Porsche 911 997 Speedster Updated 11.11.2010 On sale: December 2010 Paint: Carrara White or Pure Blue Wheels: 19" Fuchs-look, front 8.5x19 235/35R19, rear 11.5x19 305/30R19 Engine: 3.8 B6 normally aspirated, 408 hp / 300 kW, 420 Nm Gearbox: PDK Brakes: PCCB - Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes. They have not justified themselves on cars used on race tracks, but as the 997 Speedster will be a collector's car only, then why not to look cool. Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 4.6 sec. (4.4 sec. with Launch Control) Top speed: 305 km/h Production: 356 pcs. Price: Much more than 997 Turbo S Cabriolet. Much more than 997 GT3 and Boxster Spyder together. As much as 997 GTS Cabriolet and 997 Carrera Coupé together (or 997 GTS Coupé and 997 Cabrio together). After you have heard the price, you understand that it is the open-top version of the 997 Sport Classic which it really is. And after you read the facts, you realise it is basically a 997 GTS Cabriolet with lower windscreen and different design. The story of the Porsche Speedster started in 1954/55 with the 356 Speedster. It was a stripped down lightweight model without any comforts - the forefather of the 911 Carrera RS and 911 GT3. Price of 356 Speedster? As it was stripped out, it was not just cheaper than the convertible it was based on, but it was even cheaper than the coupé. So how would you like the 997 Speedster with the price lower than that of the 997 GTS Coupé? Nowadays the things are the other way around. The 997 Speedster is not made for the racers, but for the people who mainly like to watch at cars, the collectors. Nobody can't blame them, but it is sad from the car's perspective - it so meant to be driven... The grandfather of the 997 Speedster is definetely not the 356 Speedster. The grandson of the 356 Speedster is the GT3, no doubt about that. The first 911 Speedster came out in 1989, to be the farewell to the G-model 911 which had been in production since 1974. The original 911 Speedster stepped away from the 356 Speedster - it wasn't a cheaper trash-around-the-race-track Porsche anymore. The 911 Speedsters were produced with the collectors in mind from the first day on. Just a few years later, in the end of 1992, the next generation 911 964 Speedster was introduced. The 911 993 Speedsters were newer officially released, but 2 cars were built - first for F.A.Porsche in 1995 and second for Jerry Seinfelt in 1998. And now we have the 911 997 Speedster. It is not so different to the 997 S Cabriolet or 997 GTS Cabriolet as would have been "proper". It should have been an open-top version of the GT3. But it is not. It is a product from Porsche Exclusive and Porsche Marketing, and not something the guys at Weissach would have bothered to do. It is not a bad car, but the same car was already there for the half price. The windscreen is 4cm shorter, but it is not so noticeable. With the 356 Speedster and original 911 Speedster everybody could tell the difference compared to the Cabriolet because the normal models had straight-up "bug-killer" windscreens. Looks very good! All you see in blue is leather, not paint. Button for rear side windows. The 356 Speedster was even made without the door glass windows! Craftmanship of Porsche Exclusive 356 of 356? This is the photo from the first press release and all 356 cars have already been produced? Note, half the text is in English ("Limited Edition") and half is in German ("Nr."). Every special Porsche deserves more time to be spent on it, to get everything right. Maybe Porsche limited series cars are now produced in swapped order - the first car is the last (or the last is the first)? But why? 911 997 Sport Classic (250 made) & 911 997 Speedster (356 will be made) What we think: 100% collector's car like 997 Sport Classic and not so much driver's choice. You get the same open-air performance in GTS Cabriolet for almost half the price or much higher performance for less money in GT3, GT3 RS or Turbo. The fact that the Speedster comes only with PDK automatic gearbox makes it totally pointless for people who like the fun-factor in cars. Photos (c) Porsche AG