While there are plenty of performance cars that are available for less than the at-least-$50,000 price tag a car like this would run, but none offer the neck-snapping performance of an early 997 Turbo for that sum. This car, now ten years old, is not remarkably slower than modern supercars costing ten times as much (even those from Porsche). Not only is this car capable of a sub-4-second 0-60 time, but it also has the kind of reliability and longevity that could see a car like this on the road for another half-million miles or more. The "Mezger" engines in the 2009 and earlier 997 Turbo produced about 480 horsepower and aside from a few potential coolant leak issues this is a largely faultless engine. What's more, these cars are very easily tuned for far more power than stock, we've driven examples with over 700 horsepower available with stock internal components.
If you are looking for an extremely fast and fun to drive sports car with all-wheel drive traction and more power than you would really ever need, a 997 Turbo might be the ticket for you. With the 997 Turbo, Porsche turned up the wicks just a little bit from the 996 generation, but made everything just a little bit better. The seats are more comfortable, the interior itself is a more appealing layout, and the materials are better. From the exterior perspective, there are many aesthetic improvements, including the spectacular triple-five spoke wheels (A major improvement over the old "Turbo Twist" wheels of the 996 if you ask us). While the 997 is largely built on a modified 996 chassis, it feels like it splits the difference between the 996s rawness and the 991s comfort. In a Goldilocks world of cars, the 997 Turbo is 'just right'.
If you don't believe that one can be had for that price, there are currently a few 997 Turbos on eBay for $50,000 or less. Given the choice, we'd take a cabriolet over a coupe. What about you?
FAQs
The year 2023 will be a big one for 997 owners around the world, as it becomes an official Porsche classic.
Is the Porsche 997 Turbo a good investment? ›
Whatever the reason, owning a supercar like a Porsche is more than the price you pay for it. These cars are a long-term investment as they will increase in value the older they get and the better they are looked after. This is especially true of the rare 997 versions where there were only a limited number made.
Is a 997 Turbo a supercar? ›
The first ever Porsche 911 petrol engine, the 3.6 Litre had an additional 60 bhp compared to the standard 997 and this updated power really made the Turbo desirable. A year after the initial conception the PDK variant of the Turbo released and was widely regarded as the Supercar Killer.
Do 911 Turbo S hold their value? ›
A Porsche 911 will depreciate 15% after 5 years and have a 5 year resale value of $178,971. The Porsche 911 is one of the greatest cars of all time, and is virtually problem-free and indestructible. As a result, it holds its value terrificly well.
Can you daily drive a 997 Turbo? ›
Welcome! 997 Turbo is a daily if you want to use it that way. You could go for a 997 Gen 2 car with a bit of high miles ( there are a couple on the classifieds on the forum) or a 981 Cayman ( if you are not fussed it's not a 911, they are brilliant cars).
What year 997 to avoid? ›
Still, there are some Porsche 997 years to avoid. We recommend staying away from the 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2011 models. These won't provide the most value for your investment. The faults in the Porsche 997 lie in the engine, cooling system, and paint on the car.
How many 997 Turbos were made? ›
Production numbers for the 997.1 Turbo coupé are at 15,626, with 6.099 cabrios. The 997.2 Turbo coupé was built 3,301 times, the cabriolet 1,752 times. The Turbo S coupé was sold 3,095 times, the cabriolet 2,055 times. So the 997 Turbo (S) remains more exclusive than the 997 Carreras.
Is the Porsche 911 Turbo a supercar? ›
Among the field of flashy supercar competition, the 911 Turbo and Turbo S maintain a low profile while still providing mind-bending performance and, of course, the prestigious Porsche badge, making them a great addition to our 2024 Editors' Choice list.
Is a Porsche 997 a supercar? ›
Every 997 is an everyday supercar and can be driven in any weather.
How fast is a 997 turbo? ›
The Turbo S was Porsche's fastest production car to date at the time of its introduction alongside the GT2 RS, having a 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) acceleration time of 3.3 seconds and 0–200 km/h (0–124 mph) acceleration time of 10.8 seconds while ultimately reaching a maximum speed of 315 km/h (196 mph).
The biggest difference between 997.1 and 997.2 is associated with engines and transmissions. The Gen2 997 benefitted from Porsche's DFI technology (Direct fuel injection.) This allowed fuel to be pumped directly into the combustion chamber, allowing the air/fuel mix to form directly in the chamber.
How many 997.2 turbo S are there? ›
As mentioned, 997.2 Turbo S was limited production run of 2000 cars- worldwide! So quite rare for a Turbo- certainly compared to the Gen 1. Globally (which is the more important number) there were less produced than the non S standard 997.2 Turbo- exact figure would be interesting.
How many miles can a 911 Turbo last? ›
A well-maintained Porsche 911 can last 100,000 to 200,000 miles.
Which Porsche holds its value best? ›
The Porsche 911 (coupe) has the best resale value among Porsche models, which retains 91.7% of its value after the first 5 years. Following the 911 is the Porsche 718 Cayman with 80.5% resale value. The Porsche 718 Boxster ranks #3 with a resale value of 73.1%.
Why do Porsches not depreciate? ›
All vehicles depreciate within the first year of ownership. Usually, the value goes down about 20 percent in the first year when the vehicle starts accumulating more mileage. Since Porsche is a highly sought-out brand name and is known to be highly reliable, they tend to hold higher value for longer.
Will 997 appreciate? ›
997 will eventually rise in value provided it has reasonable mileage, good paintwork and interiors. Is a Porsche 997 a good investment? Anything after the 993 is still pretty deep in “just a used car” territory, except for the specialty cars - GTS, GT2, GT3, etc. Now, that said…
Which Porsche is a future classic? ›
Future Classic: Porsche 911 GTS (997)
What is considered a classic Porsche? ›
The Porsche Classic range includes all historic vehicles which have not been produced in standard production for at least 10 years.
