Confessions of a 997.2 owner... or in what ways is it better than the 996?

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In another 996 thread, Dresler posted this question to me. I figured his question deserved a thread of its own. So here are my impressions and ramblings after three months of ownership..... Well, for starters, the 997.2 doesn't have those fugly headlights! Just kidding, I like the 996 headlights. I debated between getting a 997.1 and 997.2, which has the new 9A1 DFI engine. I there is just not enough performance difference between the 996 and the 997.1 to make it a huge step up in performance. Porsche really added a lot of upgrades in the 997 "face lift" (997.2). Untimately, I decided to get a 997.2 C2S which has the 3.8L 9A1 engine with 385 HP and 300 Torque. I went above my price limit to get the 2010 C2S with 2,945 miles and 5 Years Porsche warranty (3 year factory and 2 years CPO). The new engine: has DFI has 40% fewer moving parts the Intermediate Shaft was completely eliminated revs faster than the M96/M97 engine The PASM suspension is great.... firm yet compliant. Porsche tweaked it from the 997.1 model. Hitting the PASM button firms up the ride to the point that you can use it only on smooth roads or on the track. TPMS is also upgraded from the 997.1 and works very well. Some of the 997.1 guys report 2 to 3 PSI difference between their tire gauge(s) and TMPS. Mine is spot on to the pressure measured by my tire gauge. The interior is nice and well laid out. Obviously, a lot more "straight lines" in it than in the 996 interior. I wanted Full Leather but couldn't find one with the options I wanted and in my price range. I really like the LED lights, both front and rear. You can have the front turn signal lights on for use as DRL, or you can turn them off in the PCM menu which is controlled by the lower left stalk. The PCM, Navi, and Stereo are touch screen, which is nice. The Navi is GREATLY upgraded from the 997.1. It is a good system. You can also have the Navi directions appear in the information window below the Tac. Pretty cool. For those of you who may upgrade in the future, skip the 997.1 and go to the 997.2, even if you have to wait a little longer. IMO, there are too many good things that have been added on the 997.2 to settle for the 997.1. Let me know if you have any questions.

But Tim be honest, you must miss the Honda. I really envy your current Porsche choice.

So, my interpretation is that Tim bought the '10 because it looks pretty, rather then because it performs better than the 996

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Honda? What Honda???? Thanks, the color is really understated. It's like of a sleeper, not "in your face" color.

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Wayne, good to see you back here. Well, I have been trying to keep the car near the speed limit, so my comments were from the "daily driver" point of view. I listed all of the items one notices when one is not pushing the fast pedal to the floor, which quite frankly, is probably a much higher percentage of the time than most are willing admit to on this forum. It's those things that make it a better daily driver than the 996. Here is a good example of one of the improved systems. Suspension: The front end is much more planted at speed than my 996 was at the same speed. The light and nervous feeling of the 996 is not present on the 997.2. It feels much more stable at 90+ MPH (or so I have been told). Is it faster that my 996? There is no question that the 997.2 is faster than my '04 996. How could it not be? It has 65 more HP and more torque than my Lapis Blue beauty. But that (more HP), in and of itself, does not make it a "better" car. All of the "supporting elements" that Porsche improved upon, not only enhanced the individual systems, but the collective cohesion of all of the improvements come together to make the sum of the parts greater than the total. So yes, it performs better than the 996, but not because of HP, but because the total package has been improved. That's what makes it "better" than the 996.

I would love have a 997.2. I will probably wait another 2 or 3 years to either get a used 997.2 or a 991 as I am still enjoying my 996.

I have to admit as much as I love my car I've been "looking" as well. I really like the looks of the 997 turbo but the 997.2 S cars seem to have a sufficient amount of power and a lot of the advancements you mentioned. Good review from someone with experience from both sides of the fence and absolutely helpful to those of us trying to figure things out. Thanks!

Fernando, You are welcome. I certainly hope this thread will be helpful to those that may be considering a 997.

Thanks for write-up...great move to 997.2 and avoiding all the IMS stuff for 1999 cars through the 997.1........ Enjoy the car....... )

No, you silver-tongued devil, I won't be moved by you. I like my 996...it has an AVIC 110BT....it does ride hard as a rock.. but the C4S already is planted at speed...the leather is getting a bit worn...but if the IMS Blows I can get a 425 HP 3.8 from Jake....that will make it faster than yours.... (won't it?)

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I liked my 996 too, but I like the 997 even more, but in a different way. My 996 was leased so I knew my time with her was limited. Plus, my Lapis Blue baby was my "first" Porsche, and it has been my experience that the "first" of most things are very memorable. Maybe not he "best" but the most memorable. I would guess that your 425 HP would trump my 385 HP, as long as you didn't have to worry that the extra 100 HP wouldn't put too much strain on the clutch, or the transmission, or the AWD system, or be too powerful for the brakes, or........ OK, that was mean of me, but it was fun!

I guess next year we will see the "Confessions of a 991 owner... or in what ways is it better than the 997" thread.

I definitely agree with your comments on the engine revving faster. When I rented a 2010 C2S in Europe last year, I noticed this right away. It makes rev matching during downshifts even more fun!

Thanks Tim for the feedback... I admit I have been looking more at the 997.2s lately. BUT prices are a bit over my budget so for now I guess will have to live vicariously with some of you 997.2 folk's stories... Well, the 991... another story...

