Performance Comparison 996-997
Performance Comparison 996-997
Author
Discussion

All2Chewy

Original Poster:

263 posts

228 months

Thursday 7th June 2012
quotequote all
This is a little bit of a strange situation and I was hoping to get some other opinions from on here. I currently run a 2000 Reg 996, it's a 3.4l C2 model and has done nearly 150k miles!

Now here is the strange part, over the last year I have happened across some other shall we say "enthusiastic" drivers and something about the 997 has puzzled me. Everytime the 997 tends to get in front from a standstill, but if we are cruising along at say 45-60MPH the 996 tends to out pull the 997 up to speeds that we shall not mention.

Does this have anything to do with the different Aero I have as I have the GT3 kit, or is it because my car is slightly lighter (although that should matter more at 0-60 surely).

Last week I decided to test my theory and my friend has a 997 C4s, now I know it's 4 wheel drive and so slightly slower than a C2S, but should be around the same as a C2, but maybe with better 0-60 traction. Anyway as before 0-60mph the 997 is in front as it should be. Next run, both at 45mph and gun it, I pull away from the 997!!

I guess gearing has a lot to do with it, but surely after 12yrs and 150,000 miles my car shouldn't have a chance. Has the 997 just got too lardy and too lazy on throttle response at those speeds or is it something else. I would be really interested to know if anyone else has noticed this or tested this in the past?

Pugley

687 posts

222 months

Thursday 7th June 2012
quotequote all
Proof.......................the 996 is a better car! (in part, probably due to the aerodynamic headlights) whistle

HoHoHo

15,399 posts

280 months

Thursday 7th June 2012
quotequote all
idea Perhaps he's only firing on 5 cylinders and needs to see Baz hehe


f1ten

2,165 posts

183 months

Thursday 7th June 2012
quotequote all
i had similar experiences versus 2 friends that had 997 cs2 manuals, my old 3.6 facelift 996 was able to keep up with them on the back roads. its a lot more money for a 7 but doesnt add a lot more to the right foot.

fastgerman

2,001 posts

225 months

Thursday 7th June 2012
quotequote all
Both in the same gear?

Weight should be similar but bhp isn't that different. You need 100 bhp more to obviously win in a moving race. Imagine a Gen 2 C2S (380 bhp) vs a 996 c2 would be a different story.

997 driver may have been admiring the beautiful interior ;-)

Now a 993 vs a MK6 Golf GTI.... that was interesting!

anonymous-user

84 months

Thursday 7th June 2012
quotequote all
Definitely nothing to do with your aero kit, which if anything will add a bit of aero drag. Far more likely to be due to generally taller gearing on the 997. There isn't a lot else it could be really.

danielw

210 posts

278 months

Thursday 7th June 2012
quotequote all
Aren't 996's at least 150kg lighter than 997's? 1345kg v 1480kg ?

fastgerman said:
Both in the same gear?

Weight should be similar but bhp isn't that different. You need 100 bhp more to obviously win in a moving race. Imagine a Gen 2 C2S (380 bhp) vs a 996 c2 would be a different story.

997 driver may have been admiring the beautiful interior ;-)

Now a 993 vs a MK6 Golf GTI.... that was interesting!

Callughan

6,313 posts

222 months

Thursday 7th June 2012
quotequote all
997 has much more torque, too many variables but aerokit will make no difference 997 is faster but at low speeds 100mph and less, difference not huge.

mollytherocker

14,467 posts

239 months

Friday 8th June 2012
quotequote all
The 997 is quicker in every measure than a 996 in any proper test.

MTR

All2Chewy

Original Poster:

263 posts

228 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
We both pulled away in the same gear, 3rd from 45mph, but yes MTR it wasn't a proper test by any stretch of the imagination.
However I have noticed a reasonably new 997 doesn't seem to have much over a 150k 3.4l 996, which surely cannot be the case in anyones world. I must have lost 20+bhp in those years (12!).

monthefish

20,467 posts

261 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
As has been said, there's not a huge amount in it, and will come down to driver reactions/weight on board at the time etc etc.

