From the pic I can see this is a normal 997 not the S version..And I do support your opinion about the 997.. But you had to drive the S version.. With that Sport button which open up a valve in the exhaust and gives that astonishing sound.. I test drove a 997S AND A 9974S with a manual stick and I put down a deposit on one hehehe..
I onces drove a friend C6.. Well did not push it at all because it was in the brake in period but boy is that hood very long.. Maybe because I am short but I could not see much all I saw was 2 hoops from the fenders and 1 in the middle of the hood.. But to be honest the new corvette will beat the 997 and the 997S in a straight line by far and I also heard that it can corner well so lets hope it does with all that power..
Glade that you liked the 997 and now we need more pix.
