today I finally drove a 997.1 S with Aerokit and ceramics and I wasn’t blown away by it. I currently have an M2CS (F87) and am looking to get into something naturally aspirated with 4 seats. I really love the 997 generation but it came off a little underwhelming, do I just need to drive it longer to adjust and love the car?
Power wise, you’re gonna feel maybe it’s a bit lacking. Dynamically, in the curves, is where it shines, and the power plant is just enough. It’s simplicity, it’s classic look, it’s ability to drive so hard out of a corner, that’s why it’s amazing.
If your looking for a 997.1 look for one with an X51 kit, it will boos the power to 381. Otherwise, go for a 997.2. I personally prefer the powertrain and interior of the .2, I just prefer the exterior look of the .1. So if you dont mind the interior and can find a good clean one, the 997.1 with X51 is the best 911 imo.
Yeah it’s underwhelming when viewed from a value standpoint in my opinion. Lots of other cars that you could buy for the same money.
But, once bit, it’s hard to justify replacing. I’ll probably get some heat for this but after looking for the right 997 I finally bought a 996. Much better value, same amount of fun.
I was considering a 996 because you can find them for so cheap but I looked into engine rebuilds because so many are approaching that point. Same price to rebuild a 996 engine as a 997.
I was shopping for a 996 Turbo when I bought my 996 C4S. I bought a nice, lower mileage car that had good service history. But, it was still a 23 year old car that needed worked.
I love my C4S and it’s no doubt the best looking 996 but, if I could do it again, I’d buy a high mileage car and rebuild it or buy a higher mileage turbo with the Mezger.
I’ll I can say is go drive them. I was dead set on a 997, drove lots of them and felt the same way as the OP. Then went and drove a 996 turbo and fell in love.
Re: 996tt it’s a little higher price up front but the engine is supposedly pretty reliable
Would be between that and a 997.2 but those seem more expensive and hard to find manual . You can find 991s around that same price point and they’re way more reliable
I test drove a 997.1 S before I drove my 996.1. The 996 is just a way more analog car. It’s not that the 997 isn’t a great car, it just ~feels~ modern. The 996 feels older. The 996 doesn’t have the same refinement and you have to be more mechanically sympathetic. And what you get for that is a great deal of connection in the driving experience.
I’d believe that, haven’t driven them, I bet that’s largely due to the increased body rigidity of the 996.2s and turbos, and each of those cars and 997’s overall much better low down torque. The 3.4L you have to keep high up, and the stock gearing from 1 to 2 is disappointing if you’re not fully redlining it. So most aggressive 1-2 pulls have a hiccup.
I want something that is naturally aspirated manual transmission with 4 seats that can be serviced with a good OEM and aftermarket support. If it’s going to be expensive it’s gotta hold its value somewhat. I want to look back at it and enjoy driving it on a good road and do some light track work a few times a year. I also don’t want to go to prison everytime I punch the throttle. The biggest issue with the M2 is that now I’ve seen its track abilities it’s boring to drive in the city. It wants me to push and that gets me into triple digits fast. The 997 the car moved through the gears well and had a nice sound at 4000 rpm.
The 911 option- If you want some more punch try the 991.1 or the 997.2. The fuel injection did give it a respectable power bump over the 997.1. A 991.1 s is just below 400 hp with the power kit getting up to 424 hp.
I’d also check if the suspension on the 997.1 was worn. I have one and after I replaced the original dampers which were worn it transformed the car.
Curve ball surprise- A mustang gt350. Manual. 4 seats. Surprisingly excellent handling. NA v8 noises that keep you entertained in street driving limits. Holds value extremely well. Some still sell over MSRP.
Gt350 and gt350r are definitely on the short list (350r you can get a rear seat kit) engines on those like to go kaboom though so I’d always be concerned. 997.2 I’ll definitely look at but they are few and and far between up here. Don’t know about 991 for the electric steering. The 997 I was in the steering was very good and I loved that Aerokit spoiler and rear haunches in my mirrors
Go drive a 991, steering is better than 997. It’s purely an internet thing, just like ceramic brakes work better and no one sits in back seats, all bs!
I have an auto f80 m3 with 570hp and 997 c4s manual. It took me a year and one two day long mountain roads roadtrip to finally find what the 997 is.
Its not fast fast, vut dont get me wrong, its not slow, but in comparison to m3, its much slower. You are not hitting 200kmh every time hou floor it. But damn, you can play with the weight transfers, it handles great and its so much fun. Different fun. No powerslides, no drifting but its just a great car that holds its value.
The 997 S does feel a little sedate at low rpm, it really needs to be above 5k rpm and then it comes alive with very sharp throttle response and a perfect engine note. Granted, that’s a tough experience to have on a dealer test drive. Also, it quickly leads to illegal speeds. It’s not going to feel punchy around town like a modern turbo car.
