Auto Sportive used: Porsche Carrera 997 – Auto Sportive
Used Sports Cars: Porsche Carrera 997 – Sports Cars
There is little to do: the Porsche Carrera is one of the best sports on the market. Its very personal line, its small size, its versatility and the accessibility of its performances make it a truly unique car. If we then think that the Germans are fifty years that continue to perfect it, then no wonder. The Carrera are also among the best-selling cars in the second-hand market: objects for collectors and attractive prey for every enthusiast. The figures are by no means prohibitive (unless you go to the special models), as are the maintenance costs.
DRIVING THE 997
La Porsche Carrera 997 it's a significant leap over the 996 in terms of driveability, but it still requires respect. The feeling, when you go hard, is that the front wheels lift off the ground, but it's just a feeling. Once he gets used to it, however, he realizes that therea 997 is a really easy car to drive: the rear engine ensures immense traction and there is no doubt that it could easily withstand double the cavalry. The 997-engined 3,6 is emptier at low revs than the 3,8 S, but at the top of the rev counter it shows more excitement and more anger. Either way the potency isn't surprising (a Golf R from 300 hp impresses the most), but the delivery, the way it revs and the sound are heartbreaking. The six-cylinder boxer Porsche owns a unique range of sounds, ranging from hoarse and metallic to the coarse scream that grows with the push on your back. But the most beautiful feeling that the 997 transmits is that sense of harmony between all the components (gearbox, engine, steering and chassis) combined with the sense of compactness and agility of any sedan. It is a sports car that can really be used every day, thanks also to acceptable fuel consumption (you can do 10 km / l) and good visibility. Even in the city, with rain, city traffic and freezing cold, 997 is a nice place to be.
THE 911 TO CHOOSE
On the second-hand market there is something for all tastes and right now it is there Porsche Carrera 997 the one with the most attractive price. The 997 line is still very current and still has its own driveability, resulting in some ways "more 911" than the new generation 991. In fact, the cantilever engine still feels a lot (even if it doesn't scare you like on the 996) and the nose seems to float under acceleration, but the hydraulic steering gives much better feedback than the more modern electric. The Carrera 997 is also the first 911 to be sold in the standard and S version (in addition to the usual Turbo, GT3, Cabrio versions…). The "base" has a 3,6 hp 325 boxer engine, while the S has a 3,8 hp 355 and a more rounded body. A good specimen with less than 80.000 km costs about 40.000 euro and the price difference between the two versions is small (about 2.000 euros), while for the Cabrio version it takes about 5.000 euros more. The Carrera 4S costs a little more (about 4.000-5.000 more than the S) more but it is also the one that holds the best value, as well as being the most requested. It is also better to opt for models equipped with a manual gearbox, which are more reliable and more fun to drive.
Versions after the 2008 enjoy an aesthetic restyling (they can be recognized by the rear LED headlights) and an engine equipped with direct petrol injection, with a consequent increase in power of 20 hp for the basic Carrera and 30 hp for the S and 4S versions. The look of the Mk2 is decidedly more modern (even in the interior), but the price difference is great.
