Hello everyone, as the owner I'd just like to confirm that I took the car back to Porsche Centre in Aberdeen and had the geometry checked following filming, front toe needed adjustment which has made a fair difference to the front end feel - more confidence inspiring now, especially on less than perfectly smooth roads (i.e. most roads in the UK!)
I have the 997.1 S (non turbo) and I absolutely love it, the price is only going in one direction as the years go by, and even after 8+ years of ownership it makes me smile every time I get in it.
This is my daily driver, this exact year and spec... I have 30k miles on it and let me tell you sir... I look forward to the smile it brings to my face every day.
@@dw4525 not yet sir. Moved to Dubai - not many out here which is annoying although there’s an importer here that brings high end older stuff in from japan & seen he’s had a few 997 gen 1 & 2 but you never know what you are buying and the Japan air con won’t stand up to Dubai summers 😂
I drove one of these ten years ago and was impressed. However, although I remember it having great response and turn in, I was informed that it hadn't always been that way. The owner, a relative, had almost immediatly changed the rubber and it had made one hell of a difference.
Its on pirelli p zeros, not my first choice of tyre but they were newly fitted by the OPC when I bought the car last year, as they wear or get old I'll change them for something better
@@stephenperry6024 I'm running Michelin PS4S on my 997.1T and I can highly recommend them. I've also ditched the PASM and I'm running Ohlins Road and Track suspension. Towards the softer end of the settings it's just as comfortable as the original suspension, but the road holding and feel over rough surfaces is much improved.
I have had my 997.2 turbo S for four years and I love this car. Mine has been lowered slightly with HR springs and sits on 20 inch 997.1 turbo s wheels. It sits lower than my 996 and feels like it is hugging the road in turns. My steering seems precise as the car goes where I point whether in traffic or during spirited driving. I don't get a lot of turbo lag as the comments states because just like a normally aspirated car you need to be in the right gear and pulling the right of amount of revs from the start. My car sits at a very sexy height and I prefer the simplified dash layout over the 991's numerous buttons. Mine has also been tuned to over 600.
I swapped a 996.2 GT3 for 997.2 Turbo S. 7 years ago. I’m totally smitten with it. Fixed front end with an aggressive geo set up from a reputable independent shop. Changing from Pirelli to PS4S also helped despite them not being ‘N’ rated. I’ve toured and tracked it across UK and Europe. Now I’ve shipped it with me to NZ. The 996 GT3 would not see what way the Turbo S went.
@@kellensperduto4359 most Indy shops keep their geo settings quite secret… though it can’t be that mysterious as they all seem to be able to make it happen. I’m not 100% sure but basically I think it’s corner weighting and setting it up more square - less toe both ends.
@@nigelvontunzelman1473 can you explain to me though what is a geo setting? is one of the flaws of a this model the fact that they do not corner well? is that what need to be addressed with modifications after market? i would love to understand more about what the car needs after market to make it a weapon
@@kellensperduto4359 geo = geometry. Wheel alignment, camber, ride height and so on. Being AWD they lose a bit of front end feel compared to 2wd models. Still better than most others in this class. Getting the right tyres is also key. Personally I don’t like them on Pirelli, Michelin way better. They are susceptible to bore score and depending on your environment turbo actuators can give trouble. They need very little to ‘weaponise’ them. Stock they’re already sub 3s 0-60. A high flow air filter, some mild exhaust mods and a tune will release around 100hp. Use different turbos and much more is possible potentially at the expense of turbo lag. Aftermarket suspension controller is also good.
You astonish me Jay, you are THAT intune with the various cars you get to drive that you are even diagnosing steering and handling faults! Quite the achievement when you're basically driving a different car every day of the week! What an all-round service you provide. You show all these various cars, some of which are dream cars that have been posters on our childhood bedroom walls, some are the cheaper end and some just weird. All get the same extensive Jayemm treatment. But the owners also often get fault diagnosis. Diamond service!
James, no need to really drive another car. Your analysis is spot on. I've owned a 2011 Turbo S (with said RS Spyder wheels as standard). I've driven it about 6,000 miles or so in those two years in everything from boring commuting, to very spirited back roads with the local Porsche club. Every single one of your comments mirror my own and I must say that even after 2 years, I've failed to fall for the car as much as I thought I would. One thing you didn't mention that's a bit of a miss...noise. The car sounds like an industrial vacuum when you get on it. You can't hear ANY flat-6 howl. The steering: I see that Steve noted that the geometry changes made a difference and indeed I have to say that my geometry was out as well. However even with proper geometry and a brand new set of Pilot Sport 4S's, the car still isn't as confidence inspiring as you'd expect Porsche's grand touring flagship to be. A few weeks ago we went out on a spirited Sunday morning drive and I was following a 991.1 Carrera S (which I have also owned). I couldn't believe how much more planted that gentleman's car was through the corners than mine. I'd see him carve a line, try to take the same line and, honestly, feel a bit nervous about it. The steering is very talkative...but it's not telling you much in the way of useful information. It is also quite loud. On our concrete freeways in TX, it averages a little over 80db at cruise. That's all down to the tires. It was worse on the PS2's that were on the car when I bought it but I took it on date night with my wife last weekend and when I got home, my ears were literally ringing. In all, it's such a pretty car and I absolutely adore the fact that it feels "proper old school Porsche" in all the small details like the door heft, the weighting of the controls, even the fuel filler cap is the old school push in and it rocks forward to open rather than the modern "push and click" type. The cabin is 911 narrow, the dash short and the windshield proper close. The engine is all the way aft of the rear axle and the view of the parcel shelf through the rear window leaves me giddy. The shove is immense and I drive a Model 3 performance as a daily so I'm used to torque. The Turbo S, when it gets past the fairly substantial lag, just gets up and rips down the road with a furious pace. But it leaves me feeling cold. The 60k mile, ropey, 997.2 Carrera S manual I drove 5 years ago strikes me as the better car. The gearbox just lets down the side and the handling is just too vauge to feel "proper Porsche". My wife's Cayenne takes a set and carves a corner better. Great review.
I think these cars are sensitive to tyre pressures and geometry. I have a 997.1 Turbo with PS4S and Öhlins Road and Track suspension, and it feels completely sure footed. The biggest difference with the 997 vs 991/992 is that you get the front end floating around because the engine is slung way out back. It's a real old school 911 trait and it's something I actually enjoy driving with/around. Newer 911s have mostly engineered out this characteristic by moving the engine forward, fitting bigger rear wheels, 4 wheel steering etc. As fast and capable as they are, I think they lack character.
I had a 2010 turbo S- tyres and tyre pressure's can make a massive difference on these. And at 61k miles it will need a front end suspension refresh. Porsche only replace if it fails before sale- they don't replace due to age or the way it drives
Nice one James, met you at helmingham, just picked up my 996 Turbo Cabriolet. Love that saying "that you need a car that feels like your doing a hundred when you are doing 50 and not a car that feels like your doing 50 when you are doing a ton" 😊
Drove a tuned manual 2010 Turbo many years ago. Didn’t like the characteristics of it when tuned. The stock manual 997.1 Turbo of a friend of mine was a true gem though and had better sound to it also, not being a DFI, but a true Mezger engine🔥
MY GOD I want a 911 so bad. Gorgeous car Stephen, the only thing I'd change on your beauty would be the wheels. To me they date the car and newer wheels would make it look 5 to 7 years newer. But kudos for keeping them so clean.
