997 GTS vs 991 C2S - Page 2 - 911/Carrera GT - PistonHeads UK

Need to brainstorm with some enthusiasts and connoisseurs. I’m about to pull the trigger on my first Porsche. Finally, dream come true. My absolute dream car has always been the 997 GTS. And I might just about be able to afford it. However, I have seen a few 991 C2Ss and both on paper and in person the 991 is quite impressive. As you know, because of technological advances and just the progress of the 911 platform, both models in questions are extremely close in performance (acceleration, top speed, lap times, etc). But they are much harder to compare apples-to-apples in most other aspects. As most would say, the 997 is more analog, truer to the older 911 formula, more compact so a more engaging drive. But the 991 is much more modern, refined and comfortable without being a bloated GT (if you can see past the steering thing). I really can’t decide. Let me try to get ahead of some of the usual questions: - what will the car be used for: weekend drives, 1-2 weekly school runs, road trips, all no more than 3-4k miles per year. I guess that favours the 991. - have I driven any of these: not yet, but I’m sure I’ll love either. One last thing to consider. I am planning to keep the car indefinitely, maybe for life or until I am unable to drive it. But I’m getting into a somewhat expensive finance deal in the short term until rates come down. So that favours something with a better residual/low depreciation in case I have to sell at any point. So I guess that somewhat favours the GTS because it’s a bit more special. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

I had a similar decision to make last year. I went with the 997 GTS. Rarer and less chance of depreciation. Smaller too. The reviews seem to suggest its the last of the 911 'sportscars' before they became GTs and so handles a bit better and is more nimble too maybe. 911s are pretty common so I liked the special wheels and sports seats/Alcantara which sets it apart a little. Overall it seems pretty well built and Im enjoying it so far! Good luck.

I made the same decision when they were new as they were briefly sold in parallel. Drove each back to back twice at the dealer. Bought the GTS as it was noticeably more fun to drive. Steering felt better, probably as it's hydraulic vs the 991's first gen electric set up. And as mentioned in the post above the whole GTS package looked and felt more special. I took pics of the two side by side. The GTS has way more presence, if that's a consideration. Think you'd be fine with the GTS for what you have in mind. I had mine for 7 years as our only car and it was near faultless, whereas I gather some of the early 991s had niggling reliability issues. As ever the best thing to do is test drive both, as you'll notice their different characteristics. And on the subject of test driving - if you don't need rear seats it may also be worth trying a Cayman 4.0 GTS. I had a Boxster 4.0. It's the same weight, dimensions and power as the 997 GTS. You get the 991 era interior and it's a fabulous modern era car all round

The 991 is indeed a fantastic vehicle, yet in this instance, my preference leans towards the 997 GTS. It's not just a distinguished modern classic, but its scarcity on the streets also adds to its allure, making it feel more exclusive in my opinion.

I owned a 991.2 GTS (PDK) and currently own a 997 GTS (Manual) The newer car, for me, just did not feel as mechanical and special. Granted, it is not an apples to apples comparison given the gearbox differences, but the 997 feels the sweet spot of the 911 in my view. Enough good tech to live with day to day, but more involving to drive. I'd often switch off in the 991.2 and could have just as easily been in a sorted Golf or similar (no disrespect to the Golf...) Haven't driven a 991.1, which might feel more involving with the NA engine. You said the 997 GTS has always been a halo car for you. If it were me, I'd stick with that choice.

I've had a manual 997GTS from 6 months old. Every drive is an event. I keep looking at other things, but then after 5 minutes back in the GTS just think " don't be silly". It's a keeper and will probably outlast me!

Owned a 997 GTS for six years….did have a 991.2 GTS as a loan car when they were new for a couple of days…I also drove a 991 C2S at the PEC. OPC was trying to tempt me. I keep the 997. There is no right answer because ultimately it is down to what you prefer but I think a 997 GTS will put a smile on your face more often and will give you more of a thrill on those occasions when you are driving the car purely for pleasure. Awesome cars.