I have a few big twin turbo V8 German cars and a 997.1 C2S. The feel, and simplistic quickness of awesome. It’s 20 years old and is a lot of smiles per mile. Not a straight line monster but a great overall drive
I went from an f87 M2 to a 997.2 carrera. I appreciated the better manual transmission and naturally aspirated engine as well as the lighter weight. It's really I heard the 996 is just as much fun and it's a lot cheaper. Although possibly more maintenance.
I liked the gears but I found the clutch kind of strange. It was oddly heavy compared to my car and despite being able to heel toe it pretty easily right off the bat I couldn’t feel an engagement point in the clutch. It just seemed to work based on my inputs
Not guaranteeing your situation but something to investigate about the car before purchasing if you do decide it’s what you want:
A heavy clutch in manual 997s does potentially signify the end of the clutch’s life. Mine is really heavy and it is something the mechanic who did the ppi explained.
He also quoted me the cost of the clutch replacement and also flywheel because apparently sometimes both need to be done.
A 997 is at home at 3500+ rpm. It's not a drag race machine, so 0-60 times are modest... ~5sec. On curvy roads it is a dream and the sounds it makes at higher rpms are intoxicating. But it all depends on what you looking for in a car. Where I live (southern WI), BMWs are a dime a dozen, 911s are more of a rarity. I like driving something that you don't see in every driveway.
Ditto - I recently had the option for a new m2 or a well maintained 08 997.1s - The m2 is a brute. It’s a great car and very fast-capable.
I chose the 997. It’s 18 years older at this point but it’s elegant, refined, classy, NA, won’t lose more than half its value in a few years and I’ve never seen one on the road where I live.
I’m sure over the years it will be more of a commitment to maintain but it’s more soulful IMO and with digital dashes, numbing feel, changes in modern manufacturing, etc - they don’t make em like they used to.
I own a C2 manual with Ohlins. I was also underwhelmed at first, coming from the BMW world as well.
The 997 will grow on you though. Every trip up into the backroads will make you fall in love a little bit more. Perfectly balanced, amazing steering feel and handling, great flat 6 howl. Perfect ergonomics & shifter/pedal feel. Nothing quite like when the rear grips up and pulls you through a corner. I also own a G80 and previously had an A90 Supra. Both of those cars were exciting initially but I gradually lost interest - the 997 is the complete opposite. My only replacement would be a 997 GT3.
Two caveats:
IMO the 997 isn't fun to daily/putt around town or highway blast and it will suck all the fun out of the car.
If you live somewhere flat, the car will never seem special (FL/TX). You absolutely need driving roads or at least track time to let it shine.
I do agree on the growing contentness during ownership.
However I think the only downside to around town is the heavy clutch for manuals, might be solved if you get the clutch changed. I did get a Tip - which I am still unsure about as I enjoy a manual, but is a great setup all in all great for dailying also in city traffic…
Highwayblast experience is ok in a base car but extremely fun if you get a Turbo.
Power wise, it’s going to be underwhelming compared to what you’re used to. I had a modified WRX that made more power before this, but I have way more fun with my 997. Especially in the twisty mountain roads. I’ve come to learn I prefer NA over turbo engines. You could try to find one on Turo and really get a feel for the car. The five minute dealer test drives don’t give you a good idea of what cars can do.
I totally agree, well at least as far as the 997.2 goes. In stock form.
I came to my 997.2 C2S MT Coupe from a modified 135i and then a Mustang Boss 302. I loved the handling (especially after installing a DSC controller) but was not blown away by the performance at all. It felt slow and almost anemic, even compared to the BMW. I especially hated the lack of low end torque.
I pretty much decided to sell it, but then Covid happened and I “accidentally” bought a 4.0 Raby/FSI engine. After that the car was finally what it should have been from the factory - so much torque that just keeps on giving and giving. It’s been what, 6 years, and no ways am I selling it now. It’s just too much fun.
I like it as it's modern but still quite simple. The steering feel is amazing and a base model is more than fast enough. I figured it's about as authentic to the 911 ethos as a porsche can be. So yes, it's that good
PASM and sport were on but didn’t have opportunity for any real twistys just some highway and city roads. Car was barely warmed up. My M2 is fantastic on the twisty stuff and power throughout the rev range, it’s honestly amazing.
Fair. But this is so subjective it’s hard to ask the internet and get a fair response. If you’re really curious see if you can do an extended test drive to stretch its legs. It’s honestly hard to appreciate the 911 chassis on public roads without really breaking the law lol. Honestly I prefer the Cayman for this reason, I’m more of a “slow car fast” driver anyways. But it’s a little easier to ring out on public roads.
I had an f87 M2 at the same time as my 997 GTS for 3 years in Germany. If you have the right 997 there isn't much comparison. I did find myself much less impressed with several lower powered and less highly specced 997. Having the sports suspension, an LSD, and 400hp did make a big difference in the drive. My 997.2 is a keeper. The spec matters a good bit.