@@stephenperry6024 After looking at it your 911 a little while longer I think the style and everything is killer, even the fitment for stock wheels. But I just couldn't figure it out then I realized that the color come across a little too light on camera. But that tiny observation aside I would still drive the wheels off it.
I totally agree with you Jay. 997.1 Turbo in manual transmission (specially if you have the SSK, as I do) and when driven in sport mode is very identical with a GT3. It is much more confortable and civilized than the 996 Turbo (which I also have), but even with all that technological improvement you can STILL feel the road, the grip, all the emotions. And it still have that historical and competitive legacy of motorsport, with the Mezger engine. You know that you are driving the last bastion of "old-school" 911... And what a blast it is when those Turbos kick. I also agree with you much more progressive but ... much more capable, in my opinion. In my opinion, it is one of the best 911 ever produced. Cheers 🍻
Hi JayEmm, having owned a 996 TTS coupe (very rare) and now a 991.1 TTS, I'm genuinely impressed at your accurate and often subtle observations about these cars that only an owner would know, and I can relate to everything you say about the turbos. You're one of the best if not the best car reviewers on YT! Don't stop.
When in 3rd gear and changing up, the DSG will have 2nd prepared (for optimal fast down shift). When you upshift, it has to deselect 2nd, then select 4th before it can give it to you.
The sweet spot and “holy grail” of the 997 Turbo cars is the gen1.5 variant in manual. Made in small numbers between late 2008-2009. It retained the Mezger power plant but had the gen2 interior which is actually somewhat timeless with tech that works really well even now. Rumour has it the gen 1.5 was slightly more rear wheel biased despite 4 wheel drive and nearer 500hp. A much more engaging 997 turbo overall.
I have a manual Gen 1.5 with factory aerokit and PCCB's. I always thought the only difference between earlier cars and mine was the addition of PCM 3.0. Would you be kind enough to elaborate on your source of information for the bump in power and extra rear bias please? Never heard of this before.
@@New777Wine There is a guy on 911uk and Pistonheads who has a close association with some well known Porsche specialists and Porsche UK. He gave me this info. Like I said it’s a rumour but that was the advice when I purchased mine. He’s just converted his gen1 to a GT2 in a very bright colour at Porsche Reading. He’s like an encyclopaedia of 997 Turbos You’re fortunate to have gen1.5 with aero kit and PCCB’s sounds like a keeper enjoy in good health.
I measured a 997.1.5 Turbo manual on a dyno and it made exactly 480 ps. I don't believe there's any difference on the engine of these cars compared to the other 997.1 Turbos. Only the interior has changed.
Additionally for the “.1” vs “.2” variants: the taillights are different (LED on the .2 and a different shape), the interior trim of the radio and such is black on the .2 and grey on the .1, the steering wheel design (more metal on the .2), fog lights also change to LED on the .2… yes, you have to look really hard to catch most of these things which is why many of us are called Porsche nerds. 🤷🏾♂️
@@chrisj5978 I had 997.1 C2S. In my quest to replace it with a 997.2 C2 GTS, I really started analyzing the small differences. It didn’t matter in the end as those cars quickly became too expensive for me, but I remembered the bulk of it.
As an owner of a similar car , don’t think the PDK in Sport or Sport plus in Manuel are any different , I find it more responsive and enjoyable when left in automatic in Sport , in Sport plus it only shifts gears on red line , suitable for track use , the PDK have come a long way when compared to the 992 , nothing beats the GT3 in terms of feel and excitement . Would be interesting to try it next on a track !
Interesting review. As soon as the front end issue came up, I instantly thought of alignment. Lucky I watched the video til the end. With that in mind, I kind of wonder whether the review should’ve been made live as a result, lots of people may take those thoughts as gospel, which will do the car a disservice. My 997.2 Turbo S is far from feelsome however, but I think that character trait is by design, it can’t go treading on the toes of a GT3. It’s all weather capability is awesome though. I’ve had mine from new, 12 years, it’s really time for a change, but the cost of a new 992 is ridiculous…
I was also on the fence as to whether to release the review or not - my thinking was that 80% of my remarks are going to remain accurate (engine, interior, gearbox, looks, etc) plus there are videos coming out after this one which reference the 997.2 turbo so if this video didn't come out, they wouldn't make much sense either
Lovely video as always James, I love my 997.1 turbo and I owned a 2014 Porsche before with PDK. As u said it was early doors for the pdk in 2010 but they truly got it sorted in later years 👍 Cheers bud
I have the exact car. The tires play a big role. When I switched from the pilot sport cup 2 to the pilot sport 4s I noticed the car feels vague and relatively hollow. The cup 2s were very very sharp and planted when warm. I switched because cup 2s were bad in the rain. The pdk on mine is very fast and second I pull the paddle it shifts. Not sure what you are experiencing. Love my 997.2 turbo and the launch is out of this world. Too bad you haven’t tried it. Got a 2.9 seconds to 100 kph. What a car.
I had the same feeling when switching to PS4S on my GT4. It felt like I'd fitted winter tyres. But for me, I bought a 997 Turbo for it's all-weather ability. Cup 2's are a liability in the wet, especially with this much torque.
I had a 996 turbo X50 6sp manual cabrio for a couple of years then traded for 997.1 Turbo Tiptronic cabrio. The difference was marked in number of areas although not where I would have imagined. The 996 always felt like an event and something I would prepare for, the 997 was get in and drive and somewhat anodyne in comparison. Both cars were impeccably maintained and on correct Porsche approved Michelins of the time (2004 to 2010). The 997 front end vagueness wasn’t something I experienced either on road or track but the 996 was so much more communicative and settled. The interiors are leagues apart in terms of style and equipment but the quality (or lack of it ) is very similar, all a bit flimsy and plasticky. The 997 had carbon ceramics which lacked response and feel compared to the steel set up on the older car but that changed with familiarity and heat. Power on the road wasn’t the step up I’d hoped for but the Tiptronic did make launches more exciting! I just felt there was too much electrickery on the 997 which took the edge off the rawness of the 996 that made it more involving to drive. If I was in the market for another I would definitely consider a good spec version of the older car, a Turbo S with manual, over a 997.1 or .2.
Hi Jay - how about a review of a 991.2 - I would be interested in what you think? You don’t see many reviews of this model - except those around the launch. Better still would be to try a 991.2 that has been tuned (a simple remap can take you to ~500bhp and the car comes alive).
Thanks Jay, just rewatched it and very interesting review too. I am thinking of a different angle though - the 911S (or 4S) - with a tune makes a great Turbo car - really it becomes the car Porsche should have made in the first place. Not much lag, plenty of Turbo power and very nimble with the rear wheel steer. In a few years time, we will be looking back and saying how great those Turbo cars were… (not just he NA’s).
Those Mercedes derived Tiptronic transmissions were pretty good, none of the jerkiness of early direct shift gearboxes, the 996 Turbo with Tip drives quite well and those gearboxes rarely have issues. Look up replacement cost of PDK - gulp.
Alignment and/or tyres can have a car driving "scary". Even a brand new tyre can be faulty and ruin a car. Strange how you can get uses to it, and it takes someone else to notice
Exactly this, being my first Porsche I had no experience of what they were meant to be like and thought that's the way it is, but I had the geometry checked and they found the front toe was out, it's not as nervous or skittish now that that's been adjusted
@@stephenperry6024 know the feeling. In my early Porsche days, I made the fault of selling my (first Porsche) 964 C4 I had outlawed more or less to perfection and got on the GT3 craze and bought a well used 996.2 GT3CS which, as it turned out, had it’s geometry way out of whack by it’s former owners. The car was scary as f..k to drive and I didn’t dare go above 240kph on the A-bahn the car wandering a meter from side to side with me trying to keep it straight. Of course I crashed it on the Ring, but the had it repaired by Manthey and they made it better than new! On the way home (the next year..), I could pick my teeth while one handed steering the the car at 285kph. Having someone knowledgeable look one’s car over I critical when buying used. Hiding in the garage with a car you don’t gel with isn’t the solution.
