So I'm currently looking at a few cars, I keep changing my mind, I keep swinging from one to the other and I was starting to think maybe I need to get my needs/wants a little more defined.

One of the cars I have been considering is a 997 Carrera, and hopefully an S model at that. Luckily, Porsche UK HQ is about 20 minutes drive from me



So I decided yesterday to pop in and see what they had, having never driven a 997 before I didn't really know what to expect. They had this 09 registered Carrera S outside

The one thing it had, which I wasn't really sure about was PDK, but we'll get to that...

The first thing, the 997 is a great looking car, but a 911 without Aerokit never looked right to me, my mind is now changed, I couldn't care less what it looks like. The standard is just fine.

More importantly is how it drives.

WOW.

The mechanical grip is amazing, they just seem to defy physics with the amount of grip available, there is a roundabout/rotary just 300m from Porsche HQ, one of these for those who have never experienced one
(Its a 4 way stop basically, with merging)



We drove twice all the way round that roundabout, at approx 70mph, keeping a very tight line and there was grip to spare, in the BMW, keeping the same line and the same speed, I'd have been drifting.

Because the engine is over the drive wheels, steering feedback is amazing, like absolutely amazing. BMW like to push their M3 as a true drivers car, my mind is now changed, the Porsche is just SO much better!

Interior trim was good, no keyless entry/start and not that much in the way of comfort features, but nonetheless, perfectly suitable.

The driving position is fantastic, about the same as with my track car, very low, perfectly placed and good visibility all round.

Sport button on suspension - This seems VERY good. hugely impressed with the suspension for a road car.

Exhaust button - This shouldn't be a button, it should just be loud all the time.

Brakes are great, very progressive and a revelation after having BMW M3 brakes for the last 2 cars.

And to PDK, this car was fitted with PDK, now I am a manual gearbox user through and through, and PDK was something I wanted to hate. Perhaps helpfully, this car was fitted with the 2010 paddle shift sports steering wheel.
Amazing. I wanted to be able to trip up the PDK box, I couldn't. It just WORKS!
Massively impressed with the PDK, I really really am.

So given the price of secondhand Carrera S cars, I think I might need one!

 

Thanks for the write up and pictures. Keep us posted on what you do, goodluck.

 

1 visit to the states and u go from a 6-8k budget to a 997s! Gota love the American Dream! Great write-up!

 

That was always a temporary (until I find a proper car) budget.

Now, I'm just going to hire a car in the interim and buy something quickly.

Have you seen how cheap a used 997 is?

Very.

 

Yeah, they're incredibly cheap if you go a few years old. They also usually have very low miles, you almost HAVE to buy one.

I had a similar experience to you although a 996 c4s and a cayman S. The grip really is incredible compared to anything else I've driven. And these are street sprung cars you could road trip in.

 

Has anyone else experience with PDK?

I loved it at first use, especially compared to the BMW SMG system.

It seems perfect for fast road driving.

That said, will I start to hate it when I get on a track?

 

I've only driven a 06 C2S with PSE, love the sound. I like the 997.1 more especially with the all red tail lights. The PSE tips are hot!

 

I've tried the PDK 'box in a 997.2 Turbo and I'd have to agree that it's pretty much perfect for day to day driving. I didn't get any track time and this particular car had some bolt ons giving it ~650 bhp, but to be honest, the PDK felt pretty clunky to me. It doesn't shift instantly like the Ferrari F1 trans does and it's a pretty rough shift, especially in sport mode.

I think I'd prefer a standard transmission, even if I knew my commute would involve traffic.

 

Thanks for sharing!

 

The PDK in the Panamera S i drove felt the same way, very slow and clunky. I was pretty disappointed and what I found very odd was that everyone else was raving how good it was.. Ill take a manual any day of the week, but I would definitely need to try the PDK again on a 911 to make a final judgment.