Potential first time 997 buyer
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 23
From: Cary, NC
Rep Power: 0
I was facing a similar decision myself recently (08 C2S vs 09 C[2|4]S). I ended up going with the 08 C2S. The 997.2 is irrefutably the better car and will ultimately hold it’s value better on the long term, but I couldn’t justify the price difference at this time. In my search, an 09 was about a 20K price jump on average over the 08S when considering similar miles per year. This is ~40% more, but the performance delta isn’t that great. I flip my cars frequently as well so long term depreciation is less important than short term depreciation (for me).
Yes, the 08 still has an IMS, but I’m told Porsche quietly strengthened it a few times over the 997.1 life span. I would be more hesitant to buy an 05 than an 08. Also, I was able to get a 72 month, 75k bumper to bumper warranty through Carmax with a zero dollar deductible for a couple thousand bucks. If I have any issues with the IMS I should be able to get a replacement engine for free. The warranty is transferable, so this will likely help my resale when I try to sell the car outright in a couple years.
There was mention of oil consumption in this thread, while my06 Boxster S consumed within the “normal range”, my 08 C2S has not used a drop of oil in my first 2500 miles and I took it on a cross country trip. It likely depends on the particular car and is some what of a crap shoot. In general earlier revisions of an engine tend to have more quirks then later years. The 09 doesn't have the IMS, but it was also among the first of the new design. My 08 3.8 was among the last of it's breed so I'm hoping for less gremlins.
As far as cabin electronics go, my 997.1 came with both the mObridge bluetooth interface and the Dension iPod interface. These are both expensive pieces of kit. I may have replaced the whole shebang if these weren't included, but I’m mentioning to show these options exist. I can make or receive calls through the telephone function on the PCM and I have a digital iPhone 5 connection that charges my phone while I listen to Spotify. The sound quality of the Bose is amazing as well, but I have to wonder if the prior owner updated the speakers as I've never heard a Bose system in another make of car sound quite so good. The only thing I added is the map update. My dealer sold me the 2013 maps for $220 and insisted I would need to book an appointment for them to instal, but it wasn’t necessary. I installed the maps myself for free by inserting the maps DVD and hitting OK. I didn’t need any PCM software updates since my car was a late 997.1. So now I have bluetooth, iPod digital connection and August 2013 map data on a PCM 2.1 system.
My car has the adjustable suspension since it’s an ’S’ type and I absolutely love this feature, but it does NOT have the sports chrono. I suspect this is part of why I go the car at a low price, but the only difference this makes on a manual transmission is the throttle sensitivity. The power and WOT acceleration is unchanged. Having come from a Corvette with a touchy throttle, I may spring for the sport mode software and button update to get the more sensitive partial throttle response. The only thing I’d be missing then is the dash wart timer. My car doesn't have the PSE exhaust either, but I did the gundo bypass mod for $200 so now it has the permanent PSE sound.
My next car likely will be a 997.2 so by all means, if you can afford and rationalize it now, go for it. I just wanted to point out that a late 997.1 can also be a good value buy and a great car to drive, provided you have a warranty for piece of mind. 997.1 or 997.2, I still wouldn’t own a German car without a warranty period.
Yes, the 08 still has an IMS, but I’m told Porsche quietly strengthened it a few times over the 997.1 life span. I would be more hesitant to buy an 05 than an 08. Also, I was able to get a 72 month, 75k bumper to bumper warranty through Carmax with a zero dollar deductible for a couple thousand bucks. If I have any issues with the IMS I should be able to get a replacement engine for free. The warranty is transferable, so this will likely help my resale when I try to sell the car outright in a couple years.
There was mention of oil consumption in this thread, while my06 Boxster S consumed within the “normal range”, my 08 C2S has not used a drop of oil in my first 2500 miles and I took it on a cross country trip. It likely depends on the particular car and is some what of a crap shoot. In general earlier revisions of an engine tend to have more quirks then later years. The 09 doesn't have the IMS, but it was also among the first of the new design. My 08 3.8 was among the last of it's breed so I'm hoping for less gremlins.
As far as cabin electronics go, my 997.1 came with both the mObridge bluetooth interface and the Dension iPod interface. These are both expensive pieces of kit. I may have replaced the whole shebang if these weren't included, but I’m mentioning to show these options exist. I can make or receive calls through the telephone function on the PCM and I have a digital iPhone 5 connection that charges my phone while I listen to Spotify. The sound quality of the Bose is amazing as well, but I have to wonder if the prior owner updated the speakers as I've never heard a Bose system in another make of car sound quite so good. The only thing I added is the map update. My dealer sold me the 2013 maps for $220 and insisted I would need to book an appointment for them to instal, but it wasn’t necessary. I installed the maps myself for free by inserting the maps DVD and hitting OK. I didn’t need any PCM software updates since my car was a late 997.1. So now I have bluetooth, iPod digital connection and August 2013 map data on a PCM 2.1 system.
My car has the adjustable suspension since it’s an ’S’ type and I absolutely love this feature, but it does NOT have the sports chrono. I suspect this is part of why I go the car at a low price, but the only difference this makes on a manual transmission is the throttle sensitivity. The power and WOT acceleration is unchanged. Having come from a Corvette with a touchy throttle, I may spring for the sport mode software and button update to get the more sensitive partial throttle response. The only thing I’d be missing then is the dash wart timer. My car doesn't have the PSE exhaust either, but I did the gundo bypass mod for $200 so now it has the permanent PSE sound.
My next car likely will be a 997.2 so by all means, if you can afford and rationalize it now, go for it. I just wanted to point out that a late 997.1 can also be a good value buy and a great car to drive, provided you have a warranty for piece of mind. 997.1 or 997.2, I still wouldn’t own a German car without a warranty period.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post