Yep, I was seriously considering pulling the trigger on one of these (or a 996 turbo) in late 2019. They were pretty consistently in the 30s, sometimes in 40s for a low milage one. They're pretty much double that now.
I’ve worked on a couple pretty high horsepower 997s and the manual trans is so insanely overbuilt stock that guys run over 1000whp through them without reliability issues at all really. Stock trans, stock clutch. Hilarious how different the design approach is with this car vs some other sports cars. Runs great in the rain and snow, built to be beaten to pieces for many many miles. Just an absolute warrior.
@@BeanEW The 996 is so damn underrated imo… or at least it was. I never disliked the headlights or anything about that generation. They’re stunning in person and won’t ever be not awesome imo. Do you still run stock clutch and trans with 700 and if so have you had any issues with it? I admittedly haven’t worked on any 996s without anything other than bolt ons so I never saw anyone really blowing up transmissions.
@@AP-op4rc Sadly to say, my car is Tiptronic with an aftermarket paddle-shift steering wheel shipped from Germany. I bought an Tiptronic with the intention for my wife to also drive the car... but she never did drive the car. All the hardware upgrades (bigger turbo, intercoolers, headers, exhausts...) on my car were bolt-on; including ICU (if I remember the name correctly) and Tiptronic software upgrade.
@@BeanEW Well hey man, the tiptronics are pretty damn robust from what I’ve seen. That’s probably such a great car for any occasion because of it tbh. City driving, longer road trips, and still a missile.
especially when you compare it to other cars from the era. the only ones i can think of that still look remotely modern are the f430, e92 m3, R8, DBS and w221
The 997.2 Turbo didn't just get a boost in power. It got a whole new engine with nothing shared. The 997.1 has the famous "Mezger" engine which dates back to the air-cooled days and is easily Porsche's most famous engine. Not shared with lesser model 997s, only GT-cars and Turbo. The 997.2 shared the all-new direct injected engine with the Carrera models and even Cayman and Boxster. At the time this raised eyebrows, since the Mighty Turbo was sharing engine architecture with the lowly cost-cut base Boxster. History has ultimately shown that the new engine architecture is excellent and has cemented Porsche's once-questionable reputation for reliability. However if you want 1,700hp in your 911, you probably still want the Mezger.
@@Shiza1997 neither really. From the factory the .2 is prob more reliable. Fixed the water pipe issue, cam issue, etc. it’s basically the same 3.8 they run nowadays. The 3.6 can be made quite reliable. Once you do the water pipes and pin the cams. That engine is pretty bullet proof
These are so insanely common here in Germany for a Reason, because it*s one of the Greatest Porsche 911s There is not one Day on the Autobahn and in a Big City where i don*t see at least a Couple of them, very reliable as well, which is why these are often Daily Drivers for People here Prost & Cheers from the Bavarian Alps
@@kurtfader He's not. You'll see this car so much in germany, that you start to get tired of it. Crazy thing is i mainly see rich women drive around in it too.
@@pitcrowley This car has never been big in Germany. It just didn't sell, only sold 300 units mostly in Berlin. And the majority of those went to the Scrap heap. It's just not true and you're lying for him now, very sad.
I've lived with a 2010 997.2 Turbo as a daily for exactly one year now. Black on black. As a first-time Porsche owner, I've made the following observations with it being my first 911 experience: (1) It still turns heads... Every day. Albeit, mostly teenagers yelling "Rev it!!!" and Porsche drivers who know and respect what this car embodies. (2) I keep getting told by other Porsche owners that it's a modern classic and the one to have at the moment. I exit the conversations after a few minutes of silence and mouth breathing by the person across from me. (3) There's visible weekly undertones I sense telepathically where my wife signals "Trade it for a Macan so the kids can fit in it" (4) I love the violent way in which it delivers power. Brings me joy every day and even after a year, I keep finding reasons to go out for a drive in it. It never gets boring. (5) I really can't stop looking at it, especially from the back. So sexy. And I catch the neighborhood guys with their bloated 991's and 992's doing the same ... So, for those on the fence, get one. You won't be disappointed.
