996 Turbo S... worth the extra?

[Podro]

So my New Year's resolution is to stop the procrastinating and actually get out there and buy something! After lots of consideration and reading some good inputs on the forum I seem to be settling on the 996TT; a good compromise of performance, affordability and reliability.

I am looking for either an X50 manual or Turbo S, low mileage and mint condition. General prices suggest 30-34k for the X50, but anywhere north of 36k to over 40k for a comparable S. Is it worth it for the upgrade? Does that buy you an ultra rare, depreciation proof future clasic that is more desirable or just the PCCB over the X50?

Thanks,
Paul

[renmure]

I sold my mint 996 Turbo S earlier this year and despite not actually bonding with the car I would concede that it was a very accomplished and rapid way of getting around.

All other things being equal (and if your budget allows), I would go for the Turbo S on the basis that you should recover most of the additional cost when you come to sell. Is it worth the extra? Depends on what you value I suppose. It is rarer, a bit more exclusive, recognised as the last of the model and obviously fully loaded. Don't think I ever used the ceramic brakes in anger but if nothing else, the yellow calipers looked cool and I never had to clean brake dust off the alloys

[Callughan]

Depends on the price some are near 997 Turbo money

[crisisjez]

And GT2

[IMI A]

I'd probably go for an S but pay no more than £35k. Having said that having had a quick peek at classifieds this car looks very individual and good VFM.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3403179.htm

£40k + for an S is dreamland in current market as thats almost into 997 turbo money.

This car also looks like its in unbelievable condition but I'd pay no more than £35k for it. http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3512903.htm

Edited by IMI A on Sunday 1st January 19:39

Edited by IMI A on Sunday 1st January 20:01

[ChrisW.]

In my view the PCCB brakes are well worth having, particularly on a road car that may be regularly washed and cosseted.

For what it's worth, I also owned a very lovely X50 996 Turbo.

Yes it had Turbo lag, yes it was a little "soft" in the suspension department, but what I most noticed --- even on the road, was that the standard brakes were just not quite good enough.

But maybe I expected too much of them.

[IMI A]

ChrisW. said:

In my view the PCCB brakes are well worth having, particularly on a road car that may be regularly washed and cosseted.

For what it's worth, I also owned a very lovely X50 996 Turbo.

Yes it had Turbo lag, yes it was a little "soft" in the suspension department, but what I most noticed --- even on the road, was that the standard brakes were just not quite good enough.

But maybe I expected too much of them.

Perhaps on a new car PCCB is worth having but on a 7 year old car they could be very expensive to replace. lots of turbo owners upgrade to 997 turbo/GT3 6 pots

[Podro]

Thanks for all the replies. I concur that much above 35k for a 996TT (X50 or S) and it has to be something special. There is an S I have been looking at for 36k (2005, 44k miles, GT silver) which I may take further hence the reason for the post; just wanted views on whether that was good value say compared to the 30k mile X50 at RSJ for 34k.

I don't want to turn this into another "The 40k 997 Turbo" thread as that ground is well trodden, but that does seriously play on your mind when you are at this budget level. I'm in the camp of the 997TT has much further to fall yet and the 996TT is incredible VFM right now hence my decision.

Incidentally, anyone know how many 996 turbo S's they actually produced and came to the UK?

[g7jhp]

Podro said:

Thanks for all the replies. I concur that much above 35k for a 996TT (X50 or S) and it has to be something special. There is an S I have been looking at for 36k (2005, 44k miles, GT silver) which I may take further hence the reason for the post; just wanted views on whether that was good value say compared to the 30k mile X50 at RSJ for 34k.

I don't want to turn this into another "The 40k 997 Turbo" thread as that ground is well trodden, but that does seriously play on your mind when you are at this budget level. I'm in the camp of the 997TT has much further to fall yet and the 996TT is incredible VFM right now hence my decision.

Incidentally, anyone know how many 996 turbo S's they actually produced and came to the UK?

Having started the 'The 40k 997 Turbo" thread whilst looking for a 996 turbo I'd say the standard 996 turbo or 996 turbo X50 is great value for money compared to 996 turbo S or 997 turbo.

The 996 turbo S isn't much different to an 996 turbo X50 (essentially PCCB's).

The 997 turbo is still £15k more than a similar 996 turbo.

Edited by g7jhp on Monday 2nd January 09:38

[erics]

i have a 996 turbo s manual with 19k miles and the x71 suspension upgrade. It also has all the carbon fiber interior options that were available at the time. The pccb's are awesome.

I had a vanilla 996 turbo before the 'S' and there is a big difference (the power kit, the pccb's, the harder-lower suspension, the interior). Ok, many will argue that a lot of these were options even on the 'S'.

Would I swap it for a 997.1 turbo? Absolutely not. It may be in inferior car performance-wise but it has some 'kudos'.. for me at least. I would change it for a 997.2 turbo 'S', but these are more than twice the price...

It is not as special as the 993 turbo 's' was. Yet, it is a special 996 in my eyes.

Took a fair amount of time (and money!) to find the right car for me.

I had the choice between a mint 996 gt2 and this when I was buying. I went for the turbo 's' as it was a better real life proposition to me (not doing trackdays).

[Podro]

Thanks for your feedback Eric, that's a good summary of the differences and certainly what attracts me to the "s". Unfortunately the car I was looking at has now sold (got to be quicker!), so the search continues... If anyone knows of a suitable car please let me know.

Thanks,
Paul.