Is a 997 Turbo Dull / Boring?

[Clevers]

Thinking about getting a 997tt and have read and watched the reviews etc. It looks a fantastic bit of kit, but I have noted some negative comments about it being a bit dull to drive on account of it being so good and refined.

Would welcome feedback from owners on their driving experience with these.

Alternative is the GT3 (which I have driven and enjoyed at Silverstone), but I wouuld use the car mainly at weekends and the back seats would be useful.

Thanks.

[ruebdo]

I heard all the same negative comments, bit soft etc etc
I have been lucky enough to have m3's, rs4's, csl, 993's, 997 non turbo etc etc, and I think they are awesome..
I put off buying one for the reasons you question. It is an epic car, super fast, put on sports mode and it firms up the dampers, but when you cruise it's so easy.
Gt3 is brilliant, but completely different. Every Dayer is the turbo, special occasions gt3
Only my opinion of course

[Clevers]

ruebdo said:

I heard all the same negative comments, bit soft etc etc
I have been lucky enough to have m3's, rs4's, csl, 993's, 997 non turbo etc etc, and I think they are awesome..
I put off buying one for the reasons you question. It is an epic car, super fast, put on sports mode and it firms up the dampers, but when you cruise it's so easy.
Gt3 is brilliant, but completely different. Every Dayer is the turbo, special occasions gt3
Only my opinion of course

Thanks for that. Is the Turbo better at handling the odd track day than the GT3 is at handling weekend and week-day use? if you get my meaning.....

[mm450exc]

The turbo is a fantastic car. Not dull at all. How dull does this look?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6Pq_mm9BHI

I don't have a GT3 but been around SPA in a friends. My turbo is way better in day to day use and the crazy power is just fantastic. On track the GT3RS is a lot more planted and way more fun! End of the day it's a full blown race car.

[tjlees]

Clevers said:

Thanks for that. Is the Turbo better at handling the odd track day than the GT3 is at handling weekend and week-day use? if you get my meaning.....

Standby for NA v turbo discussion

Main thing for me is my better half can drive it, it takes four, you drive almost at 10/10ths on public roads, you can use it in the wet .... And it's ok for an occasional hoon on the track ... Though I am not keen on putting such expensive cars on paint ruining roads.

The gt3 clutch is too heavy for my wife, the buckets are fixed height so I'm banging my head on the roof with a helmet on unless I shuffle down. The ride is hard for me - harder than the 997 turbo on sport plus, in the wet I would need to clench by buttocks because with my driving skills we are going to get close and personal to the nearest hedge.

Having said that, the gt3 I saw in atlantis grey, full carbon, bucket seats looked the dog bks and even though the ride was frankly terrible on the potholed uk roads, you new it was something really, really special ... Hmm can I have both???

[slippery]

I'd love a 997 turbo as my next daily and I do 30k+ miles a year. I think that says something about their usability and durability. If it means they are a little bit duller than the 911 of old, I can live with that. I certainly wouldn't have wanted to drive my old 930 turbo that kind of mileage.

[tjlees]

mm450exc said:

The turbo is a fantastic car. Not dull at all. How dull does this look?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6Pq_mm9BHI

I don't have a GT3 but been around SPA in a friends. My turbo is way better in day to day use and the crazy power is just fantastic. On track the GT3RS is a lot more planted and way more fun! End of the day it's a full blown race car.

That's fking fantastic! I need to get some paintshield and head to the nearest track. I have had the back end out but nothing like that!

[Por911T]

Just bought a 997tt and think an aftermarket exhaust would spice things up a little - extremely good car but maybe lacks a wee bit of soul - going to nvestigate the sports exhaust avenue .

[rash m]

been out in mine today 25 mile run on country roads uttered the words to the wife its to boring and to easy to drive. needs a sports exhaust .

[BertBert]

It's a completely personal thing, what you like, how you are going to use it, who else needs to drive it.

I can't comment on the 997, but in the 996 world, it felt exactly that. 996TT very dull, GT3 fantastic. Just personal choice. I used my GT3 as a road car and not a track car by the way. My normal shot in the turbo/GT3 debate is that you can tell the turbos are dull as they all seem to have to be modded as their owners seek something more that they don't do out the box.

Thanks for illustrating that for me POR911T

Bert

[tjlees]

Nope. We are all a bunch of fiddlers - even the gt3 brigade ....

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Comes from having a garage queen and wanting to make it individual/better. I have already nailed a load non- performance enhancing tat onto the inside of mine ...

[gd]

tjlees said:

Main thing for me is my better half can drive it, it takes four, you drive almost at 10/10ths on public roads, you can use it in the wet .... And it's ok for an occasional hoon on the track ... Though I am not keen on putting such expensive cars on paint ruining roads.

What he said.

Have had mine 3 weeks now, stepping up from a 996C4S. The 996 is no slouch but difference is staggering. Yes, you can still drive them around town easily enough, but head out into the sticks and hit the sport button.... then you'll realise it's not at all boring. The engine howls, the sheer power is utterly addictive, and whilst no GT3 it handles well enough with the PASM set to sport. It's not as raw as the 996 Turbo, GT2 or GT3, but it still makes me tingle!

[mnk303]

Had both , kept the turbo 3 months, kept the GT3RS 2 years, says it all, only sold the RS because it was too low and kept getting stuck on speed bumps, but very comfortable, lovely sound, and sold it at a hardly any loss from new .
Have 981 s on order as it ticks all the boxes for me now.

[anonymous-user]

This comes up regularly.

"Exciting" and "interesting" seem to be synonyms for "difficult to drive", "slightly scary", and "beyond my abilities as a driver"

Same old thing. Some people love the turbo because it is extremely competent in all conditions, and some people hate it because it is extremely competent in all conditions. It all depends what you want out of life, I suppose.

[IMI A]

I have a 997t from new for almost 6 yrs and 55,000 miles. Fortunate enough to replace it with almost anything I want inc an FF but I think the 997t is unbeatable as a dd. For journos who are spoilt and drive Fezzas , GT3s , Lambos etc of course its a bit dull.

For those of us in the real world its the best all weather sports car in the world. Bit unrefined, awful engine sound, crappy farty exhaust but the after market ones are even crappier and fartier, too much road noise in cabin, slightly vague steering but by God if you enjoy driving and can open one of these up at ten tenths you lol whilst you're passing other cars at warp speeds. It handles too.

[Geneve]

I've had numerous 911s inc a 997 GT3 for 3 years and most recently a 997 Turbo S for two years.

Loved them both, and no question the GT3 is the more involving and satisfying. But, I prefer the Turbo for its day to day accomplishments. I've tied the 991 and, as good as it is, they don't yet make a 991 to match the superiorities of the 997 GT3 or Turbo.

[Lordglenmorangie]

NO

Is sex dull and boring. NO

is malt whiskey NO

Is a14% Malbec wine NO

Mind you all these things can be if you are fking mental

Edited by Lordglenmorangie on Monday 27th August 09:55

[slippery]

Lordglenmorangie said:

NO

Is sex dull and boring. NO

is malt whiskey NO

Is a14% Malbec wine NO

Mind you all these things can be if you are fking mental

Edited by Lordglenmorangie on Monday 27th August 09:55

Well said.

[mhh]

2 year old Turbo S here. Not really my daily car, but it acquits itself well in this role. Huge overtaking thrust make it a great tourer. Not as fizzy and fun as my 458 but more rounded in its abilities. I'm overall very happy with it.

[Clevers]

Thanks to all for the feedback.

Will drive one to compare with my GT3 experience. I found that I had aches and pains after driving the GT3 on track for a day.....the bucket seats were so tight.