Finally drove a 996 turbo today (Tues)...
Discussion
...wasn't that impressed and the car I assume was ok.
Maybe my expectations were too high, but it just didn't live up the frenzy of speed I was expecting - references to jet fighter, having to recalibrate senses are internet hype and nonsense.
Maybe it was the tiptronic system, but it didn't feel like seamless and never ending torque - when crusing along and then putting your foot to the floor it just felt like my M3.
Maybe it was turbo lag, but you plant your foot down at above 30 mph and it took what felt like an eternity before speed came on tap (prob 1-2 secs). If this is the world of turbos I'll stick to NA engines.
Disappointed and honesty not a million miles away from the e46 m3 performance - in fact the 996 4wd was so clinical that the m3 evoked more emotion.
I thought maybe i'd feel the contrast when I drove my M3, but nope.
This side of 100mph you might as well buy a M3, unless you want a Porsche as a designer watch...
All in my opinion of course...
Maybe my expectations were too high, but it just didn't live up the frenzy of speed I was expecting - references to jet fighter, having to recalibrate senses are internet hype and nonsense.
Maybe it was the tiptronic system, but it didn't feel like seamless and never ending torque - when crusing along and then putting your foot to the floor it just felt like my M3.
Maybe it was turbo lag, but you plant your foot down at above 30 mph and it took what felt like an eternity before speed came on tap (prob 1-2 secs). If this is the world of turbos I'll stick to NA engines.
Disappointed and honesty not a million miles away from the e46 m3 performance - in fact the 996 4wd was so clinical that the m3 evoked more emotion.
I thought maybe i'd feel the contrast when I drove my M3, but nope.
This side of 100mph you might as well buy a M3, unless you want a Porsche as a designer watch...
All in my opinion of course...
Not going to call you out as a liar, loads of factors could be taken in to account (tiptronic, busted car, rose tinted glasses etc) but its not just Internet hype, Coming from an M roadster with the very same engine as your e46 m3 (only a lighter chassis) I can tell you the power difference is quite frankly immense. I imagine the x50 characteristic adds to this feeling of speed but the day I bought mine and first found an straight empty stretch of road I was genuinely shocked.
Yes there is a longer pickup if you sit in the wrong gear and floor it, even an M engine does this to some extent. But when you reach the mid to upper rev range it is incredible. Did you even look at the speedo to see how fast you were going? They do give some illusion to how fast you actually travel
Trust me an e46 m3 has no hope of hanging on until 100mph, a base carerra is more of an equal
Yes there is a longer pickup if you sit in the wrong gear and floor it, even an M engine does this to some extent. But when you reach the mid to upper rev range it is incredible. Did you even look at the speedo to see how fast you were going? They do give some illusion to how fast you actually travel
Trust me an e46 m3 has no hope of hanging on until 100mph, a base carerra is more of an equal
Edited by shantybeater on Tuesday 30th July 19:47
I'd say you we're either in a duff car, or the wrong gear. My x50 'S' goes like a rocket from 30mph, but only if you are in 3rd with the engine loaded up with some boost, or in 2nd. Any gear above that and there is some noticeable lag while the boost builds. Coming from NA TVRs and a GT3 that has taken a lot of getting used to.
Also, I recently had a load of boost leaks sorted out. Although the car is now certainly faster over all, it wasn't that slow feeling to start with. The major transformation has been on the immediacy of the throttle response, which is much better. Given that a lot of cars are 10+ years old, and leaks are common, it's possible that you tested a car that wasn't 100%.
Mind you, maybe you've just discovered that you don't like large displacement turbo motors, in which case you've saved yourself an expensive mistake :-)
Pete
Also, I recently had a load of boost leaks sorted out. Although the car is now certainly faster over all, it wasn't that slow feeling to start with. The major transformation has been on the immediacy of the throttle response, which is much better. Given that a lot of cars are 10+ years old, and leaks are common, it's possible that you tested a car that wasn't 100%.
Mind you, maybe you've just discovered that you don't like large displacement turbo motors, in which case you've saved yourself an expensive mistake :-)
Pete
Listen to your head - not your heart!
I made a costly mistake following internet hype and bought a 996 Turbo from an official Porsche Centre: full warranty, low mileage, outstanding specification - including the reasonably rare factory fit aerokit.
Oh how I wanted my performance expectations to be satisfied - and more; but.... they weren't. I was wholly underwhelmed by the lack of noise, sense of occasion - or performance. If you're not impressed then, I suggest, don't buy; I kept mine for 6 months, in the hope that it would grow on me, and then traded it back into the same PC (at a significant loss) - because it didn't!
