Thanks so much, Will, for having me in the channel to share my passion for Porsche and specifically my 997.2. I’m confident the video will be helpful for those Rennthusiasts out there interested in these models and wanting an ownership perspective. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t also provide my thanks for you allowing me to get behind the wheel and row through the gears in your amazing 993. Air cooled appreciation indeed.
“Sometimes the right car finds you.” That is SUCH a true statement! It’s all about the process. Thanks for sharing your beautiful 997.2. I’m looking for that same generation but a C4S for all-weather driving to go along with my 981 Boxster S!
Exactly the same for me. The 997 is the sweet spot. I have a 997.2 Turbo cabriolet with manual transmission over eight years now and have driven 58.000 miles and it is here to stay for the next 30 years. I hope I can still get the petrol for it in the future. Have fun with your car!
My Father died a month ago. He left me a 2001 911 carrera 4 with 1400 miles. This video made me smile. While you grew up in the SC targa. My dad was into the 928’s and 964’s when I was a little kid.
@@yongkim777 nice. My post should’ve said 14,000* miles. Sitting at like 22 now. Been driving that thing! Someone told me yesterday that they couldn’t tell if it was a 98 or 2024 lol.
First off, thank you for including some water-cooled content. If you're a 911 enthusiast, the water cooled era is simply another chapter of the 911 story that should be loved and shared. As an owner of an '04 996 C4S, I'm continually surprised by (and personally thankful for) the IMS fear-hype on the 996 and 997.1 generation's m96 /m97 motors. To permanently fix the IMS issue, it's the same ballpark price as getting front brakes and rotors done! (Around $2k depending on where you get it fixed) - It could be looked at as standard maintenance! No doubt both 996 and 997's are awesome machines.
I have a lovely 996. The IMS is a NON ISSUE. Due to the age of 996’s, they have either failed already and been changed, or were changed for peace of mind. It affected about 5% of 996’s in the early days, but we are pushing 20+ years now. Great analog car to drive and I couldn’t be happier. With that said, his 997 is gorgeous and may be my next P car.
@@Triple_A_Dogs How much blue smoke at startup? Better get those cylinder bores checked. I see in the tea leaves a $20K engine rebuild in your near future.
James clearly loves high end German stuff. He's the go to guy for HK firearms training, knew I recognized him from somewhere. Nice car and vid! I've got a 997.1 c2s myself and love the car.
Loved seeing water cooled represented. This is a beautiful car. I appreciate the air-cooled but will never afford one. I own a 996.2 and love it. There is a Porsche for all tastes.
Took me a while to get to this video but I'm certainly glad that I did. James' analysis of the 997 is spot on and echoes my feelings as well -- it is a modern classic that is thrilling to drive and enjoyable to live with. I have a 2005 Carrera that looks very similar to James's car -- silver with black leather (I do wish I had those ventilated seats - Texas can be hot in the summer). I chose the 2005 specifically because of the IMS issue. Prices are lower than the 997.2 but you are hardly giving up anything in performance and livability. The 2005 model year engine is different than later 997.1's in that the IMS can be easily accessed and replaced at a reasonable cost. I feel I have a great car and I love driving it! Cheers from Round Rock.
If I’d seen this video a few months ago, I may have stuck with the 997 that I was closing in on……but, ultimately, I opted for a 991 with more of the creature comforts of a modern car. It was close but I could afford the cost difference so I went for it. Great video.
Will, great video, great perspective from James. I searched (unsuccessfully) for quite a while for a 997.2, but was always just a “day late”. I have a 991.1 and love it, but have a real soft spot for the 997.2 for all the reasons James mentioned. Thanks again, keep the great content coming!
When I picked up my low mileage 2011 C2S 6sp coupe in 2016 the salesman told me to definitely hang on to it. He claimed he was recommending his friends get 997.2s as well. It was my first Porsche and thought it was just sales BS at the time, His claims have proven to be true. I love this car. I also like the fact that it has nearly doubled in value since I bought it.
Call me crazy, but, I think, in the end, the 997.1 will be considered the last "truly analog" 911. The .1 was created specifically in response to the claims Porsche had "lost its way" with the 996 and was advertised as the "purest expression of who [Porsche] is." The .2, with its DFI and introduction of PDK, will be the noted departure moment. All-in-all the 997 series will be the watershed series to own for purists, outside of the water-cooled generations.
