THE 997 is HERE!!!!

Credit to Rennteam.com for being first!

Check it out at Rennteam.com http://www.rennteam.com/showflat.php...b=5&o=&fpart=1

Still too much like a Beetle in the front. And those turn signals are HUGE!!! Otherwise looks really good. Not as good as a 996-facelift, but I'd own one,,,

I agree with ZeeZee, the 996-facelift is a much nicer looking car, and better proportioned. Those headlights just don't look right to me.

Uh? I think the 997 IS the 996 facelift..

Not bad from the back - but those turn signals - UGH!!!!! I like my '02 much better

Weissach - the 996 facelift I mean is the 02s+. The 997, while technically an upgrade, is much more than a facelift. It's differently proportioned, has an active suspension, a completely upgraded interior (which looks like crap to me), and the beetle lights. I have a 99, and love it. But I like the 02s even better than mine, and better than the new 997s...

Is it me or do you think its just a variation in the basic 996, a little widebodied and 993 lights? It must have something else to get buyers, maybe more HP than we have heard. Will

Based upon the pricing on the attached Rennteam link, it's about $10K for 0.2 sec improvement on the 0-60 time. Pretty pricey.....but that's Porsche!

A price increase of $10K would help hold the value of 996's up, if they could actually get the higher price. Given the soft sales they've experienced lately (except for SUV's) I doubt it will happen.

wonder what the 993 guys think? I don't like it, but I've always been partial to the 996.

I think the 996 looks better from the back ...regarding the front, I am still undecided!

My dealer has sold just about every 996 they can get their hands on. TT are all but gone according to them and they only had one 996, a C4S, on the lot today. I went by to try and get a brochure on the 997 and after a few call, they told me that they were advised that the 997 may still not go into production. Probably, bad information, but I thought it was interesting nonetheless.

The 19's look great as far as size is concerned, but the Gallardo techno influence will have to grow on me. I don't dig the rear bumper line as it cuts across the beautiful rear quarter panel on each side. The 996 version of this line is much smoother IMO. The side mirrors look great and the front end has a little 959 thrown in. Quad pipes in the S look tough! Fewer fins in the decklid look nice, too. It looks like Porsche went a little retro with the interior... is it me, or do I see some G35 in the steering wheel? Interesting design... I need more time to soak it all up. Cheers!

It's so hard to pass judgement from a photo. I remember seeing the 996 and really didn't like it. Then after a while and really looking and sitting in the car I was converted. I think my C4S is much, let me repeat, much more attractive than the pictures of the 997 I've seen so far. However, I'm still holding judgement until I can actually touch it, sit in it, drive it and experience it. From the pictures I do agree about the head lamps... not a fan. The rear brake lights look too small, or somehow out of place. The quad pipes remind me too much of an M3 but they are fine either way. I haven't seen enough pics of the interior, however, the Pepper steering wheel jumped out at me - not really in a good way. But like I said I really need to experience the car before I can really come to any conclusion.

ATLANTA, GA, May 11, 2004 � Porsche� today disclosed the first information available on two all-new Porsche 911s destined to be the flagship models for its model year 2005 sports car lineup. The all-new Porsche 911 Carrera and more powerful 911 Carrera S combine the classic 911 silhouette, a trademark of the model for more than 40 years, with new and more aggressive styling. Both models feature Porsche�s traditional horizontally opposed flat-six cylinder engines. The 911 Carrera�s 3.6-liter unit produces 325 HP (SAE) while the 911 Carrera S�s newly developed 3.8-liter power plant delivers 355 HP (SAE). Both cars also have a new six-speed gearbox and a reworked chassis, which includes active suspension as standard on the S model. The new 911 models will go on sale in the second half of 2004. Manufacturer�s suggested retail price for the 911 Carrera is $69,300 US and $101,400 Canadian and for the 911 Carrera S $79,100 US and $115,650 Canadian. Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga., and its subsidiary, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., are the exclusive importers of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne sport utility vehicles for the United States and Canada. A wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG, PCNA employs approximately 250 people who provide Porsche vehicles, parts, service, marketing and training for its 204 U.S. and Canadian dealers. They, in turn, provide Porsche owners with best-in-class service.

i'm confused. according to the info from porsche, the base 997 will go 0-60 in 5.0 seconds. that's .2 secs slower than a 996 carrera! and the 997 S will go 0-60 in 4.8 secs. what's going on here?!?!?! did they add that much weight to the new car?

