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I can’t remember the last time I wrote up a 997, and like with the 996TT, which I have written about frequently, the 997 provides us with a nice value comparison for those interested in a 911, but for whom performance might trump long term value. As we will see with the car here, since these cars already have passed through their significant depreciation from new they can be had for reasonable cost while retaining some of that cost for any future sale. For those who can’t get past the 996’s styling a car like this one, a Black 2006 Porsche 911 Carrera S with the X51 performance package and just 28,500 miles might be just the sort of thing to look for. Added to the power increase of the Carrera S over the standard Carrera, the X51 package raises horsepower to 381 and torque to 306 lb-ft appearing to push the limits of just how much Porsche can extract from the car’s 3.8 liter flat-six while remaining fairly comfortable and without reverting to forced induction.
Most any wide-bodied Carrera is going to be immensely popular among Porsche enthusiasts and it only takes a few brief looks to see exactly why. Whether it is the full-blown RSR or simply an aesthetic difference like the car we see here, the enhanced shape of the stretched wider rear gets the heart racing. And of course it is the racing utility of that wider rear that makes these so desirable. For the last of the air-cooled 911s there were two naturally-aspirated Carreras, along with the 993 Turbo, to choose from for those who sought that wider rear body: the Carrera S and the Carrera 4S. The basic difference between the two models obviously lies in the number of drive wheels doing the work for each. For my money, the Carrera S is the one to have. Lighter and more faithful to the rear-drive design that lay at the heart of the 911 experience they are the ultimate expression of the air-cooled design. The example here is an Ocean Blue Metallic, 1997 Porsche 911 Carrera S Coupe, located in Chicago, with 39,790 miles on it.
I’ve made clear throughout these pages my general love for the classic 911 and there are a variety of reasons for that love. But from a perspective of pure understated aesthetic beauty the 993 Carrera S quickly moves to the top of the list. With all of the corners of the classic design smoothed over the 993 in general has less of a wild look to it. Add to that the wider rear of the Carrera S and cover the whole thing in a deeply lustrous black paint and you have what many might consider the apex of 911 design. These cars were no slouch when it came to performance either with nearly 300 hp delivered to the rear wheels via a standard 6-speed manual transmission. They never possessed the sheer terror-inducing capabilities of the 930, but as a more refined 911 the 993 checks all of the boxes. The example featured here is a Black on Black 1998 Porsche 911 Carrera S, located in New York state, with 73,088 miles on it.
In purely aesthetic terms, the 993 C2S is a fantastically pretty car. Where it might lack a little bit of aggressiveness relative to some of its classic brethren, it more than makes up for that with graceful lines and delicate curves. As the ultimate expression (at least stylistically) of the air-cooled 911 the 993 C2S will forever remain a Porsche favorite. With nearly 300 hp being delivered to the rear wheels via a 6-speed transmission, the Carrera S offers ample performance and provides its drivers with miles of engaged and exhilarating motoring. The car we have featured here is a Wimbledon Green Metallic 1998 Porsche 911 Carrera S with Cashmere leather interior, located in New York.
I’ve made it clear that I love Speed Yellow on a 911. When that particular 911 is the fantastic 993 C2S, then my love for this particular color grows even more. The 993 Carrera began with nearly perfect contours and in the guise of the Carrera S, with its widened rear fenders, the elegance of those contours comes across even more forcefully. The C2S possesses just the right balance of sporty aggressiveness and refined beauty. It’s no wonder the 993 has been so highly prized by Porsche enthusiasts and that’s before we even get to the engine, the last of the air-cooled 911s to be produced. As a complete package these cars are simply fantastic and are sure to have a firm hold on the hearts, and wallets, of collectors for years to come. The particular example seen here is a 1997 Speed Yellow 911 Carrera S located in California, which appears to share a garage with quite an array of vehicles!