isn't the same. I rather take the $$ and either:

1. Buy tickets for the Ninemeister crew to come to the US and install thier British billet jewelry on my "S" or...

2. Find a Guards Red with tan interior Turbo and have some fun with chips and such (500HP).

Either way I'd have 997S performance (or better) with aircooled sound, character and investment potential.

But the new 997 is nice, especially in GT3 guise.

AVoyvoda

"There is a huge, growing market in Asia. Watch how many get exported to new-money collectors."

Not too sure about that... From all that I have seen, Asian "new money" lusts after the latest and greatest. Ultimate Designer etc and always brand new. There's hardly the culture to appreciate classic cars or the expertise to service them. Finally, the aircons are weak and un-suited to the hot and humid climes of Asia. In view of all this, I doubt there will ever develop a large air-cooled collector's market there.

Edward

With the automotive press gushing over the 997, the mechanical merits of any newer 911 are always part of that "desire" car lovers have. But love-of-car has just as much to do with looks and overall feel-goods.

Here's a test for anyone pondering a 993 swap: if you find yourself admiring your own car, doing double takes as you leave your parked 993, and if your pulse quickens as you thank God for that beauty as you approach your own 993, then a trade is absolutely unthinkable. As someone said, add a 997 yes; trade a 993 for one no ...at least for this nutcase.

Edward

geolab

I took delivery of a new 997 S yesterday morning at Porsche in Stuttgart (with loads of options). I drove it 700 kilometers back home. It has been three months that it was ordered.
Sincerely I was deceived overall, maybe because of the check.
As the chief mechanic there says, porsche has to do an effort or the mythe will soon vanish.
I will see if that feeling will stick on monday. Half of the way back, there was rain, which rendered my judgement worse.

I won't go into details now, because all I see is deception.


_______________________________

'97 Carrera S 100% original

obchuck

Please do go into the details geolab...deception? Mechanic (insider!) info??...