Actually the stats from porsche for the 996 carrera is 5.0 sec. We know it does this better in real life but they have weight added when doing tests to simulate the average weight for two people.

S with more HP. Active suspension, 355 HP. Interesting. Will there be a 997 GT3?

Yikes. I'll reserve judgement until I see it in person though.

on their website they quote 0-62 mph as 5.0 secs with the manual, so that should be about 4.9 secs to 60 mph (ok, maybe almost 5.0 ). so even if it's the same 0-60 times between the old and new car, i'm disappointed. i would have expected at least a .1 or .2 second gain. i'm left asking: WHERE'S OUR HP?!?!?!?!? it's at least a $75K car when you add the basic options. i know, i know "but a porsche is about handling too!". for that much money, you should get handling AND power...

I think they are gona have a 25 HP upgrade like the X51 X50 That would put the Carrera to 350 and S to 380

those kits should just be standard IMHO, not another $12K like porsche charges... that's ridiculous.

The thing is that the "base" 911 has never really been a dragster when it comes to 0-60 times. More HP would be nice but if the car has the handling and durability that should exist in a Porsche I don't see a problem with it. Porsche have never been the value leader when it comes to 0-60 times or HP/per $$.

Riad, I could not agree more! I am glad I bought my 2004 C4S. The clock on top of the dash really has me puzzled, why would Porsche do this? IMHO, it looks tacky as hell

lets just hope they have it, cause I don't want to be beat by my neighbours crysler crossfire

Maybe they are reintroducing the door "thump". I suppose that could make up for the lack of a horsepower increase.

The clock "thingy" is an option- Chrono sport package plus. It can adjust, throttle response, PSM, PASM and Tiptronic shifting speeds. The timer in the dashboard monitors laptimes.

$79k for the 997 carrera "s" is actually not bad considering it took $75k to buy a similarly equipped 996 way back in '99--and the 997 appears to be superior on paper.

Carrera S with 355hp definitely sounds awesome. IMO the 3.8L 355hp should have been the basic motor for the 997. The "regular" carrera is basically the 996 motor under the heavier skin (makes no sense), should not even exist.(Isn't this increase of 5hp the lowest increase between any 911 model upgrades, heck less of an imporovement between the 01 996 and 02 996, which was 100% more) So ideally in my perfect world the basic 997 with the 3.8L 355hp motor for a price in the low 70's would have been logical and ideal. (afterall the 996 which is out for 7 or 8 yrs. and 997 shares numerous componenets, and would it have killed porsche to give us the more powerful motor as the standard).

if ther is it will be my next car!

I think the quad pipes look like crap... big fat ovals or current dual ovals in a combined shape looks hot... no sex appeal on the tail pipes... I for one.. personally LIKE the front end... it's fresh and looks pretty clean.... the rims on the "S" are also hot.... the interior... argggg... 1999 996 Silver/Boxster Red PSE/Aluminum package

forget it!! and this is coming from a guy who was thinking to go backward in time to a 993.....i love my car a lot more today. that humpty-dumpty rear end and cheapo interior will do lots for my little ol' 99c2. just my .02

I am relieved. I was under the impression that the body changes might be more radical. The 997 looks like a 996 facelift and may not be as detrimental to 996 resale as I previously thought. The wheels will be a pain in the washmitt to keep clean. Otherwise the body looks good and lets the 993 guys feel like they were back home with the 997 headlight treatment.

I believe that that is the main reason. It is a marketing tactic. The 996 owners cars are still relatively new, while the 993's are getting up there in age. The 993 owners will feel vindicated from the 996 "betrayal" and more likely to buy the 997.

Sort of dissapointing. Looks kind of like the 996 to me. Any increase in HP would be nice. Honestly though I would prefer ROW suspension and some weight loss (150lbs or so). The Carrera has never been a drag car for me.. all about handling... on the track I would take the weight savings... changes so much more than just power... JMHO.. I'll wait to see the 998 (or whatever they call it) Be well folks... Speed Yellow in Texas <----------------