Most Porsche enthusiasts we speak with frequently engage in “browsing.” Everyone seems to be searching for their next Porsche, whether they are searching through classified ads, eBay, or different forums. Even I am guilty of doing it, I am aware of.
We’ve all been doing a lot of browsing lately, and it got me to thinking about the Porsche market right now. What Porsche model will be the newest sought-after collectible?
The air-cooled market has already beyond the moon and is heading to a different galaxy. Depending on condition, the 993 Turbo S is already worth $600-$750(AUD)+, while the “ordinary” 993 Turbo frequently fetches a quarter of a million. Even the infamous 968 is experiencing a comeback. Even for the four-cylinder models (forget about a 968CS! ), Porsches that were formerly selling for the mid- to high teens now have asking prices in the late twenties to the mid-thirties.
Where does the average Porsche aficionado (and would-be collector) go when the market is as heated as it is right now? Many claim that the 996 is the best option, particularly the Turbo. We usually concur with them. You can find a fantastic example for $95 to $110k that doesn’t have any of the IMS problems that most people connect with the 996. This all-wheel drive 911 with 415 horsepower can reach a high speed of 319 km/h and accelerate from 0 to 60 km/h in around 4 seconds. It’s not 918 quick, but that’s still rather good for a vehicle that is at least ten years old or older.
The Cayman GT4 was very recently released, hasn’t even made it to Australian land, yet already has legendary status. Will they start selling for more than sticker price sooner rather than later? The 918 is already selling for more than the retail price, with gently used models fetching asking rates between $1.25 and $1.50 million. Just observe what has occurred to the Carrera GT market. Three years ago, you couldn’t buy one for $300,000 and give it away (in the US). Today, nice trade examples in the $750,000 to $850,000 area are being seen. Insanity! Not to add that a 991 GT3RS has previously been seen for sale (in the UK) at a reasonable, double-price price.
Some claim that the 991 GTS will eventually join the 997 Carrera S (manual) and 997 GT3 as future classics.
In This Article...
The Porsche 997 is a collectible, right?
Future collector car status will make the Porsche 997 one, but not at the moment. Naturally, with the exception of the rarest variations.
Although 997 Carreras will always be sought-after automobiles, they could not be regarded as really valuable for some time. Fortunately, they’re still sufficiently advanced to be used frequently, and many people still use them as everyday drives.
The Targa and Carrera S are two further variations that fit this description. However, if we concentrate on the more uncommon models, the picture starts to change.
These are the vehicles that, given their performance traits, rarity, and all-around appeal as hot 911s, are most likely to develop into true collector’s items in the future.
Will the 997 go down in history?
One of the most recognizable vehicles ever produced is the Porsche 911. It has been produced for more than 50 years and is still going strong. Porsche introduces a new model of the 911 every few years, and each one is an improvement over the previous. The 997, the sixth generation 911, was introduced in 2004.
The Porsche 996’s predecessor, which was the subject of controversy, forced the German automaker to start again. The 911 was internally and externally revamped entirely. Critics and buyers alike praised the new car for its beauty and performance, and it was a huge hit.
Will the Porsche 997 become a classic, we must ask ourselves today, more than ten years later.
The Porsche 997 will eventually be considered a classic vehicle. It is exquisitely made, has withstood the test of time, and continues to get better with age. Its loyal following and stellar performance are unmatched, and its values are already rising.
What was the Porsche 997 followed by?
The seventh generation of the Porsche 991 is yet another redesign of the vehicle. The wheelbase and rear end of the sports car were expanded for this series, making the 991 larger than the 997. To accommodate the wider track, a new transaxle was constructed, and aluminum and high-strength metal were combined in the body and subframe to lighten the vehicle’s overall weight.
In the middle of its production, this model of the Porsche 911 also had an update. Between 2011 and 2016, the 3.4L Boxer engine with direct fuel injection and an option of a six or seven-speed transmission was installed in the cars. The brand-new 3.0L twin-turbocharged flat-six engine was installed in the second half of the series as standard equipment on all models, marking the first time in Porsche history that all trim levels had twin turbos.
What does Porsche’s 997 mean?
Porsche’s internal designation for the Porsche 911 sports vehicle between 2004 (as Model Year 2005) and 2013 was “Porsche 997.” Porsche is a German automaker. Early in 2004, the Carrera and Carrera S coupes entered into production. In November 2005, all-wheel-drive Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S deliveries to customers started. In late 2006, the Turbo and GT3 derivatives went on sale, and in 2007, the GT2. In addition to the coupe and cabriolet models, the Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S were also offered in Targa versions, which maintained the “glass canopy” roof style until the 991 when it switched back to the traditional targa top arrangement found on the early 911 Targas.
