Opinions on 996TT with GT2 bodykit.
Discussion
I am curios on what peoples thoughts are on a 996 Turbo that has been fitted with a genuine GT2 bodykit from new at the selling dealer. I am a sucker for originality and wish it was factory and not dealer fitted.....but like the idea of this car as I had considering a GT2 but decided it was too risky for regular driving in NE Scotland. The car looks the part!
Would such a kit add or detract from the value of the car? Would you expect that insurance companies might balk at the kit, or should this be ok (I ask as I only recently moved to the UK)
Any advice and opinions gratefully received
Cheers
mondie
Would such a kit add or detract from the value of the car? Would you expect that insurance companies might balk at the kit, or should this be ok (I ask as I only recently moved to the UK)
Any advice and opinions gratefully received
Cheers
mondie
monthefish said:
As the owner of one such car (the car above, as it happens) I thought I’d throw in my 2p’s worth. 
Firstly, the comments about making sure the car underneath is sound and doesn’t have any skeletons, are very important indeed. Having read the 996 turbo buyers guide (probably about 20 times before I actually bought a car!), Darren from RSJ mentions that the single most important thing to check for on a turbo is for accident damage (as everything mechanical/electrical on a 996 turbo is generally pretty bulletproof), and the performance of these cars is not to be underestimated (and, despite the “all weather supercar” tag it has been given by some elements of the press, it is still a predominantly RWD 420bhp supercar, and can still bite if driven without a level of respect).
Firstly check by HPI before you even go to see the car. My next step was to get the entire service history for the car, which included the invoice for the painting and fitting of the bodykit by well-known Porsche specialist Strasse. I phoned them and had a chat with the chap from Strasse who confirmed that he car was absolutely fine prior to them fitting the kit which put my mind at rest.
The final (and most important) check of course is to get underneath the car itself and check the chassis rails/substructure for any sign of damage/repair. Anything untoward, walk away.
In terms of value, it’s a very difficult one as it is very subjective.
Personally, I was happy to have paid a bit more for a car with the GT2 kit as that is what I was in the market for, and had I not found a car with it, I would have had it fitted (which I had priced up to be a minimum of £4.5k to source, paint & fit - possibly even more as I believe that at least one of the front rads need repositioned slightly requiring different bracketary for example). I think a turbo should be 'all spoilers and scoops' and think the standard 996 turbo is a bit plain for what it is (still lovely though). There’s not many GT2 kitted turbos about so there’s perhaps some rarity value, but then again some people value purity above all else. Horses for courses as they say.
I think the GT2 is the best looking 911 ever ( as did Tiff), but the back seats and the 4wd of the turbo were very welcome for me. Although I very much appreciate the GT2 for what it is, I like the exploitable performance of a turbo and I think that the GT2, whilst probably more ‘special’, probably takes the right conditions for it to shine and I suspect that it could be quite a frustrating car to own in terms of not being able to exploit its performance potential a lot of the time. The turbo I suspect you can enjoy its potential far more of the time (but it’ll still powerslide in the dry if you want it to!). I could have afforded a GT2 if that had been what I wanted, but a GT2 kitted turbo was/is my perfect car and I’m very, very happy with it.
For me, it’s about having the car you want, looking the way you want it to look.
My car will never be fitted with a GT2 badge and it wears its ‘turbo’ centrecaps with pride. The car didn’t have a turbo badge on the decklid when I bought it, and have debated whether to fit one or not. I quite like debaged cars, and so I won’t be fitting fit one. A few years ago, either Malton or 911v (I forget which)were selling a GT2 kitted turbo and it had a turbo badge fitted which looked a bit odd to my eyes.
With regards to the aero, the GT2 has superior aero (in terms of downforce and reduction of lift) to the turbo, so there should be no concerns from that point of view. (Some randomly designed & untested bodykit might be cause for concern however).
I understand that the kit could be specified from the factory, but I’ve never seen anything concrete that backs this up (but any manufacturer will do pretty much anything if the price is right so I’ve no reason to doubt that it certainly could have been).
Finally, here’s a couple of other threads on the subject that might be of interest.
