Porsche 911 (997/2) (2008 – 2011) Review

Porsche 911 (997/2) (2008 – 2011) At A Glance

5/5

+Stunning performance but useful economy, sublime handling and a fuss-free cabin, a very usable high-performance machine, impressive PDK double-clutch gearbox.

-Expensive and doesn't turn heads like other similarly priced supercars, heavy clutch makes manual version tiring to drive in traffic.

Insurance Groups are between 49–50
On average it achieves 91% of the official MPG figure

Car seat chooser

Child seats that fit a Porsche 911 (997/2) (2008 – 2011)

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Real MPG average for a Porsche 911 (997/2) (2008 – 2011)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

91%

Real MPG

20–29 mpg

MPGs submitted

31

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

Satisfaction Index

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Ask Honest John

My used car warranty doesn't cover lack of smartphone connectivity. Is this fair?

"The PCM (Porsche Communication Management) system in my recently purchased 997.2 is quite capable of interfacing with a smartphone, but it doesn't. I'm told by a Porsche main dealer that it probably just needs a simple and inexpensive software update. The independent dealer (Porsche specialist) that I bought it from refuses to upgrade it, saying that it's not covered under their own six month warranty, that it might corrupt the whole PCM unit, and that I can't expect a 2009 car to connect to a two year old smartphone. Are they right, or should I send them the bill from my local Porsche Centre?"
First of all, your car purchase will be covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015. This requires the car to be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. A radio that won't connect to your smartphone won't cause the car to fail the 'satisfactory quality' or 'fit for purpose' requirements, nor could you argue the car wasn't as described - unless the dealer explicitly said in the advert that it'd be able to connect to your phone. So that leaves the warranty. The dealer probably uses a warranty from a third-party provider and these vary in quality quite significantly. It's unlikely that it'll cover your issue, but check the terms and conditions of the warranty you should have been given when you bought the car. If you think you have a case, take it up with the warranty company rather than the dealer. Finally, while it's frustrating, the dealer probably has a point that it's a big ask for an 11-year-old car to work seamlessly with a modern smartphone. The best idea is to suck up the bill from your local Porsche Centre.
Answered by Andrew Brady

Is a Porsche 997 a good long term investment?

"I'm thinking about buying a 2009 Porsche Carrera 2 3.8S (Gen 2 997). A good example with low miles seems to be selling for about £50,000. How would you rate this as a longer term investment (my thinking being it's a car that I love to drive but also the last of the hydraulic steering flat six cars)? Do you see prices dropping given the recent increase in Porsche 911 values? It may be a car I keep for 12 months or 12 years, so I'm just trying to get an informed opinion on likely fluctuations in price."
I think 'classic' Porsche prices are topping out. Four 911 coming up here: https://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/news/auction-news/2017-04/outstanding-1967-porsche-911s-in-historics-ascot-auction/ You're looking at the right 997 and the market is probably pricing them correctly at the moment. Which way they go from now? Probably up, but I would not put my own money on it.
Answered by Honest John

Buying a used sports car - 911 or F-Type?

"I am thinking of buying a used sports car. Either a 2009 Porsche Carrera S (DFI engine) Cabrio or a 2013 Jaguar F-Type S. The 911 is £45k with 26,000 miles and manual from a well respected independent Porsche specialist and the Jag is £44k from main dealer with 16,000 miles. The Jag has two year warranty and the 911 the independents in house 1 year warranty which I've read is well respected. I plan to keep the car for 18 months before selling, which would you go for? "
To be 2013 the F-Type must be a roadster and I guess the V6S, not the V8S? Assuming it's a roadster I suggest you open the boot because if you carry a space saver spare there's hardly any room for anything else: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/jaguar/jaguar-f-type-2013-road-test/ The Porsche is going to be a 997 and a 2009 will have the stronger intermediate shaft so less likelihood of the engine grenading. The dealer can download data from the ECU that shows if the engine has ever been over-revved (which can happen on a missed downshift, despite the rev-limiter). If it has been over-revved, Porsche will not warrant it. Lot more luggage space. But the two year warranty on the Jag removes any worry at all during your projected 18 month tenure. I don't think that proportionately the Jag will now lose a lot more money than the Porsche. Porsche prices have now gone nuts and have probably overheated.
Answered by Honest John

Porsche service history missing - what can I do?

"I bought a used Porsche 911 (2009) via part exchange from a dealer recently, it was advertised as having a full Porsche service history. At the time of the purchase the dealer couldn't locate the service book so he promised to find it and send it by post. It has been 5 week and I have chased him via calls, texts and email but he still has not supplied the service history. Yesterday I gave up and called Porsche to request a duplicated service book, they confirmed the car has only been serviced twice by a Porsche main dealer in 2013 and 2015 so the first service due in 2011 was either not carried out at all or not by Porsche. Is there anything I can do now? "
Yes, take back the car to the dealer for a full refund because it is not the car that was advertised and has been fraudulently represented as having a full service history (which is probably why this dealer rather than a Porsche dealer had it anyway). Law here: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights/ If something major were to go wrong with a 997 it could cost you £15k, so you don't take chances with one. However, you could offer him the alternative of having the car fully checked and serviced by a Porsche dealer and supplied with a 2 year Porsche warranty which would be a fair compromise.
Answered by Honest John
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