The 997 was a development of the 996 that came before it, with the interior and external style seeing the most major improvements. Of particular note was the switch from the 996’s “fried egg” headlamps to the more traditional “bug eye” headlamps. The automobile is mechanically extremely similar to its predecessor, with the exception of larger 18-inch wheels being installed as standard and minor engineering upgrades such as slightly more power. A new S variant was made available, offering more power from a little bigger engine, sports exhaust, and sports suspension.
Porsche updated its 997 lineup in 2009 with fresh styling, an improved direct-injection engine, and the debut of the brand’s brand-new “PDK” dual clutch transmission. The consequence was that the upgraded 997 vehicles handled better and were lighter, quicker, and more fuel-efficient than the outgoing cars. In the case of the 997 Turbo, a thoroughly retuned all-wheel drive system with an optional “torque vectoring” system was also included in the upgrades package; in a preliminary review published in October 2009, Car and Driver magazine predicted that the updated Turbo should be able to accelerate from 0-97 km/h (0-60 mph) in three seconds when fitted with the PDK transmission.
Even British automotive journalist Jeremy Clarkson, a well-known opponent of Porsche automobiles, stated that the 997 will “make love to your fingertips and arouse your soul” in the majority of his favorable assessments of the 997.
A Porsche 997 costs how much?
Porsche 911 997 cars with naturally aspirated, high-performance engines are increasing in value, and the majority of variants now sell for more than they did five years ago.
The starting price for a new Porsche 997 Carrera model ranged from $78,000 for the base model to $97,700 for the Carrera S Cabriolet. 911s with decent mileage are now sold for a small portion of their initial cost. A low-mileage Porsche 997 Carrera S sells for between $50,000 and $70,000, while a Porsche 997.1 Carrera may be had for as little as $30,000.
Which used Porsche 911 is the best?
I would suggest either a 911 from the 997 or 991 generations if you’re searching for the greatest secondhand 911 to buy. Porsche identifies the generations of the 911 with three-digit numbers. Production of the 997, which debuted in 2004, continued until the launch of the 991 in 2011.
The 997 is less problematic than the 996 of the previous generation, and it also has much better and more contemporary body style. Because they are older, 997s are usually more reasonable than 991s, though some fantastic deals can be obtained on low mileage models.
The 911’s 991 generation, which debuted in 2011, was produced through the end of 2019. These are renowned to be incredibly dependable and contain the majority of the newest technology. Additionally, the 911s came with a naturally aspirated engine only during this generation. They switched to all-turbo engines in 2020 with the launch of the 992 generation.
Porsche might stop producing the 911.
Given the numerous statements made by automakers in the last year or so, it is now quite obvious that electrification will advance quickly throughout the sector during the following ten years. Whether you’re in favor of it or against it, most of the cars we currently own will either be replaced with all-electric ones or undergo the conversion themselves.
The moves will typically be simple enough to accept. Electrification is less popular when it comes to pure sports cars with fine mechanics. This is true of the Porsche 911, a vehicle that gives drivers a significant portion of its excitement through the melody that comes from its engine.
Therefore, purists will be happy to discover that Porsche has announced the 911 won’t be joining its expanding array of electrified vehicles in the 2020s. That is not to imply that the vehicle would completely avoid electrification; according to Porsche, a hybrid system is in the works.
Oliver Blume, the executive of the firm, claimed in an interview with Autoblog “It is evident that we will keep using combustion engines to manufacture the 911 since it is our national symbol. Maintaining the flat-six requires adhering to tradition.” Furthermore, he continued, it would be difficult to convert the 911 to an electric vehicle even if Porsche decided to do it after eliminating the engine. Let’s face it, this car’s architecture is distinctive and centered on balance, with the combustion engine playing a significant role.
“Because the 911’s engine is in the back and the weight of the battery would be in the back as well, a fully electric car would not work with the 911’s design. I’ll be absolutely clear: the 911 will have a combustion engine for the foreseeable future.”
Porsche has acknowledged that it is thinking about making the 911 partially electric. By the way, the company is already focusing on that. The 918 Spyder, which Porsche produced from 2013 to 2015, is one of its many vehicles that combines an electric motor and a combustion engine. The business has previously triumphed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans using a hybrid vehicle.
One thing is for certain: the day the final gasoline-powered 911 goes on sale, it will instantly become a highly prized collectible.