Wow, I didn’t expect so much consensus and consistency! Thank you all six contributors for your comments. This is exactly what I was looking for. Let’s now see if I can make the budget work. Will keep you posted

I had a 997.2 GTS - which I went to from a 981 Cayman S. I really liked it and intended it to be a keeper. On the right road, there is nothing like it, the steering, the standard fit powerkit made it sound amazing at high revs, it felt like a “real” 911. But… the PDK was not as good as younger cars, the satnav was “not brilliant”, if you wanted to stream music you needed a funny double cable that probably wouldn’t work with a modern iPhone, and I had a nagging doubt that my particular car had some paint repair secrets. I replaced it with a new (manual) 991.2T which I personally prefer. I always said that if my GTS had been manual, I’d have kept it though. The 991 T, to me, strikes a really sweet spot for a usable modern sports car. Now, they are already cheaper than a manual 997GTS - which would basically suggest that the market thinks I’m wrong. :-)

rob.kellock said: I had a 997.2 GTS - which I went to from a 981 Cayman S. I really liked it and intended it to be a keeper. On the right road, there is nothing like it, the steering, the standard fit powerkit made it sound amazing at high revs, it felt like a “real” 911. But… the PDK was not as good as younger cars, the satnav was “not brilliant”, if you wanted to stream music you needed a funny double cable that probably wouldn’t work with a modern iPhone, and I had a nagging doubt that my particular car had some paint repair secrets. I replaced it with a new (manual) 991.2T which I personally prefer. I always said that if my GTS had been manual, I’d have kept it though. The 991 T, to me, strikes a really sweet spot for a usable modern sports car. Now, they are already cheaper than a manual 997GTS - which would basically suggest that the market thinks I’m wrong. :-) The PDK point above is a good one. 997 PDK is definitely slower witted vs 991 onwards so would try it out to make sure you're OK with it before buying if you're considering PDK

That's not the worst idea in the world. If you want PDK you'll need a 997.2. Think the S version has about 375bhp. The GTS is 400bhp so the difference isn't night and day. I had a 997.1 C4S before my 997.2 GTS. the GTS was better without doubt but it very definitely didn't shame the C4S and if you get a .2 C4S then it'll be even closer to the GTS. One further consideration. Unless you really want the wide body on the C2 I'd go 2WD vs 4WD. I found the 2WD more fun, and you're not short of traction with the engine in the rear

Thanks for commenting on the PDK. Good point indeed. In this case, PDK is a must. I have indeed heard and read that the first PDK was not the sharpest and as a lot of people put it, they had to adjust their driving style to make the most out of it. And then it would be fine. Good food for thought. The GTSs might be out of budget. Those in budget are too rough or high mileage. I would like to get the Porsche warranty for at least the first 24 months, and that puts them out of budget considering potential repairs to things like suspension. But if I decide to stick to the 997 gen for the more old-fashioned driving, I might even consider a well-specced C4S for the wider body. I know, I know, plenty are going to say it’s too heavy and stuff, but I just can’t believe 55kg make that much of a diff. And I live in Essex, roads are terrible, I would welcome the added composure. Edited by WickedWizzzard on Tuesday 13th February 10:00 Edited by WickedWizzzard on Tuesday 13th February 10:02

I was committed to having a manual. Especially in a 911. But the £20k extra I just could not afford. My auto experience has been in a 1965 Pagoda and a 1981 Porsche 928 so the PDK has obviously been a massive step up. It's certainly not perfect and I notice slight delays/slipping from standstill at times but overall its great as Im in London. Putting it in Sport/+ really makes a difference and I enjoy the flappy paddles. Would still rather a manual but overall I see it as a happy compromise and certainly more suited to London driving.

PDK will be the thing that dates a 997 GTS or 997 C2S so really dilutes the premium you’re paying for an older car (Sat Nav can of course be updated easily if that’s important to you). If you were going manual then for me the 997 GTS is the best of that bunch including the 991 for a weekend and odd weekday car. This year is my 10th anniversary of 997GTS manual coupe ownership and I can easily see me owning it for another 10. Bear in mind my first 4 Porsches were owned for approx 2 years each including 2 997 turbos. That speaks for itself, I’ve found my sweet spot.

