Poverty spec 997? Anyone ordered?

[Mike58]

Has anyone ordered a simple no frills basic 997?
YES I know you can't sell it BUT ...
I would love to splash out the cash and enjoy a basic ? model without the frills and weight.
As a previous 3.2 owner a basic spec would be total luxury to me.[]
I'm sure in day to day driving the experience would be 99% of what most highly specd. 997 owners enjoy but without the 10-20K initial hit on the bank balance.
Has anyone had the courage to order such a car or are we all in Borg like unity that a Porsche HAS to have the extras, and the weight and the depreciation...


Mike

 

[Yoda]

A friend of mine has a pretty basic 997 and I love it. I wouldn't use most of the extras and it feels a little simpler in the driver's seat. Not sure all the extras add a lot of weight or change the driving experience but they certainly do add to the price. He is thinking of swapping for a basic 997S when he will find out if the resale story is true or not. I think there will always be a market for a basic 911 at the right price for someone who really wants a 997 but can't splash out on a big spec car.

 

[oliver]

No. But I would.

I've had 911s since 1983 and, IMO, the nicest spec of each generation has always been the C2 Coupe with manual and a few choice options.

Earlier this year I was planning to get a 997 3.6, but in the end decided to go for the new 997 GT3.

Quite a few informed journalists have said that, as a road car, they prefer the 997 to the 'S'. Various reasons have been given, with the 18" wheels and non-PASM are amongst them.

Conversely, I prefer the 987'S' to the 987.

 

[simonm]

Options appear to be mainly for the benefit of the supplier. They rarely offer value for money and often don't live up to the hype. I suspect that the margin on them is huge compared to standard items even allowing for economy of scale of standard items.

The trouble is we are all persuaded that a few options are "˜essential' and make a car "˜special'. The quality of options may not be the same as standard items because a mistake with the former may be inconsequential, whereas for the latter, they really do matter. The image of a kid in a sweet shop springs to mind especially as the product can easily become over weight and not to say rather expensive.

A few options can add pleasure, and if they delay the inevitable purchase of a replacement then they can offer some value, but can also be an expensive mistake come resale time. The OPC may say that each car is valued on it's merit when being 'chopped' in for the next 'candy bar', but I suspect there is a price for each model with the options being 'nicked' by the OPC for trade in, but then 'magically' re-valued as the vehicle is sold on.

I suspect that an absolutely bargain basement 997 retains a greater percentage of its purchase price come trade in time. It benefits the OPC to offer a low spec vehicle because it gets 'punters' through the door, who may then be persuaded to up-sell to something with a greater margin.

 

[Guest]

For what it's worth, my thoughts are: U got to have CD changer. I have Bose but hardly essential. Heated seats a must for cabs. The SatNav is very good, but probably only worth it if you need it. The basic seats are excellent, and the upgrades somewhat expensive for what they are, and doubt they make much diff at re-sale. Sports exhaust nice extra but doesnt add to performance.

Bottom line, i would definately recommend the S , and rather have a basic one, then a well-specced C2. One cant get away form the fact that dep'n will be high in absolute terms, regardless of what people say about 911 residuals, but u could save money by buying a 12mth old S, instead of a new C2, for example.

rgds
Nick

 

[Guest]

Poverty spec makes sense if it suits you; to £75K+ on a vehicle and then gripe for not spending an extra £500 seems a bit silly - if the cash had been tight I would have preferred to go second hand and get the spec I wanted. I looked at my spec and weighed it up on the basis of assuming that all the options will depreciate to zero and then decided whether they were worth it - ie if I spent £500 on the porker option would it bring me as much pleasure as say £500 on a new lens for the camera.
I ended up getting the following car which is based purely round what I wanted without a sight to resale value..
Manual - wouldn't want an auto 911 unless I lost a leg and it was the only option!
C4s cab
bose - basic sound system is hopeless, bose is slightly better, but very good value for money cf an aftermarket install
xenons (a revelation for night driving cf halogen - would drive a car w/o them)
sports seats - more comfortable for me / my stle of driving.
metallic silver
classic wheels
PSE
heated seats
park assist
auto dimming rear mirror (do a lot of night driving)
cruise (for motorway use)
Sports thick steering wheel - so much more tactile
door entry guards in stainless steel
thick mats
navigation (was going to get a tom tom and then decided the hassle of removing it every time i left the car, the risk of break in etc made the porsche unit worthwhile)

Didin't bother with the cd changer - can be added later, probably going to get the ipod wired in any anyway i'm either out for a quick blast in the car on my own when one CD is fine, or I've got my girlfriend in the car to change the CDs! and I didn't want to loose the boot space - would have meant I couldn't get my overnight bag and my briefcase in the boot.

Whole lot added nearly 8K to the price, but worth every penny in the pleasure I get from the vehicle....

 

[oliver]

I think a nicely spec'd 997 C2 works out about £62,500 otr.

It's always been my view, since the early derivatives, that the nicest 911 is a C2 coupe, manual, with a few choice options.Thereafter it is down to personal taste.

If someone wants a cabriolet, or a wider body, or an auto gearbox, or 4wd, or more power, or a turbo, or any amount of options or finishes, then Porsche will cater for them. But does it make a better 911? You'd have to ask the beholder.

Likewise you can buy a Rolex watch in stainless steel. You could have some gold or have it all gold. Then, if you like, you could add some diamonds, or a mother of pearl face. Again, it's all personal, but it's still just a watch.

 

[Mike58]

Guys... and girls
The title of the thread was sl.provocative.
Simple or basic spec would have sufficed.
Carrera S are excuded..
I'm thinking more of a Carrera with 20mm lowered suspenson and a sports exhaust, NO MORE NO LESS

Perhaps I am dreaming .....

Mike

 

[oliver]

I think that spec (light weight, 18" wheels, non-PASM and sport suspension) would probably provide the very nicest and purest driving experience. PCCBs would make it near perfect.

Anyone who has ever driven a road spec RS or Club Sport would understand. With the Porsche 911 "less is often more".

But, personally, I would still be tempted to add a few options to satisfy my own taste and convenience.