The fact that it's a bigger engine yet revs faster is interesting to me. Usually it's the opposite as the bigger engines tend to be slower "revvers"

I already know that my next Porsche will be a 2009 or newer C4S with PDK, that I will likely start looking for in a year or so. I really, really love my 2003 996 C4S, though.

Tim Thanks for the great write up on the 997.2!! Ive had my 996 for 6 years now, of course loving it every time i get in and turn on the engine. Over the years i have modified a number of things on the car, some by choice and others less so (like a new engine). However I am considering a 997, and your write up has made it cristal clear to hold out for the 997.2, as the changes are definitely woth while. I track my 996 quite a lot each summer, and will be looking to track my next Porsche. I was considering the 997 GT3, but feel the car is just too obnoxious with the big rear spoiler etc. Therefore really narrowing the choice down a car very similar to what you have.. 997.2 C2S. Now the difficulty in finding the right color. Thanks again

I'm now looking forward to the new "retro" Targa (C4S please) but not if the DFI problem remains unresolved. I suspect 1 or 2 throttle body fuel injectors will solve the intake valve residue buildup problem and at the same time eliminate the long standing problem of EGR residue deposit accumulation within the intake manifold.

Nice write up Tim, glad you are enjoying the car, but I guess what's not to like!

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I have read your repeated claims of a "DFI problem" with the new 9A1 engines. Please post documented proof that such a problem exists. Who did the study, how many cars were found to have this "problem," how many cars were included in the sample study, what percentage of cars had this "problem," etc., etc. Using the BMW DFI engines as an example won't cut it! They are not Porsche engineered engines. If there really is a "problem" as you say there is, then I want to read about it, learn the facts, and also want to know what to do about it. If you can not substantiate your claims, then please state that your comments are "your opinion" and "your conjecture," rather than trying to pass them off as fact. I'll await your documentation.

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Rob, You are welcome. I just want people to know that there is quite a difference between the 997.1 and 997.2. Please know that I am not saying that the 997.1 is a bad car. Quite the contrary! I think the 997.1 is a very good car. Like it or not, we all know that there is a large difference in styling between the 996 and the 997.1. However, functionally, I believe there is a larger difference between the 997.2 and the 997.1 than there is between the 997.1 and the 996.

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Don, Good to hear from you again! Thanks, I really am enjoying the car!

well for most of us 996 owners that is a $40K+ upgrade ... yes very nice .. but I'm still happy with my 996 performance everytime I drive it

I've been waiting for this thread to heat up a bit before jumping in. Tim, Congratulations on your new and absolutely great looking car! I am VERY happy for you, and I agree that the 997.2 is the best choice on the "previously enjoyed" market, (if you can stand the buy-in cost). You did well, young Skywalker. Since we never did get to hook up last year for a run together on the TotD in my car (when you were still "between") I hope we can do it in April of this coming year, together. First we will run our own cars, then we will ride along with each other, then we will switch cars. I look forward to coming back to this thread after that and reporting that in fact Porsche has made noticable improvements, fully recordable on the Butt dyno, over the decade between our cars. LOL! I just hope that my wallet has made a noticable improvement by then because I have steadfastly refused to test drive ANY 997 because I knew my knees would weaken once I crossed that line. It happens every time. That 991 Targa C4S PDK sounds good too... when I can physically no longer push a clutch to the floor.

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my wife won't let me for that very reason.

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yeah, I was wondering that too

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Thanks, Mark. Just let me know when and where you want to run. I'll be happy to let you drive my car. Just be prepared to start looking for a 997.2 when all is said and done!

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Bueller??...... Bueller?????...... wwest??...... wwest?????

Nice car Tim! I love DRL (daytime running lights) and LED technology. The car looks fresh, modern and is a fantastic choice to get 'more distance' and improvements from a 996. No more IMS issues .... I drove a 3.8 PDK and It was amazing... but I love manual gearbox!!! I love the clutch and It makes me feel better than driving a car like a Playstation console. The car is incredible... when you drive it fast, you can't imagine how Porsche engineers could imprve it.... till you drive a 991 You can read here one of the best roadtest of the 991, made by my Soloporsche.com partner Carlos Roadtest Spanish version for those spanish spoken Roadtest English version So referred to your car, I only can say... CONGRATS!!!! I'm a 996 lover , but 997 Mk2 is an excellent choice. The 996 C2 front train is not the best design that Porsche engineers made (C4 was very different). 997 wasn't a real new model respect to 996 series, was a evolution. The 991 is a real new car. Best regards from Spain... It was too much I didn't write here

Joaquin, Thanks for the kind words! I am really enjoying the car. It is a blast to drive..... slow or fast. Check out my other thread about my Titanium lug bolts.

Very nice write up and nice car! Someday I will move on from my 40AE, still enjoying it 2 years in. Just had the IMSR done over this summer. In a few years when the 997.2 gets into the ballpark I paid for my car I will consider doing the same - gotta love the LEDs and headlight style. Good luck!

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I am fascinated by PDK but don't know if I want one. It is good to hear other viewpoints. -front train- Did you mean "drivetrain"?

With Porsche, it's always back to the headlights... I actually prefer the 997.1 headlights to the 997.2 or 991 headlights. It's pretty noticeable that the 997.2 and 991 headlights are virtually identical to those on the VW Beetle - the dual lens/projector design just looks really gimmicky to me (although not as bad as that strip of LEDs that the Audis have). I'm sure that the dual lens system illuminates the road that much better, etc. - but I would have thought with the technology out there that they could get all the necessary lighting "guts" into one lens/projector. That being said, maybe I just have "headlight envy"