proud new owner of a 996tt!! Some thoughts

[benzito]

Evening all, new to this forum. I have parted with my sl55 amg and recently purchased a 2002 996 turbo tiptronic with factory aero kit (pics to follow). First impressions are: what a car! The car looks incredible, the power delivery is addictive, the four wheel drive system is equally impressive (I had to drive the sl55 like a granny even in only slightly damp conditions), the economy even! - I was getting 29mpg on a long motorway run which is almost double what I had in the sl55. I have used the search facility but am struggling for concise answers to the following q's:

1. How do you switch off traffic updates on the radio!

2. What's the cheapest way to free up some exhaust sound? (E.g. in my sl55 there were two sets of resonators and cats so I removed one set of each and replaced with a cross-pipe - car still sailed through MOT with no probs)

3. I am very keen to remap the car (my sl55 was modified and was pushing approx 560bhp. I am looking to get to gt2 figures so is an upgrade of 60bhp easily achievable just with ecu upgrades and no engine mods?? I'm sure my car is standard as the max boost I'm getting is 0.6-0.7 bar.

4. I've bought a tiptronic and this was a no brainer for me as I am using the car daily and will prob never track it. With regards to performance figures I've seen 0-60 times of 0.6 sec less for the tiptronic - surely this can't be right can it? In manual mode (in the tiptronic) are the straight line speeds of the two cars very similar? I am aware the tip is a heavier car than the manual

5. For those who have increased the boost how much difference was there to fuel economy? I am hoping it is only 2-3mpg on average which would be fine. Also I currently like the fact that I can floor the car in the wet to high rpm's - for the modified cars do they tend to slide at higher rev's in the wet or does the four wheel drive still keep them in check?


Many many thanks for help with any of these!!

[davek_964]

Mine has been mapped (nineexcellence did it) - and I've not noticed any difference in fuel economy. I certainly need to be a bit more aware when accelerating out of bends and the car is definitely quicker - but it's no less driveable, even in the wet. I think if you were driving badly enough that the car was out of control after a map, you'd probably have crashed with a non-mapped car too.

[Callughan]

Tiptronic on the 996 turbo is much slower 4.8 to 62.5 versus 4.2 and to 99mph 10.4 versus 9.3.

This is the opposite on the 997 Turbo.

Car can be easily modded to change transmission shift speed and ecu. However its a jungle out there make sure you go to the right place for tuning.

[///ajd]

Callughan said:

Tiptronic on the 996 turbo is much slower 4.8 to 62.5 versus 4.2 and to 99mph 10.4 versus 9.3.

This is the opposite on the 997 Turbo.

Car can be easily modded to change transmission shift speed and ecu. However its a jungle out there make sure you go to the right place for tuning.

I take it this is because the auto is difficult to get cleanly off the line from 0mph - in real life driving it feels just as quick as a manual, and in reality under kick down is probably as quick?

Granted you won't feel as in control and theres always the ever present torque convertor slush before it locks up - but in terms of kick in the butt and whooosh they are equal?

[Callughan]

///ajd said:

Callughan said:

Tiptronic on the 996 turbo is much slower 4.8 to 62.5 versus 4.2 and to 99mph 10.4 versus 9.3.

This is the opposite on the 997 Turbo.

Car can be easily modded to change transmission shift speed and ecu. However its a jungle out there make sure you go to the right place for tuning.

I take it this is because the auto is difficult to get cleanly off the line from 0mph - in real life driving it feels just as quick as a manual, and in reality under kick down is probably as quick?

Granted you won't feel as in control and theres always the ever present torque convertor slush before it locks up - but in terms of kick in the butt and whooosh they are equal?

The tip saps some power and it's quite old tech on the 996, shift times are 0.2 between gears above 3000rpm and only 250 shift patterns. On the 997 it had new programming with unlimited shift patterns hence why it was quicker than equivalent manual on 7t.

Two average drivers in same car, the driver in the tip would usually be quicker.

