£30k - 996 Turbo or 997 C2 (or C2S) - which would YOU buy?

[monthefish]

Simple one - £30k to spend - which would YOU go for?

I'm not going to link specific examples (as what matters to me in terms of spec/age/mileage will differ from everyone else), suffice to say that £30k could buy a decent example of each.

If anyone has been in this position, I'd also like to hear why you chose what you did, and if you are still happy you made the right choice.

Ta.

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

Trying to decide at the moment. I'm leaning towards the 996tt, just because a turbo has always been on my list.

[lynchygt3]

i feel the turbo is much better in every way apart from the 997 interior is nicer nothing wrong with the turbos but the 997s is nicer

[Paracetamol]

Turbos appear to be relatively high maintenance but very strong engines and a hoot to drive. Interiors are antiquated and beginning to feel their age.

The 997 is a great car but they do not provide the driving experience of the 996t but are a better ownership proposition imho.

If you were talking GT3..then I would say GT3 as that will be one of the greats..the 996t is good but there are lots of them..

[williamp]

I'd go the for the Turbo. If you have the opportunity to own a Turbocharged Porsche, you should take it! Afterall, how many times has Porsche won le mans with a Turbocharger??

[turboman786]

Having considered this many many times, I am now seeking a 997 C2s...having said that my 1st drive in the 997 was slightly underwhelming, the car didnt feel particularly quick, but it is qwas very very nice all the same.....

The 996 interior is the main reason why Im not going for the 996...its embarrasingly dated.....

[carcrazypop]

I've now got a 996 turbo having previously owned a 997 C2S, but I must add that it is used as a second car and only ventures out when the weather is good.

If your Porsche is to be used as a second car I would strongly recommend the 996 turbo as it turns each outing into something special, but if it is to be used on a daily basis I would probably go for the 997 C2S, but only with a Porsche Warranty as the engines can go 'pop' on occasions. IMHO.

[Goatboy]

I bought the 996TT X50 had it for nearly a year and it has been 100% reliable touch wood. A lot of people do seem to complaim about the interiors of the 996tt but to be honest I don't slog it up and down motorways it is just a fun car. On that basis I never notice the interior and for the most part drive with the stereo /sat nav off ( another complaint from people).
The 996tt is all about safe speed and composure and I love mine!

All the best am sure you will be happy either way.

[dunkdafunk]

I've just been through this a couple of weeks ago. Couldn't decide and kept swinging between the two.

Newness of the 997 or power of the 996tt......

I had decided on a 997 C2S and had upto 34k to spend... then spotted a nice 996tt and thought i'd go & have a look. From them moment the turbo's spooled up I knew there was no way I could be without that sort of power.

Bought the car for a very good price & it had some nice entra's (RUF Exhaust costing £5500 :0 etc..)

I'm very happy with my choice and just know that if I bought the 997c2s i'd always be wanting more power. I also felt the 996tt will hold it's money better as long as the mileage is kept lowish as it will always be a turbo !!

[speed8]

I did buy an X50 turbo. I drive American Pick-Ups for work so the 996 interior is like something from the future.

[steve singh]

A Porsche is supposed to be fast - that's the mentality I grew up with and I still hold that view today...it shouldn't be uttered in the same breath as an Audi RS4 or a BMW M3 and therefore my heart would say turbo!!!

[monthefish]

Thanks for all the comments.

TBH, I'd never really considered a 997 (as I prefer the looks of the 996 Mk2/Turbo), but having seem how cheap they are, they've just recently appeared on my shopping radar.

996 is still where the heart lies. I might just try and get a drive in a 997 to be sure (having only ever driven 996), but I'm pretty sure I'll end up in a 996.

[Phooey]

Having driven a boggo standard C2.... i would opt for this (or an S if budget allows), the build quality was top-notch, interior a nice place to be, and with PSE sounds awesome. Much cheaper to maintain and service than a Turbo i would imagine, and still looks modern-ish. Haven't been in a 6t but have been in the 7t and i think i prefer the naturally aspirated engines. Obviously this is all imho, and views could change with a proper blast in a Turbo

[erics]

just be carefull with £30k turbos. They may end up costing you a lot more than £40k ones... (not so much the case with 997 c2s)

[Luke.]

996TT and insurance is amazing. Did a quick quote yesterday on Confused.com and it came out cheaper than my Boxster S by about £200.

PS I may be odd here, but I prefer the 996 interior. Actually I prefer the 986 Boxster interior to a Cayman S , but they're pretty much the same in reality. Though my Boxster did have a few extras to brighten it up a bit.

Edited by Luke. on Tuesday 21st September 11:55

[xr287]

I'm not yet able to afford either and havn't driven either but to me all 996 porsches just look a bit dated, I don't like the front lights and couldn't drive one. 993 turbo on the other hand is lovely.

[Luke.]

xr287 said:

I'm not yet able to afford either and havn't driven either but to me all 996 porsches just look a bit dated, I don't like the front lights and couldn't drive one. 993 turbo on the other hand is lovely.

Nothing wrong with having your own opinion mate.

[sy247]

Eric - did yours require a lot of work? Would you mind providing a few details. I am looking to purchase a 30K ish turbo at present

[Spy]

I went through a similar dilemma a while back !

THe 997 C2S attracted me because it was so easy to drive and modern but the power of the 996 Turbo won me over.

Yes, the interior is a little dated and I was not a big fan of the front of the 996 (compared to the 997 or 993) but heck, it is the iconic 911 - a true supercar !

Since owning the Turbo, I have grown to like the interior, it is functional and does what I need it to do, the dials are nice and clear and the switches come easily to hand. The 996 front has also grown on me, somehow the 996 Turbo bumper makes the car look much more aggressive than your common garden 997.

I know that if I had bought the 997, I would have regretted it and hankered after the turbo.

Now I am happy and can't think of another car I would sell it for.....at least until the 997 Turbo comes into my price range

Edited by Spy on Tuesday 21st September 12:16

[Homer J]

Drove both back to back last year.

I bought the 996tt.

If you can get to drive both back to back, take the 997 first. Whe nyou g oin the 996, that boost just wins you round