Just saw one yesterday and 992 turbo s next to it. I was always big fan of 992 gen, but when I saw this 997 turbo, I found myself to prefer this over a 992. Looks so beautiful!
Doug: "I'm not a Porsche guy" Also Doug: "I just purchased my dream car...a Porsche Carrera GT" Also Doug: "the 997 Turbo is one of the greatest sports car in the world!...maybe I should buy it"
Worth a mention that this generation 911 Turbo was the last to feature the vaunted "Mezger" engine. Legend. Shocked that Doug didn't mention it at all.
Clarkson agreed with you, it was this car that won him over in terms of its real world speed vs the ferrari of the time. Its a great segment in the Top Gear series, one of my favorite bits.
Other than the utter garbage quality of the painted interior plastics. That coated stuff wears terribly and is impossible to keep looking good. Even low mileage 997 and 987s just don't wear great inside. Shame really that takes away from otherwise great cars.
@@tophand576 Id still take it over those chewing gum plastics you get from the same era Ferraris… I’ve seen a couple 360s and 430s that sat in a hot garage for years and all the buttons felt like they had glue sprayed on them. But yeah, you wouldn’t be wrong for expecting more.
I bought one of these in 2007 and still own it. I agree that it is the greatest Porsche. I will never get rid of it. World class performance and zero depreciation. Added a sport exhaust and a Cobb tune making it even better. Over 550 hp now and 550 Fulbright of torque. I own several older Porsches but this is my favorite.
Nice, thats a ton of power in that Chassis. Raced a RUF Porsche many yrs ago....surprised I pulled him a few cars even then those cars were very quick.
I have a 996TT since 2007 and still have her. I don't drive her too often because she is 750 miles away but she puts a smile on my face every time when I did. This car is not about 0-60, it is about 60-120; you can't believe how fast it goes there.
@@putablook I changed my own oil & filters (easy) and changed the spark-plugs a couple of times myself. I told myself I would never change the spark-plugs on the 996tt again. For me, it is a more than 10 hours job. It costs about $1k for a shop to change spark-plug. Many people say Porsche is the cheapest non-US sports car for maintenance and I believe that. My main ride is a Rivian R1S.
@@khaldrogo9451 My wife always wanted me to get rid of her (the car :) )but she knew I would never do that. When the car was in my main home, I used to drive her as an stress-relief medium. Believe it or not, I had driven her to 175mph before: all I could tell you is things came in front of your eyes very FAST. :)
The 997.1 Turbo is simply amazing. I remember being a passenger in it back in the day, with a friend of mine driving it, already working at Porsche. I was completely flashed by the acceleration, even more at higher speeds above 250kph. It was like accelerating a normal fast car from 50 to 100. It was like god mode in 2007. But it was really comfortable as well. I'd love to buy one now, but too many other seem to have the same idea ;-)
My favorite Porsche. I don’t care what anyone says. Drove one for a week through Napa Valley and it was incredible. My wife enjoyed her endless wine, and I enjoyed the roads.
The little “pocket” in the passenger side door sill is an umbrella holder. Porsche sold, and still sells, a small Porsche branded umbrella that fits perfectly in that spot.
I was discussing this car with my brother 45 minutes ago and how I wanted to buy one. Absolutely spectacular machine. Also there was a time when high mileage ones were in the 50’s, crazy to think about!
There's a guy in my neighborhood that daily drives his 997 Turbo in a gorgeous midnight blue. He has the console upgrade, 6 speed, and only two parking spots in his condo. It handles the snow and potholes in Milwaukee perfectly! Much better than the McClaren that hangs around here does!
