Living the Legend
Max Newman
Aylesbury, UK
@maxripcor
Model 997.1 CARRERA
Year 2004
Acquired APRIL 2012
Model 991.1 CARRERA S
Year 2013
Acquired OCTOBER 2020
This column is significant for a handful of reasons. Not only is it my first anniversary as a Living the Legend columnist in T911, in the landmark 200th issue of said magazine, but I also have news of a significant moment in my life as a Porsche obsessive of the highest order.
I ended last month’s column talking about a tentative search for a 991 to replace our Golf R as the second family car, to enable us to do more motoring by 911 and face some of the coronavirus misery with positive action. I also noted how your search criteria quickly narrows the market of available cars to only a handful of options one might actually consider buying. What were some people thinking when they bought these cars new?
Having already settled on a 991.1 in last month’s column I began to focus on certain ‘must haves’ whilst feeling fairly relaxed about others, surprisingly so perhaps! Editor Lee had convinced me it had to be a 3.8S rather than a 3.4, and I definitely wanted PDK on this car, which to me also means Sport Chrono and the Sport Design steering wheel with paddles to bring the ‘box to life. Of course I wanted PSE to enjoy the music of the motor, but would prefer to avoid the extra control offered by PDCC despite reading some good things about it. It seemed to me that it might make the car almost too good, too competent – less quintessentially 911?
You might say that if I feel bothered about that then I shouldn’t be buying a 991 at all, but an earlier car instead. Remember though that what I need here is a modern car to fulfil the role of second family car, I just desperately want it to be a 911. I also knew from experience comparing 2WD and 4WD 997s back to back, and driving both a C2S and C4S 992, that I wanted a C2S. My personal preference is for the feeling through the steering on those cars, and the narrow body is also part of the 2WD appeal. As for the body type, well I like both the Coupe and the Cabriolet and think I’d be happy with either! I’ve said previously how handsome I think the 991 Cab is and thought it would add to the enjoyment of the car on a country road or alpine pass.
I should mention at this point that I’ve decided to keep the 997, for the time being at least. I was able to work out the finances on that basis, and perhaps that fact alone allows me to indulge my anti-purist fantasies. I actually like the idea that acquiring a 991 would leave me feeling happy to let the 997 go, after nearly nine years; but for now I want to mitigate any seller’s remorse. And the thought of having two 911s on the driveway feels like the stuff of dreams!
The Stone grey interior of my 997 was the compromise that I made to buy such an otherwise great car, so I definitely wanted a full black leather interior. I love black 911s most of all so that was
