40th Anniversary Info

I may be pulling the trigger on a 40th Anniversary Car. I know most of the details about them but would like some input about the best places to find specific information and pictures, especially some Porsche and other commentary on the car from when it was on the market. I found an exceptional one. It has all the goodies, really low miles, maintenance records, flawless, etc. My alternative for about the same $ is a 34,000 mile 2006 997 Carrera S with no options - a lease return with no history, in decent but not exceptional condition. What are your opinions between the two. I'm strongly leaning toward the perfect 40th. Thanks!

I would go for the 997 - it's a substantial improvement over the 996. Now if you said 6GT3 vs 997S - that would be a different story.

I'd go for the 997S as well, if those are the only 2 choices... However personally, my NEXT Porsche must have a GT1 block in it. GT3 for me. Otherwise I just don't think it'll feel like a REAL "upgrade".

get the 997S

My dad has a 05 997s and I have a 40th. I like the 997 more (gt silver is a boring color) but his car was $10k more. I would just keep shopping. If you are willing to spend $40k you can get an excellent 997s if you look hard enough. But you can get a 40th for under $35k pretty easily.

I think both are good choices, but I'd get the 997S as well.

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+1 on that Statement

For sure the 997.

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knfeparty - I'd like to understand the differences you feel between the two and why you prefer the 997S. Is it a matter of degree or major differences? I would enjoy a chat on the phone about this if you're willing. All -- The 40th I have found has under 10k miles and has never seen rain. It has all options but is not a $35k car. I have looked for decent low mile 997S for a max of $50K. I have found one - a 2006 for $48k but it has 34,000 miles, is a stripper with no options and is a lease return with no history. In my way of thinking I have a choice of the best of the 996 generation, in brand new condition that is probably the nicest or as nice as the nicest 40th Annersary in the country vs a used 997 that is rough by my standards. Like the 2001 996, this 997 is already eclipsed by the newest 997.2 (like the 2002+ 996s eclipsed the 2001s). Given my budget, I'd rather have the best of the 996 with 345hp, full leather, NAV, sort suspension, every option, complete history, virtually new, than some used stripper, already old generation 997. I'd appreciate your reasoning for your suggestions too. And where are these cream puff under $50K 997S people talk about? Please point me to some with 30k miles or less. I have searched everywhere I could for weeks and found nothing. My conclusion is I can't get the 997 I want for my $50k budget, but I can get the best 996. Thanks for your help!

Have you driven both? I understand about the stripper comments but your comparison sounds like its been done on paper. Try to get some seat time; let that help guide you to the correct purchase. JMHO

I can fix this problem by selling you my 20k mile 40th for $40k and I'll go out and buy a 996 turbo! My car isn't for sale, I just can't believe that someone is going to get high 40's for a 40th. More power to them as it helps the value of my car!

997 yes, 40th tomorrow. I continue to try and find as much comparative info as I can because my test drives are limited experiences. Again, it's mostly the fact that I really don't have a decent 997 choice I could buy at this point. I'm thinking, regardless of whether it may drive significantly better or not, that my budget is too low for a 997 with the condition I want. Your C4S looks great in white, BTW!

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Make sure you take the 40th up HIGH in the rpms. That's where you'll feel the X51.

3rd gear 6 to 7000 rpm is where you will feel it. Unfortunately that's not legal most places...to put it shortly the 997 is easier to drive both performance wise and for daily use. PASM is nice too. All the controls are smoother and have better feedback.

Who was leasing the car that didn't track work done on it? Maybe if both cars are at the same place they are just trying to get rid of the harder to sell and bigger profit with the price they put on it. I know, we go down there together and you pull the trigger on the 40th and I'll buy the 997 I'll race you and the police if it's a steal of a price. You pay cash for tickets around there? Options mean weight in my book. Engine, suspension and road. What else does a porsche need? 997 was a jump in technology so better road car. Did I menation the 997 is what I'd concentrate on as the car to get?

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Thanks. I'll look forward to tomorrow's drive.

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What happened to 2nd gear? You'll feel it there too and that will be legal!

