997.2: Experiences and choices

Probably here (it’s been awhile)…

edit…https://sierramadrecollection.com/products/porsche-pepita-fabric-houndstooth-black-white-1-meter-mat-hou-blk-wht?currency=USD&variant=40779651940410&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&stkn=b08021262f58&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21771895802&gbraid=0AAAAADbO6Hc7WlsU7StyVNoDNtUhT5Qdb&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqqDFBhDhARIsAIHTlksueHnygVkijrhyASZ1Od7nOT0pJ1rmPQrVeUj4ih6KTW1JTEm6A6gaAobvEALw_wcB

The fabric is surprisingly thin. Mine didn’t wear out but the white gets dirty fairly easily so I bought enough to do them twice.



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Another long term owner agrees that the short shift kit is the most cost effective performance enhancement for the 997.2. Many comments on the Suncoast website tend to support this. He advises using the factory kit but with Numeric cables.

It makes one wonder why the short throw shifter wasn’t just standard, at least for the S. What possible advantage could there be for the longer throw mechanism? I think they just like having a huge option list.

 

Factory short shifters are good, but if you're interested in even shorter throws and tighter patterns, Numeric's short-shift kit is high on the list of upgrades.

About your horn: check to see if both horns are hooked up properly. If one isn't working, you get a very weak tone. (More "I'm struggling" than "get out of my way")

 

Thanks, Chris!

 

Has anyone here had experience with adaptive sport seats? I’m considering them….if I can even find a pair….as an upgrade along with the short shift kit (factory or aftermarket).

 

My .1 and .2 both had sport seats. Speaking only for myself, sport seats are a “go” “no go” decision on whether to buy a 997 or not.

They are that nice and transforms the car.

I’ve never been big on air-cooled sport seats only because the of the larger vertical bolsters making it more difficult to get into and out of the car. That’s not an issue with 997 sport seats. They are “all day” seats. If you find a set they’ll be expensive but if you want them you’ll have to buy them fast because they’ll get gone. On Rennlist there’s some threads about a guy in Europe who makes aftermarket 997 sport seats. They looked identical to stock to me if he’s still in business.

 

Thanks, David. Which sports seats did you have, adaptive or standard? I’ve seen some 997 sports seats with shoulder harness pass-throughs on BAT go for five-figures/pair, but I don’t think those are the ones I’m interested in.

 

The 997.1 I owned the longest. (5 years or so of DD and 3 or 4 track days). That car had standard sport seats with the manual pump lever on the left side for height adjustment. Manual fore and aft as well. Recline may have been electric. For my body style (5’10/175 lbs) they were perfect. Just enough room to not intrude too much on your thighs but you could still feel them which gave a great feeling of security during more aggressive driving without intruding on comfort around town.

The .2 I flat don’t remember. The car was only owned by me for a few months (and this has been 10 or so years ago). I believe that car also had standard Jack, but it’s just been so long ago.

One thing that I wanted to mention was, the aftermarket guy (if he exists)…even though they looked the same, I would probably have never bought from him. One of the things that makes sports seats special is the support they provide. You can’t know that he was using the same internal cushioning that factory seats come with without sitting in them first.

(Your car’s going to be spec’d exactly the way mine was. If you can make it happen I believe you’ll be a happy man.)

That car was one of my all time favorite 911’s.

Does your car have the “sport” buttton? (Or sport plus, whatever it’s called?

 

997 sport seats are exactly as @Island Time describes. Manual pump side lever for height adjustment, manual ratcheting slide, and electric recline.

There’s also the Adaptive Sport Seats (ASS) which are the same form factor as the sport seats but with electice power adjustments for fore-and-aft, bottom tilt, back rake, bolsters, lumbar, and height and about 20 extra pounds of weight per seat.

No functional or shape difference between 997.1 and 997.2.

I turned mine into a sim racing rig when I put the carbon buckets in.

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It’s the little things…

 

Here are some reversible upgrades I’m considering for the car. Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

Short shift kit (OEM or aftermarket) seems to be the most cost effective upgrade and almost universal positive owner feedback
Headlights
Seat inserts (Pasha or large pepita)
Sport seats (standard or adaptive, but not sport buckets)

From what I gather, the headlights might be the most difficult installation. As far as I can tell the sport seats are NLA in the Porsche parts system, so I may not be able to locate what I want.

Any others? The car was delivered with PSC+, sport exhaust and wheel spacers.

 

This Safari 997 was modified with, among other things, pepita seat inserts. I think they look really great (the steering wheel, not so much!).

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2008-porsche-911-carrera-4s-coupe-38/