Looking For a 997 GTS Coupe

[911ggm]

Hi All,

Im currently in the market for a 997 GTS, is there any options you feel i should really hold out for? my current criteria is 2/3 owners max sub 30k miles.

Im quite open on specs, as they come spec'd nicely most stuff is a welcome bonus.

Also does anyone know of any that might be coming available?

 

[JCX]

Lovely car. Great choice. Good luck.

 

[andyc11]

Good choice! Not many around at the moment and even though your criteria is quite flexible, I'd disregard the owners part - always buy on condition. Like a lot of Porsche's, they tend to be bought and sold frequently. Mine had 4 owners when I bought in December 2013, at which point it was 2 years old.

Didn't concern me at the time and still doesn't now. Mileage should be relatively easy to do obtain, but be aware these are now pushing 6 years old and given their usability many have crept up mileage wise. Mine's on 37k, but has full OPC history and any invoice I've ever received whilst owning, including old tax discs etc. Hence why buying on condition is the main requirement.

They're well specced cars as standard, but some better than others. I waited 6 months for my perfect spec and still didn't materialise so had to compromise (extended leather to get rid of the plastic dashboard - only thing that I'd change about mine).

You could wait 6 months or 6 days - worth contacting a local OPC and advise you're on the hunt, as well as some of the reputable indies. They seem to be in a funny position market wise, a lot have often said they'll be a future classic...I'm not so sure myself, although one dealer is clearly trying to inflate the market. Mine is still worth what I paid for it 3 years and 20k miles ago based on examples I've seen offered for sale. Be prepared to move quick if you find the example you want. Happy hunting.

 

[911ggm]

Hi Andy,

Stellar advice, i have owned one before and its for sale more now with 3x the miles

Im in a good position where i can sit back and wait for the right one to come along before pulling the trigger!! Buy on condition rather than owners seems to be a common theme when chatting to people about them.

I just need to come across someone who is maybe upgrading in the near future, but as you said people will be hanging onto them due to strong values.

 

[andyc11]

Ah you're a dab hand then! Good position to be in, I keep looking at the 991.1 GTS but still struggle to see a £30k upgrade over my 997. I would say that Hexagon Classics will no doubt have the car you're after, but afraid they're the ones trying to inflate the market. That said (and clearly biased), I don't think £70k for a 997 GTS with top spec and low miles is ridiculous, just more than we all know these things have been offered for previously.

As an aside (and may help you), I've been contacted by two separate dealers over the weekend, based purely on posts I've made on Pistonheads essentially wanting to buy. Perhaps speculation ahead of a potential market rise, but there seems to be some interest in the GTS so now could be the time to get the car you want.

 

[shorthouse]

There are currently 5 997 GTS c2's and 3 c4's for sale on the approved network, prices ranging from 62k to 72k with some journos claiming the c2 coupe manual with rear seats delete will be the 'one to own'.

Prices seem to have bottomed out at 60k and have been creeping higher, probably helped by the massive price hike to 991.1 and 991.2 GTS.

I'm not sure there are any 'must have' options over and above the standard car, although as mentioned in an earlier post the leather dash does lift the appearance vs the standard plastic.

Also note that PDK cars specced with the multi function steering wheel will have shift buttons rather than the paddle shifts that come as standard with the standard Sport Design wheel.

Centre Lock wheels are also standard although some buyers ticked the no cost option for standard wheels with wheel nuts and its certainly not a no cost option to change them back again!

Best of luck with your search, they are wonderful cars ...

 

[911ggm]

I've got the chance of a PDK, 2 Owner with 12,000 miles.

sadly plastic dash, standard sports seats and no bose, pros are full carbon console and interior trims!

i aren't mega fussed about leather dash, but agree it's very nice, am I missing a trick buying one without it.

Spec
park assist,
sports chrono plus
pcm with nav and phone
Carbon interior, console and sills
heated seats
Home link
rear wiper
Rear seats

 

[JCX]

i know of a few people who have used Linus at LS Design (I think) to recover their dash/trim pieces with leather. His work is spectacular from what i have seen. Don't let a great car pass you by as another few £100 with Linus will traform it.

 

[JohnCRS]

There does seem to be a lot in the timing. I have been looking at these and also the GT4 Cayman. The average advertised price seems to be around 10% higher than in December.

 

[911ggm]

Hi, Sadly i think Hexagon have raised the benchmark, £65k would have got you a really nice low mileage car, now for one it seems to start with a 7!

 

[stumcc]

Hi, I've owned many 911s over the last 17 years (from 964 to 997 Turbo with 993 Turbo & 996 Turbo + loads of 997s in between). My 997 GTS is the best car I've ever owned. Be flexible is the best advice I can offer. I wanted a grey, manual, alcantara C2 with no sunroof, ceramics, sport suspension & LSD & ended up with a white, PDK, leather C2 with a sunroof, steel brakes, standard PASM & no LSD! The big debate seems to be manual v PDK. The only non manual 911 I owned previously to this was a 993 Tip, it was actually pretty good to live with but I wouldn't go there again. Having my heart set on a manual I drove a manual & 2 PDKs (all I could find within a sensible radius to me). One of the PDKs felt like it had had a short but hard life, the other tight as a drum (the one that is now mine), they had similar mileages too. The manual felt even sloppier so I gave that a miss. Don't regret it for a second, to me it's best day to day car they've ever built. PDK elevates it up a level performance wise I think. Feels as fast as I remember my manual 996 Turbo being & more involving than my manual 997.1 Turbo - & with all the benefits of natural aspiration. Good luck with your search.

 

[paulbarlow]

Can only echo what's been said above. Eighteen months into ownership of our C4 GTS PDK and no regrets. It's so easy to live with day to day and a real treat on track. Now approaching 36k miles on a 2012 reg so not excessive (yet). Good luck with your search.
More photos here if anyone is interested => https://www.barlow.org.uk/r2-coastal-run.html

 

[tscaptain]

I wonder if he found one in the year+ since his last post?

 

[paulbarlow]

Hmmm ... didn't spot that Alan. Let's hope so.
Still a great opportunity to advertise the positives of the 997 GTS

 

[Cheib]

I've had my manual 2wd coupe for just over 2 years now and absolutely love it. Flirted with trading it in for a manual 991.2 GTS last year but very glad I didn't. They're great cars. 911 V sold a manual quite quickly recently that was up for £80k! Strong money...had the bodykit but that would be a negative for me.