Those times. Now you can do faster launches in 6 seat electric SUVs. It's borderline nauseating. There was a time when 0-60 in 5 seconds was really fast now we're breaching 2 seconds in EVs
That infotainment system is not an argument against buttons, it is an argument FOR buttons. That is visually appealing and highly functional. Give me buttons damn it.
I had a Cayman from the same era, it was the best car I ever owned. I originally wanted a 911 but couldn’t afford it so I settled for the cayman. I sold it few years later because it was very expensive to maintain, but still amazing years I had with that car, and hopefully some day I will get the 911 😊
@@slowery43 i actually care and want to know more about this dude and his experience with Porsche, because i cannot afford even a miniature 1:24 porsche
Your first review of the 997 turbo is what made me discover your channel, since it´s my favourite car ever. Thank you for doing an updated review for me to watch over and over againg.
I think I recall Doug reviewing a 997 Turbo years ago, and it was for sale at $56k. Never in the remainder of our existence on earth will a 997 Turbo drop below that price.
Thank you so much Doug for this part II review of the 997 Turbo. The first video you did about this beast year's ago, is what got me hooked to your channel ever since. Please try review the 991 Turbo S and possibly BMW M5 F10, not a manual this time😑
I wholeheartedly agreed and I actually said it yesterday when I saw one. These are just perfect for me, the interior is still modern enough and the car feels smaller than the 991. It feels well built compared to the 996.
My father has an 06 911 C4S. When my girlfriend was about to give birth and I was rushing her to the hospital I blew the engine in the Nissan Altima I was driving 🤣 my father was the closest family member to me and was driving his 911 that day. He picked us up and I (a grown man) was shoved in the back seat of that car for the drive to the hospital. My knees were probably touching his shoulders the whole way there but I fit haha. I was glad those cars have back seats on that day.
In yellow it'll be perfect. A timeless design that has aged gracefully if there's such a thing, doesn't look like a 10+ yo car. My fave Turbo just behind the 993.
Also, THANK YOU doug for making an updated review of this car. The last one was an auto and even worse - tiptronic... The manual transmission is truly what makes this car special and im happy your channel showcases exactly what makes this car great.
I love that Porsche keeps it real and simple and doesn't do stupid gimmicky crap like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and even Aston Martin. Ferrari with their silly ridiculous 'key' that needs it's own slot in the center console, Lambo with their angular shapes and dumb over the top UI for the speedometer, Aston with their 'Emotional Control Unit' (do they still do that?). Porsche just makes a solid, well-built, fast sports car with no BS.
Also, one can drive a Porsche HARD for 100K miles and it still is in one piece. Try that with a Ferrari or Lamborghini. Hell, Porsche has performance driving seminars in which when they switch out the cars used for the classes, the cars are gone over and sold with a WARRANTY. Again,..your move Ferrari.
I mean....inserting the key to the left of the steering wheel is quite a gimmick. Yes, it comes from the days of Le Mans, and yes, it's the sort of thing that makes people roll their eyes.
Had this car for about 6 years and used it my DD. It was James Bond - sophisticated buy powerful and dangerous. Sold it with 55K miles so my sale price went down a lot more than Doug is letting on. Was having too many major reliability problems so it was time to move on. Great car glad to see it reviewed.
My dads long time friend bought one used back in 2007. They switched cars for one day so me and my dad got to experience the turbo and it was so much fun. Gorgeous, fast and pretty practical. He still owns it to this day. It’s also the car that got me interested in cars!
Mine is the 2006 Montecarlo launch car. Carmona red, tiptronic with PCCB's. It has now 87,000 miles on the clock and I just had the new PCCM fitted. Over the years it has been very reliable and the first 17 years have cost in maintenance just slightly more than the first 17 years of a BMW ZM3 I owned. Until I am too old to continue driving I won't be changing it.
I’not a 911 fan but I find the 997 Turbo one of the if not THE most beautiful 4-seater ever made. It ages like fine wine and feels luxurious without being kitsch. Amazing review Doug!