Edited by Callughan on Monday 3rd October 22:14

[graemel]

I've never driven a 996TT but I have driven an Andy Middlehurst 440 bhp R33 Nissan Skyline 1990 G plate. Many years ago. The first time I drove the car was in the pouring rain. My verdict was that as long as you had the front wheels pointed in the direction that you wished to travel I could not see how you could possible loose it.
So my theory. The Skyline was a direct copy of the Porsche 959 running gear etc. A 996TT must have moved the goal posts on from the late 80's fwd 911. Therefore if you can bin a 996TT even with a remap you should be ashamed of yourself.
In other words easy peasy go do it

[benzito]

[quote=Callughan]Tiptronic on the 996 turbo is much slower 4.8 to 62.5 versus 4.2 and to 99mph 10.4 versus 9.3.

these are the figures I've seen but i can't understand why the difference should be so big. The weight difference must be only 10-20kg max.

[anonymous-user]

benzito said:

Tiptronic on the 996 turbo is much slower 4.8 to 62.5 versus 4.2 and to 99mph 10.4 versus 9.3.

these are the figures I've seen but i can't understand why the difference should be so big. The weight difference must be only 10-20kg max.

There's bound to be a difference, although it is quite big on those figures.

I wonder whether the official figures are of the tip in "vanilla" D mode rather than using the tip in manual mode. If so, maybe the timed run means the pullaway is in 2 rather than 1 (although that wouldn't explain why the gap increases to 100 over the gap to 60).

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 4th October 16:19

[benzito]

I think I am keen to 'decat' as this will remove any obstruction to airflow and maximise power before a remap. I expect a much better exhaust sound and it will also be a whole lot cheaper!. Has anyone heard of this being done in the 996tt? I am not worried about future MOT but more concerned about warning lights, etc. As I understand switching to 100 cell cats does not cause any warnings.

Also does anyone know from memory how many cat converter's and silencers there are on each side of the exhaust?

[911Thrasher]

benzito said:

concerned about warning lights, etc. As I understand switching to 100 cell cats does not cause any warnings.

I had a 993turbo fitted with 100cell cats and did indeed get the warning light in the dash - this is easily avoided by tricking the O2 lambda sensor, usually topped up with a screw/washer so that it doesn't sit too deep in the cats

I think Carnewall sell those "additional screw/washer" kits

...Dirty DIY tips: remove the bulb behind the dash/stick a little piece of tape on the dash - rubbish alternative but it works ahahahhah

[monthefish]

graemel said:

I've never driven a 996TT .....


....Therefore if you can bin a 996TT even with a remap you should be ashamed of yourself.

That's a strong hypothesis from someone who has never driven one.


Whilst undoubtedly very capable, and known (by Evo) as the "all-weather supercar", they are still very powerful and I don't believe it would be too hard to get yourself into trouble if you are too throttle-happy.
(The comment by RSJ in the 996 Turbo buyers guide is that 'the biggest thing that potential buyers need to look for is accident damage', so they're not infallible)

[ROK]

u should've gotten a manual

[996ttalot]

Well in std form I used to get 4.25 consistently before I went down the route of some mild mods.

Brake boost to 2500rpm is the trick. I don't think Porsche figures include that concept, because the average driver would get in and expect to hit the figure that is shown in the Porsche manual.

Never really looked at 0-62 times but previous build was doing 5.9 to 100mph - now sure what the new version will do but will be quicker.

Re exhaust you really need the least restrictive exhaust you can find. Frankly if I could just run straight pipes I would but that is not really friendly towards my neighbours. So it is 100 cell with lets just say very little muffler material.

Never every had CEL on 100 cell. Your tuner should take care of this.

[RWD cossie wil]

5.9 to 100MPH!

[996ttalot]

RWD cossie wil said:

5.9 to 100MPH!

Yeh, must tried harder I know.

Normal was around 6.25s but managed to hook up a perfect start. Brake boosted till 2900 rpm ( I had my torque convertor brazened so the stall limit is higher) and the tip box is upgraded by MKB in Germany to 1300nm tq. Std is just 700nm tq.