I’ve got a lowly 997.1 3.6 that I use for similar trips as you’ve noted in the op. The car is more than enough for the road - if you don’t intend tracking the car, I’d argue that you don’t need anymore than the base with a few choice options and an engine rebuild for the .1’s. If I were to change it, a GT3 in comfort spec is what I’d go for. Is the S, GTS and turbo that much better in the real world? I’m not sure, but they cost a lot more to run and you can’t drive any faster. Of the choices above I’d go GTS or save the pennies and buy a 991.1 base with the right options.

First Sea Lord said: That's not the worst idea in the world. If you want PDK you'll need a 997.2. Think the S version has about 375bhp. The GTS is 400bhp so the difference isn't night and day. I had a 997.1 C4S before my 997.2 GTS. the GTS was better without doubt but it very definitely didn't shame the C4S and if you get a .2 C4S then it'll be even closer to the GTS. One further consideration. Unless you really want the wide body on the C2 I'd go 2WD vs 4WD. I found the 2WD more fun, and you're not short of traction with the engine in the rear The difference is even smaller, just 20hp. I know that 4WD might take away some feel and agility. But for a runner along Essex roads in the winter might be a good option. Thanks for the contribution

c4sman said: PDK will be the thing that dates a 997 GTS or 997 C2S so really dilutes the premium you’re paying for an older car (Sat Nav can of course be updated easily if that’s important to you). If you were going manual then for me the 997 GTS is the best of that bunch including the 991 for a weekend and odd weekday car. This year is my 10th anniversary of 997GTS manual coupe ownership and I can easily see me owning it for another 10. Bear in mind my first 4 Porsches were owned for approx 2 years each including 2 997 turbos. That speaks for itself, I’ve found my sweet spot. Yeah, that’s becoming perhaps a bit more of a concern. Has to be PDK though, so that favours the 991

I swapped a 2013 991.1 S for a 2011 997GTS. Both pdk. The 997 is much more special imho and I loved the paired back feel. It seemed better put together. The 991 interior is clipped together and buzzes and rattles. The 997 is screwed! As a drive the 997 is more raw and interactive. No brainier for me!

jackliebling said: I swapped a 2013 991.1 S for a 2011 997GTS. Both pdk. The 997 is much more special imho and I loved the paired back feel. It seemed better put together. The 991 interior is clipped together and buzzes and rattles. The 997 is screwed! As a drive the 997 is more raw and interactive. No brainier for me! Oh that’s interesting, have not heard such feedback about the 991 interior, thanks for sharing.

Going to see a 997 GTS this week with the intention of buying if nothing too ugly comes up. Has three prev owners and 40k miles. I would be buying from what seems to be a reputable sports and classic cars dealer with impeccable reviews. They have done their own check and offer 6 months warranty. They have shared the checks report and invoice for £4k worth of service and a couple of repairs done to the car for selling. Nothing too serious by the looks of it, things like engine carrier mounts, oil pan gaskets and heat shields. If a dealer is willing to spend that amount of money on a car for selling (makes sense to hedge their warranty)what concerns me is the condition and care of the car to this point. Anything particular that I should watch out for? Any red flags?

It's probably fine if they have a good rep. That said, you can only see the work they've done from the documentation - and not the work that hasn't been done, unintentionally or otherwise. So, if it was me I'd be buying it subject to an inspection's findings Hope it's what you're after when you see it IRL

WickedWizzzard said: Going to see a 997 GTS this week with the intention of buying if nothing too ugly comes up. Has three prev owners and 40k miles. I would be buying from what seems to be a reputable sports and classic cars dealer with impeccable reviews. They have done their own check and offer 6 months warranty. They have shared the checks report and invoice for £4k worth of service and a couple of repairs done to the car for selling. Nothing too serious by the looks of it, things like engine carrier mounts, oil pan gaskets and heat shields. If a dealer is willing to spend that amount of money on a car for selling (makes sense to hedge their warranty)what concerns me is the condition and care of the car to this point. Anything particular that I should watch out for? Any red flags? hi There, wondering if you ended up buying the GTS?