I personally don't think my 997.2 C4S 6 speed feels ANYTHING like my '87 Carrera. There is no "air cooled feel" in a water pumper. My 997.2 is way bigger, way heavier, way faster, way more horsepower, way wider tires, way smoother/shorter shifting than my '87. It doesn't feel mechanical like my '87. The only similarities are the weight in the back and the greenhouse. But in the 997 you sit lower and further back. In my '87 you sit upright, and close to the vertical-feeling windshield. Both are VERY fun to drive, but they are totally different.
Comparing a 1987 car to an over 20 years younger 997.2 is pointless because, as you say, they are totally different. You're in the great position of having such a choice! I get the raw attraction of the air-cooled cars, but it always amuses me how some air-cooled guys take that superior air, bordering on snobbery, towards the water-cooled cars 😊. The 997.2 is the last of the analogue 911s before Porsche turned them into GTs except for the GT3s. I want one! Looking for a GTS.
half the price of a new 991.1 at the time? damn he got lucky, a carrera S 997.2 with low miles like that (if you even find it) NOWADAYS goes for around $90k and with 28k+ miles. I'm still waiting for my unicorn as well, a 997.2 carrera GTS in white and black gts wheels, stick(obviously), and black leather interior, have found a couple but the asking $ is insane... a few bucks less than a new 992, the thing is I don't want a 992, I want a 997.2
997.2 x2 here C2S manual and a Turbo S, they are a sweet spot. Feels like the classic 911 still but with modern touches like LED lights, dual clutch option too. Always thought of it as a water cooled reincarnated 993.
Any 997 is just sensational . But I love my 2007 997 GT3 with the number plate "ANALOG".ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-i7SZLrB7hPE.html
Enjoyed the interview and hearing from the owner. Great spec and mods on this 997.2. Seems about as close to GT3 as you can get while retaining all the everyday comforts. I started my Porsche search last year initially fixated on the 997.2 before ultimately deciding to go with a 993. I admit that this is the first 997 video I've seen since then that gave me a couple of second thoughts. The 997 has and will continue to age well. Maybe it has something to do with my car currently being in the shop. The annual service has turned up some gremlins and now it's been there two weeks and counting. Anyways, I think owner interviews are some of my favorite videos on the channel. Cheers to you both!
What a gorgeous machine!...can only dream of this, I'm in South Africa and cars are ridiculously expensive here. Recently saw an ad for a 2005 911 Carrera S with 136 000km on the clock for R500 000 (+- $34000) which is perhaps a bit of a bargain considering a new VW GTI is priced at R669 000 over here :)
Will, I say, great job on moving back in the direction of doing some water cooled content. Never bought into the whole air cooled exclusivity thing, although I was around through it all and it was a ride in one way back that had triple throat Webers that got me interested in Porsches. Not against either, I’m just saying you’ll have a much broader appeal if you continue to include Porsches of all types. I really enjoyed the video of this timeless 997.2 and can only wish to have bought one at some point. @oneporschefan.
I believe the last analog 997 is the 2005-2009. That model you are describing has an electric steering system. So it’s real far from being analog. It also has the first generation DFI engine. A complete departure and a diluted design from the race proven Hans Mezger engines. Yes beautiful car lines from the 997 line and a great story. But….facts are facts.
Facts are facts alright, and yours are wrong 😂. It has hydraulic steering. And the Carrera S in the 997.1 does not have a Mezger engine. The 997.2 GT3 does have a Mezger engine.
Great buy! Hopes he enjoy it and, as a fellow vet, thank him for his service and for sharing his father/son story. In regards the IMS hysteria, I actually like to thank Porsche for the IMS issue of the M96 engine. It allows DIYer lower-income guys to get their hands on an awesome P car at discounted prices. I was able to get my hands on an 03 C4S with 50k miles for $30K back in 2013. My car was mint and well maintained but the 1st thing I did was buy an EPS IMS kit for around $600. A weekend of labor later, the IMS issue is no more and I'm lucky for it. Unsurprisingly, the OEM IMS was mint as well. There will always be other 'fears' floating around for the M96 engine but many of those are kept in check with proper maintenance and routine inspections. Also, keep in mind that my car was around $99K when new. Just recently, I was offered $47k. I was tempted but politely declined the offer.
