997.2: Experiences and choices

If you are ordering a new one, it's not an issue. The problem is the choices available on the used market.

 

There is a coco mats ad in the new Panorama with a 997.2 interior sporting a deviated interior with alcantara shift boot, full leather, etc. I don’t care what the spec of that car is, meant it for the interior

 

I’m still looking and learning. One thing I’ve learned is that based on BAT listings, a whole lot of 997s must have been delivered in black, which is one of only two automatic disqualifiers for me, along with PDK.

 

I would reconsider the color. You can take a black car and wrap it to any color you want for a reasonable amount. What you can't easily change is the interior color, though, so that is what I would focus on.

 

Yes, good point but black interior is pretty much a DNQ also because I’m bored with it and in Florida it’s going to be uncomfortable on most days.

 

Yes, an interior color that works for you is what I would look for.

 

Unfortunately Porsche weren't very adventurous with interiors in this generation. LOTS of black. Some sand beige. And very few of anything else.

There's a very sweet-looking 2010 Carrera on cars.com right now, but it is red over black.

 

I find a big problem with the non-black interiors to be the way Porsche made EVERYTHING in the car the same color! With black, it's okay, but with beige, it's a lot of beige! Give me beige seats and a black steering wheel and dash, please.

I ordered my 981 Cayman with an orange two tone interior (black dash and wheel), and it looks fantastic. The salesman, who I respect, told me not to do it and they had never sold one like that... and I did it anyway. When it arrived, he couldn't believe how nice it was.

 

Porsche make beautiful cars, but the way their dealers spec them for sale is almost always disappointing. As is the factory's exceedingly limited use of its wonderful back catalog of colors. Admittedly, they've gotten better since the 997 days but compared to what could be, the usual dealer black, white, and silver cars with black interior is disappointing.

 

Yes, for a while, decades ago, Porsche’s palette was almost as impressive as Ferrari’s. If you look at Porsche’s nationwide new and CPO inventory now you’ll see lots of black, white, black, silver, black, red, black, and variants of grey.

 

Sad, but true. Dealers tend to order very conservatively. I recall only about 5% of 997s are red.

 

Funny, though, I'm looking at Ferrari FFs and GTC4s and all you see are black, white, and gray.

 

I can’t explain it when so many great colors are available. Are those in dealer inventory? If so, it’s the same as Porsche: dealers order “safe” colors.

 

They are used, of course. At least in theory, and I think reality, Ferrari only allows orders with a customer name attached, so there are no orders for "dealer inventory."

I have noticed the trend across the board, though-- dealers, BaT, Craigslist, etc.

 

I’ve been looking for a 997.1 for the better part of a year. Finding a manual, sport seats, with Sports+ is impossible now. There was one available a few months back in Arizona. A rubber stamp color, black interior with sport exhaust. 28k miles with original lobster claw wheels. Mid $50’s. Should have bought it.

What I’m learning is…

1). People hated the lobster claws. Most are now blinged out.
2). People still love making cars loud. Aftermarket exhaust is by far the rule. (These cars will never have the sound of a WWII fighter. But that doesn’t keep people from spending tens of thousands of dollars trying to make it happen).
3). They also like spending money on after market suspension.

This is what makes Sloan able to charge so much for his cars. Stock is everything where real money is the goal.

 

I haven’t looked at Sloan in a long time. Is he handling water cooled now?

I’m curious as to your preference for a .1 instead of a .2 I’ve seen several opinions that a .2 “normal” (to use a 356 term) is superior to a .1S, although that’s a subjective view, I think.

 

“Subjective” is the word Jack. I’ve owned a .1 and a .2, both with sport plus buttons. It wouldn’t surprise me if the .2 is faster in normal mode than the .1 is in the plus mode.

As soon as I got into either one, the sport plus button was immediately turned on. I didn’t drive either one in normal mode so I’m not the guy to ask. I will tell you the .2 is the faster car. Noticeably so.

Sloan usually has a couple of water-cooled. I just check there because if he were to get one in the spec I’d like, it would most likely be a low mileage car.

edit: I don’t know where you look but this guy has a lot of inventory that turns over fairly fast. He sold my .2 to me years ago. A few months ago, I tried buying a .1 from him. We couldn’t get together on price. Two reasons we couldn’t get together, 1) it had a black interior so I was cool on it to begin with and 2) he’s not as hungry as he was 7 years ago.

https://www.ryanfriedmanmotorcars.com/inventory/

 

Update:

First, thanks again for all the comments and advice.

Recently a 2007 997 came to my attention. Here’s what I know so far:

2007 Carrera (not an S)
Manual
23xxx miles
Dark blue metallic (exact color unknown right now)
Sand beige interior, unknown if full leather

When I have more details and VIN I’ll post them here.

Current ownership is well known to me, the recently deceased co-owner (with his son) of the shop that did the mechanical restoration of my 308GT4. He was a very meticulous guy, an engineer and an accomplished machinist. So, good provenance. I just wish it were an S.

All comments and suggestions are welcome, of course.

 

Always like blue cars, might be Cobalt Blue.! The only quibble would be if the dash is BLACK or a continuation of the sand beige that could be subject to 'glare'. Lower mileage and known good history is a strong plus.

 

Thanks. Confirmed the dash is sand beige.

 

It’s rather light on options, basically none of those I’ve been interested in. What performance enhancements are available for this car?

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Here are some recent pictures…

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Have you found one yet?

 

I’ve come to the realization that the spec I want is unobtainable. It just no longer exists.

997.1 S
100% stock
Sport seats
Sport button
Original lobster claw wheels
Tan interior
Low miles

I’ve looked for over a year. I still browse but unenthusiastically with no real expectation of finding one. I won’t buy one if it’s not what I already know I want. Been there, done that. I’ll go without before I do it again.

That midnight blue/tan you’ve found is a pretty car. I had a 964 wide-body that color. It’s an “in demand” color combo that’ll be easy to sell if you ever decide to do so.

 

Thanks, David. The car has colors, mileage and condition going for it but little else: it’s a “normal” in 356 parlance, no distinguishing options, and the ask is about $10k high in my opinion. I’d seriously consider it if we were a lot closer on price, but…..

I've found that when looking for a used car it’s sometimes necessary delete one or two must-haves, especially if they’re items that can be reasonably added in the future.