Porsche 997 Carrera S

The vehicle in detail

For many enthusiasts, the 997 is the true sweet spot among the semi-modern generations of the Porsche 911. I have the privilege of speaking with countless buyers searching for the right 911, and more often than not, the verdict lands on the 997. The wish list is usually extensive—and sometimes bordering on unrealistic. It should have BOSE®, Porsche Sport Exhaust (PSE), Sport Seats, be Swedish-delivered, and preferably show mileage well below average. Naturally, it must have been serviced exclusively at Porsche Centres, and heaven forbid it has ever attended a track day, even one organized by the Porsche Club.
The reality is that these cars are now, in some cases, over 20 years old, and examples approaching 200,000 km are becoming increasingly common. In the pursuit of the perfect car, it’s important to remember that this is German engineering at its finest—built to be driven frequently, enthusiastically, and almost every day. Porsche has always known how to build sports cars that are meant to be used.
That is why it is such a pleasure to present yet another highly interesting and rather rare example to the market: this 2005 Launch Edition.
Porsche built just 337 Launch Edition cars worldwide, all finished in Black (A1) over a full black leather interior and identically specified with BOSE®, Adaptive Sport Seats, PCCB (Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes), the 220 limited-slip differential, and a host of other desirable options. Finding a better-equipped or more engaging 997 is no easy task.
If your intention is to truly DRIVE your Porsche and you appreciate analogue, mechanical sports cars with genuine character, this is the perfect match. The driving experience rivals cars costing significantly more. With 355 horsepower, hydraulic steering, a mechanical limited-slip differential, and one of the finest naturally aspirated flat-six soundtracks Porsche has ever produced, nothing feels missing.
Unlike many later cars, this example was delivered without PASM and instead equipped with the factory M030 Sports Suspension featuring passive dampers. Considering the car’s respectable mileage, the original dampers had begun to show their age and were replaced by a previous owner with Öhlins’ outstanding Road & Track suspension kit.
Modern damper technology transforms the driving experience. The Öhlins setup dramatically broadens the car’s capabilities, allowing it to go from supple and comfortable to firm, precise, and highly responsive with just a few clicks of adjustment—while always remaining exceptionally well damped. As the name suggests, the primary focus is very much on road driving rather than track use, although it performs remarkably well when driven enthusiastically.
Factory Equipment Includes:

• 450 – PCCB (Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes)
• 454 – Cruise Control
• 640 – Sport Chrono Package Plus
• 666 – PCM Telephone Module
• 670 – PCM Navigation
• 680 – BOSE® High-End Sound Package
• 762 – PAG (Porsche AG) Launch Code
• P01 – Adaptive Sport Seats
• P12 – Package (Rain Sensor & Automatically Dimming Mirrors – Options 267 & 268)
• P17 – Package including M030 Sports Suspension, uprated anti-roll bars and 220 Limited-Slip Differential
• 650 – Electric Sunroof
• 426 – Rear Window Wiper Delete (factory option)
• 981 – Full Leather Interior
• XCZ – Short Shift Kit
• XLF – Porsche Sport Exhaust (PSE)
• 476 – Porsche Stability Management (PSM)
• 573 – Automatic Climate Control