This is the same with 'the new model' of most cars - healdine increases in BHP/Nm usually offset by increases in weight etc.

Callughan

6,313 posts

222 months

Monday 11th June 2012
quotequote all
monthefish said:
As has been said, there's not a huge amount in it, and will come down to driver reactions/weight on board at the time etc etc.

This is the same with 'the new model' of most cars - healdine increases in BHP/Nm usually offset by increases in weight etc.
Usually yes but PDK has changed this theory a bitsmile

All2Chewy

Original Poster:

263 posts

228 months

Tuesday 12th June 2012
quotequote all
Thanks guys, I must admit it made my friend a little unhappy as I have decided to invest and spend my money in other places as opposed to a 997.
I think he regrets now not spending a hell of a lot less and getting an old 996...

I tried to make him feel better by telling him he has a lovely interior, although that didn't seem to soften the blow. Then I told him at least his Air conditioning worked, again it was cold and miserable that day so that didn't help either, lol....

supersport

4,639 posts

257 months

Tuesday 12th June 2012
quotequote all
Isn't that a bit like comparing nob size biglaugh

At the end of the day everyone chooses different cars for different reasons, they're all Porsches and should be enjoyed as such. I certainly don't spend all day worrying that my friend's 911 is faster/slower/better/worse than mine, it's just different (but not as good) whistle

Ian_UK1

1,515 posts

224 months

Tuesday 12th June 2012
quotequote all
All2Chewy said:
This is a little bit of a strange situation and I was hoping to get some other opinions from on here. I currently run a 2000 Reg 996, it's a 3.4l C2 model and has done nearly 150k miles!

Now here is the strange part, over the last year I have happened across some other shall we say "enthusiastic" drivers and something about the 997 has puzzled me. Everytime the 997 tends to get in front from a standstill, but if we are cruising along at say 45-60MPH the 996 tends to out pull the 997 up to speeds that we shall not mention.

Does this have anything to do with the different Aero I have as I have the GT3 kit, or is it because my car is slightly lighter (although that should matter more at 0-60 surely).

Last week I decided to test my theory and my friend has a 997 C4s, now I know it's 4 wheel drive and so slightly slower than a C2S, but should be around the same as a C2, but maybe with better 0-60 traction. Anyway as before 0-60mph the 997 is in front as it should be. Next run, both at 45mph and gun it, I pull away from the 997!!

I guess gearing has a lot to do with it, but surely after 12yrs and 150,000 miles my car shouldn't have a chance. Has the 997 just got too lardy and too lazy on throttle response at those speeds or is it something else. I would be really interested to know if anyone else has noticed this or tested this in the past?
I think your friend needs to get his 997 mended..... getmecoat

Diesel130

1,549 posts

242 months

Tuesday 12th June 2012
quotequote all
All2Chewy said:
...Then I told him at least his Air conditioning worked, again it was cold and miserable that day so that didn't help either, lol....
Tell him to turn his air con off, that's got to be worht a few bhp!

Seriously though, I would suspect that the culprit is gearing. Are revs in 3rd gear at 45mph the same in the 996 vs 997?

All2Chewy

Original Poster:

263 posts

228 months

Tuesday 12th June 2012
quotequote all
No, he had air con off at the time as it wasn't that nice of a day.

Please bare in mind my comment about him being unhappy etc was meant to be taken toungue in cheek, I don't think either of us really care who has the faster car, as mentioned previously in the post it was something I had noticed with other 997's that were, shall we say wanting to play a bit on some long straight roads. And so I wanted to try and experiment with a compliant driver and car rather with someone i don't know.

At the end of the day (It gets dark), I would be happy with either car and it was a mere observation that I wanted to share with others on here. It was something that confused me so thought someone might know whether the gearing was different, weight being different etc. Not really that important.