Should You Buy a PORSCHE 911 997? (Test Drive and Review 997.2 Carrera 4) 

And I’d previously thought that you were a proper petrolhead Matt! The 997.2 is probably the pinnacle of ‘traditionally sized’ 911’s and I don’t think there is anything else that would be considered a ‘sports car’ that you can use all year round and for north of a hundred thousand miles with so few problems. It’s a big car compared to the early swb 911’s of the ’60’s, but tiny compared to the 991 & 992 generation cars. Yes, it generates quite a lot of road noise (although there are some quieter tyre brands than others that help with this), but everything else about driving them is fabulous. And the PCM handsfree phone has very good noise cancelling so you can be heard, even at speed! And then there’s that view over the rear haunches through the door mirrors - you captured it in the video - and it’s something that you can never tire of seeing. Nor the solidity of that interior. The SL is a wonderful boulevard cruiser, but a 997 is so much more than that. We even used our last one for the school run until the arrival of our fourth child - try that in an SL! Oh, and those turbo-style wheels that you liked so much are probably the worst feature of the beautiful example that you reviewed. I rest my case, m’lud 😂

Thanks Matt - As always, great content and great humour. Particularly appreciate that your reviews are about cars that 95% of us are seriously looking at as opposed to those channels that cover the cars that 95% of us are seriously dreaming about!

Laughing out loud watching your videos Matt, I have been in the motor trade for 46 years, self employed Garage owner since 1985, never advertised and more work than you can shake a stick at, and you sir are one of the few traders I would buy a car from, that is the highest accolade I can give you. Keep up the good work, I won't be surprised to see you on TV.

My favourite shape 911

Had a 997 C4S manual. Replaced IMS bearing. Lovely car to drive and the 4S body shape is classic 911

i’ve only just started watching this video and already i’m amazed at how hard you’ve worked on your course, great work mate 💯

Did u just call the exhaust button *with dual exhaust image* a button with sunglasses image 😂?

Good luck with the course Matt. Great idea. Happy New Year!

997 in blue with small wheels looks so classy and functional.

Top form on the analogies, good luck with the course, and yes you did say"at one" 🤣🤣

I love scrolling through auto trader looking for cars like that for far less money then they are worth, hopefully one day it pays off.

The Amish may not have many presents at Christmas, but they have more horsepower.

“...as many extras as an Amish Family Living Room....” ......haha, pissed myself.

I was a 70s kid. Grew up in the sticks. My dad had shit cars - Morris 1100, Maxi, Marina... I lusted after 3 litre Capri's and Granada's. Those were about the best cars you ever saw round my way. My mate's family owned the Walkers shortbread factory. They were all minted and usually ran around in BMWs. Until his uncle bought a black 911. Omfg. I can still see it parked on the hill outside the back of the bakery. It was like something from a different universe. The shape, the size of the wheels. A speedo that went up to 160! When you ran your hand along the paint you could feel its density. I would stare at that thing every day on the way home from school. I'd draw the Porsche badge on my school books. Obsessed. The 997 is a great looking 911. Understated. I'd love to indulge in one as a weekend car - but not having a garage I know I'd be worrying about it all the time sitting on the street. As for the vfm...if they don't really depreciate - you're basically getting a car for running costs surely?

Great review and a fair report. Love your reviews you get a real honest opinion. Happy New Year!

Thanks for the upload Matt, an amazing looking car. Keep up the good work and always very very appreciated.

Absolutely top drawer! Keep it going through 2021! ........and congrats on getting the Academy up and running! Great Work. 👍

You give sound advice and at times make me laugh. Thank you 🤘🏾

Happy New Year to you too Matt and thanks for all the videos. Really enjoyed this one.

Been following the channel for a while and love it - but never subscribed - until this video. Your reviews are so.. sensible and every word you say makes sense - I just had to sign in and subscribe after this one. Keep up the good work! 👍

Good start to 2021!

Yes. Buy one. I bought a 2009 997.2 CS coupe manual. Just amazing to drive. Going up in value too

The XKR is truly amazing. Still love this review. Well done on starting the academy

You never fail to deliver fella. May everything good find you, you deserve it.

Nice review Matt. Honest and to the point. I have owned a 997.1 C2 for almost 10 years and agree.

Happy new year to you, and I hope lots more videos come along. I can imagine your video academy is completely watchable and a labour of love , and as thorough as your channel content.

