Testdrove the 997, but I'll go for a 996 instead
Discussion
I put down a deposit on a 997 back in July but decided not to make my mind up whether to go for a standard Carrera or Carrera S but after taking both 997 models out for a testdrive yesterday, I have decided the 997 is just not for me. The 997 rides better and have better body control than the 996, but somehow the steering just doesn't have the same level of feel as the 996 C4S and C2 which I drove couple of months ago. The 997 interior is a vast improvement and the seats are extremely comfortable and build quality is superb. I didn't feel there was much difference in power from the Carrera and Carrera S.
Onto the looks of the 997, I am NOT a fan of the return of oval lights and seperate light clusters for the indicators and fogs is just wrong IMO. The wider rear is an improvement over the standard 996 Carrera but still lacks visual impact compared to the widebody 996's.
Finally what swung it for me is the fact although for £65k before options, I feel by the time you have added a few choice extras including the shock of needing to pay an extra £543 for metallic paint, the Carrera S would set you back near £70k and for me I could save myself a good £12k for a decent used 996 C4S or pay £2-3k more for a 996 Turbo.
Respect to anyone buying a 997, but I've decided to go for a 996 Turbo or C4S instead. I don't want to buy a 997 knowing I could have got more for my money with a 996 and for me the 996 is the better looking car.
Onto the looks of the 997, I am NOT a fan of the return of oval lights and seperate light clusters for the indicators and fogs is just wrong IMO. The wider rear is an improvement over the standard 996 Carrera but still lacks visual impact compared to the widebody 996's.
Finally what swung it for me is the fact although for £65k before options, I feel by the time you have added a few choice extras including the shock of needing to pay an extra £543 for metallic paint, the Carrera S would set you back near £70k and for me I could save myself a good £12k for a decent used 996 C4S or pay £2-3k more for a 996 Turbo.
Respect to anyone buying a 997, but I've decided to go for a 996 Turbo or C4S instead. I don't want to buy a 997 knowing I could have got more for my money with a 996 and for me the 996 is the better looking car.
Good decision lavaman, I tend to agree with you.
More money for less fun IMO:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=125216&f=48&h=0
More money for less fun IMO:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=125216&f=48&h=0
music to my ears, especially if you go for the c4s...C4s is the easiest to drive super fast car i've ever owned, the body shape and aggresive squat stance make it visually the best in the 996 range to me, the only way you can go wrong is if you dont get the sports exhaust! If you have it, get it re-wired to allow sports sound even at low speed low revs! Flawless car!
That said, I'm still looking forward to my 997 2s more than I did my 4s!!
That said, I'm still looking forward to my 997 2s more than I did my 4s!!
Drove a 997 S at the weekend with the idea - if I liked the 997 enough - to swap my current 996 Turbo for one next year.
Will be keeping the Turbo. While the 997 has indeed moved the game on in terms in some key areas I don't feel the improvements are enough.
Plus it didn't feel anywhere near as quick (maybe to be expected when the turbo has well over 100 lb/ft torque more than the S
Ro.
Will be keeping the Turbo. While the 997 has indeed moved the game on in terms in some key areas I don't feel the improvements are enough.
Plus it didn't feel anywhere near as quick (maybe to be expected when the turbo has well over 100 lb/ft torque more than the S
Ro.
Thats interesting. Is this history repeating itself?
I mean, when the 911 wasd launched 356 owners decried it as "not a real Porsche".
Then in the early 80s when the 911's became very slow a lot of journalists were saying that the old ones wewre better.
Then with the 964, it as too soft, and not a "real" 911 like the 3.2
Ditto the 993. And of course the 996, which many people thought was "not a real 911,a nd I'll keep my 993 thank you..."
Now the 997 is launched, and we're already seeing a few people say "its not as good as a 996. I think I'll keep that..."
Just an observation...
I mean, when the 911 wasd launched 356 owners decried it as "not a real Porsche".
