2005 Porsche 997 Carrera

This 997.1 Carrera Coupé has been very fortunate throughout its life because it has always been diligently (and expensively) maintained, serviced, repaired, fettled and kept in excellent mechanical health by main dealers and specialists in a timely and methodical fashion.

It’s fine state of preservation – dynamically, mechanically and aesthetically – is impressive even for its very reasonable mileage of just 76,000, let alone its 21 years of carefully curated life.

The vendor believes that he is just the third owner of the car from new and he has been the car’s keeper since 2017, or 23,000 miles ago.

The car starts, drives, handles and stops with all the ability and competence that’s rightly associated with the model and the marque. 

There are no creaks, rattles, whistles or clunks to detract from the sonorous soundtrack of the flat-six behind you, and everything feels as well-screwed-together and over-engineered as we’ve come to expect and admire from the Meister Technikers of Zuffenhausen.

The car sits with the proper, squat, aggressive stance its makers intended and is, we think, well-served by its dark blue livery.

The bodywork is happily free of any dinks, dents, ripples or creases of consequence, and the shut lines and panel gaps suggest that Klaus and Helmut were on good form when they waved this one Auf Wiedersehen from the end of the production line.

In general, the blue finish has held on to plenty of shine and lustre, but there are a few indicators of age and use to be found on closer inspection.

There’s a scattering of stone chips, scuffs and scratches around the bonnet, bumper and front valance; some peeling paint in both front wheel arches into which a little surface rust has crept; some paint chips on the driver’s door above the handle and also on the rear edge; a chip to the centre of the o/s/r wing; a little road rash at the base of the rear wheel arches; a shallow dink above the passenger door handle, some chips to the rear edge of the door, plus a scratch near the wing mirror; and a small chip to the centre of the windscreen.

There are some scuffs and bubbling under the paint on both rear wheels, and the paint is peeling away on the badges. 

The n/s/f wheel is very decent; its offside counterpart has a couple of scuffs.

All four wheels are shod in matching Michelin Pilot Port rubber that appears to have plenty of useful life left in it.

From what we can see, the badging, lights, lenses and other exterior fixtures and fittings are all in very good condition.

The interior is really very good indeed, and the dark blue leather upholstery and trim has endured the vicissitudes of time and use with commendable fortitude and resilience.

The perforated leather front seats are in excellent nick and, aside from a little very light wear to the outer bolsters of the driving seat, you’d never think that this car had clocked up 76,000 miles.

The door cards are in equally fine fettle, as are the headlining, carpets and mats.

As ever in a 911, the rear seats don’t look as if they’ve every accepted any cargo heavier or larger than a bag of crisps or a slim volume of poetry. 

There are a few scuffs and scratches to the leather on the glove compartment, and some more on the plastics surrounding the gear selector and on the centre armrest. 

As far as we’re aware, all of the refreshingly analogue dials, knobs, switches, levers and instruments are fully functional and do what they’re supposed to do without hesitation, deviation or repetition.

The frunk is as good as the rest of it. 

There’s not much to be learned by peering into the engine bay of a 911but everything we can see looks clean, dry and in very good order.

Now then.

Like its predecessor, the 997 developed a largely underserved reputation for engine problems - a reputation mainly forged in the echo chambers of internet forums where people who didn’t know much swapped second-hand stories with people who knew even less.

It’s all to do with the IMS, the RMS and the various woes that might occasionally emanate from them and befall the unwary.

Well, this car has had its RMS replaced and thoroughly checked.

It has the enlarged IMS.

So, that’s all good then.

The undersides of the car have given us no cause to tut, frown or in any way doubt the car’s structural or mechanical integrity.

The car comes with a service book that’s fair bristling with stamps, formerly from Porsche Reading, Porsche Cardiff and Porsche West London; latterly from Autofarm.

It comes with a decent thick wad of bills, invoices and receipts attesting to routine maintenance, servicing and repair work carried out over the years.

It was last serviced by Autofarm in June 2025, with the odometer showing 74,675.

The engine-out RMS work occurred as part of an Autofarm service of June 2023 they also confirmed that the IMS bearing is a larger more substantial one, the mileage at the time of this was 69,526. 

The car comes with a recent HPI report, a V5C, its original book pack, full sets of keys, and an MoT certificate, with no advisories whatsoever, that’s valid until 6th July 2027.

A well-maintained and properly looked-after 997 is a thing of beauty and a joy to drive and experience.

This one ticks all the right boxes, including those marked ‘IMS’ and ‘RMS’ and written in red ink next to the phrase ‘Here Be Dragons.’

It’s also a low ownership, low mileage example and it drives as well as it looks.

What’s not to like?

We’re confident to offer this fine car for auction with an estimate of £15,000 - £18,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.