Does celebrity association help a car’s value? Sometimes it does, like if a professional athlete widely known as one of the greatest to ever do it was the original owner. Sometimes it doesn’t, if the situation’s a bit more Marmite. But what if the original owner presented a motoring show on BBC2? That’s right, after 15 years of ownership, James May has decided to part ways with his 2010 Porsche 911 Carrera, and it’s going up for auction on Collecting Cars.
Ask anyone who’s into watercooled 911s what the sweet spot is, and they’ll likely point you towards the 997.2. Launched for the 2009 model year, this facelifted model is still dimensionally small by modern standards but features some serious upgrades over its predecessor. I’m not just talking about the introduction of the PDK dual-clutch transmission, either.
The headline feature was the new 9A1 flat-six, which eradicated the infamous intermediate shaft bearing while cranking out 340 horsepower in 3.6-liter trim and 380 horsepower in 3.8-liter specification. The latter 3.8-liter engine found its way under the rear lid of the 911 Carrera S, which is exactly what we’re looking at today.
Right out of the gate, May’s 911 is sporting a few choice options. It may look like a simple Carrera White car, but there’s some if-you-know-you-know stuff going on here. Right out of the gate, May ticked the box to have the badge on the back simply say “911,” a cleaner touch than the standard Carrera S badge. Speaking of clean, that optional rear wiper seems well worth the money, as does the Bose audio system. Oh, and then there’s the subtle Ocean Blue interior.
On the performance front, this 911 features the sought-after limited-slip differential, a proper manual transmission, and classy five-spoke Carrera Classic wheels that happen to be one of the lighter options offered on the 997. Porsche Exclusive five millimeter wheel spacers fill out the track width, and that’s about it as far as the tasty extras go. After all, the 997.2 Carrera S came standard with adaptive dampers, so do you really need any more than that?
While this 911 only has 31,294 miles on the clock, the service history does reveal some interesting minor faults. A starting issue back in 2014 was initially diagnosed as an inexpensive clutch pedal switch gone awry but the fault seemed to still be there in 2015, resulting in the replacement of the starter relay. Flash forward nearly a decade, and May’s 911 seems to have received quite a round of servicing back in March. The alarm immobilizer was disabled, a new air-con dryer was fitted, along with new cooling pipes to the front of the car. Bit of a mystery, that one, although fresh cooling parts are usually a plus.
While this cherished 911 is going under the hammer on Collecting Cars soon, there is one thing to keep in mind: Even if you are the winning bidder on this 911, you can’t bring it to America yet. Although an NHTSA import eligibility number exists for the 2009 911, there isn’t one for the 2010 model. Nevertheless, big props to James May for holding on to one of the best generations of 911 for 15 years.
Top graphic image: Collecting Cars
I love it. Clean with some subtle standouts. I like the dark blue interior too. I wonder if he would put his Herbie Hancock on it for the new owner?
Standard
I owned Larry David’s Prius from the first few episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm. It sold for $3500, nobody really cared lol
If you watch Top Gear you know Captain Slow babied this car and the extra maintenance was from his over the top futzbudgetty because he can’t let anything go less than perfect.
I’d argue the 997.1 is slightly better looking but the .2’s engine and interior improvements probably edge it ahead. But you’ve got a biased .1 owner here.
White is not a flattering color on any 997, except the GT3.
The rear wiper is actually not “well worth the money”. It’s ugly and totally unnecessary. The rear window is so flat that water streams off it even at very low speeds.
I agree… the .2 rear lights haven’t aged well and that’s the defining visual difference on the exterior. But the 9A1 and the interior update make it a worthwhile upgrade. At least it was for me.
Rear wipers are like pop up headlights: they’re always cool.
Come on, man!
Cannot say I’m impressed with Captain Slow’s choice of spec – tho at least it’s not dealer-ordered lease-special Silver over Black.
Nice car, steering wheel is on the wrong side.
And don’t forget, Shitler’s import tariffs apply to USED cars too, when looking at cars from across the pond that are old enough to slide in. That and the dollar being in the shitter is doing some damage to the classic car market at the moment.
The TDS is strong in this one. Always bringing in politics. By the time the Chicken tax expires the tariffs will too. Probably too late for your run for office.
People who think that Trump is their Lord and Savior are the deranged ones, not me.
For a period of time, the US employed literacy tests to determine who could vote in elections. Seeing the really bad, destructive and irrational decisions made by some voters, a return to such policies would benefit the future of the US. I might think you were an idiot for voting for him the first time, but after the second? You’re a threat to public safety.
I can’t really disagree with you. It is amazing how the below average American manages to vote against their own best interests so consistently.
I too kind of get the appeal the first go-round. An outsider, something different, ‘drain the swamp’, etc. But for sure the second time marks you out as a complete and utter idiot.
Can we not? Please?
How about bringing in reality? The last guy didn’t raise taxes (costs) on the consumer middle class by applying tariffs to everything in their lives. Still in denial now?
I saw a Barrett-Jackson VOD a few months ago that had William Shatner’s F-Type S V8 convertible where they had him come up on stage and do the auctioneer’s job to play up the crowd. Since I had just been in the market for such a car about six months prior (I bought an XK-R instead), my responses went, in order:
1: “Wow, Shatner’s taste in cars is pretty on point.”
2: “Wow, Shatner (perhaps unsurprisingly) could have had another life as an auctioneer
3: “Wow, this is altogether a lot less cringey than them selling Sammy Hagar’s Ferrari was.”
4: “Wow, that sold for little less money than the near-identical F-Type S V8 I test drove a few months ago.”
Does it come with James’ approved kit of small brushes to keep the air vents and button surrounds tidy?
Excellent
It was tampons, wasn’t it?
First thing the new owner MUST do, eat a candy bar in it on camera, and immediately send the video to James. He’ll be so pleased.
Or drive it too diddly squat farms and load it with vegetables. And take a picture of Jezza eating the candy bar. He’d have a stroke I tell ya.
I doubt very much that the buyer could do anything to the car that James would care about. He’s really not bothered by very much
I always got the feeling he was bothered more than he let on. But Clarkson could always get to him
I’m sure he’s sold enough cars to know that when they leave his possession, they will be treated differently.