I share everything you said about this car. The vague feeling of the direction is probably due to bad tires.. I felt it and i was thinking it because of mad accelerations that lift the front end. Lets keep in mind that it is a silent and relatively confortable car, and it is hard to feel the real accelerations
Absolutely stunning and actually my dream car! I currently have the 997.2 Carrera so need to keep saving for one of these 😊. Congrats on your lovely vehicle.
Hmm, try another one, also the 997.2 (from memory so I may be mistaken) was the generation where the IMS concerns basically go away because the engine design change basically removed the possibility of that problem. You know what, try a 997.2 S if you can, that would be an interesting comparison, lighter and revvier.
Very nice video. I’d need a more up beat interior having the typical German tricolour of boring black, boring silver and boring navy on the outside. Those wheels looks fantastic hopefully they come in a non centre lock version. Keep up the good work.
@@JayEmmOnCars Agreed. You experiences are bang on mine. It's too soft most of the time, and when it gets it's back up, it actually shifts hard enough to upset the balance of the car. 991.1 PDK is a step on, 991.2 PDK is even better. and PDK-S in the 991 GT3's is just another league. I was expecting better.
James has done Steve a big favour reporting the alignment fault. Calls into question the competency of the dealership who sold it to him like that assuming it was like this when he drove it off the forecourt
The thing with alignment is that it MIGHT have been fine at the time of purchase, but a good pothole can have it out again - and a lot of people won't know what a car is meant to feel like, so don't realise something is wrong
@@JayEmmOnCars Thanks for replying. Fair point. You'd think Steve would have noticed if the handling suddenly deteriorated after hitting a pot hole hard enough to knock the alignment out. Maybe he's not as tuned in as you are to car dynamics.
I love the Porsche content - sure to most people they all look the same but each one has its own unique characteristics. And while I like the 991.1 997 991.2 etc I feel best in my 996 C4S - I know , it seems mental given the purists opinions but it’s just planted.
Delayed turn in, and less steering feel compared to 968? Possibly a geometry factor, but even when perfect its AWD! You describe the effect of heavy driveshafts, extra front weight, and torque on the front wheels perfectly. And why I've chosen RWD for my 911.
Hello everybody, i also own a 997.2 turbo. And I also was not quite happy with the PDK, in terms of shifting characteristics. I share the opinion of jay here, in normal mode to slow, in sport plus mode to aggressive. BUT as this is software related, i did two things. First I purchased a COBB accessport with stage 1 tuing software and PDK flush. Not that I was in the desperate need of more horsepower, ( the car is fast enough 😊)but I have read the COBB PDK software is very good. As my car is still Porsche Approved I would not use the COBB software yet, and therefore i asked the dealership if they could do a software update to the PDK. They did it last summer and to my surprise, the gearbox is so much better… So much better that i hasitate to install the COBB software if the approved guarantee period is over. To bad for the owner and Jay that this particulary turbo had some steering issues. As far as I experience my car it’s so precise and direct… So Jay maybe it’s time for you to do another run in this beautiful 997.2 Turbo, as the owner has fixed the issues now! 😊
Agreed re the 997.1 turbo; I test drove one of those awhile back and it was like riding a tiger bareback. Wild animal car, all the way. Not quite as insane as the 996 turbo I drove around 2008 but close. I'm surprised that Porsche "civilized" the .2 if that's the case; I would've expected it to be as fire-breathing as its forebears.
I think its actually great that the car had an alignment issue. Now you can bring it back and see exactly how much loss of driving pleasure there is from having the car out of alignment.
When you wind up the engine, the shifts are quicker. Not sure what’s going on, but Sport and Sport Plus on my car are dramatically difference in my car. Sport plus is really only a track setting and very annoying on the street, like direct drive and and compression braking. I only use Sport on the street. I never done used launch control, I won’t do that to my car (owned from new)
Hi James, very interesting feedback! Could you make a follow up video with the alignment already done by the owner? Some of us are looking to purchase a 997.2 TT. I drove one years ago and did not think the front end was confidence inspiring but I blamed the tyres (not sure if it were the reason but they were a bit old). The front end was not stable under heavy braking in a straight line. I did not mint the slow gearshift in normal but I liked the harshness of the gearshifts in sport+, it is really violent :-D For those who are worried about engine noise, Akrapovic has (had?) a very good exhaust with much better looking tailpipe ends than the original one, I’d definitely install one : problem solved.
The shifting speed depends on how hard the car is driven, in addition to the mode. On track and driven near the limit, PDK will make those very quick shifts. It is hard to get fast shifts on the street all the time without being a total hooligan.
Squidgy old bushes probably (9:51) 14:14 i stand corrected. Actually I'm sitting but, I sit corrected sounds like I have nice posture. I don't, I slouch.
Good video. But one needs to take into consideration that this car is almost 12 years old and new gearboxes work totally different. But if the setting is perfect and the right rubber is on the wheels, it is a fantastic car to drive , even as daily driver. 👍🏻👍🏻😊
I own a Cayman R (2012) with PDK, and the shift delays in this video suggest the transmission is out of tune / needs service. I have long wondered but never confirmed whether the PDK in the Cayman R is tuned a bit differently / more aggressively, though; unlike the "stock" models' PDKs, the R (and its companion Boxster with the clip on tarp roof) have the lettering on the shift lever painted in red, so maybe that means something. Maybe not. Either way, it shifts like a real mofo; not sluggish at all.
911s handle better with a full tank of fuel in, I had a 997.2 C2S and the front end was a bit light and vague you just had to get used to it, although that Turbo would have a bit more weight over the front end being awd.
The tracking gets knocked out very easily on these 987s and 997s generation. The suspensions are fragile and on British roads, with lots of pot-holes they get slowly dismantled. I got fed up of mine having to get tracked. When it is out of whack it drives like a home-made go kart, but when it's rarely right it's sublime. These cars are pure money pits to maintain.
The car definitely needs an aftermarket exhaust to give it more character and fun. Ideally get the pdk tuned too using a 991.1 file. However to say the shifts are bad/slow in normal mode is idiotic. The car can be used for all purposes, so therefore when ur driving slowly in residential areas, normal mode is perfect. U really want lightening shifts when pottering around at 30mph?!
Agreed that it needs an aftermarket exhaust to improve the sound but it's still under the 2 year manufacturer warranty approved used scheme, when it does need the exhaust replaced I'll be considering my options, thanks for the tip about the 991 software for the gearbox, I'll look into that, although to be honest I tend to leave it in automatic mode 90% of the time anyway.
@@stephenperry6024 I bought a 997tts in early 2021. My dream car, which I plan to keep as my summer daily driver for 20+ years. I initially got the Sharkwerks exhaust, one of the best/simplest/cheapest ways to get an improved exhaust sound. Sound/tone of obviously personal preference. I thought the volume was good, but the tone was not refined enough for the car, a little rough and V8 ish. I ended up changing it for a full Kline exhaust system, much more expensive, but I love the sound. However because of the Kline cats the car probably needs to be tuned so that ECLs don’t pop up. The Europipe exhaust seems to be a favorite, and might not require a tune (bigger cats than Kline), you’d have to check that. When I tuned the car I also tuned the pdk, which required removing and sending the pdk module away to get the 991.1 file uploaded (there maybe other ways to do it). It definitely improved the shifts, maybe a little quicker but removes any jerky-ness. Definitely Porsche improved the pdk on the 2nd iteration for the 991. That’s all a significant amount to time, energy and money, but as I’m keeping the car long term I justified it to myself!!! No more mods, the car is amazing. Not sure how far the rabbit hole you want to go! Any questions let me know. Good luck.