My dad has this Porsche. It’s a 2009 model. whenever I visit home, I definitely like to take the car out on a spin. I phenomenal car. As a car Lover myself, this car certainly brings me joy. My actual car is kind of a cool car too. Lexus ISF. The Porsche however takes the cake in terms to a better driving experience.
That is sort of what I am looking for... I would LOVE an air cooled 911 but want to find the gap or balance between high priced, high mileage and age with a bit newer tech but not overly complex as you explained. I would totally love a car just as this... Manual, minimal features and lower mileage and a bit newer.
The 911 is the poor man's 928. Sorry - I gotta call balls and strikes. the 928 was European "Car" of the Year 1979. No other sports car including the 911 has ever won "Car" of the year. The 928 has won 2 production car land speed record at Bonneville (1986 and 2020) - the 911 has won none. Magnus Walker has started his 928 collection - its Now or Never for the 928 still the biggest bang for the buck in Porsche's line up.
gen 2 is more powerful more economical and no ims worries personally don't like the pasm and white dials on the S so would buy a base carrera more than fast enough for street use
Great car, but “perfect spec” is the one in your garage perhaps? GTS spec with center lock wheels and widebody gets my vote. The Polished wheel with Alcanterra wrap is perfection. Didn’t need mod as sports exhaust and stock intake give 408hp. A nice bump over stock Carerra S. The Sport+ and chrono are magic when engaged. Go GTS manual for the win.
I used to like the idea of center lock wheels until I was on a rally and a guy with a GTS got a flat. The center lock removal socket has a 3/4" drive. There was no shop anywhere in 100 miles that had the ability to remove it. He had to have it flat-bedded to Madison over 250 miles away, and his weekend was done. Because of a flat tire. Dumb. A C4S is the way to go, as you get the widebody but not the center locks. A manual is a must. HATE an alcantara wheel - it feels disgusting to me when you grab that thing with sweaty hands.
Went back to 997 from 991 - steering, noise, free revving n/a….just more „Porsche“…lets not forget this is also the last model before VW took over. It shows.
Great look at a car I'm looking for right now, and for the exact same reasons. Had a manual 996.2 C2 manual for over 3 years trading it onto an Aston Martin Rapide S. Loved the analogue nature of the drive, and as you say, the 997.2 has that too, without those M96 niggles that I could never get out of my head. Top pick for me will be a GTS, but if I can't find one a C2S will definitely be a starter. Keeping the Aston Martin which is a totally different car, of course, and waiting to complete a sale on my 20V Audi ur quattro to then get another 911! Amazing that you should feel the need to apologise to the aircooled guys for looking at a water-cooled Car! But they are an Uber-sensitive bunch 🤣
I started driving Porsches in 1972 w/ a 914-6. I'm 70 years young. Awesome car!! Drove it for years~~~ as a daily driver. Then onto a 1980 911 SC, drove it for years~~~ as a daily driver. Now I have a 1999 911 996 Gen 1, built in October 1998 , as a daily driver. 58K on the clock w/ LN IMS retro fit @ 51K. This is the last true analog 911 Porsche ! 997's were not.
James: Kudos on your 997.2 Carrera S. Beautiful example of what is becoming a modern-day 'classic' Porsche 911. As a fellow 997.2 owner (my 2012 is a white C4S also 6-sp) I noticed the clear side marker lights that replaced the amber OEM lights. In my subjective opinion, they look better on the silver exterior. Switching to the clear side markers was actually the first 'upgrade' I performed on my Carrera White 911. My C4S had about 18k miles on the odometer when I got it back in 2016. Daily drove it, so it now has about 58k miles on the clock. Under my watch, she certainly has not led the life of a Garage Queen. Miles of smiles, indeed. There is an UPGRADE that I would urge you to consider sooner rather than later: Install mesh protection for your front grill. Your car sits low to the ground, and the front openings suck in all sorts of rocks and road debris. Especially since you seem to engage in spirited driving, and you enjoy the 911 the way it was meant to be driven. I bought a metal mesh insert for the center opening from a company in England named Zunsport that was designed for the 997.2 and it fits perfectly. For the two side grill openings, I watched several DIY videos on RU-vid and cut out two metal mesh screen inserts (thank you, Home Depot) to place directly behind the plastic horizontal grills. After a bit of trial and error, the installation was done. The two side grills look great, and along with the center grill from Zunsport, the three grill inserts are now protecting the vulnerable front of my car. Although any aesthetic 'upgrade' could be debated, there is no question about the functional improvement. Where before there were three dangerously vulnerable openings in the front grill, now the lower front of my 911 is protected from rocks and damaging debris. The center grill was not that much, and the two DIY side grill inserts cost me even less. The peace of mind has definitely been worth it.