@@denalisiomontpellier4064 I had both a 991.2 and a 997 Turbo. I prefer the 997. The only problem with the 997 was the lack of reliability of the base engines, but the Turbo didn't share this issue.
911s are amazing GT cars now. I enjoyed a 992 for a weekend but the 718 GT4 I drove right after confirmed that 718 platform is the sweet spot for me, and perhaps those who enjoyed the older 911s smaller size.
I couldn't imagine buying a sports car of this caliber without a manual transmission. The automatic really takes the soul out of the driving experience.
I have a 2008 Turbo and it has aged so well. It's a head turner, I have a roof rack to put a suitcase and stroller for our toddler (who rides in the back seat) and it is fast manual car!!!
head turner? maybe in bumfuck Oklahoma, but here in los angeles especially anywhere near beverly hills, nearly every other car is a porsche. if you have tons of money, have no taste or personality, and are aging past 50 years old, you get a porsche
Literally one of the most perfect 911's to my mind. Timeless beauty of the 993 with the performance capabilities of the modern 911's. Surely one for the future for any car enthusiast / collector.
I love the 996 and 997 generations of the 911. They are such a sweet spot in the range. The backseats are super useful if you have small kids. I dropped my son off at school this morning in my 911. He loved it. Amazing cars.
You got it the 996 and 997 are my favorite also but I love the targa models. 2004 targa is the one I really want. Nothing like a rear glass that opens.. o black with natural brown full leather 6 speed if anyone knows of one for sale. That's what I'm after❤
As a birthday present, my uncle (A 911 owner) took me to the dealership in 2007 to browse just for fun. I basically got the "Porsche-kid experience," getting to sit in and enjoy this exact car. I have vivid memories of those wheels, and I still dream of this exact car. Great spec.
I still prefer the 996, but this one is really cool too. Mainly because it's the last manual (Turbo, sorry for the confusion) 911. And this engine, oh my gosh. It's so darn cool!
When I was 22 a decade ago, I spent a summer at a very questionable exotic car rental business run by a 21 and 25 year old. The 997 Turbo S was in the fleet and was sooo sweet! Needless to say, it's no longer around but happy summer memories.
Doug forgot to mention this was THE FIRST ever GASOLINE car in the world to feature a VARIABLE GEOMETRY turbo. Before this car, variable geometry turbos were only used in turbo diesel engines, because gasoline cars (otto) have escape gases that are way hotter than the ones in diesel's. Porsche solved this issue using some special materials in the turbo to compensate that.
I used to love this car. I remember watching it on RU-vid race BMW M6’s, and other cars back in the day. I remember seeing it on GTBoards RU-vid channel.
I sat in my horribly uncomfortable kitchen chair watching your videos before I went to the gym last night, at 7pm. I stopped watching them at 2:30am with zero thought again of working out. You sir, are a national treasure. I'm crazy about car quirks and can find any reason to love a car, and I share in your enthusiasm.
absolutely love when doug repeatedly says that he’s “not a porsche guy” yet praises porsches time after time and owns a CGT. excited for the day he comes to the realization
I almost bought one of these (considered several) in 2019 when you could get one between $60k and $70k with slightly higher miles (50k to 60k miles). I ended up instead getting a great deal on an amazing 997.2 C4S 6-speed manual with all the options I wanted because I thought the Turbo was 'too fast' to really wind out and enjoy on a twisty road or in traffic and that the normally aspirated and better sounding C4S would offer more driver engagement and that maybe the Turbo was more GT oriented. Well, given what has happened to prices on the Turbo, I kind of regret that decision. I often wish my C4S was faster and whenever I see a Turbo I think it looks more exotic and I do feel like I should have went for one when they were "affordable". It would have needed an exhaust (GMG or Tubi perhaps) and maybe coilovers as I think the normal Carreras are sprung a little a lower (I could be wrong) and it definitely needs the PCM upgrade. Also, at the time I was looking I thought Atlas Gray was a very cool color. Maybe I should head over to cars and bids.....
