The 911 Carrera (997.2) is the rear-wheel-drive base 911 of the second-series 997, built for 2009–2012. Its headline change is the engine: the new direct-injection (DFI) 9A1 flat-six replaced the 996-derived M96/M97 and, crucially, has no intermediate-shaft (IMS) bearing, so the IMS failure that dogged the 996 and 997.1 Carrera is designed out. Drive goes through a six-speed manual or the new seven-speed PDK dual-clutch, which replaced the old Tiptronic automatic.
That DFI switch, plus a light restyle of the lights and bumpers, is what makes the 997.2 the one most buyers seek. It still pays to check the age items — coolant-pipe seepage and the DFI fuel system — but the Carrera engine lottery of the earlier water-cooled cars is off the table.
US NHTSA campaigns for this model. A listed campaign may not apply to a particular car, and may already have been remedied — check a specific car by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
No. The DFI Carrera, Targa and Turbo engines are a clean-sheet design with no intermediate-shaft bearing, so the IMS failure that dogged the 996 and 997.1 is designed out. The Mezger-engined GT3 and GT2 RS cars never used the failure-prone bearing either. This is the main reason buyers seek the 997.2 over the earlier water-cooled cars.
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