To me, a very low mile 40th wouldn't get driven very much because it's kind of special and you'd want to keep it that way probably. But that's kind of a waste in a sense.... So a 997 S has a lot of appeal because you don't have to worry about putting miles on it. That could be a DD and you wouldn't have to feel bad about it, plus it will be a slightly better driving and comfort experience. Another option would be as someone above mentioned, a 996 TT, but that's if you're power hungry mostly weekends driver.

I think that low-mid $30s for a 40th anniversary car in the condition you describe is probably a fine choice, and it leaves you not spending your entire budget. If you want the "best of" the 996 though, I think you'd need to be looking at GT3s, not C2s, and that'd cost you more than $50k for an example to your standards. As far as an MK1 997S, especially for someone coming from air cooled cars, I think most of what that car'll offer over a 40th anniversary car is more refinement, but that's just splitting hairs compared to the difference between a 993 and a 996. Anyway, I guess just thinking out loud but I'd try to spend more time with each car to see what suits your fancy better. Whatever you do, post some pics! Good luck.

I was in the same situation as you in my choices between 40th and 997, I drove both soft and hard. IMO, 997 was not an S, it felt too soft and refined. My 98 boxster felt more raw. Then I drove the 40th, it was definately bumpier and the engine was awesome. Both are very nice cars but I wanted a fun car I could live with so I chose the 40th. GT3 was option until after I found out about the lack of backseats and the insurance issues with children back there. I chose the 40 because you rarely see them, the X51 and all the options. Both are great cars.

This was a hard choice for me when I was shopping for a Porsche - I went through cycles of thinking of keeping my G37 and buying an secondary car - 87 coupe, or getting a newer Porsche and trade in the G37. I ended up going for the 40th. The 997 would have been too expensive for my budget. There were 3 40th's around me when I was looking too - one had 8000 miles, another had 17000 miles, and then the one I ended up with had 12,xxx miles and CPO for 2 years. Steve

I love my 40th, but a turbo would be nice.

I recently drove a 2005 997 and 2004 40th back to back. I prefered the 40th to that 997. The engive was more responsive, interior was great with the full leather, plus the front end looks fantastic for the C4S bumper. Plus the 40th has LSD among other items mentioned. The dealer was asking $48k for it...yikes! The mileage was in the teens and overall in excellent condition. They sold it for $46k.

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Don't need to rev it up high to tell it is an X51. Before I got mine, I used to think it is a reving motor. It is defintely a torque motor. Just search for my dynos. My car made from 23 to 30 ft-lbs more torque everywhere above 4000 rpms when I upgraded to an X51. The torque on this motor is way underrated. Porsche quoted it as 273 ft-lbs at the flywheel. I made 261 ft-lbs at the tires, which is over 300 at the flywheel.

Yes, the power is there in 2nd, but it's over so fast you don't notice! You'll hear it open up at the top of 3rd and really smile... The 997S is still a better car (not the regular 997 though) but for most examples they are going to be $10k to $15k more which isn't worth it...that really puts you into gt3 territory. I wouldn't feel bad about driving a 40th...I know I definitely do not. I've put 6k miles on mine since I bought it september 19th.

Thanks for the input. Well, I got to drive the 40th and liked it a lot. I made a serious, high offer but the owner and I couldn't come to terms. For the same money I found and bought this 14k mile 997 with basically all the same options plus CPO warranty. The 40th was local, which was convenient. The 997 is being shipped from Colorado. Should have it in a couple of weeks.

John, I saw your thread on the 997 Forum about your purchase. Sweet looking car. I just love the Sea Blue interiors in the 997, but unfortulately, there are very few of them around.

John, congratulations! I couldn't think of a better way to kick off the new year.

Congrats, beautiful car! Hope you stay here on the 996 fourm or at least visit from time to time.

That is a very sharp looking P-car. Congratulations. Stop in any time

Beautiful car. What a way to start the new year. Best of luck.

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Nice purchsae! I thought you were leaning towards the 40th in your previos posts, Either choice was a good choice. Car looks very nice, GL.

Nice one, she's a beauty. I think you'll be very happy with that! I also test drove a 40th this evening, felt the extra torque on the low end but oddly the extra power was less noticeable on the top end. So, an '05 S with 17k miles, what kind of price were you able to get on that, like ~$45ish / under 50?

Beautiful 997! Congrats! Those are my favorite 997 wheels, I'm glad it doesn't have the lobster claws...