Looking at getting a 997. I am specifically looking at the Carrera S cab PDK 2009 to 2011.
I posted this the other day and put the incorrect year in the subject, duh.
I have heard there is a difference in the PCM. I do notice that the 2011 has a center radiator and the 2009 doesn't. Anything else? I can get a 2009 with similar miles for $20k less. If there are no real differences, seems like a no brainer.
Thanks in advance
M

 

I dont know for sure about PCM but i think there was a change.

Biggest difference to me is miles, wear and tear on cab top and time of warranty left.

May or may not be worth 20K

 

It depends if this is a "bridge" car to a 991 someday. If this is a short term relationship, then the 09. If you plan on keeping the car a long time, then the '11. I was faced with the same decision in December....the car I really want is a 991 Turbo. I ended up buying an 06 C2 as my "bridge" car. Cheapest entry and hopefully the least depreciation as I wait for a 991 Turbo lease return (at least 3 years away).

The only thing that I might have done different is get the S....so, I think that you are on the right track!

 

I man after my own heart. Yes, this is a bridge to the 991. I really would like a 991 but have two issues. 1. New car depreciation sucks. 2. After being burned so many times, I am hesitant to buy the first year a new model comes out. So I thought I would get back into Porsches with a 997 and then wait a year or two for a 991.

Curious, you were thinking 991 turbo but didn't go with an "S".

M

 

The 2011 model year added an additional radiator for the PDK cars. Not sure if it's needed. I had an '09 PDK for a while and had no issues on the track when it was over 100 out.

Not sure of other differences.

A CPO '09 should be a great car. Or, there are some decent deals on 'leftover' 2011's now too.

 

A friend has an 09 PDK and his oil temps went to 270 on an 85F day. He added a third radiator and the problem pretty much went away.

 

998M....I have wanted a P-Car since I was 13...over 30 years ago. I don't think that I am great driver. I have a lot of DE's to attend before I could say that I was competent. So, I opted for a base car for now to limit depreciation loss.

I found a great deal on an 06 C2 last September. It wasn't the perfect car, but it was great mechanically, perfect aesthetically, and it was cheap enough to make my own. At the time, the least expensive S was about $10K more.....now I am about $9K into mods! Still, I figure with the price I paid, I have the option to keep this car for my boys to play around with later. I figure the most I could lose is $20K over the next 4-5 years on this car. And that's with the mods! That is far less than I would lose on a 997.2.

Now, I have made all the "personal" changes to "Bob." He truly is becoming a unique P-Car. It has been a great hobby just building him up! I have a friend who is a CEO of a major car maker. He owns a 2006 911 S. He is following the "project" on Bob. Soon we will see if the aftermarket power vendors on this site are full of hot air or not! Full exhaust + ECU tune + BMC + 20lb wheels on a C2 vs Stock 997.1 S coming soon!

The one thing I can't change is 3.6 vs 3.8! I'd like to see how Bob pulls against a stock 997 S. If Bob loses, I will just tell myself that will all change when Bob becomes a Track car and the 991 Turbo comes home!

 

I thought the steering wheel changed 09-11. I think the PDK shifters changed to the paddle type. I have a MT though so I could be wrong.

 

Do you have any tips you can share with somebody looking to acquire their first Porsche, 997 at that. I've been skeptical about looking at 05-06 and possibly 07, just thinking that getting as new as possible should be better. Assuming bugs have been fixed, less on-road use, lower kms etc.

I must say, your car is coming along nicely, looks sharp.

 

GTRR
Saw your car on another thread. It is simply stunning. I love the gray with those wheels.

I had a 993 in my 20's. Moved to more practical cars (well, sort of. M3, M5, S4 etc) because of work. I do a fair amount of racing and haven't really planned on tracking the 997. But when you saw up to a race track in a 911 things do have a tendency to just happen. I do plan on driving it all year in Wisconsin. I drive 20k miles per year. So I prefer to buy a low mileage car that is several years old. Drive it and sell it after 2 years. Seems to work OK. Not that anything with $100k cars is cheap. Was thinking about a cab but after seeing your coupe…
M

 

Storonto....it all depends on your long term plans with the car. I wanted as little depreciation as possible and yet be low enough in price point to have fun with mods. So for me, the 06 C2 fit the bill. I know myself. I will lust for the 991 and then buy it! This is my "bridge" car to a used 991 turbo.

If you are happy with a 997 with no intention to flip to a 991....get the 09. I feel like the price difference between an 08 and an 09 is relatively small. However, I feel like the 997.2 is a great improvement. Just the difference in hp would be worth the price difference.

 

998M.....thanks! I am having a ton of fun with mine! I have the mod bug and a not ready to track it yet. Maybe next year! I am adding a new front bumper and sport cats this week. I'd like to go with similar lookin wheels that are 20lbs! Crazycarlitos got me thinking about unstrung weight! These boards are dangerous for addicts like me!

 

05-08 is 997.1. 05 has the old IMS design which is prone to failure (not sure the exact rate). Was upgraded in 06 but its still there. You can retrofit an IMS fix to a 2005 car. 2006 to 2008 are good cars. 2009 on is 997.2. No RMS or IMS in the new engine. S has 30 extra HP. New 4WD system from 997.1. Basically its the same car from 2009-2012. I have had my 2009 since new and its been great (14,000 miles). I think a 2009 represents a good value with the 991 coming out. You can probably get an S in the $70's maybe even lower depending on color / options.

 

That's exactly right. You can find an '09 S with very low mileage for that money. Mine had 1,300 miles when I got it and I love it.

 

I do like mods, since discovering this forum I find myself researching mods for a car I don't have. I likely have no intention of flipping the 997 to a 991. I do like the 991, I prefer the tighter proportions of the 997. As a second P car - I'd like to eventually get my hands on a 993. Would also like a Turbo 997, or who knows maybe in 3-4 years a 991 Turbo. At the moment I see myself keeping the 997. Here in Canada, the 09 4S seem to list in the $90K area with approx. 50K kms. 07 with the same kms tend to list in the $70's. I haven't tested the waters with how much of a discount I could get off any car yet. What is typically seen in the US?