Then in the early 80s when the 911's became very slow a lot of journalists were saying that the old ones wewre better.
Then with the 964, it as too soft, and not a "real" 911 like the 3.2
Ditto the 993. And of course the 996, which many people thought was "not a real 911,a nd I'll keep my 993 thank you..."
Now the 997 is launched, and we're already seeing a few people say "its not as good as a 996. I think I'll keep that..."
Just an observation...
williamp said:
Thats interesting. Is this history repeating itself?
I mean, when the 911 wasd launched 356 owners decried it as "not a real Porsche".
Then in the early 80s when the 911's became very slow a lot of journalists were saying that the old ones wewre better.
Then with the 964, it as too soft, and not a "real" 911 like the 3.2
Ditto the 993. And of course the 996, which many people thought was "not a real 911,a nd I'll keep my 993 thank you..."
Now the 997 is launched, and we're already seeing a few people say "its not as good as a 996. I think I'll keep that..."
Just an observation...
Not only happend with Porsche - see also BMW M3's, Mid V8 Ferrari's, VW Golf GTi's, etc, etc
I'm really finding this an interesting topic,
I have no order in for 997, but from reading the threads over the last few weeks, started to get the impression that the 997 was more of the same, but slightly better in every area ??
As said previously, could this be the start of the resurection of the value of used 996's ???
I understand those of you that are opting for a used 996TT instead of the 997 'S' but i think i read somewhere that the 997 actually got a quicker time around the Nurburgring than the TT ??........not always a true indication of outright performance i know, but a testament to a car that has 70bhp less don't you agree ??
Saw one in Spa over the weekend, love the front end, not sure of the rear lights, and quad exhausts, but interior looks like a good step forward in terms of quality.
G.
I have no order in for 997, but from reading the threads over the last few weeks, started to get the impression that the 997 was more of the same, but slightly better in every area ??
As said previously, could this be the start of the resurection of the value of used 996's ???
I understand those of you that are opting for a used 996TT instead of the 997 'S' but i think i read somewhere that the 997 actually got a quicker time around the Nurburgring than the TT ??........not always a true indication of outright performance i know, but a testament to a car that has 70bhp less don't you agree ??
Saw one in Spa over the weekend, love the front end, not sure of the rear lights, and quad exhausts, but interior looks like a good step forward in terms of quality.
G.
I must confess that I was a little underwhelmed by the 997 when I test drove it and have consequently not taken up my order.
It is an excellent car and seems to move the game on from the 996 (although not by a massive margin) but I cannot seem to generate sufficient enthusiasm for it. It`s hard to quantify why, but it just doesn`t seem "special" enough. Mind you the 996 has always left me cold and doesn`t seem to offer enough over a Boxster S to justify itself (to me)...
This has of course bu**ered up my new car plans so the BoxS is staying until I make my mind up (currently vacillating between a 2.4S, Noble or GT3!)
It is an excellent car and seems to move the game on from the 996 (although not by a massive margin) but I cannot seem to generate sufficient enthusiasm for it. It`s hard to quantify why, but it just doesn`t seem "special" enough. Mind you the 996 has always left me cold and doesn`t seem to offer enough over a Boxster S to justify itself (to me)...
This has of course bu**ered up my new car plans so the BoxS is staying until I make my mind up (currently vacillating between a 2.4S, Noble or GT3!)
Err guys, I think the comparison between a second hand 996 Turbo and a new 997S is entirely valid because they cost the same. Comparing 2 Porkers at the same price level is fine. There will be plenty of people out there thinking which if these 2 great cars they should buy with their 70 grand.
johnny senna said:
Err guys, I think the comparison between a second hand 996 Turbo and a new 997S is entirely valid because they cost the same. Comparing 2 Porkers at the same price level is fine. There will be plenty of people out there thinking which if these 2 great cars they should buy with their 70 grand.
Fair enough.
But you can't compare the cars per se. i.e. which is a better/more involving car. As clearly the turbo is always going to be better.
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