MP16per said: hi There, wondering if you ended up buying the GTS? Yes! Thanks for asking, any opportunity to talk about the car I’m 18 months into ownership and loving it. Got the exact trim I wanted: coupe, PDK, black on black, no alcantara, no sunroof. With a few and very nice added options: adaptive sports seats, super hot country version (extra radiator), litronic headlights, BOSE, super extended leather, logo on storage lid and crest on headrest, seat heating, park assist, tire pressure sensor, bunch of other options (was very well spec from new). Have done since buying: - MetaTrak tracker - major service incl spark plugs, replaced one bad ignition coil, PDK major service - replaced the centre (secondary) muffler with an x-pipe, sounds better - black mesh behind front bumper to protect the rad and condensers (bit of a rush job but was going to France right after collecting it) - cosmetic: tinted windows, polished the exhaust tips, polished the headlights To-do short term: - have a DSC controller ordered and on the way, should be installed soon - replace brake discs and pads - new tires, current have plenty of thread but are very old - centre locks are stained and corroded (common issue), got a new set that I will replace with when I do the tyres and brakes - need to deal with a few internal squeaks and rattles, nothing broken, just age - paint correction, ppf front, and ceramic coating - replace the diy bumper mesh with the zunsport grille To-do mid/long term: - would like to replace full exhaust for a better sound and because PSE valves are vibrating and being noisy on tickover - would love to retrofit cruise control, I think that’s the one option that is missing and I would have specified - suspension refresh; there’s nothing wrong currently but at 14-years-old I want to deal with it preemptively My impressions of the car: - Steering has a nice heavy feeling to it, but easy to manoeuvre, precise and sensitive (now I see what they mean when talking about the 997 steering) - Great engine, smooth and with plenty of power and torque from 2k rpm, but really pulls from 3k, very usable 400bhp; thirsty though - Love the PDK, lightning fast and silky smooth, both in auto or manual; can be a bit jerky at very low speeds or when setting off, especially when cold - The road noise in the cabin is VERY high, and on rough roads can be very uncomfortable; on a very rough road (for me the A10 north of London is the worse) is impossible to talk to your passenger; I think I will strip the interior and apply some sounds deadening (nice Christmas holidays project) - Had to get use to the weight distribution, in particular how light the nose can feel on bumpy roads and an empty tank; but this is compensated by the grip of the unbelievably wide rear wheels. I know this is normal 911 character, but this is my first time driving a 911 so new to me - Normal drive mode is good while warming up or in traffic, but otherwise the throttle response and gearbox settings are too slow for my taste, so find myself driving in Sport all the time, but with PASM set to normal because it’s too hard for this road. I think I have used PASM in sport mode only once while in France, and I can see that it would be great on the track or if our roads would be better - have mixed feelings about the centre locks. Look great and are unique. But are delicate and expensive, and a bit of a pain to live with. Find myself travelling with a torque converter and breaking bar out of fear I’ll get a puncture and they won’t be able to deal with the centre lock nuts. One of those things you have to make your peace with if you want to keep the car standard. So, loving the car overall and looking forward to many more years of ownership and taking care of it.

[Image-only or quote-only post; no author-written text.] https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/644724/202509227588469?resize=160 https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/644724/202509227593416?resize=160 https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/644724/20250922759582?resize=160 https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/644724/202509227598227?resize=160

