2008 PORSCHE 911 Carrera S (997) 3.8L 7AT (385 HP)

Vehicle Overview

In 2008 facelift for the Porsche 911 – 997, also known as the 997.2, was a serious improvement over the 2004 model. It brought changes in all departments: from the exterior to the engine.

After four years into production, a mid-life cycle refresh was ready for the market. Porsche had to improve its engines to make them cleaner and to respect the new pollution norms in Europe. It meant that it had to build its cars more fuel-efficient. As usual, the rest of the car suffered some minor changes too.

On the outside, the first difference was on the front bumper, where larger air-intakes were sculptured. The headlights were fitted with LED daytime running lights and an option for bi-xenon lamps was added to the list, while the taillights were fitted with LEDs. The rearview mirrors were slightly redesigned.

Inside, Porsche installed a new infotainment unit that featured a 6.5” touch-screen display. It featured an optional hard-drive navigation system and Bluetooth connectivity. Besides the standard, manually adjustable, front seats, there was an option for 12-way adjustable seats, adaptive sport seats, and new for the 2008 model were the sport-bucket seats. The instrument cluster featured five dials with a silver background.

The 355 hp, 3.8-liter engine, gained 30 more hp than its Carrera sibling, and with the help of the X51 options, it reached 381 hp. It was fitted as standard to a 6-speed manual, while a 6-speed automatic (Tiptronic S) was on the options list. The braking system was enhanced with the introduction of the 330 mm (12.99”) disc brakes on all four corners. The Carrera S featured standard PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) which enhanced cornering speeds and decreased the ground clearance by 10 mm (0.4”).