Has the pdk gearbox oil and cluth oil beenserviced.Often these are overlooked.It makes a great difference.Is the software up to date.Not cheap.but an interesting video on this subject by Friends Green Porsche.As a drivers car I much prefer my 997s.Cheers John
Very interesting. It seems like the PDK in the 991 is quite a bit quicker to respond, right? I was not expecting the amount of delay you showed. Boy these 997s look _proper_ though.
Although potent, i haven’t heard the best reports of the 997.2 Turbo. Supposedly the most sterile and least engaging 911 Turbo, besides maybe the 991.2. At least the gearbox in that example was a great development on the 997’s.
Too much content leads to something like this slipping out. Once you realized that the car was not properly sorted you should have stopped, backed up and restarted. In the end you didn't review the 997.2 Turbo, you reviewed a single 12 year old car with problems you knew about before release. You're better than that.
Sorry James but this is totally unprofessional. You clearly knew the car wasn't right before uploading the video, and whilst not a major fault it was clearly wrong enough that you massively and repeatedly referred to what we now know to be the side effects of a poor alignment. This has put a massive negative slant on both your comments and summary This should never have been released until you had either driven the fixed car or another example. The irony is you're usually so very professional which I'm sure is one of the main reasons the channel is so successful. Great looking car, very nice cinematography but a piss poor review (for reasons that could and should have been avoided) sorry but its a 3/10 from me
You could make a Scuderia Vs regular 430 comparison. Was James may right about the Scuderia being Taste the Difference Cheese? Or was right Jeremy for asking why was he on that program?
@@JayEmmOnCars he was just speculating but it's become one of his famous rants and an unresolved question. Or at least a topic for a back to back comparison He had a silver 430 F1, so I wonder if that one let him down compared to the 360, so to the point he wished Ferrari put extra effort
Man thanks, I still like your videos very much but one thing has changed in my view. Since some weeks or months the exterior shots of the cars driving look like my 87 year old mother is behind the wheel. I noticed the same thing with other British car reviewers on youtube. Have you car youtube reviewers received any warnings from the police? After all, they could determine the speed from your video if they take two points whose distance they know and if they stop the time?
Must say, as a 997.1 owner and having driven a few 997.2s, non turbo, I have felt the same. Although the 997.1 (in manual) had its statistical IMS issues, it’s such a characterful engine, and well balanced car. The 997.2 with its PDK and updated engine almost felt to me, like driving a high end Nissan Maxima. How could this be?
Good review. I’ve owned 3 911’s and always wanted a turbo I got a 2010 gen 2 in 2013 and daily drove for 2 years I added Sharkwerks EVO tune and back exhaust What I found was a super fast well handled GT however I did no find it involving to drive at all . A very good car but for me not a “ drivers car “
I definitly prefer my 996 turbo 6-Speed Manual with the Mezger-Engine over this 997s. With a little update you get easily the Power of the 997 Turbo, but with a much more solid engine and a better sound.
Does anyone actually understand the 911 range. To the uninitiated, it appears to be a plethora of numbers and dots attached to what looks to most people to be the same car.
Hello everyone, as the owner I'd just like to confirm that I took the car back to Porsche Centre in Aberdeen and had the geometry checked following filming, front toe needed adjustment which has made a fair difference to the front end feel - more confidence inspiring now, especially on less than perfectly smooth roads (i.e. most roads in the UK!)
Sir your Porsche looks absolutely gorgeous! I bet it drives like a dream
@@hristohristov8787 thank you for your lovely comments 🙂
Phew! Glad that the issue was found and sorted. Nice that James added that update near the end of the video 😁
She’s a beaut mate
Love the car Stephen, it is on my wish list to get one at some point
I have the 997.1 S (non turbo) and I absolutely love it, the price is only going in one direction as the years go by, and even after 8+ years of ownership it makes me smile every time I get in it.
This is my daily driver, this exact year and spec... I have 30k miles on it and let me tell you sir... I look forward to the smile it brings to my face every day.
In the market for one in the coming months. 991 & 992 do absolutely nothing for me unless it’s a GT car
@@HarrisonScott-ol9zodid you get one in the end?
@@dw4525 not yet sir. Moved to Dubai - not many out here which is annoying although there’s an importer here that brings high end older stuff in from japan & seen he’s had a few 997 gen 1 & 2 but you never know what you are buying and the Japan air con won’t stand up to Dubai summers 😂
I still think this 997.2 turbo and 997 GT2 models are some of the best looking Porsches and best looking cars period
I drove one of these ten years ago and was impressed. However, although I remember it having great response and turn in, I was informed that it hadn't always been that way. The owner, a relative, had almost immediatly changed the rubber and it had made one hell of a difference.
Its on pirelli p zeros, not my first choice of tyre but they were newly fitted by the OPC when I bought the car last year, as they wear or get old I'll change them for something better
@@stephenperry6024 I'm running Michelin PS4S on my 997.1T and I can highly recommend them. I've also ditched the PASM and I'm running Ohlins Road and Track suspension. Towards the softer end of the settings it's just as comfortable as the original suspension, but the road holding and feel over rough surfaces is much improved.
@@yetidh9 thank you for the recommendations, I'll definitely consider those improvements when the time comes
@@stephenperry6024 i think a DSC Sport module is worth considering for a « cheap » plug and play upgrade for the suspension !
I have had my 997.2 turbo S for four years and I love this car. Mine has been lowered slightly with HR springs and sits on 20 inch 997.1 turbo s wheels. It sits lower than my 996 and feels like it is hugging the road in turns. My steering seems precise as the car goes where I point whether in traffic or during spirited driving. I don't get a lot of turbo lag as the comments states because just like a normally aspirated car you need to be in the right gear and pulling the right of amount of revs from the start. My car sits at a very sexy height and I prefer the simplified dash layout over the 991's numerous buttons. Mine has also been tuned to over 600.
I swapped a 996.2 GT3 for 997.2 Turbo S. 7 years ago. I’m totally smitten with it. Fixed front end with an aggressive geo set up from a reputable independent shop. Changing from Pirelli to PS4S also helped despite them not being ‘N’ rated. I’ve toured and tracked it across UK and Europe. Now I’ve shipped it with me to NZ. The 996 GT3 would not see what way the Turbo S went.
What alignment (toe, camber, castor) specs are you running now? Feel free to PM :)
what do you mean fixed the front end ? i am looking at getting a 997.2 TT and wanted to know advise for fixing that problem to make it more sharp
@@kellensperduto4359 most Indy shops keep their geo settings quite secret… though it can’t be that mysterious as they all seem to be able to make it happen. I’m not 100% sure but basically I think it’s corner weighting and setting it up more square - less toe both ends.
