Porsche 911 Carrera (997) ~ 2004-2008

Right from its introduction, the 996-model 911 was criticised, mainly by die-hard Porsche enthusiasts. It was, they said, bland-looking and lacked the essential 911 character. In reality, the 996 was a great 911 and it���s hard to define what that missing character was, but Porsche���s designers obviously took the comments seriously when they were planning a successor to the best-selling 996 range.

That new car was the 997-model 911 Carrera, launched in 2004. For many, the 993 was the best-looking 911 ever, so Porsche very obviously drew on that car���s lines for the 997. The wings became more shapely and the car less slab-sided, while at the front the large, oval-shaped projector headlamps had an unashamed 993 influence. The indicators were housed in the front bumper; again, as per 993. The door mirrors and handles were new, too. However, there was more to the 997 than just this ��� Porsche claimed it to be 80 percent new compared to the out-going model.

While the exterior changes were an evolution of the 996���s lines, the interior was all-new, albeit with a nod to the 993 (and earlier) dash layouts. The dash was more angular and less plasticy than that of the 996, and featured a large screen in the console for PCM (Porsche Communication Management) even if the car wasn���t fitted with the optional telephone or sat-nav. It was all very well put together and gave the 911 an altogether more luxurious feel.

The 997 Carrera had essentially the same 3.6-litre engine as the 996, but it was fine-tuned to give an increased power output of 325bhp at 6800rpm (a modest 5bhp increase), while a new exhaust system brought back at least some of that traditional 911 soundtrack. The power went to the rear wheels via a revised six-speed gearbox, while an automatic Tiptronic S was optional.

The suspension was also based on that of the 996, but with a wider track and revised geometry to give even better handling and ride. However, an exciting new option was PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management). This gave the driver a choice of two suspension settings, simply by pressing a button on the centre console. Normal mode was for standard on-road driving and offered a comfortable ride quality; but when the system detected that the car was being driven and cornered hard, the damper settings automatically firmed up to compensate. By contrast, the Sports mode gave a harder ride for optimum handling on twisty roads or the racetrack. PASM effectively gave you two cars in one ��� a comfortable everyday tourer and a honed track machine.

Another innovation option was Sports Chrono Package Plus. This gave another button on the centre console which, when activated, changed the engine management ���maps��� to offer more immediate throttle response and a higher rev limit. In effect, it was like having the car temporarily ���rechipped��� for extra fun. On Tiptronic-equipped cars, the transmission was remapped to give a livelier drive. As the name suggests, this package also included a dashtop-mounted chronograph for track timing. Measurements made with this device could be saved and retrieved on the PCM screen.

The new 997-model 911 Carrera gave the perfect combination of 911 traditions with 21st century technology. However, the majority of buyers opted for the more powerful Carrera S version, and it is likely that the basic Carrera will be the less desirable of the two in years to come.