My impressions:

Steering is much improved - tighter, more responsive, less darty.
Ride is stiffer overall, feels less *** heavy.
Clutch is much improved and shifter is fantastic - no play at all.
Speed - I didn't take it up past 5500, as it was new, but overall, torque is a big difference over the 996. It pulls harder at lower revs. The added horsepower seems to come in at 5500 and up, as I felt it was about to take off right before I shifted. 60 mph comes up very fast even shifting at 5000. It sounds fantastic. Interior is much better as well. Car is wider on the inside too.

This car is going to be a big seller. After I drove it, we got into my 996,which was traded in already, and drove it as a comparison. The difference is significant.

 

sir,
i pmed you, waiting to hear from your peps.
did u get the S or c2?
can't wait to see the pix.

raja

 

I drove a 997S today also. I currently drive a modded 996TT coupe (non-X50, but with chip & exhaust & PSS9).

The ride is much more solid with no bouncing and "cork-screwing" action that I often feel in the 996 suspensions. Road noise is a little less. Exhaust sound is very good and louder than regular 996.

The shifter is okay, but I would like a short shifter like my 996 has. I didn't like the feel of the actual shift **** - it feels light and plastic. Also, the shifter is in the way of the storage compartment that is positioned low and directly in front of the shifter.

The interior in full leather is pretty nice. The seats are fantastic - finally! (the "adaptive sport seats") The gauges are clear and nice. Note: you lose the amp gauge - it is replaced by an oil temp gauge.

There is more head-room inside, but I felt the door panels intruded more than on the 996 - I felt like it was a little more cramped than my 996. Part of that is the dash board seems higher and tilts toward you. And the arm-rests are narrower.

The lower center console (between the seats) is kind of plain and cheap looking. Adding an optional piece such as carbon-fiber would make it better.

Acceleration is not as good as a 996TT, but is still very good. There seems to be a point above 4000 RPM when it surges forward.

When "sport" mode is selected, it automatically selects firm shocks. Even in the "firm" setting, the ride is still composed and good. I would probably drive it daily with "sport = ON" and "shocks = normal". Unfortunately, this setting doesn't seem to be preserved when you shut of the ignition.

The ride height with the sport-chrono package on the S is noticably lower than on the non-S. It's not 4x4 high (like US spec cars used to be). However, I'm worried that it will be hard to fit any kind of coil-overs on this system.

The variable ratio steering felt pretty good. You only notice it after 30 degrees of turning.

From the front, the 997 has a little lower stance than the 996.

Overall - the car was tight and very nice. It drove like a modern, expensive car should drive. Porsche should be congratulated.

-Ray

 

Power wise how does it compare to your turbo?? And driver satisfaction?

 

The 997S is 355hp, 295lb-ft, and my TT is somewhere around 500hp, and maybe 490lb-ft.

I am kind of spoiled by the turbo's shove in the back. You don't get that kind of shove from the 997S - it is more linear and crisp. You probably would have to downshift before pulling hard in the 997S, whereas in the TT, you just can just accelerate hard in even high gears. The 997S doesn't have as much thrust in lower rpms (but it may be better than the NA 996 in that reguard).

Having said that, the 997S still does feel fast! Compared to my bone-stock TT Cab, the 997S is close.

As for driver satisfaction - the 997 is a much more impressive and complete car than the 996. When I bought my first 996, I was a little dissapointed by things that I thought the competitors had done better (i.e. mediocre power, design and materials of the interior, floaty suspension) The 997 is now completely up to par with the competition and my consumer expectations. I can see myself enjoying driving this car hard, tossing it into corners and pushing it.

 

Ray, finally someone with a review more than 3 lines - thanks!