2008 PORSCHE Carrera 4S 997 Gen 2

Background

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There comes a time in car enthusiast’s life when thoughts turn to owning a Porsche 911. But where to start when there are so many variants available? Of course, your friendly local dealer is ready, willing, and able to relieve you of a large wad of cash for a brand new 911, but of course there is another way. A cherished classic for example.

Following on from the introduction of the water-cooled 996 generation 911, the 997 received much greater acclaim, helped in part by its more conventional-looking, yet instantly recognisable design.

A mixture of coupe, cabriolet and Targa bodies were available, with power initially from a water-cooled 3.6-litre engine, and later this was enlarged to 3.8-litres.

The 997 proved to be an absolute hit with enthusiast and drivers alike, praised for its super-responsive naturally aspirated engine, usability and interior, which still looks the part to this day. Plaudits came thick and fast with happy customers across the globe vouching for the 997’s abilities.

The car was sold from 2004 until 2012, and was replaced by the 991. So good was the Carrera 4S, possibly the sweet spot in the range, that Evo magazine gave it a rarely awarded five-star rating when new. They waxed lyrical calling it “a GT3 that has been to finishing school” and stating that the driving experience was “phenomenal… on the right road it’s devastating!”

We have driven plenty and it is hard not to agree.

The Vehicle

Buying a 911 of any age is all about condition, specification and above all, history. Buy the wrong 911 and it will bite you but buy the right one and it will delight you!

We are certain this excellent 2008 Carrera 4S will fall fair and square into the latter camp. It’s a goodie and make no mistake. It is fitted with the later and more powerful 3.8-litre engine and with just 53,600 miles on the odometer, it is only just run in! Being an early example of the 'Gen 2' 997, it does not suffer from the IMS gremlins that could plague the previous generation.

Bought its first owner in October 2008 via the Porsche Centre in Colchester, the car was actually collected directly from the Porsche factory by the first owner. A lot of desirable options were specified. Amongst the most coveted are the Bose sound system, the extended navigation and the black full leather interior. An electric sunroof was also specified, an unusual but lovely addition. A quick tot up tells us that in total £13,563 worth of extras were added.

Although Porsche offers the self-shifting PDK gearbox, proper enthusiasts will always specify the six-speed manual gearbox. It makes the driving experience all the more enjoyable as you slice between ratios. And with power sent to all four wheels, the 911’s considerable performance can be safely deployed in all weathers.

And what a performance car the Carrera 4S is! Top speed is a heady 179mph and should you be that way inclined, the 0-62mph sprint should be readily achievable in less than five seconds. Let’s also not forget the familiar flat six soundtrack that accompanies each dash to the red line.

Our seller acquired the car from its first owner in April 2019 and has continued to lavish it with care and attention. As such, there is a full service history, by the supplying dealer and latterly reputable specialists.

We are told the car drives beautifully and is only being sold as the owner has retired and will shortly be downsizing, and garage space will be limited.

So, this superb example of the 997 generation 911 wants for nothing except a new owner.

On the Outside

Meteor Grey Metallic, proclaims the original order form. And what an excellent colour it is too, to show off those iconic 911 lines. The paint finish is really quite excellent, as befits as car that has been properly looked after and garaged when not in use.

The 19-inch Sport Design alloy wheels were a £202 extra and these appear to have been escaped any obvious battle scars. Pirelli P Zero tyres are fitted all round. We would expect no less as premium tyres are hugely important on a performance car such as this.

We have already mentioned the optional factory fitted electric sunroof, but other options fitted to this car include side skirts, dynamic cornering lights and a rear wiper. Also adding to options list is the tinted windscreen and the Park Assist system.

On the Inside

If you thought the outside was lovely, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Fine black leather covers the seats. The driver’s perch has a little light creasing and wear but other than that there is just a lovely gentle patina from years of careful use.

Yes, there is seating for four, but let’s just say the rear perches are best occupied by children or used for extra luggage space.

The carpets and mats tone in nicely and once again are in fine fettle.

The front boot is trimmed with practical black carpet and with careful packing - it is surprising how much luggage can be squeezed in.

Porsche build their cars to last, and it therefore will come as no surprise to find that the 997’s interior is still in great condition even after 14 years of use.

The equipment count is high with climate-controlled air conditioning, Bose sound system and the full satellite navigation system.

Underneath

The engine compartment shows all the hallmarks of careful ownership. There’s lots to see and all of it good. Specialist maintenance is the key here and we have plenty of paperwork to support this.

We always include plenty of pictures of a car’s underside and that is the case here. Pause a while and take it all in. Other than the expected road dirt, we cannot see anything untoward.

We are told the car drives well, shifting cleanly through the gears and thrilling with its scintillating performance. The engine can be heard running in our video clip and doesn’t it sound good?

History Highlights

The car’s original owner took the 911 back to the supplying dealer for servicing and maintenance for the whole of his period of ownership. The service book confirms this but there are also the invoices detailing all the work carried out over the years. We like this attention to detail.

Main dealer maintenance is, shall we say somewhat pricey, so our seller used two separate independent garages to keep up the good work. The last two services were carried out by Northway Porsche Ltd in Reading, a company established over 30 years ago by an ex Porsche Cars GB technician.

The last service was carried out in October 2022 and work done included new spark plugs, a brake fluid change and drive belt replacement. The car has been safely stored and not driven since then.

The MoT was carried out at the same time, the 911 passing with no advisories. In fact, the car has only ever had one minor advisory in its life, and that was way back in 2015.

What We Think

We think this car will be a great introduction to Porsche 911 ownership. With evidence of careful maintenance from just 2 careful owners over the years, we can imagine years of trouble-free motoring ahead.

This is a high specification car too and with four-wheel drive and the more powerful 3.8-litre engine, it will offer thrills aplenty, no matter how humdrum the journey.

The price for all this 911 goodness? We estimate the car will sell for between £42,000 and £48,000.

Viewing is always encouraged. The car is located in Reading, Berkshire. To arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Video Review