MARKET RIVALS

Asking prices for 997.2s fall between £34-£42,000. Among air-cooled 911s this level might suffice for a usable SC or 3.2, but both requiring remedial work. The watercooled cars provide wider options:

996 Turbo

Often depicted as the ultimate affordable supercar, the 996 Turbo is still stupendously fast and the engine, shared with the GT3, is notably reliable. A relaxing tourer, this is now an old 911 and unless carefully selected, maintenance costs could be daunting.

997.2 S

In this price bracket, the S will have a higher mileage and fewer options; cooling system, brake pipes and a/c mechanisms might also require expensive refurbishment. A 997.2 that has already seen these consumables renewed is a safer bet.

996 Anniversary

£35,000 buys a really good example of one of the most sought-after 996 outside of the GT cars. However, these still suffer with M96-related problems, so require more dilligence before any purchase is made.

991.1

Early 991s now begin around £40,000. Most are PDK which in Sport Plus is hypersonic, but the 991’s greater dimensions, ease of control and a slight, but tangible feeling of distance between driver and road will dilute the pleasure for old-school enthusiasts.