Sold my 2005 997S Launch Car yesterday. I had mixed emotions 'throwing it out of my garage' since it's been in 'my family' for over 6 years. It was basically 'bullet-proof' for the entire time I owned it. A tribute to Porsche's detail when they introduced the 997 back in 2004. It went to a 'good home' so my anxiety was minimized. The new owner promised to take good care of her.

However, it is time to move on to my next 'family member'. I'm thinking a 2011/2012 GTS, new 2014 Cayman S, 2012 BMW 1M or possibly a 2012 Audi RS5. I know they all have quite a different personality but they all ring a bell w/ me. Since I am a Porsche affection-ado I'd prefer the GTS so I'm searching primarily for that one. It needs to be Carrera White/Black Alcantara w/ PDK, Sport Chrono & Suspension as a basis.

I plan to continue to hang out here in the interim and hopefully stay if I find my GTS.

 

Any reason you are not considering a 991? Seems the first 991s are dropping to the price of the best GTS.

 

I like the hips, the extra ponies, Alcantara, sport suspension feature and the 'exclusiveness' of the GTS. I might be in the minority but I like the body shape of the 997 more than the 991. Granted the interior in the 991 is more embellished but once again I like the simpler look of the 997 interior.

Thanks for the input; I just might start taking a closer look at pre-owned 991S cars.

 

I know exactly how you feel and agree with many of your choices .
The GTS sounds nice but I would opt for a manual if buying a 997 only because the PDK is that much better in the 991 . I sold my 997 PDK car on the same day I test drove a 991. I did not buy a 991 though and would not buy a 2012 launch 991 (quirks had to be ironed out).
The 1M is very nice but the premium paid for its exclusiveness makes it hugely overpriced . I still have my 11 M3 and much like with my 08 M3 I like the car , love the reliability and practical space , but am NOT in love with it . It's just not a Porsche .
The Audi ? Blech !!! Its the only choice on yoir list that i detest . I even reject Audi as loaner cars .
The Cayman S is the wild card . My local dealership has a nicely speced launch car and I found myself intrigued with it . I must say that i find it better looking than the 991 and the improvements are incredible . The one i saw was red and it's not my type of color choice but the car did wear it well . I think the hard part of buying a Cayman is will I want a 911? Also a used GTS is very close in price to a cayman S and to me its a no brainer (just if PDK is a must , then the Cayman might be the choice).

Good luck.

 

Thanks for your thoughts. I'll be taking a test spin in a new Cayman S this afternoon. I'll report back my observations. Oh ya . . You're right about the cost of a used GTS vs. a new Cayman S . . . almost a wash.

 

AP...

Beachwood Porsche recently sold a 2011 GTS with your specs. Asking was $79,xxx.

I also felt mixed emotions when I sold my E39M5. Good luck with the new search.

 

Arnie: You were one of the first people I spoke to (at El Toro autocross) when I bought my first Porsche and was first looking into installing a PSE back around 2007. And you sold me a Colgan bra a few of years ago which has been useful on a few long trips in my car. I periodically go through a similar thought process of wondering what I would buy if I decided to sell my car. I too am drawn to the GTS and some of the Audis. Good luck in your choice, and be sure to share it with us when you make your move.
Best of luck, and I hope you go with the GTS so you can stick around and continue adding your helpful comments.

 

Hi Ken,

Recall both the El Toro and Colgan Bra stuff. I take it you're up in Vancouver full time now. Hope all is well.

Test drive a 2014 Cayman S w/ PDK a couple of hours ago and as all the reviews say it is quite a car. I was really impressed and probably will now go in that direction. It's technologically more advanced than the 997 GTS and it drove and handled superbly. It most likely will cost me less even though I configured it w/ $20K worth of options.

If I buy the Cayman S can I still hang out on the 997 forum for awhile? . Maybe as an honorary member.

Just realized I need to redo my signature now.

 

I chatted w/ Beachwood before they sold the car. If I recall it had close to 30K miles which I felt was more than I wanted on that car.

 

GTS is beautiful, best of the NA non-gt 997's

 

I realize this post was to Ken but I really would like to drive the Cayman S .
I am impressed that it won you over above the GTS .

What color ? options ?

There's a launch car that's about 82K sitting at several dealerships . It's not a specific color (like other launch cars in the past) but the options are the same.

 

The Cayman S I test drove today was a 'Launch Car'. My dealer hasn't received any their 'stock' vehicles yet.

My build plan is as follows: Carrera White, Black Interior, Adaptive Sport Seats (electric), PDK, Sport Chrono Package, Sport Design Steering Wheel, PASM, 20" Carrera Wheels, Infomanagement Package (NAV, Bose, etc) and a couple other small options. MRSP was approx. $83K. I'm thinking its a $77K car to me.

I'm not 100% sold yet but I'm leaning heavy.

 

Your build is almost identical to the one I saw (in person) at the dealership here (except it was red) . Options listed below (at end of post).

I can't blame you at all with being swept by it . Ironically they also have a used Meteor GTS . Mind you .. I am not even looking to buy a car and I can't figure out why the heck i am bored with my M3 because its a really nice car that i custom ordered less than two years ago .

I have a question for you . Do you think you will go in to order your car and end up driving out in a modest spec 991 ?

Regarding pricing .. I did not discuss it with anyone in sales here .
The car is so new that 77K on an 83K car would be a very good deal . Keep in mind its listed as a 2014 car which means they have a year to sell them . They may not be in a hurry .

My thinking is that the car to try to negotiate on is the 2013 991S or a used GTS . I notice that guys in the 991 section are already ordering 2014 cars . That means the dealership has to move the 13 cars ( in my opinion) . Also note that the color platinum is being replaced with rhodium (making it a dated color) which might provide a bit of bargaining leverage on that specific color.

Options on the car I saw -
690 - ription and HD Radio© Receiver
680 - BOSE© Surround Sound System
672 - Extend Navigation Mod-PCM 3.0
665 - PCM 3
UN1 - Online Services
P9G - Infotnmt Pk w BOSE© SurSnd Sys
573 - Automatic A/C
342 - Seat heating (front)
276 - Automatically dimming mirrors
268 - Rain sensor
427 - 20-inch Carrera Classic wheels
322 - Power Sport seats (left)
321 - Power Sport seats (right)
P06 - Power Sport Seats (14-way)
603 - Bi-XenonË headlights with PDLS
475 - PASM
840 - SportDesign steering wheel
640 - Sport Chrono Pkg (i.c.w. PCM)
250 - Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK)
P9B - Premium Package i.c.w. Power S

 

I test drove the new cayman as I was asked by a friend to test drive a used cayman s at the local dealership and it's really nice. I just would worry that depreciation is so much greater with the cayman.

 

Looks like I'll be in a Cayman S within the next few days. Pacific Porsche in Torrance had a car in inventory (still in the Port of San Diego) that came real close to my requirements. The sales team worked w/ me and we struck a 'mutually agreeable' deal this morning. I'll be going over there this afternoon to 'ink' it.

I miss my 997S Launch Car, but certainly not the black paint maintenance. The new Cayman S [of course] is white so I'll be spending more time driving and less washing.

I'll migrate over to the Cayman Forum but plan to still check in here every once in awhile to see what you guys are up to.