Dave R.

What Porsche did you have before your 997, what do you miss about the old one and what do you like about the new one?

I changed out of a 964 Targa into a 997.1 Carrera, and I miss ->

Germanic "thunk" of doors closing.
Bottom-hinged clutch pedal.
Symphony from the engine bay... more instruments in the air-cooled orchestra than the water-cooled one.
Cruise control that suspends during gearshifts and automatically resumes when the clutch comes back out.
20+ gallon fuel tank! (16.6 is always thirsty).
Dry sump oil system - professional grade.
An actual, physical oil dipstick.
Aluminum wheel lug nuts instead of lug bolts (just because)

What I like about the 997.1 ->

Power. Oh, my, yes. 30% more horsepower than the 964 and similar curb weight, always brings a smile on the daily romp to redline.
More headroom!
Greater sure-footedness.
Coil packs on the spark plugs, *much* easier to service than twin mechanical distributors and meters of spark wires woven through engine bay shrouds to 12 spark plugs.
Hydraulic valve lifters. Valve adjustments on the 964 were a zen experience but also a lot of work, I enjoyed them but don't miss them.
Shape - 997s are what the 996 should have been, and they make the 993s fade into the background. Give me the refined classic "frog light" 911 look of the 964 or the hungry swoops of a 997, the two intervening generations can melt into history where they belong.

joey c

I traded in a 2011 Boxster S for a 2007 c2s..I do miss having the top down at times but that is it..The 911 is much better..In the past I also owned a Cayman and 2 other 911s..I do miss my 87 911..that was a lot of fun.I also had a 993,nice car but not as fun as the 87..
The cayman was a lot of fun..its a nimble little car,BUT I do love the 997 most of all!!!!!

Chaos

996 cab the lapis blue color
993 coupe nothing
90 S2 cab (2) nothing

kevspada

I had an 03 996 w/navi. The only thing I miss is the navi. It was fun to play with. My 997 is waaaayyy better in every other aspect!!

ClaylG

I owned an '87 3.2 for 9 years and now own an '06 997S. I don't miss the old one a bit. I did like the fit and finish of the old one but that's about it. The newer one is still built very well, has more power, creature comforts, looks damn good and puts a bigger smile on my face than my old one ever did.

larrytrk

New 71 911T. first experience with Porsche, fun adjusting carbs with unisyn, engine fire with carb blowback, got metal airbox. sorry didn't get an S. Rusted out around doors
Till 76 911S targa in 78, loved Targa roof, more power, added popoff valve, hydraulic tensioners, used it to camp, DD and pure fun to drive anywhere,repainted again time to let go.
next 92C2 in 97, more refined, fun fun, upgraded stereo, etc. heavy clutch and as I got older, seats not as comfortable on longer trips and in traffic. still miss Slate Grey.
Till 06 997S, sat in my 997 with adaptive sport seats, took a quick drive, Oh what a joy to be in!!Sport exhaust on sunroof open, let's go. Dension for iPod good, Bluetooth for phone, Bad,harder to add electronics I wanted, still wonder who got her, great car.
and finally 09 997S new in 2010, Deal of the century, PDK wow, Bluetooth, Sat radio, GPS and iPod all flawless. Added Sport Exhaust, not as nice sounding as 06, but OK, Total Joy out west and back, love it! occasionally miss the 6 speed, not in regular traffic.
what's next? 991 drive didn't excite me the way the others did. So this baby may be it!

gonz911

'99 996 - glad it's gone
'78 911SC Euro and modded - purist machine and lightweight (removed A/C and heavy bumpers); new engine punched out to 3.2, rebuilt trans, and loved auto-x and light track duty not to mention street use. Enjoyed it for 10+ years.

I love the 997 though!

garyinseattle

Started with an 85 944, underpowered, and front end plowed in corners.

Moved up to a 90 C4 Coupe. Fantastic car, fast, solid and handled great. tracked it often. Kept it for 11 years

Next bought an 05 Boxster. Great car, quiet, smooth, handled really well. A little underpowered, and maybe too buttoned down.

Current is an 07 Cs Cab. Torque is over the top, fast, handles great, best looking car by far. Hope to keep it at least 11 years.

RudyP

I went the other way - bought the 997.1 C2S first and then added a 993 C4S.

I like both - it makes me appreciate the differences in a positive light since any drawbacks of one are avoided by driving the other.

I love the 997's power, outright speed, bullet-proof handling, steering precision, lap times at the track, interior roominess (I am 6'6") and comfort and convenience features. On the other hand I love the old world feel of the 993, the tactile quality of the interior, the sounds, the smell of the old leather and vinyl, the feeling of compactness from behind the wheel, the nostalgia from when I was in HS/college and dreamed of owning one and I think that it looks stunning.\

I would like to add an earlier 911 (possibly a 964) and a 356 at some point as well.

IslandS52

1989 951 in guards red. I miss the turbo on boost on the freeway at 4k. I do not miss the maintenance and repairs, the worn out suspension, poor AC and illumination, buffing out the chalky residue that was my top paint layer every month, no torque, pop up headlights, the crazy rats nest of pipes and wires they called an engine...



my current 997 X51, on the other hand, I really love, although I could do without the TPMS.

Mike in CA

Not counting my '11 Cayenne S, Porschewise I went from:

1984 Carrera 3.2 with whaletail
1999 996
2007 Boxster S
2009 Carrera S

What do I miss? The '84 was my first Porsche and I had more of an emotional attachment to it, and owned it longer, than any of the others. Everything about that car is seen through the lens of nostalgia and time, so it's hard to be objective.

OTOH, it's easy with the '09 Carrera. It's the best car I've ever owned and does everything it's designed to do incredibly well. If I had room in my garage for 2 911's I'd still own the 3.2. But to only choose one, it's obviously the 997.2.

Edgy01

I missed the classic lines of a true "911." With narrow body and a turbo charger it was a sleeper. Loaded with leather, and ultra-fast (top speed 172). The new car lets me drive much faster without working at it at all, however.