I wasn’t going to watch this originally because I’m still an air cooled man at heart but… Great video, great backstory regarding James and his father’s massive passion for Porsche and very enlightening to boot. I for one am glad I watched this and look forward to meeting more owners and their cars. Cheers Will 👍🏻
2007 and early 2008 997 S are the best years for the 997. They are the most RAW and do not have the IMS issues as they were enlarged and made non serviceable or something like that. The 997.2 was the beginning of the end of the times for Porsche where you felt like the engine was going to come around and bite you. 2007 year was the best.
It truly is the last of the breed. Notice the back of this car. It has a trim ass. The 1965 130 horsepower 911 was a trim line car. The cars got progressively bigger. The 997.2 was the last for trim line Porsche 911. Don't talk about the heritage of 911. The 1965 and the 2021 three hundred seventy-nine plus horsepower are only related by name. If you think 130 horsepower is too small look at the Porsche 356 with 95 horsepower. Really the only staying the same is the roads. You really need 379 to 640 horsepower for the roads these cars travel!
WOW, as I get deeper in your video~~ I'm more on your side Marine. But, I still love my 996 Gen 1, and I know you love your 997. Outstanding !! We do Love Porsches !!
The 997.2 is a great car but it’s hardly analog. My early build (2/98) 1999 996 is the only real analog water cooled 911. It’s the last Porsche 911 with a cable throttle and it’s devoid of all electronic nannies.
Great interview. My first 911 was a 997.2 pdk. Handsome cars. Exhaust mod is necessary for these first gen DFI engines coz they are really quiet. I spent a small fortune to retrofit the Porsche sport exhaust and even that wasn’t loud enough.
I put an aftermarket Armytrix valvetronic CAT back system on my 997.2 and it sounds insane, switches over automatically at 3500RPM (or manually via FOB).
Just want to say, beautiful car!! You couldn’t choose a better car and it comes to the 997.. I love that color as well. I have a 2009 4S manual as well, and I just love it!! Specially the wide body. And knowing that this cars will not depreciate is value as time goes on.. thank you guys for the video..
Real buttons... Real, round, display meters... No digital big screens.... Ah... Blissful purity. I seldom even turn on the radio, and only test the GPS from time to time to see if it's still working... :D Long live analog, long live beauty, long live the 997.2!
Have to perform same-day comparo with 996.1 first year cable throttle, rwd, no traction and a 993 and at least 3 if not 5 qualified/experienced drivers. Lovely car
props to this guy. he gets it. but honestly the 996 is the better "analogue" experience. even if it suffers from the breakfast item issue (purely cosmetic)
What a great story! So awesome to hear about your relationship with your Dad and his Porsche history and seeing the old pictures. I bet he wishes he still had some of those old ones. I wish we all could be so lucky as to walk in the dealership and see the exact spec, lovingly pre owned Porsche we wanted. If it couldn’t be me, I’m sure glad it was you, a deserving vet. Thank you for your service and enjoy your reward!
Nice review. My goal is to add a 2012 997.2 PDK to the garage, eventually. I currently have a 2023 Cayman GTS 4.0 that I will keep to scratch my 6sp manual itch.
997.1 4S cab. Great video. Could't find a 997.2 at the time, so I trusted the theory that in later 2007 models the IMS has been solved. There is, however still bore scoring. I love the car so the engine was opened with cooling channels improved (bored) and the barricades were added in the oil pan. I also tried a 997.2. A great machine although with 997.1 the steering wheel seems more responsive. You can't miss with the 997.2 though.
