I have been thinking about getting a 911 for ages now, I tried a GT3 a few months ago and decided that it was not for me.
For some reason the bug wouldnt go away so the lovely Mrs Winner got me a 911 (997) carrera s for a couple of days.

I think I have to get one now, After living with it for a couple of days I can confirm its the ultimate car, On long journeys (we did a 180 mile round trip) it feels like a cruiser and when you need the power it has plenty.
Enough room for me the Mrs and some shopping, on top of that Porsche do baby seats for 911's and the back seats will be fine until kids are about 10 or so.

Has anyone had one for a little while now? are there any bugs that come out over time? The only problem I found was the sat nav not doing postcodes. Apart from that it is just an amazing all rounder.

Yep, great all rounder.
I believe the Gen 2 (i.e 2010 MY PCM.3 have postcode search now)


Be warned though.

If you get one, you'll be invited out for coffee by lots of other drivers.

The 997 Carrera S is probably one of, if not the greatest all around car.

Easily as quick as a 996 GT3 (if not as tactile [read edgy ]) and yet capable of being a super smooth continent crushing cruiser.

And they last and last.

What's not to love

Pics of the missus to confirm ..?

Great choice

Would love one but as our main car the room in the back is the issue.

Great pics by the way Tim.

My ultimate car would be a 997T with the Carrera S very close. Not interested in massive flimsy Italian exotica. A 911 does it all, is compact and doesn't break down.

We've just sold our house and I will soon have a lot of money sat in an account earning two fifths of bugger all interest.

Wonder if the wife will let me do a Trout with one of these.....

Steve

Quite often, they do.
The 996's and 997's have quite a few issues that can be very expensive to fix (unless still in warranty).
If you want reliability hewn out of granite, then the 993 is the one to have, but the latest one's are now getting on for 12 years old.

Zip - I guess all cars have issues but compare a 911 to a 430/Gallardo/Maserati/whatever - I can bet it's 10100000011011010 times more reliable and better built.

I am still scarred by earlyish memories of new Ferraris owned by dad's mates/inlaws/etc that were worse built than my Tamiya 1/24th scale models, all made when I was aged 12ish. And of course the 328GTS that was written off after spinning - and hitting nothing (chassis bent). I know theyn are better now and I know Audi make Lambos but they still seem flimsy. A Mondeo is still better made.

I guess.

I know someone with a Gallardo and in the 12 months he's had it, it's been in the garage for repair for about 6 of those. Having said that, I'd still have one even if it was just to scratch the Lambo itch (and I'm itching NOW!).

Thing is, many people who have never had a Porsche before think the good old German engineering will make them bomb proof.
It doesn't.

Now get back to work.

German engineering no longer guarantees quality - look at how awful Mercs got for a while. And some Audis and VWs have been plagued with issues as well as the odd BMW. Porsche seem to hang onto their quality better but Jap cars are still the ones to get if reliability is vital (apart from the GT-R and it's magical exploding drivetrain).

Now you get back to work too. You're putting me off mine...

Great car's, not so hot family car's. I take it you do most family trips in something else?

We used to (me aged between 7 and 11, my sister three years younger) do Surrey to Cornwall twice a year squeezed into the back of a 944 Turbo, a 928 then a series of uR Quattros. A 911 was very nearly bought but my Mum finally put her foot down.

It can be done - just about.

The funny thing was, we had a camper and an estate car at the time...!

My kids are 4 and 7 and all 4 of us (including the wife) just about fit in the Porsche.
If we're going more than 30-40 miles then we'll go in hers or my pick-up.

Generally I just use it for the odd hoon...

Go for it, you only live once

Matteeboy, my dad had a couple of 924's and a Quattro Coupé when me and my brother were growing up. He then got a 996, and they are tight - not bad for occasional though.

My Porsche only has two seats

I will survive though

We did some measuring up and I think we could fit a couple of kids in the back until they hit the 10 years old mark.
I have been seeing what I can do in order to get my hands on this car sooner rather than later.
We have our house for sale so maybe when it goes I might use that cash, If not you can pick them up for around the £45k mark at the moment which is not out of reach.