As an owner, you don't think there's enough merit to the NA feel/sound of the C4S? When I dream of owning a p-car someday, I still think I'd go for that over the turbo. Fast is cool, but sound is where it's at for me. I've never driven either one personally though, just my E46 M3 and a base 981 cayman I rented. Love the sound of both
@@denalisiomontpellier4064 PCCB are ridiculously expensive to replace/service though. New rotors are outrageous. If you ever want to track the car, you probably want to avoid PCCB.
He didnt even mention the Mezger in the 997.1 . They stopped putting it in the regular 997tt and kept it in the gt2. Meaning if you wanted a Mezger after the 997.1 you had to shell out for the gt2
wow that is so not even a little interesting... no one was posting above asking "Hey does anyone know if Nick bought a 997?", this ain't about you we truly coulsn't care any less
Absolutely love my manual 997TT gen 1.5. Bear in mind that they need more maintenance than a standard 997. The turbos can fail or rot through and cost $4k per side to replace. So I have a Cayman 981 for the winters, whilst I work on my TT. Front coolant cross-over pipes will need to be replaced. Change water pump every 5 years as if impeller breaks, localised overheating will occur in whichever cylinder the pieces end up in. Pre-2009 cars will probably need coolant pipes to be pinned. Suspension refresh likely necessary in cars of this age. So be prepared to spend money. Always ensure full service history. Wonderful cars though. Savagely fast. I’ll never sell mine.
When I was a kid my mum drove a terrible 15 year old car, which means made in about 1965. There were almost no buttons. New cars at the time had amazing dashes that lit up and had buttons for everything. I loved that. All this is to say, I miss buttons, they're more practical and I actually prefer the look.
The 997 Turbo is everything I want in a sports car coalesced into one single amazing piece of metal. I've always said I wanted to own at least 1 single sports car in my life and the 997 Turbo is legitimately one I would dream of buying the moment I get the money to do so.
This generation of 911 turbo is the one I spent hours on the configurator daydreaming about, as a kid. Now that I’m making good money, I’m so tempted to buy one to live out the fantasy. But, I just can’t let a car replace my ultimate dream of buying a house… at least this car is durable enough that I can wait another 15 years and still confidently buy one when I can.
I used to do valet and this car is still to this day, my favorite car to drive. I know exactly what Doug means by it's the best sports car lmao. 18:04 describes it perfectly 😂😂😂
Best turbo Porsche ever made. Not too old, but old-school enough and engaging. And not too modern, that is overwhelmed with technology and big. But with that said, I never drove a Porsche turbo, and I just make stuff up 😂
For some reason ive always found this car the most beautiful car i dont know why but something about it just stand out to me! Its perfect especially in yellow or silver dammm
When I was growing up this was the car on the poster on my wall. In my mind this is still THE 911 Turbo to own it's still not an old car in my mind because of the nostalgia.
Great car, I always wanted one. 10 years ago I had a choice between buying a 993 Turbo or 997 Turbo for $65k. Yes they were both only $65k. I choose the 993 Turbo because it felt more analog, no stability control or traction control. I made the right choice, the 993 Turbo exploded in value shortly after and I sold it after many years for a Mclaren. I disagree with one point, the 993 Turbo is cheap to maintain, I only spent about $4k in maintenance over the years and that included many sets of rear tires. At the time, the 997 Turbo felt too electronic. Fast forward to today and the 997 Turbo is the analog car compared to a 992 Turbo. I would love to own a 997 Turbo someday.
I owned one of these for a few years. Bought it of a friend of friend who bought it new, but he hated the manual, so sold it, to me! Great car. today's cars look better & are way faster, but take it from me, this more power than you will ever need on any road. so great to drive.
