Another of my little review! This time round the focus is on the "Hot from the Oven" Face lifted 997 C2S after given a private test-driven session few days ago. Let’s put up the basic facts here:

997 C2S

New Direct Fuel Injection Engine 3800cc producing 385bhp (6500rpm) and 420Nm (4400rpm) with VarioCam Concept
Dry-Sump Lubrication Concept
Rear Wheel Drive with Rear Engine format
Weight : 1425kg
Performance : (0-100) 4.3sec, (0-160) 9.3sec, (0-200) 14.4sec
Top Speed : 302km/h (first time for a non-turbo 911)

Main Standard Equipment :
1)Bi-Xenon light (at long last!)
2)19” Star Rims with PS2 tires 235/35 front and 295/35 rear
3)9 Speakers Sound Plus System using Fiber Optics cable
4)6.5” Touch Screen Communication system (aka MMI)
5)Leather Seats
6)Thicker and smaller Steering Wheels with Paddle-shift for PDK
7)White face Speedo meter


Exterior

The biggest changes that you will notice for a Non-Porches fan will be the daylight LED that is done placed just below the big headlights. This gives the 911 more presence that it already has in the past. As for the main shape, as usual, StuttgartGermany is not keen to change their winning formula or design per say so that main shape is till the same. If you are an avid Porsche Fan, you will notice the change in the front air dam that is now more aggressive and take on the look of the current 997 Turbo range type of design. In addition, the new engine is so efficient in cooling it, you no longer need to have the huge radiator that is mounted in the certain of the front air dam.

As for the Rear, the rear light cluster has a new LED brake force dependent that is very distinct both in the day and light. The quad exhaust pipes down is part of the body design aka those F and M cars. The diameter of the pipes has also grown in size to signal to people that this is a faster and more aggressive 911 than ever.

The 19”rims + the 4 pot fronts and rear Red Big Brake Kit comes with 330mm brake disc all round complete the car purposeful outlook.


Interior

Porsche never fail to impress me on their interior both in terms of user friendly and the ever lasting quality. The test drive cars come with Adaptive Sport Seats (16k option!) and full GPS system + 13 speakers Bose sound system. For most Porsche owners, they will choose the Sport Seats option that is almost as good for less than $4k. Adaptive Sport Seats is only really for the rich and famous. J

The Full Coloured Porsches Communication System PCS in short with GPS is easy to use and I can easily program the route from Sungei Kadut to my house within minutes. Touch screen system is a plus as it do away with lots of buttons as compared to the pre-face lifted model. However, ones will have to make sure that their finger is not oily before touching the screen.

The test car comes with the sunroof options that most buyers will add this as an option. The reserve sensor unfortunately is also one of the must have options. The rear seats is only for kids under 12 years old or emergency when you are super lucky during your party nights out that you manage to “catch” 2-3 babes instead of one!!! Definitely a no-no for your future or mother-in-law or else you will really have a hard time for the next few moons. Anyway, there is no good reason why will one wants to drive a 911 to his mother-in-law places unless you are really asking for it.

Performance

Wow this car is really FFFFAAAASSSSSSTTTTTT. It is a complete different animal as compare to the pre-facelift car that comes with Tiptronic box. With full throttle on even in relax normal drive mode, this car is silk fast that without you knowing, you are already in the above 160km/h range. With a very good weight to power ratio and huge torque for an NA car, this car will just pull and pull. The shift in the PDK is amazing smooth and fast. The PDK will never up-shift when they sense that you are in a corner or down/up slope situation. Gear changing time is super fast and with a total of 7 speeds gear ratios, this car will shift up quickly to reduce your fuel consumption if you did not press the accelerator hard to show your intent.

If you option your car to come with Sport Chrono Package, your car will comes with standard Sport Plus button and Launch Control in addition to the Sport button that is already standard. Upon Sport Plus mode being selected, the ECU will be in the most aggressive mode for throttle response, PDK gearshift and the PASM suspension system in the hardest mode. You will also loss the 7th gear in the PDK as that is an overdrive for normal and sport mode only to conserve fuel. This Sport Plus is design for track work as advice by the factory engineer.

We did some test driving in this mode and the whole car is transformed to a track machine. No compromise for comfort when you are in this mode and the suspension is hard. Our test car comes equip with the -20mm Sport Plus PASM + Rear LSD + thicker and stronger anti-roll bar and you can really feel the LSD working when you push it hard in the corner. I personally feel that this car capability is way way beyond me and if I ever buy one, I will really spend some money and time to upgrade myself through some advance driving courses especially for rear wheel drive format type of courses.


Driving Feel

Steering feel in the 997 is top class. Period and nothing else comes close not even Ferrari Lambo or Maserati IMO. When ones drive a Porsche, be it what model range, one can feel that the driver and car has become one entity. It’s that good.

Brake comes in the from of 4 pot front and rear BBK with 330mm ventilated disk all round and improvement over the pre-facelift of 310mm disc with smaller pot size. Brake feel is the usual Porsche feel that need you to step harder to get the immediate brake response but once it bite, it bite hard with absolute confidence. Driving this latest 997 gives you the confidence to take most corners at high and challenging speed esp. with the rear LSD option. The test car tires come in PS2 and this tire which I am absolutely in love with will guide you through corners upon corners with confidence.

Standard Quad Exhaust look beautiful but the sound is relatively muted even in Sport Plus mode as compare to the 996 which I feel that the Sport exhaust from the 996 is still the best sounding factory sport exhaust. In this latest 911, you will not only arrive at your destination fresh as the time taken will be much shorter as compare to other cars but also with less fuel consumption as it is more efficient by 13% as compare to the older model. In real world term, you are looking at a 911 that consume less petrol than a Boxster and that’s how good the direct injection engine + PDK gearbox is.


Conclusion

For $460,000 to $480,000, it’s no doubt insane lot of money but you get yourself a superb driving machine that is an EVERY DAY SPORT CAR. As far as I am concern, this is in my own definition an Ultimate Driving Machine for all type of purposes. Sure there will be a faster car or more luxury car out there but nothing can compare to the overall adaptability of the iconic 911. Last but not least, for those who are interested, Stuttgart is offering 5 yrs warranty and 5 yrs free maintenance package for all new 911 and this include everything except tires.

 

$460 to $480k? in whose dollars? where do you live?

 

Great Review but OMG $480k would get me a CGT and a base 997 in the USA!

 

Nice review, does the new PASM lower or raise the car?

 

Singapore's local currency is called dollars