@@nigelvontunzelman1473 can you explain to me though what is a geo setting? is one of the flaws of a this model the fact that they do not corner well? is that what need to be addressed with modifications after market? i would love to understand more about what the car needs after market to make it a weapon
@@kellensperduto4359 geo = geometry. Wheel alignment, camber, ride height and so on. Being AWD they lose a bit of front end feel compared to 2wd models. Still better than most others in this class. Getting the right tyres is also key. Personally I don’t like them on Pirelli, Michelin way better. They are susceptible to bore score and depending on your environment turbo actuators can give trouble. They need very little to ‘weaponise’ them. Stock they’re already sub 3s 0-60. A high flow air filter, some mild exhaust mods and a tune will release around 100hp. Use different turbos and much more is possible potentially at the expense of turbo lag. Aftermarket suspension controller is also good.
From an across the pond 911 Turbo owner, I must say that this was in general one of your best reviews. Thanks for the info on the .2 👍
You astonish me Jay, you are THAT intune with the various cars you get to drive that you are even diagnosing steering and handling faults! Quite the achievement when you're basically driving a different car every day of the week! What an all-round service you provide. You show all these various cars, some of which are dream cars that have been posters on our childhood bedroom walls, some are the cheaper end and some just weird. All get the same extensive Jayemm treatment. But the owners also often get fault diagnosis. Diamond service!
It’s impressive!
@@Nord_Mann he is a Fast Car Whisperer!
...and his opinions are very much appreciated.
James, no need to really drive another car. Your analysis is spot on. I've owned a 2011 Turbo S (with said RS Spyder wheels as standard). I've driven it about 6,000 miles or so in those two years in everything from boring commuting, to very spirited back roads with the local Porsche club. Every single one of your comments mirror my own and I must say that even after 2 years, I've failed to fall for the car as much as I thought I would. One thing you didn't mention that's a bit of a miss...noise. The car sounds like an industrial vacuum when you get on it. You can't hear ANY flat-6 howl.
The steering: I see that Steve noted that the geometry changes made a difference and indeed I have to say that my geometry was out as well. However even with proper geometry and a brand new set of Pilot Sport 4S's, the car still isn't as confidence inspiring as you'd expect Porsche's grand touring flagship to be. A few weeks ago we went out on a spirited Sunday morning drive and I was following a 991.1 Carrera S (which I have also owned). I couldn't believe how much more planted that gentleman's car was through the corners than mine. I'd see him carve a line, try to take the same line and, honestly, feel a bit nervous about it. The steering is very talkative...but it's not telling you much in the way of useful information.
It is also quite loud. On our concrete freeways in TX, it averages a little over 80db at cruise. That's all down to the tires. It was worse on the PS2's that were on the car when I bought it but I took it on date night with my wife last weekend and when I got home, my ears were literally ringing.
In all, it's such a pretty car and I absolutely adore the fact that it feels "proper old school Porsche" in all the small details like the door heft, the weighting of the controls, even the fuel filler cap is the old school push in and it rocks forward to open rather than the modern "push and click" type. The cabin is 911 narrow, the dash short and the windshield proper close. The engine is all the way aft of the rear axle and the view of the parcel shelf through the rear window leaves me giddy. The shove is immense and I drive a Model 3 performance as a daily so I'm used to torque. The Turbo S, when it gets past the fairly substantial lag, just gets up and rips down the road with a furious pace.
But it leaves me feeling cold. The 60k mile, ropey, 997.2 Carrera S manual I drove 5 years ago strikes me as the better car. The gearbox just lets down the side and the handling is just too vauge to feel "proper Porsche". My wife's Cayenne takes a set and carves a corner better.
Great review.
I think these cars are sensitive to tyre pressures and geometry. I have a 997.1 Turbo with PS4S and Öhlins Road and Track suspension, and it feels completely sure footed.
The biggest difference with the 997 vs 991/992 is that you get the front end floating around because the engine is slung way out back. It's a real old school 911 trait and it's something I actually enjoy driving with/around. Newer 911s have mostly engineered out this characteristic by moving the engine forward, fitting bigger rear wheels, 4 wheel steering etc. As fast and capable as they are, I think they lack character.
@@yetidh9 Every car is sensitive to tyre pressure and alignment.
@@yetidh9 I mean, you do have an Ohlins suspension….
Nice review Joe. See you at a Car and Coffee soon.
Brilliant comment.
I had a 2010 turbo S- tyres and tyre pressure's can make a massive difference on these. And at 61k miles it will need a front end suspension refresh. Porsche only replace if it fails before sale- they don't replace due to age or the way it drives
Nice one James, met you at helmingham, just picked up my 996 Turbo Cabriolet. Love that saying "that you need a car that feels like your doing a hundred when you are doing 50 and not a car that feels like your doing 50 when you are doing a ton" 😊
Drove a tuned manual 2010 Turbo many years ago. Didn’t like the characteristics of it when tuned. The stock manual 997.1 Turbo of a friend of mine was a true gem though and had better sound to it also, not being a DFI, but a true Mezger engine🔥
MY GOD I want a 911 so bad. Gorgeous car Stephen, the only thing I'd change on your beauty would be the wheels. To me they date the car and newer wheels would make it look 5 to 7 years newer. But kudos for keeping them so clean.
Thank you! 🙂
@@stephenperry6024 After looking at it your 911 a little while longer I think the style and everything is killer, even the fitment for stock wheels. But I just couldn't figure it out then I realized that the color come across a little too light on camera. But that tiny observation aside I would still drive the wheels off it.
I totally agree with you Jay. 997.1 Turbo in manual transmission (specially if you have the SSK, as I do) and when driven in sport mode is very identical with a GT3. It is much more confortable and civilized than the 996 Turbo (which I also have), but even with all that technological improvement you can STILL feel the road, the grip, all the emotions. And it still have that historical and competitive legacy of motorsport, with the Mezger engine. You know that you are driving the last bastion of "old-school" 911... And what a blast it is when those Turbos kick. I also agree with you much more progressive but ... much more capable, in my opinion. In my opinion, it is one of the best 911 ever produced. Cheers 🍻
Hi JayEmm, having owned a 996 TTS coupe (very rare) and now a 991.1 TTS, I'm genuinely impressed at your accurate and often subtle observations about these cars that only an owner would know, and I can relate to everything you say about the turbos. You're one of the best if not the best car reviewers on YT! Don't stop.
4:11 min - In my opinion, the 997.1 Turbo rims are the prettiest Porsche ever manufactured
When in 3rd gear and changing up, the DSG will have 2nd prepared (for optimal fast down shift). When you upshift, it has to deselect 2nd, then select 4th before it can give it to you.
DSG?
The sweet spot and “holy grail” of the 997 Turbo cars is the gen1.5 variant in manual. Made in small numbers between late 2008-2009. It retained the Mezger power plant but had the gen2 interior which is actually somewhat timeless with tech that works really well even now.
Rumour has it the gen 1.5 was slightly more rear wheel biased despite 4 wheel drive and nearer 500hp. A much more engaging 997 turbo overall.
I have a manual Gen 1.5 with factory aerokit and PCCB's. I always thought the only difference between earlier cars and mine was the addition of PCM 3.0.
Would you be kind enough to elaborate on your source of information for the bump in power and extra rear bias please? Never heard of this before.
@@New777Wine There is a guy on 911uk and Pistonheads who has a close association with some well known Porsche specialists and Porsche UK. He gave me this info. Like I said it’s a rumour but that was the advice when I purchased mine. He’s just converted his gen1 to a GT2 in a very bright colour at Porsche Reading. He’s like an encyclopaedia of 997 Turbos
You’re fortunate to have gen1.5 with aero kit and PCCB’s sounds like a keeper enjoy in good health.