996GT2 front bumper on 996TT
Fitted a GT2 rear spoiler
Converting a 996 Turbo into a GT2
Thanks for the well written and informative post, I know it takes a long time to write something so long and detailed so I appreciate your time.Firstly, the comments about making sure the car underneath is sound and doesn’t have any skeletons, are very important indeed. Having read the 996 turbo buyers guide (probably about 20 times before I actually bought a car!), Darren from RSJ mentions that the single most important thing to check for on a turbo is for accident damage (as everything mechanical/electrical on a 996 turbo is generally pretty bulletproof), and the performance of these cars is not to be underestimated (and, despite the “all weather supercar” tag it has been given by some elements of the press, it is still a predominantly RWD 420bhp supercar, and can still bite if driven without a level of respect).
Firstly check by HPI before you even go to see the car. My next step was to get the entire service history for the car, which included the invoice for the painting and fitting of the bodykit by well-known Porsche specialist Strasse. I phoned them and had a chat with the chap from Strasse who confirmed that he car was absolutely fine prior to them fitting the kit which put my mind at rest.
The final (and most important) check of course is to get underneath the car itself and check the chassis rails/substructure for any sign of damage/repair. Anything untoward, walk away.
In terms of value, it’s a very difficult one as it is very subjective.
Personally, I was happy to have paid a bit more for a car with the GT2 kit as that is what I was in the market for, and had I not found a car with it, I would have had it fitted (which I had priced up to be a minimum of £4.5k to source, paint & fit - possibly even more as I believe that at least one of the front rads need repositioned slightly requiring different bracketary for example). I think a turbo should be 'all spoilers and scoops' and think the standard 996 turbo is a bit plain for what it is (still lovely though). There’s not many GT2 kitted turbos about so there’s perhaps some rarity value, but then again some people value purity above all else. Horses for courses as they say.
I think the GT2 is the best looking 911 ever ( as did Tiff), but the back seats and the 4wd of the turbo were very welcome for me. Although I very much appreciate the GT2 for what it is, I like the exploitable performance of a turbo and I think that the GT2, whilst probably more ‘special’, probably takes the right conditions for it to shine and I suspect that it could be quite a frustrating car to own in terms of not being able to exploit its performance potential a lot of the time. The turbo I suspect you can enjoy its potential far more of the time (but it’ll still powerslide in the dry if you want it to!). I could have afforded a GT2 if that had been what I wanted, but a GT2 kitted turbo was/is my perfect car and I’m very, very happy with it.
For me, it’s about having the car you want, looking the way you want it to look.
My car will never be fitted with a GT2 badge and it wears its ‘turbo’ centrecaps with pride. The car didn’t have a turbo badge on the decklid when I bought it, and have debated whether to fit one or not. I quite like debaged cars, and so I won’t be fitting fit one. A few years ago, either Malton or 911v (I forget which)were selling a GT2 kitted turbo and it had a turbo badge fitted which looked a bit odd to my eyes.
With regards to the aero, the GT2 has superior aero (in terms of downforce and reduction of lift) to the turbo, so there should be no concerns from that point of view. (Some randomly designed & untested bodykit might be cause for concern however).
I understand that the kit could be specified from the factory, but I’ve never seen anything concrete that backs this up (but any manufacturer will do pretty much anything if the price is right so I’ve no reason to doubt that it certainly could have been).
Finally, here’s a couple of other threads on the subject that might be of interest.
996GT2 front bumper on 996TT
Fitted a GT2 rear spoiler
Converting a 996 Turbo into a GT2
Edited by monthefish on Tuesday 2nd October 11:54
Its the push I needed this afternoon to contact Car-Tech about a possible PPI, I am now waiting for the seller to get back to me on his willingness to allow David to go over the car. If thats a thumbs up I will do a HPI and then follow through with the PPI. If the car has any accident history then its over, I would not consider a car with any past accident history, this applies to any car I buy.
Like you I love the look of the GT2 so for me this is the best of both worlds. Your car looks stunning in Black and I like how you have debadged, I would do the same I think. I do wonder if the factory ever would have allowed a car to leave wearing a GT2 kit, a car that had that factory fitted would be gold. Never seen one but then I am recent to all this. Your comments on the relocation of the radiator for the front spolier are interesting and I will make sure this is followed up at the PPI.
Thanks to all for your comments.
GreatGranny said:
Are you doing the HPI check before you commit to a PPI?
It read the other way in your previous post.
I will do a HPI, as a newcomer to the UK what is the best way to run the check?It read the other way in your previous post.
Agree the GT2 badges need to go, a bare bum is best. The link above is the car.
Cheers
mondie
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