Hello 997 owners, I have almost given up trying to get the 991 in the color I want anytime soon and who knows when the new version with the new motor.

I came across a really, really clean 2007 S coupe with 6300 miles at my dealer, it's a manual and fairly well optioned. They are asking $62k plus, so I looked at NADA and some values, the low miles adds about $14k to the value if I am looking at it right, I need to spend more time on it. Anyway I took it for a ride and was really impressed, it just looks and has the feel of a little bit of every earlier versions, the quality is amazing, the power was amazing and just overall had a unique feel and experience. I got back in one of my driver cars a 2011 M3 which is a great car, but felt generic or more like a Toyota or sedan, nothing like the 911, not bad, just a different driving experience.

So anyway I am trying to work a deal, we are still miles apart, they want top dollar for the 911 and low dollar for the M3. I am trying to keep a poker face but geez seriously, a $95k Porsche with 6300 miles on it for near half that hopefully we can work a deal, I would pay $55k in a heartbeat, maybe even $59k even if it is a bit overpriced, I am looking at the value of what I will get out of it, I can drive the heck out of it and put 100,000 miles and have a blast, my M3 seems like an old Granny in comparison, it's also just in great shape. If I didn't know Porsche's, I would have thought it was a brand new, 0 mile 2015, it's that clean and I am sure will sell quick for good money.

So what are any unseen quirks or problems with this year and version? I actually really like this body style, repair and replacement parts are reasonable and abundant. The only thing I don't like is the silver/granite color of the radio and other bezels which I am sure they have in black or dark grey as well as some other interior pieces. Any input would be grateful!!

 

Personally I'd be worried about a car of that age with so few miles. Porsche recommends 6k a year I think. A car with so few miles had sat for very long intervals and problems have yet to be discovered. Just my 2 cents.

But then again my 06 had 75k on it.

 

Thanks for the reply, it's a tough one, my m3 high trade in says $41k, high retail for the 911 $54k, high trade $49, but given the market I am thinking mine $41 and the 911 $49k the PPI was done and I think he is keeping the CPO as a last benefit, even though it qualifies anyway, just games I guess.

I know $55k is even high, but whatever the numbers $10k difference and I will be happy, but I think $46K some is probably the real world value. It's not apples to apples, but a new 2015 is $84k for a base non s, some low mile used 12-13 S's are probably $70 to $80k, I haven't looked. I like the style and character of the 997 and with some Fuch's wheels it would be like fulfilling the dream of buying a brand new 75-80 911, but with new technology if that makes sense. Mechanical's I can deal with, worn looking leather, and beat up paint full of rock chips and scratches are expensive and are never the same quality as the original paint or leather. Just some thoughts.

Anyway, thanks again, I will keep playing the game and show the other hot deals I have found as alternatives. But man it is a lot of car for the money even paying $5k over the market for what I will get out of it.

 

With that low mileage and CPO you'd be good at $55k, but the game is the game.

 

I hear what you are saying regarding getting a cosmetically next to new 997. The interior trim does mar rather easily- typical of the rubberized coated plastic parts of the era. My e46 M3 suffered from the same.

That said, I would prefer getting even more car, w. bit more mileage, but still well below average. For the money you are talking, I would buy this 997 all day, any day- it is underpriced! It's a C4S- all wheel drive wide body, x51 power package, factory aerokit, desirable color combo, sports chrono, sports exhaust, navi, reverse sensors, built in k40, full-leather, stamped headrests, etc...it's the most complete 997 I have seen in a LOOONG time! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Porsche-911-...m=301701536609

BTW, to answer your question, I have owned the first 3 generations of the M3 (e30, 36, 46) and loyal to that model. I just picked an '07 997S 2 months ago and could not be happier!

 

Yes that one is clean! The bumper looks like it has a clear bra that has yellowed, no big deal, advances have been made with that technology as well as nano coatings.

Yes I also worry about cars that just sit and never get driven and then get driven the crap out of by people like me. But I guess I also have my share of garage queens which is the only reason I was looking at this, I was hoping it would tide my 911 cravings until the new version of the 991 comes out. I was going to just settle on black and have it in a month instead of waiting who knows now how long to get the color I wanted which I would keep a long time.

But, I guess it's a car guy thing, the 997 is almost so perfect I would probably end up being afraid to drive it and then eventually have another garage queen which I don't need. The rational thing would be to find something $35-$40k with miles but in the best shape possible. I hate to say but lately I have been seeing a lot of good results with vinyl wraps that clean up a rock chip damaged paint car. Also I hate to even say the word spray dip, but have also seen some really great looking matt finish work done, and for an afternoons work and like $300. Even if it last 3 months I would probably be tired of the color and do it all over again. The key seems to be treating all the black plastic parts with a good nano protection otherwise the orange citrus based remover turns it white. Tearing off big sections is pretty easy but some of the small pieces seem to be a nightmare, and I have tried the remover and it works great and easy, just spray it on, let it sit and power was it off, just not in your own driveway, that's what ex girlfriends driveways are for! Honey do's revenge!!

 

I got my C2S in May and I'm very happy with the car. I wish it had a few more options like full leather, sport seats, sport chrono, etc. However, for $40k for a very clean, 40k-mile one-owner 911 with all service at the dealer, I couldn't pass it up. I have noticed more little flaws in the rubberized interior coating and a couple exterior scratches as I spend more time around the car, but generally the car presents very well. It's going to get more road rash anyway as I plan to put 10k mi/yr on it, with plenty of track and auto-x miles as well.

I actually like that it isn't some rare, ultra-low mileage pampered car, because I wouldn't feel comfortable fully enjoying it. Not to mention, the general public's impression of my car is that it's brand new, as evidenced by the number of people asking me!

