Looking at a 2005 997, 42k Miles, 38,500
 

Howdy

I am tire-kickin' with a 2005 997 with 42k miles, at $38,500.

I live in MN, and I am just romanticizing about this thing, but there's not a lot of practicality in buying such a thing.

But I wanted to know what you guys thought? Is 42k a lot of miles on a porsche?

Its also a standard carrera. Is that a mistake? Should I go for a 4 or an S or a 4s?

I realize 4 means all wheel drive. But what does the S mean?

Thanks

P.S. -- Will this bad-boy sound nice?
P.P.S - What will it be worth in 2 years?

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/2664/83335921.jpg

Also, is driving a porsche a lot more expensive than driving a BMW?

According to consumer reports magazine the 2005 cars have had some major engine issues. If you search this forum you'll find members that have posted about some of these issues. Specifically, the rear main seal (RMS) starts leaking oil and the intermediate shaft (IMS) can break as a result of a bearing failure. The RMS can cost upwards to $1500 to put right. If you experience the IMS issue you will likely need a new engine which can cost up to $18,000. If I were you I would go for a late '06 or newer.

If you want to roll the dice on the '05 then get an extended warantee from a reputable company (and that's difficult to do since many of them are crooks) and make sure you have some extra $$$ in reserve for when something goes wrong. Repairs and parts can be costly. Sorry, I can't compare them to BMW because I don't have any personal experience with them. I can tell you this, my father's 11 year old E-Class with 70,000 miles recently needed some a bunch of "little stuff" done plus a set of front tires and the bill was $4,600! :eek:

Ok thank you..

my 05 was great, thats a decent deal i saw a similar color car in ocala @ porsche dealer that sold for 36 about a year ago...

I bought a CPO 2005 Carrera with Porsche warranty for 42.000 incl. tax, transport etc. and 22.000 mls, 1 owner.
Aftermarket warranties charge a lot for a 911 - so about 2-2.500$ per year?
In the end you are already at 41.000$ without tax.

Perhaps some further information on the car would be good to see if it is really a good deal.

I have an 05 997 S with 30,000 miles and no issues. I'm not sure that a Porsche is any more expensive to run than a BMW. I have both. Well, tires on a 911 are crazy expensive. Overall, they are just two different cars. I guess that I don't see one as a simple swap for the other. Even an M3 (heck of a nice car) is a different animal.

Yeah I drove an M3 for a test drive and a 911. I found the m3 very tough to shift. But I probably dont have the skills you guys have on a high performance machine. I currently just have a little 3 series.

Hey -- we're neighbors. Dont see many porsches around here.

Hello neighbor. I've noticed a few Porsches finding their way out of the garages now that the weather is warming up a bit. If you get a 911 take a look at the local Porsche club. Nord Stern. Good people and fun events. Including trips up to BIR.

Anyone else have any feedback on this bad boy? The dealer is twisting my arm on it.

If they are twisting then there is room in the price ... go down 4 K and get a one year warranty and you have a deal!

which dealer?

Here's the same car and there asking alot more at my local dealership. If they take $37k and its clean 997 prolly not a bad deal at all !
http://www.brumosporsche.com/preowne...A29935S715428/

beautiful car. I agree that if they're trying to twist your arm, you should negotiate for a better price.

before you do that, however, I suggest you do some research on these cars. not trying to lecture in any way, but judging by your questions in your first post you don't know much about the 997. I'll give you the quick answers to your questions, but I suggest you do a lot more reading to make sure you're getting the right car at the right price. also, understanding how you intend to use the car will significantly influence what's appropriate (will you track it, will it be an extra car, will you use it in the winter, etc.).

the "S" model Carrera includes a number of upgrades, the most important of which are:

1. bigger engine - 3.8 liter vs. 3.6 liter and 355hp vs. 325hp
2. brakes - S models come with larger, red-painted calipers as opposed to black (the red calipers also have an open design, making them easier to service). the look of the red calipers is very cool
3. suspension - S models come standard with Porsche Active Suspension Management, "PASM," which allows you to switch between comfort and sport and is slightly lower (I believe it sits 10mm lower, but someone correct me if it's 20mm). I've never driven a 997 without it, but I'm told that it rides somewhere in between the two, so the PASM cars get the best of both worlds (more comfort for everyday driving and a stiffer sport suspension at the push of a button).

it's only a few thousand more for an S, and I think the difference is very well worth it, so I'd suggest seeking out an S. most on the forum would agree.

42K miles isn't too much by any stretch, in my opinion. these are very well built cars that last a long time; they are made to be driven and driven hard.

the decision of rear drive vs. AWD has been discussed at length. the general conclusions that I've arrived at are, in no particular order:
1. rear drive is plenty driveable in the winter with snow tires
2. rear drive is generally better for the track
3. rear drive has a bit more road feel in the steering
4. AWD 997's have the wide body, which looks badass (they're tougher to find, but if you ask me the wide body alone makes it worth getting a "4")
5. AWD is, obviously, better in the winter or slippery conditions. with snow tires, it's extremely impressive in slick conditions