Anthony Coyne Fort Lauderdale, FL
@mr_coyne Model 997.2 CARRERA S Year 2009 Acquired FEBRUARY 2021
I’m surprised Total 911’s Editor-at-large has not fired me from this section. My brief is to write 500 words each month, a sort of long-term running report, relating to my own 911. Yet, to date, I’ve covered moving to America, Alfred our dog with brain cancer (he’s doing well, and thank you to those who have messaged me with kind words through the blog and Insta), many, many miles on the road, and the dangers of being tasered. To me, this is life with a 911. It is clear I have no idea what I am doing. Oh, and I don’t even own this car, it’s registered in Renée’s name – technically I’m not supposed to be here.
My personal 911 journey began in a 964; a 60,000-mile dark blue C2 manual Coupe with red interior. It cost about £13k, and leaked oil wherever it went. Back then many owners were modifying them, driven I suspect by them being relatively cheap. Unlike if they had been messing around with the originality of a 993, this mutilation wasn’t considered blasphemous. That the name ‘Singer’ was starting to mean something other than Rod Stewart perhaps justified the new trend. That’s where the 997.2 differs. To me they are best left close to factory originality, although some .1 cars appear to be sought after by those who want to be a little creative.
Recently, the 997.2 was driven once more from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Knoxville, Tennessee. As the day became night, the roads cleared and I began to think about this car, and what I make of it. Approaching 17,000 miles in the (folding bucket) seat has given me a decent understanding of what it offers. Put simply, this 997.2 is an astonishingly good car. Over 100,000 miles on the odometer yet it feels tight, it uses no oil between services (as in not needing a regular top up like my 964 and 993 did), and it drives arrow straight. There are no vibrations or unwanted noises. Everything works. The PDK gearbox has totally won me over, so much so, I will never choose a manual Porsche over a Pdk-equipped car ever again. The reliable flat six DFI power makes it a very fast car, and the noise it makes, albeit perhaps a little muted, is a joy. Most importantly, I smile every time I see it. The contrast of the new arrival from 1986, a car that would have cost almost 40 per cent more than the equivalent 911 of the day, is a sobering one. Maybe that’s the reason old rearengined Porsches are so valuable.