I took the hawkeye wagon out today to the shops and it felt like a lump next to the Porsche.
I might even talk the lovely Mrs Winner into getting a GT3 (996) so we can go on track days too!

A Carrera S AND a GT3?!! Now that's just rude!

I know, it will make are house look like a lottery winners pad, But price wise they are not loads and loads, We are both petrol heads and as above, You only live once.

Hows your car life? You still in the Vauxhall?

I have a 997S. Had it almost 12 months now, done just under 4000 miles in that time.

Its been a dream TBH.

The only thing you have to be aware of is the running costs, if you pamper the car it will cost you a lot.

In terms of reliability - on the whole - probably the most reliable modern 911.

The warranty will cost you £1290 PA, but its worth it. The only thing thats not covered for failure really is the battery. I would avoid 3rd party warranty companies - they tend not to pay out on large claims.

Service wise, you are looking at about £500 for a basic oil service, and £900 for a major. However - they almost always find something else that needs replacing... so budget for 2x of the menu price.

On the + side, as you may know - they are on 20k or 2 year service intervals.

Tyres, they are about £350 each.

A clutch should last about 40-50k, and is IRO £1.5k at an OPC I think.

Brakes are should last 20k, and cost IRO £300 a corner at an OPC.

I was lucky and mine came with brand new discs and pads all round, and 95% new tyres. It had also had a recent clutch - so considering I do <5k a year I should not need anything major for 3 - 4 years.

The only other thing to mention really is spec, colour (inside and out) and options can make a difference come re-sale.

I would avoid silly colours, stick to silver, black or maybe at a push blue. Inside, you would be best going for blue or black leather.
The "S" has a good spec in base form, but the more extras the better - PSE is a nice to have, the powerkit... even more

Ceramics are also worth having, but will cost you MEGA money to replace.

If you dont already post there - then join Piston Heads and come over to the Porsche section - lots and lots of 997 owners on there.

HTH!!

Tim - where have you been?!

The Astra went two months ago. Replaced by a nice Sapphire Black BMW 335d Touring. It's a tad quicker...

http://www.boards.co.uk/forum/upload....m10.d21-C.jpg


5 out of 10 Mattee ?

dpb - an 8 from me.

Porthtowan was unbelievably good on Sunday too (that's Godrevy in your pic).

Did you take that pic?

nah - some pro windsurfer from down your way

SORRY FOR THREAD HIJACK , CARRY ON

dpb - barrel shot - I'm the shadow (you have to squint) just behind the "curtain"- Byron Bay in Oz.



Errmmm - I saw a 911 in Byron too (trying to get back on topic...)

And to those people who are really scared at the prospect of Porsche ownership now, dealers do look after people with older cars. My dad had a low mileage '98 996 up until a couple of years ago. Servicing is about half the cost of a current model, and discs and pads were almost cheap

Warranty is also available on older models

Just to add abit more to this.

My car, a 2003 996 turbo X50 with 35k miles and serviced religiously on time, every time, has just developed a rattle from the engine.

This could be a few things but the most probable is the Intermediate shaft bearing.

If it is then I'm looking at either a new engine or a repair bill (depending on any possible internal damage) of at least £4500 + VAT from an Porsche specialist.

The IMS going on a turbo'd Porsche is virtually unheard of, not so on an N/A Porsche.

This is the biggest fear for me. If I spend everything I have on the car and budget £2k a year to run it then I would be screwed if the engine went. I hear about RMS failure almost everytime I talk about owning a Porsche.

Having said that my old STi PPP cost me £3k to run for the last year I owned it.

Nice car Tim. I know quite a few people who put their two small kids in the back for shortish journies. Funnily enough I had a conversation with someone who had a 911 and then bought a GTR and he said the GTR was worse for kids!

I've always hankered after the 997 turbo, but the reality has dawned that I can't afford it (I would need a £20k family car as well) the 997s seems like a really good option.

Don't get too bothered by running costs, I've had my M5 for 2.5 years and its only cost me £1200 in servicing as the intervals are so long. £220 per tyre (they've all been changed by me) and the brakes are still showing 5k miles use left. So hasn't been an expensive car to run in that respect.

Anyway, great choice of car, I'm sure you won't regret buying it.

Ps; what's this powerkit that somebody mentioned?