By Kiran Menon
We’ll be going over the 997.2 Carrera 2 S in detail and see why it’s the sweet spot in the modern 911 range—one that every petrolhead should own.
Porsche’s 911 platform is an example of evolution over revolution. The brand’s ethos favors both luxury and performance. A Porsche always finds a spot on an enthusiast's bucket-list and there is a perfectly good reason for it. Porsches in general are one of the more clinical sports cars in the market and getting your hands on one is always a dream.
Many are confused with Porsche and its naming. While that’s a topic for another day, a lot of people outside of the community (and some even part of it) are sort of unaware of how the 911 has evolved since its inception.
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Without further waffle, in 2005, Porsche introduced the 997-generation 911 with distinct design details harking back to 911s of the past. The chassis and exteriors were substantially reworked over the 996, and the 997 Carrera S turned out to be the most common out of them. The 997 GT3 RS 4.0 is well-known for housing the last of the Mezger developed engines and is a favorite among collectors.
We’ll be going over the 997.2 Carrera 2 S in detail and see why it’s the sweet spot in the modern 911 range—one that every petrolhead should own.
Porsche 997.2 Carrera 2 S: A Brief
The 997 generation Porsches saw a run from 2004 to 2012. In that, the production run was split between the 997.1 (2004-2008) and 997.2 generation (2009-2012) 911s. Firstly, the 997 brought back the original round headlights instead of the disfigured ones found in the 996. Moreover, the interiors too saw a great improvement along with available technology.
Moving back to the Carrera, post the 996’s success, Porsche decided to bring about a refined version dubbed the Carrera S and 4S, wherein S denotes a bump in horsepower over the standard Carrera. The 4 in its name denotes all-wheel-drive while the 2S (or, simply S) was rear-wheel-drive only. The 997.1 Carrera debuted with a 3.6-liter engine producing 325 horsepower while the Carrera S received a larger 3.8-liter mill with 355 horsepower. The drivetrain was either rear or all-wheel drive via a six-speed automatic or manual transmission.
For the 997.2 generation, power from the 3.6-liter Carrera engine was increased to 345 hp while the Carrera S saw 385 horsepower from its 3.8-liter flat-six. Once again, power could be sent to the rear or all four wheels via a manual box but the 997.2 saw the introduction of the dual-clutch PDK; a monumental leap over the Tiptronic unit found in the 997.1.
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Porsche 997.2 Carrera 2 S: For The Enthusiasts
One of the important highlights of the 997.2 generation was the hydraulic steering. it was the last generation of the 911 to have one before going with an electric-assisted rack in the 991. Fundamentally, the driving dynamics are typical Porsche; engaging yet usable.
The Porsche 997.2 Carrera S makes for a brilliant example as the ride is compliant to an extent that many wouldn’t complain about it. Some might even question it being a slightly sporty VW Golf GTI. Well, that’s true, the 997 Carrera S is as good as any hot hatch and is more than a worthy companion for your weekend shopping.
The 997.2 was during the time when Porsche’s reliance on electronics was much less than it is today. The semi-analog driving feel is always welcomed and Porsche was among the very few to nail it. The engine is very tractable and the gearing suits double-digit speeds as much as it does with triple-digits. Moreover, the steering offers brilliant feedback as is the case with all Porsches.
There is every possibility of understeer and oversteer being exhibited. The 997.2 Carrera’s character depends on how deep your right foot is on the throttle. If you’re too much on the throttle, the rear shoots out and there’s a good chance of the car ending up in a hedge. If your modulation is not up to the mark, the steering weighs down and you experience understeer. As a city car, you’ll have to endure the heavy clutch and slightly bumpy ride, which to an enthusiast is not a big deal.
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Is The Porsche 911 997 A Good Investment
Without a shadow of a doubt, the 997 Porsche Carrera is most certainly a good investment. Especially, the 997.2 thanks in part to better reliability as opposed to the 997 gen 1. A future classic for sure, the 997.2 Carrera 2 S with a stick shift is still up for grabs in the used car market at discounted rates. It’s a good time to get into a 997 as values point to it being a moneymaker i.e, zero depreciation.
The used market is split between the 997.1 and 997.2 but if you can cough up the extra dough, the later 997.2 is the one to go for. That said, the most bargain out of your purchase would be the 997.1 as some examples go for less than $20,000. But, before you jump head-first, make sure you do a proper inspection as 997.1s are notorious for their engine reliability or lack thereof. If you happen to plan on owning one, a quick look at Pcarwise’s 997 buying guide should help you out.
Sources: YouTube, CarandDriver
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