I think you'd be very happy in a 997 vs a 991; I personally prefer the hydraulic power steering, "just-right" exterior proportions, and less-cluttered cockpit. With regards to the silver interior center stack, bumperplugs.com has a service where they custom paint those pieces to anything you'd like. You could go body color, piano black, whatever you like. I'd personally upgrade the PCM system to a newer head unit with bluetooth and navigation.

 

One common problem to look out for is the slow cranking start for the 997.1. Some Porsche genius decided to put a smaller starter/alt cable. The 997.2 have a bigger cable. My 07 C2S have this problem & it's freaking annoying esp. on very hot day. When you try to start it right after you turn off the ignition. It'll turn really slow like the battery is dead.

 

I would not pay that kind of money for a 997.1. I just ran across a C2 997.1 with adaptive sport seats and full leather interior everywhere with only 16K miles for 38,000. If I was in the 50K range myself I would want something with more power and speed. Only reason why I picked up this one was because it has flawless original paint and a really clean interior. As the others have said - I would prefer a car that was driven more frequently. Oil seal issues are bound to crop up as I drive the wheels off this machine. I could not be happier with this car. After owning the '91 BMW M5 which was one of the best BMW's ever made in my humble opinion - having driven that car extensively through Mexico at terminal velocity for hours on end I can honestly say that the Porsche is the real ultimate driving machine

 

Is there some kind of retrofit process to put a bigger cable in? I know exactly what you are talking about, my first car was a Mustang and when I restored it I put the battery in the trunk, it took a bit to figure it out, the cable was too small to pass enough current. Lesson learned I guess, I thought they locked these engineers in a garage until the got it all right! ha!

Actually I hate to say but I was planning on buying the new 2016 Camaro V6 as a daily driver and general use, it's just far less trouble and hassle I hate to say, I can deal with the extra insurance, maintenance expense to drive a great car I enjoy. For fun and weekend cars I pretty much just get in them and drive so I don't have to deal with idiots and the "Oh one of those guys" bs when I drive a BMW or even when I had a Cayman. It just seems like more wiseguys and a^&es when driving, parking or getting fuel. Whatever, their beeoches are eyeballin me anyway, that's life in the fast lane!

So anyway, it's turned ugly with the car deal haha, just kidding not that bad. They are set at $59k and $41k for my car, it's a nice car, but base 2014-2015's with a few miles are in the $70's for an almost 10 year newer car. I guess I will just wait it out and get the 991 the way I want it, but really I like the 2015 body, the next version seems chopped up and Audi like in the front. Also there are plenty of used cars on the market, it is almost always a buyers market, I should bail out of the M3 since the miles are still decent but a V8 M3 just seems wrong, I should have kept the 2005. The right 997 is out there or will pop up with some consistent searching, but the hunt is half the fun!

But this idea really has me on a mission, I know, kind of funky looking, but I like that retro look of the early cars, just not the air cooled, torsion bar part. The brown/dark bronze looking one is a color I would never have thought of.

 

Yeah that's what I am talking about, $38k and 16k miles is right in the middle, you can't buy much car for that in a new car today, plus, these were what $75-$90k+ cars when new and still are almost like new, that's a bargain. I will keep looking, that brown just looks very good and different from the common red and black. I hate to bring up the wrap thing again, I have been experimenting with it, it's not actually that hard to do, except the front and rear bumpers, plus I like doing my own stuff. The material is actually really cheap and protects the paint well. And $3600 for a full wrap, not on an 8 year old car, that's expensive labor, I would rather spend it on wheels, I don't need it to be perfect, it's cheap to keep changing it when it gets beat up or bored with the color, matte would be easy to maintain.

 

You just need a 997.2 cable(much larger). It's not an easy DIY but do-able. There's a few parts to remove (airbox, plenum, etc)to get to it & it's in a tight place. Some people lowered the engine for easier access but not required. I'm letting the shop fix mine as I don't have the time or patient to tackle it.

 

What he said. My car had this issue when I bought it. The dealership misdiagnosed it as a bad battery so they put a fresh Interstate in when I bought it. I then took it to my indy tech and had the cable replaced along with the starter, out of precaution. Starts perfectly every time now!

I agree, the 997 with the duckbill spoiler and the Fuchs/Sport Classic wheels looks surprisingly good. Usually I don't care for retro throwbacks but it works on this car.

I could not justify $59k on a 997.1 S. I'd start looking at 997.2's and higher mileage Turbos at that price point. Keep looking and you will find a better option for less.

 

Yeah I think the Ether of spending too much on a new 911 after seeing what I can find with low miles. The turbo version of the 991.2 or whatever is probably $135k with all the options I want, but after hours of digging on the internet, I have no idea why they make it so difficult and don't have more option choices when looking for a new or used car to save the time. I guess the idea is you will settle for whatever it is when you arrive to see it. Anyway, I have found about 5 2013-2014's with 287-2300 miles on them, for $75-$80 asking price, 2 are S's. 7 speed MT, glass sunroof and sport seats are almost must haves, some already have the techno wheels and sport design package. Geez, that's almost $70k less than a new one, I can piece the car I want together and keep looking for a 15-20k mile 997 and do the retro look. The look I am after for the 991 is similar to the 2012 club sport in green or most likely just black. I like the Brewster green, but not in the sun, it's way too light, but, black is always black. I can live without the Espresso interior too. I am not sure about giving up on the those great looking ceramics, that's another issue to look into, maybe Suncoast will make a killer deal on a set.

Anyway, it's been an eye opener, as much as I would love the perfect car, Porsche doesn't need an extra $75k of my hard earned money, heck with that, that's an M4 to replace the M3 with, crazy stuff.