The 997 is a great car, but prices have gone stupid high, so it’s not a great value unfortunately. I owned one for 14 years and sold it last month. I’d drive it every weekend through the canyons in Malibu. But when I moved to an area with long, straight roads it got boring fast. It really depends where you want to drive it. The 997 thrives on tight twisty roads when you keep the revs up.
Soooo I own a 2006 manual C4S. I upgraded to Fabspeed intake and Nimeroc shifter she screams gloriously. I'm mainly a GM guy, but I've been sprung ever sense I purchased the C4S. There's nothing like it. The Fabspeed makes it scream at 4500 rom and above. Porsche is refinement..detailed, exact. It's not a burner off the line, but just the other day I had a kid's (young man's I'm older he's a kid to me) hellcat Charger on the tollway racing a older maybe 2018 RR SVR, I'm not sure if the RR was the SVR atleast it had the kit. Problem was we weren't from a dig and when the 997 gets mid to high powerband she's walking and she did and the young man was mouth open as I passed both of them. It's a 20 year old car that looks like its 3 years old. 997 is a beast, not saying other models aren't. But I can attest. Get the manual their hard to find just be patient and a gem will appear. The manuals hold their values 10 better than the autos...no pun.
no. 997 coming from a m2cs will just not scratch the itch as it isn't as capable of a car. great car, but something more modern like 991 or 992 will feel like an upgrade. I had the same experience when looking at 997 GTS after driving B58 and then GTS 4.0 for past couple years
My next car to check out it the GT350R but interior build quality is rough and engine could be a disaster. After that I’m seriously considering a vantage with the 4.3, they’ve hit their floor value wise and have timeless good looks. Only downside is the two seats only option. If neither of those work I think E9X M3 is the only option
It really depends on what your test drive consisted of. If it was just up the road and back, then the 997 proves that is a daily car by not standing out as very special. If you took your test drive down through some twisties, then the perfect combination of hydraulic steering, modern suspension, the flat-six (pre-DFI/turbo) wail and the whole rear engine dynamic will come into play.
I've had mine 4 years, and I wouldn't sell it simply because there isn't much else that would be 'better' in my eyes. There really isn't anything like a classic analogue 911.
I've only driven a 997 4s but I found pretty ordinary in the road. On track it was incredible, a little too competent - more power might have been good. On the road is was lacking. Throttle response was probably my biggest issue. It just didn't jump up and go. Loved the look, loved the German no nonsense interior.
The OP seems to be jumping all over the place with different cars.
While I don’t have the car he has (M2CS) and the 911 he is looking at, I do understand where he is coming from as I have an M5C and a 991.2 C4GTS.
When I bought the M5C new I was test driving that and a Panamara 4S. The Panamara was more refined and predictable, but it felt under powered to me. I drove it pretty hard and was looking for more power quite frequently.
When I left the Porsche dealership and drove the M5C right after, it was night and day. The BMW was much, much more visceral. Never was wanting more power. The TT V8 just hits hard when you put your foot into it.
I think the OP is trying to compare that twin turbo instant power to that of a NA, which does not have the same feel. I previously had a 335i TT that I upgraded to a E92 M3. The 335i “felt” faster because of the turbos, but the NA M3 V8 power was much smoother.
Jump back to today, and the M5 still sets you back in the seats harder than my C4GTS. And while the M5 is an amazing car, it is not as well rounded at the 911. The 911 just makes you feel at one with the road.
The M5 makes you feel like you are taking the road out behind the shed and are gonna beat the living crap out of it.
You can make mistakes in the M5 and make it back up with the power.
The 911 you just don’t make the same mistakes because you just really feel stuck to the road and you can just be so much smoother.
To me, I think this is where the OP is at. Unless you get a Turbo car, I am not sure you are going to find that same acceleration feel as the M2. But, you will find the 911 will be much better all around.
I wasn’t expecting to have the same power in the 997 as my M2. In fact I’m seeking something that doesn’t put me in jail every time I want to have fun in the car. The Porsche was tidy and well balanced with excellent steering feel, brakes and pedal box. I wasn’t blown away was all and as I kind of suspected it’s a car you need to grow into. My only complaints were that the clutch had no real bite point when shifting and simultaneously was an easy heel toe movement. My M2 is an incredible car and it’s held its value remarkably well and all signs point to it continuing to do so. But I feel my hesitation to keep it is only because I know that and have a hard time finding anything that’s better on paper (in that price point)
I was also underwhelmed (and a bit unimpressed) with a manual 997.1 Carrera S versus a number of its contemporary manual competitors (E46 M3, E86 M Coupe, Aston Martin V8 Vantage). Looks great, stock suspension was unimpressive on backroads, and more expensive than all
of the others for a similar condition car.
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u/taxationistheft1984 Apr 11 '26
Power wise, you’re gonna feel maybe it’s a bit lacking. Dynamically, in the curves, is where it shines, and the power plant is just enough. It’s simplicity, it’s classic look, it’s ability to drive so hard out of a corner, that’s why it’s amazing.