@@darrylcoombes8334 Interesting, thanks for that Darryl! Definitely a Keeper...What else comes close for the money?😁
@@New777Wine totally agree. Mines a keeper too. Great cars and hopefully an appreciating asset if they follow the same path as 993 turbos.
I measured a 997.1.5 Turbo manual on a dyno and it made exactly 480 ps. I don't believe there's any difference on the engine of these cars compared to the other 997.1 Turbos. Only the interior has changed.
Great video, then I just got to the end and nearly spat out my coffee. Love the 80's theme outro 🙂
Definitely my fave, not too big, not too showy, just right 👍
Additionally for the “.1” vs “.2” variants: the taillights are different (LED on the .2 and a different shape), the interior trim of the radio and such is black on the .2 and grey on the .1, the steering wheel design (more metal on the .2), fog lights also change to LED on the .2… yes, you have to look really hard to catch most of these things which is why many of us are called Porsche nerds. 🤷🏾♂️
Oh wow thanks I don’t think anyone had noticed this before!
@@chrisj5978 I had 997.1 C2S. In my quest to replace it with a 997.2 C2 GTS, I really started analyzing the small differences. It didn’t matter in the end as those cars quickly became too expensive for me, but I remembered the bulk of it.
Don't forget the .2 has the two slats over the radiators on the front spoiler and the .1 has one :-)
@@leebushen I never knew that!!! Thanks!!!
Different design of front bumper and larger tailpipes too, proper anoraky stuff, yep as petroheads we are all guilty as charged 😆
As an owner of a similar car , don’t think the PDK in Sport or Sport plus in Manuel are any different , I find it more responsive and enjoyable when left in automatic in Sport , in Sport plus it only shifts gears on red line , suitable for track use ,
the PDK have come a long way when compared to the 992 , nothing beats the GT3 in terms of feel and excitement .
Would be interesting to try it next on a track !
Interesting review. As soon as the front end issue came up, I instantly thought of alignment. Lucky I watched the video til the end. With that in mind, I kind of wonder whether the review should’ve been made live as a result, lots of people may take those thoughts as gospel, which will do the car a disservice.
My 997.2 Turbo S is far from feelsome however, but I think that character trait is by design, it can’t go treading on the toes of a GT3. It’s all weather capability is awesome though. I’ve had mine from new, 12 years, it’s really time for a change, but the cost of a new 992 is ridiculous…
I was also on the fence as to whether to release the review or not - my thinking was that 80% of my remarks are going to remain accurate (engine, interior, gearbox, looks, etc) plus there are videos coming out after this one which reference the 997.2 turbo so if this video didn't come out, they wouldn't make much sense either
Lovely video as always James,
I love my 997.1 turbo and I owned a 2014 Porsche before with PDK. As u said it was early doors for the pdk in 2010 but they truly got it sorted in later years 👍
Cheers bud
Looking forward to you driving this one again. I don't think you've done the 997.2 turbo justice.
As a 997.2 Turbo S owner, I think his analysis was absolutely spot on with my ownership experiences over 2 years.
I have the exact car. The tires play a big role. When I switched from the pilot sport cup 2 to the pilot sport 4s I noticed the car feels vague and relatively hollow. The cup 2s were very very sharp and planted when warm. I switched because cup 2s were bad in the rain.
The pdk on mine is very fast and second I pull the paddle it shifts. Not sure what you are experiencing.
Love my 997.2 turbo and the launch is out of this world. Too bad you haven’t tried it.
Got a 2.9 seconds to 100 kph. What a car.
I had the same feeling when switching to PS4S on my GT4. It felt like I'd fitted winter tyres. But for me, I bought a 997 Turbo for it's all-weather ability. Cup 2's are a liability in the wet, especially with this much torque.
@@yetidh9 exactly
You are one seriously lucky man.
Great car. I agree with you about the wheels on the 997.1 Turbo which I've never liked. The wheels on this look great.
Can´t wait to get your review on the car now that its aligned!
Come the end of the month it will be put away in winter storage, so it'll have to wait until next year, sorry!
I had a 996 turbo X50 6sp manual cabrio for a couple of years then traded for 997.1 Turbo Tiptronic cabrio. The difference was marked in number of areas although not where I would have imagined. The 996 always felt like an event and something I would prepare for, the 997 was get in and drive and somewhat anodyne in comparison. Both cars were impeccably maintained and on correct Porsche approved Michelins of the time (2004 to 2010). The 997 front end vagueness wasn’t something I experienced either on road or track but the 996 was so much more communicative and settled.
The interiors are leagues apart in terms of style and equipment but the quality (or lack of it ) is very similar, all a bit flimsy and plasticky.
The 997 had carbon ceramics which lacked response and feel compared to the steel set up on the older car but that changed with familiarity and heat.
Power on the road wasn’t the step up I’d hoped for but the Tiptronic did make launches more exciting! I just felt there was too much electrickery on the 997 which took the edge off the rawness of the 996 that made it more involving to drive.
If I was in the market for another I would definitely consider a good spec version of the older car, a Turbo S with manual, over a 997.1 or .2.
If yours was a .1 then you had Tiptronic not PDK.
@@joetacchino4470 absolutely correct it was indeed a tiptronic, my mistake. Still made for excellent launches tho’
997.1 turbo for me over the second gen. Would be interesting to see your thoughts on the 991 series. Those 991.2 turbos are brilliant
PDK is a better box
Best car ever period
Hi Jay - how about a review of a 991.2 - I would be interested in what you think? You don’t see many reviews of this model - except those around the launch. Better still would be to try a 991.2 that has been tuned (a simple remap can take you to ~500bhp and the car comes alive).
I did the 991.2 "T" recently if that's any good?
Thanks Jay, just rewatched it and very interesting review too. I am thinking of a different angle though - the 911S (or 4S) - with a tune makes a great Turbo car - really it becomes the car Porsche should have made in the first place. Not much lag, plenty of Turbo power and very nimble with the rear wheel steer. In a few years time, we will be looking back and saying how great those Turbo cars were… (not just he NA’s).
Those Mercedes derived Tiptronic transmissions were pretty good, none of the jerkiness of early direct shift gearboxes, the 996 Turbo with Tip drives quite well and those gearboxes rarely have issues. Look up replacement cost of PDK - gulp.
Alignment and/or tyres can have a car driving "scary". Even a brand new tyre can be faulty and ruin a car. Strange how you can get uses to it, and it takes someone else to notice
Exactly this, being my first Porsche I had no experience of what they were meant to be like and thought that's the way it is, but I had the geometry checked and they found the front toe was out, it's not as nervous or skittish now that that's been adjusted
@@stephenperry6024 know the feeling. In my early Porsche days, I made the fault of selling my (first Porsche) 964 C4 I had outlawed more or less to perfection and got on the GT3 craze and bought a well used 996.2 GT3CS which, as it turned out, had it’s geometry way out of whack by it’s former owners. The car was scary as f..k to drive and I didn’t dare go above 240kph on the A-bahn the car wandering a meter from side to side with me trying to keep it straight. Of course I crashed it on the Ring, but the had it repaired by Manthey and they made it better than new! On the way home (the next year..), I could pick my teeth while one handed steering the the car at 285kph.
Having someone knowledgeable look one’s car over I critical when buying used. Hiding in the garage with a car you don’t gel with isn’t the solution.
I share everything you said about this car. The vague feeling of the direction is probably due to bad tires.. I felt it and i was thinking it because of mad accelerations that lift the front end. Lets keep in mind that it is a silent and relatively confortable car, and it is hard to feel the real accelerations
I did new geometry and brand new Pilot Sport 4S on mine and it helped....but it's still not as planted as you'd like.
