buying advice: 997 GTS or 991
buying advice: 997 GTS or 991
Author
Discussion

jackliebling

Original Poster:

507 posts

196 months

Sunday 20th September 2015
quotequote all
Dear All,

I'm after a bit of advice. It seems I might re-enter the fold (YES!!!!).

I have always hankered after the 997GTS (I had a 997.2 Targa 4 previously) but it seems that an early 2012 991 3.8 is around the same price.

I wonder what your thoughts are on which I should get? It would be my daily driver.

More modern / vs future classic??

Residual values??

Any advice welcome.

Also, should I steer clear of the 3.4 and/or manual 991?

Thanks peeps
Jack

swimd

350 posts

144 months

Sunday 20th September 2015
quotequote all
My opinion: 991 as a daily driver, 997 GTS as a weekend car.

You'll have to test drive to figure out what you prefer.

The cabin in the 991 is far nicer than in the GTS, the screen in the dash cluster is extremely useful, ride is more compliant and it looks far better to my eyes.

997 does have the "future classic" thing going for it, hydraulic steering, slightly smaller dimensions, trading comfort for driver involvement. I personally dislike the center lock wheels.

Residuals are a tough call. 991 C2S should lose more money short term but then again it is the last naturally aspirated base 911. I think a manual 991 C2S is a good buy because they're quite rare, no matter what they say about the 7 speed.

andyc11

327 posts

155 months

Sunday 20th September 2015
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I drove a 991 S before the 997 GTS that I ended up buying (PDK). No doubt the 991 S is a lovely thing, but the 997 just felt more involving and more of an event. At the time (Dec '13) there was still quite a bit of price difference between the two, so I'm not going to try convince anybody that wasn't a factor in going for the GTS.

Interestingly, if the price of a 991 S is now at the same as a GTS, that's an indicator the GTS is still holding value well if that's a concern for you. If it helps I paid £59k from an OPC.

andyc11

327 posts

155 months

Sunday 20th September 2015
quotequote all
I drove a 991 S before the 997 GTS that I ended up buying (PDK). No doubt the 991 S is a lovely thing, but the 997 just felt more involving and more of an event. At the time (Dec '13) there was still quite a bit of price difference between the two, so I'm not going to try convince anybody that wasn't a factor in going for the GTS.

Interestingly, if the price of a 991 S is now at the same as a GTS, that's an indicator the GTS is still holding value well if that's a concern for you. If it helps I paid £59k from an OPC.

Koln-RS

4,089 posts

235 months

Sunday 20th September 2015
quotequote all
swimd said:
My opinion: 991 as a daily driver, 997 GTS as a weekend car.
That would be my view. Crucially, though, I'd only want the 997GTS with a proper 6-spd manual and I'd only want the 991S with PDK - in both cases I think the alternatives are inferior.

A nicely 'driver' spec'd 997GTS (C2 or C4), manual, in a good colour, could be a future classic.

However, for everyday road use, the 991S is a better place to be. All imho wink

kilarney

490 posts

246 months

Sunday 20th September 2015
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My view also and I bought the the 7 gts 2wd manual recently as i wanted it as a long term toy first and a daily second. I would only add that a c2 GTS was ahead of a c4 gts for me in manual in PDK I thought there was less between them..

tuffer

8,961 posts

290 months

Monday 21st September 2015
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I have a 997 GTS and just can't bring myself to part with it for a 991 despite several test drives, that may answer your question.

g7jhp

7,026 posts

261 months

Monday 21st September 2015
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The 997 GTS will be a more involving drive and it'll be further along it's depreciation curve.

I'd opt for the manual 2wd 997 GTS coupe with buckets....if you can find one. They're relatively rare in the right spec so should retain their value longer term, whilst being a purer drive.

13m

28,176 posts

245 months

Monday 21st September 2015
quotequote all
jackliebling said:
Dear All,

I'm after a bit of advice. It seems I might re-enter the fold (YES!!!!).

I have always hankered after the 997GTS (I had a 997.2 Targa 4 previously) but it seems that an early 2012 991 3.8 is around the same price.

I wonder what your thoughts are on which I should get? It would be my daily driver.

More modern / vs future classic??

Residual values??

Any advice welcome.

Also, should I steer clear of the 3.4 and/or manual 991?

Thanks peeps
Jack
For my money, the 997 is the best 911 so far. And yes, I have owned a 991 too. The GTS is the best of the 4-seat 997s, so that's the one to have, in my view.

997 GTS coupes with PDK have been £60k for a while and seem to show no sign of slipping. I haven't been watching the 991 GTS but since there will be a 991.2 GTS probably, I don't see them being robust price-wise unless the 991.2 is a howler.

PDK vs manual. That's a personal thing. I wouldn't go back to manual now, but you might be different from me.

So, in my opinion, 997 GTS PDK is the one to have.

Fizzbomb

484 posts

130 months

Thursday 1st October 2015
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http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...
Selling my 991S if anyone is interested, thanks.

MaxA

238 posts

167 months

Monday 5th October 2015
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[quote=swimd]My opinion: 991 as a daily driver, 997 GTS as a weekend car.

You'll have to test drive to figure out what you prefer.

/quote]

This.

13m

28,176 posts

245 months

Monday 5th October 2015
quotequote all
MaxA]wimd said:
My opinion: 991 as a daily driver, 997 GTS as a weekend car.

You'll have to test drive to figure out what you prefer.
This.
I wouldn't disagree with this, if the daily driver has to be a 911. The 991 is an easy (if boring) car to drive daily. But there are far better daily drivers than a 911.