PORSCHE 997S GEN 2 2009 ‘09-PLATE’ MANUAL 44,830 MILES £42,995

With 911 & Porsche World’s resident tyre kicker, Kieron Fennelly

The applause which greeted the 997 in 2004 was a relief to Porsche after the criticism of the 996. However, this much admired restyle slightly obscured the fact that the engine was still a carryover of the less than perfect 996 unit. Porsche addressed this, rather late in the day, with the second generation 997. The S tested here proved twice as popular as the base Carrera, but most of the 911s of the second generation were sold with the new PDK transmission, so six speed cars like this example seldom appear. Indeed, this early gen 2 has the pared-back specification of the sort that an enthusiast might look for – a full leather interior, parking sensors, Xenon headlights and the all important PASM.

Although the 991’s cabin moved the game on considerably, the 997’s cockpit is a reminder of how much narrower and more intimate the previous 911 was: the driver feels closer to the sides, the windscreen and even the road though the ride height is much the same. The cabin on the 997 generally wears well and this one is no exception: driver’s seat in particular has none of the fatigued look worn leather and indeed the whole car appears to have been correctly if not fastidiously maintained by its three owners. Vendor Ashgood does not over-prepare its stock which makes assessment more straightforward. Externally the 997 is finished in a striking metallic blue which is unblemished and the 19 inch alloys, which suit it perfectly, are similarly unmarked. The Pirelli P Zeros on the front look fairly new; the backs were replaced 10,000 miles ago and are half worn. Behind them the brake discs are all relatively new.

First registered in July 2009 by Porsche Centre Exeter, the supplying dealer carried out the first service at two years and 7600 miles; the second owner lived in Southampton and PC Portsmouth did the honours with scheduled maintenance in July 2013 and June 2015 at 24,500 and 35,600 miles, respectively. Montgomery-based third owner Adrian Boyes used his 911 relatively little: PC Wolverhampton carried out the most recent service in May 2017 at 43,400 miles. The invoice file is largely complete and includes a June 2016 bill from Center Gravity for geometry adjustments.

On the road this 997S feels very good for a car approaching its ninth birthday, the driving experience every bit as gratifying as its appearance. With the original factory pipe, the exhaust note is nicely judged – assertive, but discretely so. The 911 burbles along comfortably at 30–40 mph in third and fourth, the 3.8 proving remarkably flexible. The gearshift moves easily yet without feeling loose, the clutch, relatively light by Porsche standards, bites authoritatively at mid-travel. Cabin and chassis feel impressively taut with no rattles discernible either within the car or from underneath. The engine looks a little dusty though dry under its cover, but solicit the accelerator in second gear and the 3.8 shows itself in fine fettle as the 911, nose lifting perceptibly, takes off like a proverbial missile: within six seconds you are ready for third, but now so deep in licence-losing territory a halt to such indulgence has to be called.

Your correspondent’s manual 993 was a nine-yearold when he acquired it: then, it was just a used 911. Later it became a desirable classic. This 997S, too, is a nine-year-old, and though there were rather more gen 2 997s than 993s, this unspoiled coupé, last of the analogue 911s and fitted with the all-important PASM and manual shift, has the makings of a classic. Ashgood will sell with a new MOT and might even be persuaded to include an oil service. PW