I'm considering trading my 08 997/2s for a 09 997/2s. My dealer wants to make me a good deal on a CPO W/1700 miles.
Now that the car has been around for a year, do you guys find the new car worth trading up for?
Particularly interested in what the guys that live these cars (tuners etc.) have to say.
Advantages / disadvantages welcome.

 

Assuming you don't mind losing some money on a trade, there are a few but significant differences in an 09 as compared to your 08 (which is like my 06). You get 385 hp vs. 355 hp (I have the Powerkit so there's basically no difference there for me). You also get an arguably better engine with no IMS, better fuel economy, you can get Sports PASM with limited slip differential both of which are unavailable on a 1st gen 997 and you get a newer PCM system with touch screen, iPod integration, Bluetooth etc. I'd consider going for one myself although not for the power but for the suspension differences although I don't know if taking a hit on my car plus depreciation on a new one would be something I'd be willing to do. My biggest dissapointment is the lack of a limited slip differential on my 06 Carrera S.

As far as tuners are concerned, I can't say since I have no aftermarket products on my car and can't speak of their effectiveness.

 

With the new cars you get mor hp an a bit more mpg. It is true that there is no IMS but Porsche improved the shaft and bearing in 2006. The new cars have DI which gives you the increase in hp and mpg but also carbon build up on the intake valves. Not sure if that is a real problem. The high pressure fuel pump in the new cars can be troublesome. I have a BMW 535 with DI. I have no problems but the HPFP seems to be a real problem for some people. I doubt you would see a real difference but you should drive one!

 

Well one is if your car in tip, then the pdk is alot better, and almost feels like a stick, it safe to say it is the closest your going to feel to driving a stick. Also someone mention mpg, that also is a big help as well, but then again who drives a porsche and really worries about mpg. lol get a pruis instead. You also lose 35 pct off top once you drive that car off that lot, so take that into consideration as well. I say go with some upgrades on you car, you could get 30 hp and some torque if you add a exhaust and even as simple as a cold air intake system.

 

Although I never owned a 997.1 I have driven a friends. The new PDK is worth the upgrade alone. I don't know how you'll use the car but it is my daily driver(only for a week so far). I personally love the pdk. You feel very involved in driving the car. I also havethe sports chrono which is a must. All the other items mentioned(mpg, more hp, LSD)is just gravy.

 

Lostturbo, Love your wing! A techart III??

 

I can't see the dealer doing it unless its a good deal for him also. I would take a long look at the numbers and then decide.

If your moving from 6 speed to 6 speed I would say no unless its a
no-brainer money wise. ( a few thousand plus a couple thousand for the CPO unless your car is cpo'ed.)

If its tip to PDK then you could fork over more.

If its 6 speed to PDK then you have to decide how much that is worth.

 

I agree - if its 6 speed to 6 speed, its definitely not worth it. For me, the extra power and PDK (plus the BT, Nav, UAI) made it an easy decision. The Sports PASM is great too.

 

It is Techart III.......but not my car, just the wing I like the best. Both cars are 6speeders

 

Excellent...sounds like a great car.

All the best.

 

Unless its a really good deal I probably wouldnt trade. I went from a 06 stick to the 09 pdk widebody. I really loved my 06 with the evo intake, evo headers and fab speed exhaust. Throttle response was dead on. And its sounded beautiful. The new one is great, but kind of boring. Less raw. If that makes since. The new DFI motor makes a annoying ticking sound when the injectors fire. The interior though is a big upgrade. The new PCM touchscreen is outstanding. If you have a stick now and are staying with it I wouldnt change.

 

Thanks for everybody's input so far. Some interesting points. I'm still undecided.................

 

It was I who mentioned mpg. Again, I don't worry about mpg because, as you said, who really minds that driving a Porsche. I don't have a Prius either but an '87 Carrera and an Armada who are not fuel frugal at all. Nevertheless, I was pointing out the things he would notice on a newer car and, trivial as it may be, increased mpg is one of them and, therefore, worthy of it being included in the discussion.

As far as the 35 pct loss driving it off the lot is concerned, well, my first line was "assuming you don't mind losing some money on a trade."

 

The car I'm looking at is USED the other guy lost the 35%

 

Then that makes the 35% depreciation remark completely immaterial, doesn't it? I guess changing cars would be something you'd have to think about as it is, in the end, a personal matter. I have entertained selling my '06 Carrera S and getting either a 996 Turbo with X50 or even a 993 Turbo. Personally, I wouldn't get a new car off the lot so I don't take that kind of a hit anymore as I already had on my '06 S that I bought new. Talk about depreciation - my car had an MSRP of $122k (the Powerkit was a big factor in this) in March, 2006 and I don't want to really find out now how much it's worth.

It reminds me of a 2004 994 C4S I bought in Dec '03 - the original owner bought it for $89k and change in Oct '03 and traded it in for a Ferrari. I walked in by chance at the Ferrari dealer, saw the car and bought it right then and there for $75k with only 425 miles! An almost $15k depreciation hit on 425 miles and <2 months on the road.