Only after seeing in the flash a 996 GT1 I noticed that inspired the front bumper on this
Absolutely stunning and actually my dream car! I currently have the 997.2 Carrera so need to keep saving for one of these 😊.
Congrats on your lovely vehicle.
Thank you, although a 911 of any vintage or variant is a wonderful thing, enjoy it!
Hmm, try another one, also the 997.2 (from memory so I may be mistaken) was the generation where the IMS concerns basically go away because the engine design change basically removed the possibility of that problem. You know what, try a 997.2 S if you can, that would be an interesting comparison, lighter and revvier.
Old Top Gear Stig has one of these, so it has to be rather good.
Very informative. Love your reviews!
Awesome video, who doesn't love a turbo, how about a 997 GT2 next time.
Very subtle for the performance available.
I think the 997 is the prettiest of the recent 911s and the 997.2 interior looks much nicer than the 997.1. I have only driven one and it was amazing.
Fully agree with you about the wheels on a .1 Turbo - not my favourite and look crap on other Porsches.
Very nice video. I’d need a more up beat interior having the typical German tricolour of boring black, boring silver and boring navy on the outside. Those wheels looks fantastic hopefully they come in a non centre lock version. Keep up the good work.
Suprised you didnt like the pdk it's one of the best gearboxes out there
The first generation certainly isn't - later ones are much improved
@@JayEmmOnCars Agreed. You experiences are bang on mine. It's too soft most of the time, and when it gets it's back up, it actually shifts hard enough to upset the balance of the car. 991.1 PDK is a step on, 991.2 PDK is even better. and PDK-S in the 991 GT3's is just another league.
I was expecting better.
You want to try it in a 991 TT, it’s a massive improvement on the 997 pdk
@@JayEmmOnCars must be miles better than the tiptronic
excellent video 📹
all Porsche' are heroes ❤
James has done Steve a big favour reporting the alignment fault. Calls into question the competency of the dealership who sold it to him like that assuming it was like this when he drove it off the forecourt
The thing with alignment is that it MIGHT have been fine at the time of purchase, but a good pothole can have it out again - and a lot of people won't know what a car is meant to feel like, so don't realise something is wrong
@@JayEmmOnCars Thanks for replying. Fair point. You'd think Steve would have noticed if the handling suddenly deteriorated after hitting a pot hole hard enough to knock the alignment out. Maybe he's not as tuned in as you are to car dynamics.
Porsche content is so good!
Wow. Automotive Cilla Black. I wonder how many people will get that reference.
1:21
Top Gear ⚙
JC : all 911 are identical
lol 😆 🤣 😂
I love the Porsche content - sure to most people they all look the same but each one has its own unique characteristics. And while I like the 991.1 997 991.2 etc I feel best in my 996 C4S - I know , it seems mental given the purists opinions but it’s just planted.
Not mental mate, I felt the same between my 996 turbo cab and 997.1 Turbo cab, the 996 was more engaging and confidence inspiring on road and track.
My favourite car that I might actually be able to afford one day.
Delayed turn in, and less steering feel compared to 968? Possibly a geometry factor, but even when perfect its AWD! You describe the effect of heavy driveshafts, extra front weight, and torque on the front wheels perfectly. And why I've chosen RWD for my 911.
Hello everybody, i also own a 997.2 turbo. And I also was not quite happy with the PDK, in terms of shifting characteristics. I share the opinion of jay here, in normal mode to slow, in sport plus mode to aggressive. BUT as this is software related, i did two things.
First I purchased a COBB accessport with stage 1 tuing software and PDK flush. Not that I was in the desperate need of more horsepower, ( the car is fast enough 😊)but I have read the COBB PDK software is very good. As my car is still Porsche Approved I would not use the COBB software yet, and therefore i asked the dealership if they could do a software update to the PDK. They did it last summer and to my surprise, the gearbox is so much better… So much better that i hasitate to install the COBB software if the approved guarantee period is over.
To bad for the owner and Jay that this particulary turbo had some steering issues. As far as I experience my car it’s so precise and direct…
So Jay maybe it’s time for you to do another run in this beautiful 997.2 Turbo, as the owner has fixed the issues now! 😊
The interior is not exiting, but is miles better put and finished than near all Aston Martins .
Haven't been in a gen 2 turbo but have been in a gen 1 (1.5) with the 3.6l engine, and it's nuts 😳😎
Agreed re the 997.1 turbo; I test drove one of those awhile back and it was like riding a tiger bareback. Wild animal car, all the way. Not quite as insane as the 996 turbo I drove around 2008 but close. I'm surprised that Porsche "civilized" the .2 if that's the case; I would've expected it to be as fire-breathing as its forebears.
I think its actually great that the car had an alignment issue. Now you can bring it back and see exactly how much loss of driving pleasure there is from having the car out of alignment.
When you wind up the engine, the shifts are quicker. Not sure what’s going on, but Sport and Sport Plus on my car are dramatically difference in my car. Sport plus is really only a track setting and very annoying on the street, like direct drive and and compression braking. I only use Sport on the street. I never done used launch control, I won’t do that to my car (owned from new)
Hi James, very interesting feedback! Could you make a follow up video with the alignment already done by the owner? Some of us are looking to purchase a 997.2 TT. I drove one years ago and did not think the front end was confidence inspiring but I blamed the tyres (not sure if it were the reason but they were a bit old). The front end was not stable under heavy braking in a straight line. I did not mint the slow gearshift in normal but I liked the harshness of the gearshifts in sport+, it is really violent :-D For those who are worried about engine noise, Akrapovic has (had?) a very good exhaust with much better looking tailpipe ends than the original one, I’d definitely install one : problem solved.
The shifting speed depends on how hard the car is driven, in addition to the mode. On track and driven near the limit, PDK will make those very quick shifts. It is hard to get fast shifts on the street all the time without being a total hooligan.
Squidgy old bushes probably (9:51)
14:14 i stand corrected.
Actually I'm sitting but, I sit corrected sounds like I have nice posture.
I don't, I slouch.
"I slouch corrected" doesn't have the same ring to it does it?
@@JayEmmOnCars not really, it sounds lazy
Good video. But one needs to take into consideration that this car is almost 12 years old and new gearboxes work totally different. But if the setting is perfect and the right rubber is on the wheels, it is a fantastic car to drive , even as daily driver. 👍🏻👍🏻😊
I own a Cayman R (2012) with PDK, and the shift delays in this video suggest the transmission is out of tune / needs service. I have long wondered but never confirmed whether the PDK in the Cayman R is tuned a bit differently / more aggressively, though; unlike the "stock" models' PDKs, the R (and its companion Boxster with the clip on tarp roof) have the lettering on the shift lever painted in red, so maybe that means something. Maybe not. Either way, it shifts like a real mofo; not sluggish at all.
It had its big 12 year service in April this year, which involves a PDK fluid change
911s handle better with a full tank of fuel in, I had a 997.2 C2S and the front end was a bit light and vague you just had to get used to it, although that Turbo would have a bit more weight over the front end being awd.
...comparing a pdk 997 turbo to an R8 V10 manual, in your next video...ok. Like comparing apples to appricotes. First three letters are the same! 😁
Clearly this car has the optional "iron maiden" rear seats for unruly children.