Aah 2021 started off beautifully by a review, thank you so much, will be looking into the car buying course

Another great video. I think your summary “I want one but I don’t crave one” is spot on. They are great cars no doubt but they are not great value for money. On the few occasions I have been toy shopping in the past I have looked at 911s but in the end went for Jaguar or Mercedes. Maybe not as sexy but fun enough for me and much better value.

I have that same interior color scheme with black exterior on my 2009 C2S manual. Best car I’ve ever owned. Btw, great video! Keep up the good work!

I drove my 997.1 Carrera S on a daily basis for 18 months and covered 8k miles in it. Aside from fuel, insurance and tax it never cost me a penny more and I sold it for what I paid for it. A very different financial story comes with the SL55 I was running at the same time!

Great review, loved the Armish reference! All the besr for the new year!

You knocked it out of the park again!! Great review 😍

Wow, love the honesty of everything you say. Thank you. I have the 911 inner wish, currently in a Macan S. Love it. Will follow.

Great review

Loving your reviews Matt. Based in Altrincham and will swing round your way when I’m after a new motor!

Sunglass mode... Hilarious 😂 Nice video, happy new year.

Thanks for what comes across as a really balanced review. Hoping to get an early 997 as a weekend car so it’s lack of practicalities won’t be so much of an issue. Happy new year by the way! 🙂

Great review and I totally get and agree what you’re saying, I would love one but it would have to be the weekend toy, type of thing. I think on that basis the ‘sensible’ option would be the M3 / 4.

Absolutely love the videos man, you're destined for great things!

Thanks Matt for keeping me sane this year! Great content and happy and prosperous new year to you!

A really informative video with good content. I for one prefer the old classic 996 though many hate them. I’ll have one hopefully one day....

Lovely colour, but still waiting for that Lada Samara review.

Always been a favourite of mine, build quality, timeless design, simplicity of controls- no horrible unsightly touch screens, just a lovely driving environment. Hope you get chance to review a Cayman in the future, some Porsche enthusiasts prefer that to the 911.

Great video, keep them rolling.

Thanks - great fair and accurate review. I had a 997.2 for 5 years and loved it though my wife hated the road noise. Now got and F type which is a very different car but love it too.

Hi Matt, loving your channel mate. I started up selling cars myself a couple of years ago, it’s good watching how you did it. Keep up the good videos! 👍

Good video, added to your consumer buying advice would be to get a bore scope done. Owners in the UK make the mistake of "warming" the 911 engine, so turn it on let it run for 15 mins before use. It's not designed for that, the oil pressure is too low and hence bore scoring occurs. In Germany they jump in fire it up and drive it. Don't be too afraid to use it, it serves the engine better in the long run. Tagra 4s manual for me if I can find it.

All the best with the Academy, hope it repays you for time and effort spent.

Always loved the 911. Fair play to Porsche for continually evolving it.

Cheers mi old marra. Health and happiness, great review

Great video and well balanced views. I have owned a 911 since 1997, and my current 997.1 since 2014. I love 911s. I do particularly ❤my 997.1. Not everyone’s cup of tea, granted. Every time I get into mine (weekend/European adventures car), I have a silly grin and making memories is so important. Having enjoyed so many of your other videos, congratulations on this one!!

Great Stuff Matt 👍👍👍👍

Never owned one but in my younger days used to do a lot of track days, for me that's what this is for, I couldn't imagine driving one on the commute everyday or nipping to Asda in it;

I had a Targa back in 1996 which had VW Beatle upside down pedals never got used to the car but had a 928 Manual then a 928 Sport Manual which I kept for years it Gobbled up the miles from Cheshire to London every other week such a fantastic car these 911 today look great but £80k upward + options are a dear car. As you say Service history so important if you don't there could be a Hefty Bill around the corner !!! Happy New Year 😎

Amazing looking snow fall on those fields, great!

I think the fact that the cheapest 911 is usually a tiptronic convertible 4 wheel drive (which in isolation sounds nice for a weekend) Shows what a 911 is actually good at,IE keeping up with with more exotic makes at a lower price and robust build quality.

Excellent video, thanks 👍

Happy New Year! Great videos. Thank you.

As usual a fantastic review. I had to change my incontinance pads three times your costing me a bloody fortune. Seriously, great start for the new year and wishing you all the best in 2021.