I know my 60-100 is now at 2.3-2.5s range so suspect there will be improvement.

[benzito]

911Thrasher said:

benzito said:

concerned about warning lights, etc. As I understand switching to 100 cell cats does not cause any warnings.

I think Carnewall sell those "additional screw/washer" kits

...Dirty DIY tips: remove the bulb behind the dash/stick a little piece of tape on the dash - rubbish alternative but it works ahahahhah

Lol I'll have to leave this option as a last resort! But I'm willing to take a chance if its just a sensor issue and the engine is not at any harm

[benzito]

996ttalot said:

RWD cossie wil said:

5.9 to 100MPH!

Yeh, must tried harder I know.

Normal was around 6.25s but managed to hook up a perfect start. Brake boosted till 2900 rpm ( I had my torque convertor brazened so the stall limit is higher) and the tip box is upgraded by MKB in Germany to 1300nm tq. Std is just 700nm tq.

I know my 60-100 is now at 2.3-2.5s range so suspect there will be improvement.

I think I'll crack on this week with the mods then! What did you mean exactly by brake boost and what modifications have you made thus far please (I assume there's a lot )

[996ttalot]

benzito said:

996ttalot said:

RWD cossie wil said:

5.9 to 100MPH!

Yeh, must tried harder I know.

Normal was around 6.25s but managed to hook up a perfect start. Brake boosted till 2900 rpm ( I had my torque convertor brazened so the stall limit is higher) and the tip box is upgraded by MKB in Germany to 1300nm tq. Std is just 700nm tq.

I know my 60-100 is now at 2.3-2.5s range so suspect there will be improvement.

I think I'll crack on this week with the mods then! What did you mean exactly by brake boost and what modifications have you made thus far please (I assume there's a lot )

Brake boost - the concept of building boost by holding the brake and the accelerator at the same time.
- for launch - left foot brake hard, increase revs until you feel the car about to move (normally around 2300rpm) then release brake and floor accelerator. Have your boost gauge on display and don't move until you see boost.

- for rolling starts, left foot braking (moderate) and moderate accelerator pedal. Wait until you see boost and then do the same for launch.

Previous build was 9E800 kit which you can search for to find details.

Re brake boosting - same concept really as keeping the clutch in on manual and building revs - note: you will eventually wear down the clutch pack in bank 1 of the tip box which is for 1st and 2nd gear. So use it lightly when necessary.

[Leigh996tt]

benzito said:

I think I am keen to 'decat' as this will remove any obstruction to airflow and maximise power before a remap. I expect a much better exhaust sound and it will also be a whole lot cheaper!. Has anyone heard of this being done in the 996tt? I am not worried about future MOT but more concerned about warning lights, etc. As I understand switching to 100 cell cats does not cause any warnings.

Also does anyone know from memory how many cat converter's and silencers there are on each side of the exhaust?

If your car has a standard exhaust, the cats are part of it so you can't swap them out. It consists of one cat (400 cell I think) and one silencer each side. Only one I know of that modify a OEM exhaust is Ruf who gut the cats and replace with 200 cell internals.

So you'll need to replace it with an aftermarket exhaust to free things up and of course get a nicer sound.

I had my original system de-baffled for the noise thing. Sounds great all the time and a lot louder than standard and on boost, you think the engine is sucking in the earths atmosphere! Downside is cabin drone at legal cruising speeds. I got used to it but SWMBO hated it. Now replaced with a Ruf system so it's sat collecting dust now.

@Ken, weren't you dabbling around drilling holes to get a nice soundtrack?

[benzito]

996ttalot said:

Brake boost - the concept of building boost by holding the brake and the accelerator at the same time.
- for launch - left foot brake hard, increase revs until you feel the car about to move (normally around 2300rpm) then release brake and floor accelerator. Have your boost gauge on display and don't move until you see boost.

'don't move until you see boost'! Lol sounds like a lot of fun- i'll try that tomorrow