Makes me wonder after this review. These are going for the same price as amg GTS ‘s in USA. Which one would get your money
Drive and review a 997.2 turbo with a manual please
The tracking gets knocked out very easily on these 987s and 997s generation. The suspensions are fragile and on British roads, with lots of pot-holes they get slowly dismantled. I got fed up of mine having to get tracked. When it is out of whack it drives like a home-made go kart, but when it's rarely right it's sublime. These cars are pure money pits to maintain.
The car definitely needs an aftermarket exhaust to give it more character and fun. Ideally get the pdk tuned too using a 991.1 file.
However to say the shifts are bad/slow in normal mode is idiotic. The car can be used for all purposes, so therefore when ur driving slowly in residential areas, normal mode is perfect. U really want lightening shifts when pottering around at 30mph?!
Agreed that it needs an aftermarket exhaust to improve the sound but it's still under the 2 year manufacturer warranty approved used scheme, when it does need the exhaust replaced I'll be considering my options, thanks for the tip about the 991 software for the gearbox, I'll look into that, although to be honest I tend to leave it in automatic mode 90% of the time anyway.
@@stephenperry6024 I bought a 997tts in early 2021. My dream car, which I plan to keep as my summer daily driver for 20+ years.
I initially got the Sharkwerks exhaust, one of the best/simplest/cheapest ways to get an improved exhaust sound. Sound/tone of obviously personal preference. I thought the volume was good, but the tone was not refined enough for the car, a little rough and V8 ish. I ended up changing it for a full Kline exhaust system, much more expensive, but I love the sound. However because of the Kline cats the car probably needs to be tuned so that ECLs don’t pop up. The Europipe exhaust seems to be a favorite, and might not require a tune (bigger cats than Kline), you’d have to check that.
When I tuned the car I also tuned the pdk, which required removing and sending the pdk module away to get the 991.1 file uploaded (there maybe other ways to do it). It definitely improved the shifts, maybe a little quicker but removes any jerky-ness. Definitely Porsche improved the pdk on the 2nd iteration for the 991.
That’s all a significant amount to time, energy and money, but as I’m keeping the car long term I justified it to myself!!! No more mods, the car is amazing.
Not sure how far the rabbit hole you want to go! Any questions let me know. Good luck.
Hopefully the engine won’t blow up like the 997.1 turbo you drove did! (Nothing to do with your driving I must add)
Very cool, better with a manual though
JayEmm - would you say the 997.1 manual is a better car overall??
Tough to say. I need to revisit this one as it has now had the geometry fixed, but my suspicion is to say yes - though only in manual form!
@@JayEmmOnCars please do revisit we look forward to the comparison. Thanks for making good quality content 👌.
Great video as always, hav u driven a 992 turbo s as I hav one if u want to try it
So do u or nor
I’m ready if u r
Has the pdk gearbox oil and cluth oil beenserviced.Often these are overlooked.It makes a great difference.Is the software up to date.Not cheap.but an interesting video on this subject by Friends Green Porsche.As a drivers car I much prefer my 997s.Cheers John
Thanks John, yes it has had the PDK serviced as part of the big 12 year service I had done in April this year
Very interesting. It seems like the PDK in the 991 is quite a bit quicker to respond, right? I was not expecting the amount of delay you showed.
Boy these 997s look _proper_ though.
yes it is on an other level nothing to compare had both
Although potent, i haven’t heard the best reports of the 997.2 Turbo. Supposedly the most sterile and least engaging 911 Turbo, besides maybe the 991.2. At least the gearbox in that example was a great development on the 997’s.
How is the inside space for drivers on the tall side.. I am 6ft6
Love this video mate, great review
Thank you for the good content 🙏
Keep it up the good work
Too much content leads to something like this slipping out. Once you realized that the car was not properly sorted you should have stopped, backed up and restarted. In the end you didn't review the 997.2 Turbo, you reviewed a single 12 year old car with problems you knew about before release. You're better than that.
What is this worth in the UK?
Here in Au you'll still pay big coin for an old Porsche
I recently saw an absolutely stunning aqua blue 997.2 turbo s up for $360k....about as much as what a 991.2 turbo s would have been pre-covid!!
60/70 K ish.my prickly bro!
@@flyinghedgehog3833 Heya winged cuz!
@@AnyoneSeenMikeHunt watch out for those oz bush fires mate..I have to dodge eagles and the odd jet !
Sorry James but this is totally unprofessional.
You clearly knew the car wasn't right before uploading the video, and whilst not a major fault it was clearly wrong enough that you massively and repeatedly referred to what we now know to be the side effects of a poor alignment.
This has put a massive negative slant on both your comments and summary
This should never have been released until you had either driven the fixed car or another example.
The irony is you're usually so very professional which I'm sure is one of the main reasons the channel is so successful.
Great looking car, very nice cinematography but a piss poor review (for reasons that could and should have been avoided)
sorry but its a 3/10 from me
Can’t beat bang for buck any Porsche turbo car bud…..
You could make a Scuderia Vs regular 430 comparison. Was James may right about the Scuderia being Taste the Difference Cheese? Or was right Jeremy for asking why was he on that program?
When did James May drive the Scud? I can't even remember that
@@JayEmmOnCars he was just speculating but it's become one of his famous rants and an unresolved question. Or at least a topic for a back to back comparison
He had a silver 430 F1, so I wonder if that one let him down compared to the 360, so to the point he wished Ferrari put extra effort
Man thanks, I still like your videos very much but one thing has changed in my view. Since some weeks or months the exterior shots of the cars driving look like my 87 year old mother is behind the wheel. I noticed the same thing with other British car reviewers on youtube. Have you car youtube reviewers received any warnings from the police? After all, they could determine the speed from your video if they take two points whose distance they know and if they stop the time?
The owners do the drive by shots, I want to keep my car and licence intact!
Needs pdk service, but your trying to compare old pdk with 992’s obviously it’s going to be slower
It's slower than 991.1 also
PDK was serviced in April as part of the 12 year service
@@stephenperry6024 the gearbox was behaving correctly for a gen 1 PDK
Must say, as a 997.1 owner and having driven a few 997.2s, non turbo, I have felt the same. Although the 997.1 (in manual) had its statistical IMS issues, it’s such a characterful engine, and well balanced car. The 997.2 with its PDK and updated engine almost felt to me, like driving a high end Nissan Maxima. How could this be?
Good review.
I’ve owned 3 911’s and always wanted a turbo
I got a 2010 gen 2 in 2013 and daily drove for 2 years
I added Sharkwerks EVO tune and back exhaust
What I found was a super fast well handled GT
however I did no find it involving to drive at all .
A very good car but for me not a “ drivers car “
Great review but flawed as the car needs attention. Please, can you review it again now the problem has been identified and fixed?
I don't know if the Microphone was working properly but the sound was pretty terrible. I've heard better sounding Vacuum cleaners!
I definitly prefer my 996 turbo 6-Speed Manual with the Mezger-Engine over this 997s. With a little update you get easily the Power of the 997 Turbo, but with a much more solid engine and a better sound.
I had a 997.1 tt sold it now have 996t which I prefer.
Still a nice looking car. You could get these 997.2's in manual too!
First choice would have been a manual but they're extremely rare (and a lot dearer!) I have a Fiesta ST and a Sierra XR4i for my manual gearbox fix!
991.2 s turbo exists only in pdk
Unpopular opinion....the 996 Turbo is better than the 997 Turbo 👀
Does anyone actually understand the 911 range. To the uninitiated, it appears to be a plethora of numbers and dots attached to what looks to most people to be the same car.
Values of this 911 coincide with it's lack in its driving package. You make them cheaper; what do you expect Porsche ?
Better than the 996 in every possible way. ✌🏻