With the design of the type 997, Porsche made the 911 even sharper thanks to a more dynamic and powerful look. The Carrera was already noticeably more masculine with more pronounced shaping of the rear end, while the width of the S, GT and Turbo models grew by 44 millimetres. The type 997 set itself apart from its predecessor by the steeper, round clear-glass headlights, marking a return to an important style element of the air-cooled 911 models. After the facelift in July 2008, the front end featured bi-xenon headlights and LED daytime running lights.

Despite his dad, Eric, being a long-time 911 owner, Maxime said it took a while for the Porsche bug to bite him. But it would bite him hard.

PHOTO: @amaertens

In 2023, Porsche Classic assumes responsibility for the 997, which means a growing availability of official parts and accessories for Maxime’s car over the coming years – something that he is very excited about. “It’s a really good thing,” says Maxime. “When we were buying this car, we were like, OK – the 997 will be a big future classic.”

There are no big plans to do much to the 997 GT2 immediately, adds Maxime, apart from one thing. He’s very excited about the prospect of being able to fit one of the Porsche Classic Communication Management (PCCM) systems – meaning access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, among other benefits. “The PCCM will definitely be a big upgrade for the 997. It’s the one thing about the car that has perhaps not aged so well. To be honest, nobody believes me when I say my GT2 is from 2008. It looks so fresh and new even now, which is true especially of the front of the 997. It’s a car that will continue to age really well.”

Maxine currently owns three different 911 types from across the decades, including this 1989 911 (type 964). There will be more, he says.

PHOTO: @amaertens

For Maxime, these roadtrips are often not about driving great roads or visiting the best events. It all comes back to the thing that first got him excited about Porsche when introduced by his dad – interacting with the Porsche community.

“The way I organise my roadtrips is based on the people I’m going to meet. That’s the trick. For me it’s about engaging with the Porsche communities,” Maxime Lecluse aka LEM - 911 fan and Porsche content creator.

For me it’s about engaging with the Porsche communities on Instagram and Facebook, etc. I’ll meet up with people in the area, ask them for restaurant recommendations or the best roads, and we just talk. Most of the time, it starts as a four-day roadtrip… and ends up as eight or nine days once we get there.”

“The first big roadtrip I did was to the south of France,” says Maxime. “It was a 13-hour drive, and I ended up sleeping at somebody’s who I knew on Instagram but hadn’t yet met in real life who owned a 911 ST. You really don’t get stuff like this in other car brands’ communities. The Porsche one is so strong.”

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