Its amazing the different hps variants they can get from the same engine block.. 🔥👍😍👌

Quite refreshing to see a review on a Porsche that is not biased on how it is gods gift to the human race. I have just entered into Porsche ownership with a base cayman 987 and it is great and my daily driver. Although I would prefer a 911 in all honesty it’s more about prestige as I’m sure I’m getting 95% of the Porsche driving experience on uk roads with my cayman. Great vid

Of course....Happy New Year!

Congratulations mate. ❤️

I love this Matt, xx

That was a really great honest review. I also now know not to swap my S3 Saloon for one Great job👍👍

A bang on review,your pro’s and con’s were spot on as usual.The course looks excellent for people who want to get into the business and avoid the mistakes and pitfalls.All the very best to you Matt.I have said this before that you and Harry’s garage are my only two car review channels(as in my humble opinion,are the best).👍🏼

I love the banshee wail of the Porsche straight six at high revs. Much better with a sports exhaust. But that road noise would really get on my wick. Thanks for the cupholder shoutout. Very usable!

The sunglasses button you describe actually denotes exhaust performance in sport mode

Well done on the website Matt wishing u all the best for 2021

A beautiful example, a great kick-off review in a beautiful winter backdrop 👍 For me, after my Euromillions win, a white on black, manual 997.2 Carrera 😁

Happy New Year. Another great video. Like you, I appreciate the engineering and the ageless style, but it doesn't grab me, like it should.

Lovely car thank you for the video. Also every success with your academy good good stuff.

Hi Matt you are now driving my Dream car of all time Beautiful by far the best

And a very Happy new year too you Matt see you when I need my next I think cheers Regards Nigel

Well ... that was the most decisively indecisive review you've done - Happy New Year fella.

Best of luck with the new business venture, hope it picks up 👍

The most useful review of a 911 for real-world purchasers I have ever see/read.

Fantastic channel can always rely on an honest review I have to say though I do lust after a 911

Love the reviews bud...talk a lot of sense regarding cars though you haven't convinced me about a 2005 range rover sport just yet...keep it up...

I’ve had Porsches for over 20 years. My current 997.2 C4S manual convertible is 13 years old and brilliant in every way. Not gonna sell it any time soon. A keeper!

Man, you must have ESP - every car im considering as a weekend driver you are reviewing. Amazing stuff

Very enjoyable review. Reminds me of a 6000 mile Boxster I bought some years ago, a big expense for me at the time. I had to come to terms with the fact the car wasn't for me: no carrying space worth talking about and pointless going to and from work where I was lucky to do 50 for 2 minutes. Nice as a 3rd car toy for a successful plumber. but useless if its your only vehicle.

great review.refreshing to hear about one from someone who's not a fanboy.

I'm not a big porsch lover but they making some nice cars like that one in your review great job matt

You deserve to do well mate, you work bloody dam hard ( I don`t think most people realise ) Sorry I do believe over 84K subscribers states that they do 💥💥💥 Reg`s as always Steve 👌

I appreciate and totally understand your honest opinion. I was always an Italian car guy having owned a few but there comes a time when you are done with the loud and brash. Nowadays it is wiser to go a little subtle. I recently bought a 2011 C4S so I can still get the sportiness without the attention. IMO it's the perfect car for now.

Nice to see someone else who has the same opinion as me on 911's. I get why people buy them but they don't do anything for me. Regardless of age/price point there are always other cars that I'd choose over one. Each to their own and all that.... Cheers.

The 4s is actually my perfect spec if I wanted a daily. If it's too loud on a run just turn the music up haha

I owned a 911SC back in the '80's. Must say, the sound of the engine was a very big part of what I loved about it. Visceral. This one here doesn't seem to sound much at all.

Happy New Year Matt, great review as always. Love the Peak District in winter. Cheers, Jim

Proper good content, another fun video.

I really enjoy your vids, sensible and real world analysis of each vehicle.I am a Merc fan ,Have an E class coupe 450 at the moment ,so liked your take on sl 55. Porsche 996 and 997,not so impressive . Keep up good work

Good review as usual .

I bought this month exactly the same porsche 997.2 carrera 4s pdk with the GT-steeringwheel with paddels. it‘s a great car!

Happy New Year, Mat!

Great video & love the humour, thanks for the entertainment

‘Frunked off’ made me laugh out loud, the delivery was perfect. Phrase of the day right there! 👍

I'm with you! lovely to look at but not something I would want to own. 8-) Happy New Year Matt!

Superb review 👍

Lovely Jubbly video, I think you said all that is to be said about one.