WickedWizzzard said: Yes! Thanks for asking, any opportunity to talk about the car I m 18 months into ownership and loving it. Got the exact trim I wanted: coupe, PDK, black on black, no alcantara, no sunroof. With a few and very nice added options: adaptive sports seats, super hot country version (extra radiator), litronic headlights, BOSE, super extended leather, logo on storage lid and crest on headrest, seat heating, park assist, tire pressure sensor, bunch of other options (was very well spec from new). Have done since buying: - MetaTrak tracker - major service incl spark plugs, replaced one bad ignition coil, PDK major service - replaced the centre (secondary) muffler with an x-pipe, sounds better - black mesh behind front bumper to protect the rad and condensers (bit of a rush job but was going to France right after collecting it) - cosmetic: tinted windows, polished the exhaust tips, polished the headlights To-do short term: - have a DSC controller ordered and on the way, should be installed soon - replace brake discs and pads - new tires, current have plenty of thread but are very old - centre locks are stained and corroded (common issue), got a new set that I will replace with when I do the tyres and brakes - need to deal with a few internal squeaks and rattles, nothing broken, just age - paint correction, ppf front, and ceramic coating - replace the diy bumper mesh with the zunsport grille To-do mid/long term: - would like to replace full exhaust for a better sound and because PSE valves are vibrating and being noisy on tickover - would love to retrofit cruise control, I think that s the one option that is missing and I would have specified - suspension refresh; there s nothing wrong currently but at 14-years-old I want to deal with it preemptively My impressions of the car: - Steering has a nice heavy feeling to it, but easy to manoeuvre, precise and sensitive (now I see what they mean when talking about the 997 steering) - Great engine, smooth and with plenty of power and torque from 2k rpm, but really pulls from 3k, very usable 400bhp; thirsty though - Love the PDK, lightning fast and silky smooth, both in auto or manual; can be a bit jerky at very low speeds or when setting off, especially when cold - The road noise in the cabin is VERY high, and on rough roads can be very uncomfortable; on a very rough road (for me the A10 north of London is the worse) is impossible to talk to your passenger; I think I will strip the interior and apply some sounds deadening (nice Christmas holidays project) - Had to get use to the weight distribution, in particular how light the nose can feel on bumpy roads and an empty tank; but this is compensated by the grip of the unbelievably wide rear wheels. I know this is normal 911 character, but this is my first time driving a 911 so new to me - Normal drive mode is good while warming up or in traffic, but otherwise the throttle response and gearbox settings are too slow for my taste, so find myself driving in Sport all the time, but with PASM set to normal because it s too hard for this road. I think I have used PASM in sport mode only once while in France, and I can see that it would be great on the track or if our roads would be better - have mixed feelings about the centre locks. Look great and are unique. But are delicate and expensive, and a bit of a pain to live with. Find myself travelling with a torque converter and breaking bar out of fear I ll get a puncture and they won t be able to deal with the centre lock nuts. One of those things you have to make your peace with if you want to keep the car standard. So, loving the car overall and looking forward to many more years of ownership and taking care of it. Pretty much my thoughts exactly on my 997 GTS 4. Was surprised by the level of road noise and although I love them, centre locks are a pain if/when tyres need sorting. PDK in sport with PASM off is good enough for me, but I come from an auto 928! Milltek crosspipe improved the sound too IMHO. For London driving it's pretty good.