What I hate about the so called Porsche fans, is that they make fun of the 996 but don’t make fun of the fact that Porsche has diesel engines, hydride!? What formaties, ELECTRIC “cars” 😂 Porsche is only the 911, from the beginning till yes, the 997.2, after that they went heartless and for the woke breed.
Actually, the last truly analogue 911 was actually the 997.1 Pre PDK, indirect efi, better steering, lighter if you choose 2WD. Matter of opinion obviously. Time will tell.
I was researching 997.2 CS and came across this video. I see the featured car here is a 2012 model year with a 6 speed Manual. In the market though, i see only 7 speed manual variants. Were there two variants of manuals offered this year? Any insights will be helpful.
I have a 2010 Carrera 4S Cabriolet. I bought it with 14k miles and have put 70k miles on it over the past 9 years. Things I have had to replace are the clutch at 50k miles and the coils at around 70k miles. Other than that the door handle and the trunk switch broke and had to be replaced which I was able to do myself.
Absolutely not the last true analog was the 1990 9996, after that, the gas pedal became an electric wire, which is exactly the definition of not analog!
Everybody always has their favorite based on what they grew up with. definitely the 996 - 997 generations for me. Although the 930 turbo will always be timeless.
Great job guys. This was an excellent interview and wonderful car. I drive my girlfriends 2011 C4S Cab from time to time and we both love it. Keep up the great content videos Will.
Exactly the topics , why I bought my 997 . The newer models are simply to wide and full with electronic items, which can fail anytime. He didn't mention the change of the steering type from the 997 to the 991 and the access to the engine which is very important for me. Good video and I look forward to see more of these .
Well done Will and James! Will, it’s been a little while but this was a really nice interview and the use of the drone footage took it to the “next level” :). As for James what a tastefully done 997 - thank you for your service - I work in the defense industry as well. This video popped up in my feed as I’m seriously considering the Fabspeed upgrade for my .1 C4. Thank you both - sometimes you never know who your videos may reach.
Don't know why anyone wants black seats. I have light colored seats in my latest vehicle and heat is never an issue, and I live in the Sacramento area where it reaches 115. Don't ever go black.
Am I the only one that noticed the other price that James paid on his car? His license plate is the purple heart plate. Thank you James, from one vet to another.
Thanks for the great video! Love this guys passion, the emotional connection is spot on. This car, in my mind, is the perfect spec. Keep the 997 videos coming!
I also chose a 997.2 CS manual after much searching and researching. I was also considering a 997.1 Turbo, but ultimately felt the prices were too high and I already had a couple twin-turbo cars and decided that I really wanted the naturally aspirated 911 experience. My primary reason for the 997.2 over the 997.1 was the 9A1 engine which is not nearly as likely to suffer from bore scoring issues and I just didn't want the consequence of that catastrophic failure hanging over my head. In fact, I almost bought a 997.1 before discovering the owner had found significant metal in a previous oil change. Also I live in Colorado and the altitude saps 15%+ of power, so the extra 30hp of the 997.2 was really important to me. And I think the direct injected 9A1 is a bit more responsive. The next major reason is the PCM center stack is much more modern and much better looking that the PCM in the 997.1 cars and it is not realistically retro-fittable. Finally, the tail lights and headlights and a whole host of other small improvements just made the 997.2 a much more compelling choice for me. I found a Meteor Gray one with black interior and relatively high miles, but in mint condition and got quite a good deal on it. One major thing I wanted was the full leather dashboard as I think the stitching and full leather really adds to the feel of the interior. I also got Porsche crests in the head rests, Sports exhaust and Turbo wheels. And a previous owner did the Sharkwerks center muffler bypass adding a few horsepower and really making it sound great. My only complaint is that there is a lot of tire noise and annoying squeaks and rattles in the 997 generation as a whole. I have fixed most of my rattles, but refinement is one area where the 991.1 really wins over the 997.2. But I didn't like the larger size of the 991.1 as much, it didn't give the same vibe as the smaller feel of the 997.2.
@@paulcampbell114 Also, in re-reading my comment I mentioned the PCM. It turns out that Porsche has released new PCMs for 996s and 997s now that feature Car Play and are fully modern, so that fixes another concern of the 997.1 for those interested.
I have a 997.1 C4s... since it doesn't have an updated colour screen, LEDs and other upgrades, thus,.....it can be considered more "analog" than a 997.2.....
