A Porsche 911 is that dream sports car every self proclaimed petrolhead would’ve fantasized at least once in their lifetime. Be it the ‘Widowmaker’ GT2 or the cross-continent missile Turbo or even the entry level Carrera convertible, there’s a 911 for everyone. But is it worth getting a pre-loved 911 in Malaysia?
What car?
911’s have spanned across 8 variants with the latest one, the 992 debuting recently on Malaysian shores. With the launch of a new variant, the previous generation cars take a dip in their price tag. Therefore we have narrowed our choice to the 997.2, which was sold between 2009 – 2011
Why?
It was the first time where Porsche debuted the PDK gearbox, their version of the double-clutch gearbox on their production vehicles. Also the flat-6 engine’s came equipped with direct injection. Since 99% of all 911’s sold in Malaysia are automatic, getting the 997.2 with the 7 speed PDK and the 385bhp engine seems to strike a ‘goldilocks’ balance.
It has a more ‘classic’ 911 feel and still comes with a hydraulic steering rack. And since the launch of the 992, the 997.2’s prices has dropped to the low RM300,000 mark. A 991 which has the similar engine and gearbox costs nearly RM100,000 more.
Is an 8 year old Performance car still fast?
Very much so. Contrary to popular believe, a Carrera S is not a soft, plush, mid-life crisis mobile. Porsche’s motorsports heritage is graphically apparent in the 997.2 the moment you start the car and speed into the first corner of a circuit. Its loud, its stiff, and those brakes feel like you have dropped a pair of oil-tanker anchors on either side of the car. It still gets to 100kph in 4.2 seconds, fly’s by 160kph in 9 seconds and hits 200kph in 14.3 seconds. I mean, how many RM300,000 cars can boast a top speed of 300kph?
It’s got a stiff ride and 295 section rear tyres which provide some mad amounts of grip, and even in the hands of Rally Legend Karamjit Singh, the 997.2 never rolled in the corners, and simply gripped and shot out of the turns. That too on a tight circuit like Dato Sagor in Perak. This particular 997.2 clocked a lap time of 50.46 seconds on its 2nd lap. The fastest time clocked on the circuit was in the 49 second range, which was done using a proper race car. So yes, its properly fast even by today’s standards.
How much will it cost to run?
Here’s the factor that keeps most people away from the car, its running costs. First lets see its servicing cost. The car takes 7 liters of 5W40 engine oil (Porsche A40 grade), which goes for anywhere between RM45 – RM75 per liter. An oil filter will set you back RM140. Which means your routine oil change, depending on your garage labor rates, will set you back between RM600-RM800 for every 10,000km.
Since the brakes are similar sized on the front and back, the brake pads from ATE will set you back RM500 a pair, and the brake discs, also from ATE, RM1200 a pair. There are two air filters which will cost you RM140 each. Spark plugs are a bargain at RM60 each, multiply by 6 for a set from BOSCH.
What about other spare parts?
Aside from the common parts that would be changed during regular usage, we also have a list of parts that are required to be changed for a high mileage unit. An aircon compresson from Denso for this 911 will set you back RM5000. An alternator will cost you RM8000. The recommended change for a pre-loved 911 has to be the drive belt, which will only cost you RM450 from Porsche.
Chassis parts like dampers for the front and back will set you back RM3000, while control arms for the front are priced at RM3000 for 4 pieces. Its the same price for the 4 pieces at the back. Engine mounts will set you back RM900 each. A set of tyres though will set you back almost RM6000 for a set of Pilot Super Sports, as seen on the car here.
So in a year i’d be realistically spending?
The insurance for an RM300,000 ringgit car would be in the ballpark of about RM9000 with 0% NCB, and the road tax will set you back RM5730. Therefore in a year, assuming you are doing 20,000km per annum, and require 2 services, a set of spark plugs, and a set of brake pads, you will spend an estimated sum of RM18,250 just to keep the 997.2 on the road. That’s RM1520 per month. This excludes the installment and fuel bill for the car.
How about brand new sports cars?
Yes on the surface it seems pricey. But say if you’re in the market for a brand new performance coupe / roadster like the Mercedes Benz C class coupe’s (C300 AMG line / C43 AMG) or the BMW Z4 sDrive30i, which cost well above RM400,000 then the Porsche makes a compelling case.
Here’s a table showing how these cars stack up if you were to finance them for 5 years for 70% of the car’s values, and what type of benefits the new cars offer.
| Car | Price | Coverage | 5 year installment (per month) |
| Porsche 997.2 | RM330,000 | no warranty no maintenance | RM4687 (RM6207 including insurance, road tax. running cost) |
| Mercedes Benz C300 AMG line | RM416,888 | 4 year warrantyno free maintenance | RM6272 |
| Mercedes Benz C43 AMG | RM577,888 | 4 year warrantyno free maintenance | RM7551 |
| BMW Z4 sDrive30i | RM479,888 | 5 year warranty5 year free maintenance | RM5447 |
Conclusion?
While the newer cars costs more, and do not offer quite the performance, experience and brand presence of the 911, they offer newer tech, better refinement, and complete peace of mind in the form of dealer support and a manufacturer’s warranty. However if you do wish to take a walk on the wild side, and wish for an uncompromising performance vehicle which will run on Sepang all day long and still be acceptable to pull up to a black tie reception at a 5-star hotel’s lobby, then the 997.2 is definitely worth a look. Would you agree? What are your thoughts on the 997.2? Is there anything else that you would go for? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
