• Only 47k miles from new with full Main Dealer Service History

• Manual gearbox and ceramic brakes

• Fabulous condition inside and out

• Fresh MOT and rear tyres

The Porsche 911 needs no introduction, being a staple of the sports car world for over 50 years. With a rear-mounted, flat six engine, all round independent suspension and a 2+2 interior layout, the recipe has been consistent even if the ingredients have evolved over time. For the uninitiated, the internal model codes are used to refer to the different versions: 3 digits starting with a 9 to designate major revisions, and a .1 or .2 to denote the first or second revisions. 

Overall the history is a game of two halves: air-cooled engines and water-cooled. The 997 is version 2 of the water-cooled era and was introduced in 2005, with significant updates (“997.2”) coming in 2009.

This example is a 2010 997.2 Carrera 4S which gets you the wider bodyshell housing a 3.8 litre version of the boxer flat six with direct injection. It produces 380bhp at 6,500 rpm which drives all four wheels via a six speed manual gearbox and is good for 4.5 seconds to 60mph. The 997.2 is the last iteration of the 911 to feature hydraulic steering and, while Porsche’s implementation of electric steering is widely praised, the earlier approach gives superior feel. As well as the wider bodyshell, between the LED rear lights can be found a full width reflective strip which shows off  4 wheel drive credentials to 911 nerd onlookers.

The current owner describes this car as a bucket list purchase and spent 2 years looking for his ideal spec. That meant the security of 4 wheel drive that comes with a 4S and, crucially, a manual gearbox. 

The car was purchased from the Porsche Centre in Wolverhampton in December of 2018 as an Approved Used vehicle and saw only fairly light usage and, during lockdown, was SORNed. When it came to fire it up again unfortunately the battery had failed and so it now sports a brand new battery.

Now, having scratched the 911 itch, like so many of us during lockdown the vendor has spent some time on the internet and developed some other itches he needs to scratch. So, after almost 2 years of enjoyment he has a new bucket list, and has decided to send the car off to a new owner.

As is often the way with more modern cars, there’s not a huge amount of reading material, being limited to the service book which shows a full complement of main dealer stamps from Portsmouth, Silverstone and three from Wolverhampton.

Both keys are present and correct.

Climbing aboard, there’s little to indicate that this car has covered any miles at all. Yes, the sat nav is of its time but, in terms of condition, there’s very little wear anywhere save from a small amount on the driver’s seat bolster. The white-stitched, leather-covered dashboard has a suitably upmarket feel and all the buttons and switches function as they should. The front seats are both heated and air conditioned while the rear seats have seen very little use at all. The cupholders are a work of art in themselves and demonstrate Porsche’s focus on engineering in even the most mundane parts of their cars, all of which bodes well for the rest of them.

Although this 911 has only had light use over the last couple of years, it’s hard to see much evidence of any since it left Porsche Wolverhampton. The main dealers are known for their meticulous standard of preparation and this car is testament to that. The paintwork is virtually flawless with only a couple of stone chips which are only visible when pointed out. The wheels are all unmarked with brand new rear tyres and fronts showing a good level of tread.

With its fresh battery, the car starts first time every time with a suitably gruff exhaust note. On the road it feels as tight as a drum with no untoward noises, squeaks or rattles. It pulls hard and stops just as hard with the Porsche Carbon Ceramic Brakes (PCCB) really making themselves felt. Again, there’s really very little to distinguish the experience from how it would have felt when it first left the factory.

For anyone with a 911 on their own personal bucket list, with over 50 years in production, there’s obviously a wealth of options available. For most, with prices of air-cooled models headed well into the stratosphere, a water-cooled model will be more realistic. While the first of the water-cooled 911’s, the 996, helped Porsche to weather the economic conditions by sharing parts with the Boxster and Cayman, many feel that the 997 with its return to a more classic headlight design marks the sweet spot of design of the water-cooled 911’s. With the 2009 update, they really do represent a great combination of modern usability and attractive classically 911 looks.

It’s easy to see why this particular example took so long to find. A great colour with 4 wheel drive, carbon ceramic brakes, the 3.8 litre flat six and a manual gearbox, it’s very much a spec for the driving enthusiast. One of the 911’s enduring features is its durability and this car is a great demonstration of how well they wear their miles. With full main dealer service history, a fresh MOT and new rear tyres, the stage is set for it to provide many more years of driving enjoyment for the next lucky owner.