Porsche 997 For Sale
If you are looking at an early 997.1, be aware of the IMS bearing. It is a critical piece of the engine that was manufactured incorrectly. Cars that have not had it replaced can be found at a bargain, but they are ticking time bombs. Other 997 problems include owners with no regard to oil level that has been plagued by cylinder wall scoring. It kills the engine’s power and makes it burn oil at a fast pace. If you see blue smoke, run away as fast as possible. If you are considering a Porsche 997 for sale, the 997.2 cars are much more desirable. The main determinant in 997 reliability is regular maintenance. For a more in-depth look at these issues, read a 997 review from a long-term owner.
Long-lived sports cars are subject to forces outside of their control. As demand rises and falls with the changing environment, manufacturers must always be ready to hit a homerun. Porsche has been guilty of being conservative in changing something that works. But automotive performance made great advances at the turn of the century. Saving a host of new technology to shock the world, the 997 Series Porsche 911 was the most successful model in their history.
With an 8 year run, the 997 was built from 2005 to 2012. Constant innovation led to a freshening, and the 2nd generation launched in 2009. Take a journey with us as we dive into the finer points of these great machines. For sake of brevity, enthusiasts refer to the 1st generation cars as 997.1 and the 2nd generation as 997.2.
When the first generation Porsche 997 models arrived, everyone loved the vintage styling. It harkened back to the 993 series and models before. A stronger unibody chassis and revised suspension had finally solved the problem of snap oversteer in the corners. It was the first 911 to have switchable active suspension. For buyers who opted for the Sport Chrono package, the sport button made for quicker throttle response and less intrusion of the stability system. Both 997 Carrera and 997 Carrera S were available at the beginning, with Targa, Cabriolet, and Carrera 4 rolling out at a gradual pace.
To celebrate 50 years of the Porsche Club of America (PCA), 50 examples of the 997 Carrera S were painted in Azurro California and fitted with the X51 power kit. They enabled them with 381 horsepower and 306 lb-ft of torque. Porsche fans eagerly awaited the 997 turbo, and it arrived in 2007. Its 3.6-liter engine was derived from GT1 racing and makes 470 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. If you need more, the 997 GT2 was released in 2007 with a twin turbo 3.6 liter making 523 hp and 505 lb-ft of torque. It was the first application of Variable Geometry Turbos on the 911, which allows for more power and a broad torque curve. If you dislike forced induction the 997 GT3 had a 3.8 liter in the first generation and and the 997.2 was enlarged to 4.0 liters.
The 997.2 cars may look similar, but they are vastly different underneath. New engines, wiring, computers, fuel system, and many other components were revised. The 997 GTS arrived in 2011 as a naturally aspirated model between the base model Carrera and the GT3. It offered the wide body found on the Turbo and Carrera 4 with rear wheel drive only. Built as a coupe and as a cabriolet, all wheel drive was eventually offered as the Carrera 4 GTS.
Generations
Models For Sale