THE SWEET SPOT
The 997 Gen II Carrera S packs a big punch and, in recent months, has noticeably depreciated in price…
RPM Technik’s Technical Director, Ollie Preston, takes a moment to consider what he might recommend to 911 & Porsche
World readers as 2021’s best buy. “It’s a difficult question to answer,” he reasons, recognising we’re not focusing our attention exclusively on price. “Turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder 718s are a great choice,” he starts. “You can tune them to crazy power without spending a fortune. I’m also a massive fan of the original 996 GT3. Even with the original no-cost Clubsport package, these cars aren’t commanding crazy money right now.”
A short time later, he tells us he’s settled on the Porsche he thinks should be at the top of shopping lists for shrewd buyers during the year ahead. “It’s got to be the second-generation 997 Carrera S,” he smiles. “I’d hold out for a non-sunroof coupe with a manual gearbox. When on the hunt for a proper driver’s car, this is rewarding specification, but it’s also quite rare due to the popularity of the PDK semi-automatic transmission at the point of 997 Gen II production. In my opinion, this early incarnation of the system hasn’t aged well, which is immediately noted when jumping into a much newer Pdk-equipped 911, hence my preference for a Carrera S with a stick shift.”
Introduced in 2009, the facelift 997 (unveiled at the 2008 Paris Auto Show) showcased a new range of naturally aspirated engines, revised body styling, a redesigned Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system, Bluetooth connectivity and an updated exhaust design. Exaggerated horror stories concerning the first-gen 997’s mechanical reliability ensured the newer model held its value on the used car market, but prices have softened during the course of the past eighteen months, making the cost of buying an early Gen II not as much of a stretch beyond 997 Gen I money as it once was.
Like its same-badged predecessor, the second-gen 997 Carrera S makes use of a 3.8litre flat-six (as opposed to the base Carrera’s 3.6-litre unit). Despatching the zero to sixty dash in 4.7 seconds and reaching a top speed of 188mph, the model delivers significantly more power and pace than the older 3.8-litre S, even when the earlier car is equipped a factory Powerkit. “The second-generation 997 Carrera S is, in many regards, the best mix of traditional and modern 911 development,” Ollie muses. “Non-electric power-assisted steering is just one example of how the car engages its driver without feeling like the host 911 is doing all the work. An engine free of forced induction, twowheel drive and great styling makes it a fantastic Porsche package and one I think will hold its value well for the foreseeable future, following a recent levelling of sale prices.”
From base model to Turbo and everything in between, second-gen 997s have been considered Porsches to pounce on when offered at low cost in recent years. They’re relatively straightforward 911s to maintain and can quickly adapt from daily drivers to weekend warriors, but bear in mind the oldest examples may be in need of a tad more love and attention come service time. Even so, they’re 911s completely worth the spend — the 997 Carrera S rightly remains a firm fan favourite.