WickedWizzzard said: Yes! Thanks for asking, any opportunity to talk about the car I m 18 months into ownership and loving it. Got the exact trim I wanted: coupe, PDK, black on black, no alcantara, no sunroof. With a few and very nice added options: adaptive sports seats, super hot country version (extra radiator), litronic headlights, BOSE, super extended leather, logo on storage lid and crest on headrest, seat heating, park assist, tire pressure sensor, bunch of other options (was very well spec from new). Have done since buying: - MetaTrak tracker - major service incl spark plugs, replaced one bad ignition coil, PDK major service - replaced the centre (secondary) muffler with an x-pipe, sounds better - black mesh behind front bumper to protect the rad and condensers (bit of a rush job but was going to France right after collecting it) - cosmetic: tinted windows, polished the exhaust tips, polished the headlights To-do short term: - have a DSC controller ordered and on the way, should be installed soon - replace brake discs and pads - new tires, current have plenty of thread but are very old - centre locks are stained and corroded (common issue), got a new set that I will replace with when I do the tyres and brakes - need to deal with a few internal squeaks and rattles, nothing broken, just age - paint correction, ppf front, and ceramic coating - replace the diy bumper mesh with the zunsport grille To-do mid/long term: - would like to replace full exhaust for a better sound and because PSE valves are vibrating and being noisy on tickover - would love to retrofit cruise control, I think that s the one option that is missing and I would have specified - suspension refresh; there s nothing wrong currently but at 14-years-old I want to deal with it preemptively My impressions of the car: - Steering has a nice heavy feeling to it, but easy to manoeuvre, precise and sensitive (now I see what they mean when talking about the 997 steering) - Great engine, smooth and with plenty of power and torque from 2k rpm, but really pulls from 3k, very usable 400bhp; thirsty though - Love the PDK, lightning fast and silky smooth, both in auto or manual; can be a bit jerky at very low speeds or when setting off, especially when cold - The road noise in the cabin is VERY high, and on rough roads can be very uncomfortable; on a very rough road (for me the A10 north of London is the worse) is impossible to talk to your passenger; I think I will strip the interior and apply some sounds deadening (nice Christmas holidays project) - Had to get use to the weight distribution, in particular how light the nose can feel on bumpy roads and an empty tank; but this is compensated by the grip of the unbelievably wide rear wheels. I know this is normal 911 character, but this is my first time driving a 911 so new to me - Normal drive mode is good while warming up or in traffic, but otherwise the throttle response and gearbox settings are too slow for my taste, so find myself driving in Sport all the time, but with PASM set to normal because it s too hard for this road. I think I have used PASM in sport mode only once while in France, and I can see that it would be great on the track or if our roads would be better - have mixed feelings about the centre locks. Look great and are unique. But are delicate and expensive, and a bit of a pain to live with. Find myself travelling with a torque converter and breaking bar out of fear I ll get a puncture and they won t be able to deal with the centre lock nuts. One of those things you have to make your peace with if you want to keep the car standard. So, loving the car overall and looking forward to many more years of ownership and taking care of it. I got rid of my manual 997 GTS at the end of 2024, it was v low miles (11k) and become more valuable and less useable because of it's increasing value to me. it had Sharkwerks back box which worked with PSE switch and sounded great IMHO - agree on road noise, fine for me, less so for my wife or times I took the kids - beautifully connected and 'the sum of the parts' when driving it vs a 2s 997 made a difference - overlooked - depending on your preference, easily overlooked, but in the same way, low key and low profile - plenty fast enough - irrelevant of your abilities, it's quick enough to enjoy, to reward - special enough? - of course it's a 911, it just works, sometimes it won't feel "speciali" but driving it always bought a smile I now have a leggy 991.1 C2s PDK - as i'm doing miles following the death of my father to sort our stuff in deepest darkest cornwall, once settled I don't know what I'll do, maybe a GT car - to me the 991 with PSE doesn't sound anywhere near as good as the 997, not quite sure why, the melody isn't there in the same way. They are great cars. They aren't cheap. a good one will always be a sensible place to park money while enjoying a car with a great blend of modern, fast and 'traditional' 911 values. I live in london and PDK makes that easier, but the connection to the car from a manual gearbox is a cliche I still believe is true.

WickedWizzzard said: I bought a 991.1S last year with PDK when in a similar dilemma and love it, but that looks stunning. Both great cars in my eyes. Here is mine,

WickedWizzzard said: Nice car, lovely spec. Congrats!

I think you've made a great choice with the 997 GTS, peppier than an S model and has the nicer interior and the 997 GTS is a special car as it's the first of the modern GTSs. I've just moved from a very nice Guards Red 997.2 C2S to a 991.2 GTS and can agree with many of the comments about modern Porsches being less analogue but this modernity does bring increased performance and grip etc so it's trade off. I would suggest visiting Center Gravity before a wholesale investment in suspension/chassis as they can perform a check and advise on must/should/could spend items. The other point I'd make about center locks, and the wear and tear on the anodisation, is that I've found that C4 trim restorer worked on the surfaces which had started to fade. Once you get your new CLs on, I'd suggest C5 wheel protector, or something similar, and re-apply it a couple of times per year, as this really shields the CLs, and the wheels, from the various contaminants, wheel cleaner, shampoo etc and it makes them easier to clean. Good luck and enjoy your car, you've got a current, and future, classic! Edited by FriedMarsBar on Thursday 25th September 08:27

What a great looking one. I am stating to consider 997.2 GTS vs 991.1 … all this info is of great help. Could I ask you who is the dealer? I live in London and trying to get a better idea of the market. Congrats!!

indeed, also say a 997.2 GT3 RS, those 450ps versions or maybe even the 435 ps versions (both 3.8) vs the 500ps version GT3 991.1? they are all around the same price. curious... which one gives the most drivers involvement all in, not meaning only on track.