The 997 Buyer's Guide
How I shop for a 997: condition, service history, specs, ownership costs, and the two engine conversations this generation actually has. Built from the verified sales on this site.
Start with your all-in number
On Bring a Trailer, the winning bid is the hammer price, and BaT adds its buyer fee on top (currently 5%, $250 minimum, $7,500 maximum). I set an all-in ceiling first, then solve backward. Price the first 90 days too: overdue time-based service, tires aged out despite good tread, and a repair reserve for whatever the inspection finds.
Read the listing in four passes
Identity, history, condition, documents. Write down the gaps before you fall in love with the spec. Words are not evidence. "Sorted" and "IMS done" are summaries. Ask for the dated invoice, the mileage, the parts used, and the shop's name.
The engine conversation: 997.1 vs 997.2
The 997.1 Carrera cars (2005–2008) run the M97 engine. Two checks matter: IMS bearing history, and cylinder bore condition from a properly performed, cylinder-labeled borescope. The 997.2 (2009–2012) went to direct injection, dropped the IMS bearing design entirely, and added PDK. Turbo, GT3, and GT2 cars run the Mezger engine in both halves of the run: no IMS question, but ask about coolant pipes. The full walk-through is the IMS & Bore Scoring Guide.
The rest of the car
Clutch take-up and slip under load, suspension creaks and damper leaks, brake condition, and on cabriolets a full top cycle while you watch for uneven motion and hydraulic dampness. The best question you can ask the specialist doing the PPI: "What would you repair now if this were your car?"
Get the guide by email
The free 997 Buyer's Guide (PDF) is in the works. Leave an email on the homepage and I'll send it when it's ready. No list rental, no drip campaign. I'm a banker, not a marketer.