(I had the same experience with an E46 M3 beforehand - although it lasted only 3 months! Internet hype again!)
Just my opinion - but one based on practical experience - and financial loss.
I made a costly mistake following internet hype and bought a 996 Turbo from an official Porsche Centre: full warranty, low mileage, outstanding specification - including the reasonably rare factory fit aerokit.
Oh how I wanted my performance expectations to be satisfied - and more; but.... they weren't. I was wholly underwhelmed by the lack of noise, sense of occasion - or performance. If you're not impressed then, I suggest, don't buy; I kept mine for 6 months, in the hope that it would grow on me, and then traded it back into the same PC (at a significant loss) - because it didn't!
(I had the same experience with an E46 M3 beforehand - although it lasted only 3 months! Internet hype again!)
Just my opinion - but one based on practical experience - and financial loss.
Delbox said:
Listen to your head - not your heart!
I made a costly mistake following internet hype and bought a 996 Turbo from an official Porsche Centre: full warranty, low mileage, outstanding specification - including the reasonably rare factory fit aerokit.
Oh how I wanted my performance expectations to be satisfied - and more; but.... they weren't. I was wholly underwhelmed by the lack of noise, sense of occasion - or performance. If you're not impressed then, I suggest, don't buy; I kept mine for 6 months, in the hope that it would grow on me, and then traded it back into the same PC (at a significant loss) - because it didn't!
(I had the same experience with an E46 M3 beforehand - although it lasted only 3 months! Internet hype again!)
Just my opinion - but one based on practical experience - and financial loss.
Interesting point of view - have you tried a 997 Turbo S? That really is silly quick.I made a costly mistake following internet hype and bought a 996 Turbo from an official Porsche Centre: full warranty, low mileage, outstanding specification - including the reasonably rare factory fit aerokit.
Oh how I wanted my performance expectations to be satisfied - and more; but.... they weren't. I was wholly underwhelmed by the lack of noise, sense of occasion - or performance. If you're not impressed then, I suggest, don't buy; I kept mine for 6 months, in the hope that it would grow on me, and then traded it back into the same PC (at a significant loss) - because it didn't!
(I had the same experience with an E46 M3 beforehand - although it lasted only 3 months! Internet hype again!)
Just my opinion - but one based on practical experience - and financial loss.
I came to a similar conclusion when I test drove one. In my case it seemed to compare favourably to my Subaru owning experience, capable but a bit dull. Now I think there's two possibilities. One is that it's a bit of an acquired taste and once you get it you are hooked. The second is that it actually is a dull car and the amount of turbo-tuning that goes on proves it.
Bert
Bert
Maybe it's the tip giving me the wrong gear - I wanted a car when I put my foot down it just rockets forward allowing you to overtake at ease.
This just felt like the car was labouring.
Surely something must be wrong as I swear to god it was no faster than my m3 - yet on paper it has far higher bhp and torque.
Below 100mph I'm assuming that higher bhp should surely make a discernable difference.
It was actually a relief to get back to my m3.
I noticed that if I floored it from standstill the car didn't lose an ounce of traction - I know it's 4wd but does that sound like it is down on power???
This just felt like the car was labouring.
Surely something must be wrong as I swear to god it was no faster than my m3 - yet on paper it has far higher bhp and torque.
Below 100mph I'm assuming that higher bhp should surely make a discernable difference.
It was actually a relief to get back to my m3.
I noticed that if I floored it from standstill the car didn't lose an ounce of traction - I know it's 4wd but does that sound like it is down on power???
I've never driven the 996t, but did drive a tiptronic 997t and found that a numb experience, apart from the warp speed. Driving a manual car was a real eye-opener, however. Also, I know it's not the same car, but the 997t blows the m3 out of the water, completely and utterly in every respect - I'd be amazed if the 996t didn't do likewise. I loved my m3 but it was not in the same league - also, I took my brother (who still has an e46) out in my turbo and he couldn't believe how epic it is - he said that he felt quite underwhelmed when he got back into his e46!
rottie102 said:
There is no replacement for displacement, you need a big V8 with a manual gearbox 
Think I'd rather have a v10 then. Have you tried the e60 m5 Steve? When I was looking to trade up from my e46, I drove the e92 m3 and the e60 m5 and was blown away by the performance on the e60 - whereas the e92 just didn't feel like a step in the right direction for an m3, coming from the e46. But before you give up on the 911 - try a manual 996 turbo!
steve singh said:
Maybe it's the tip giving me the wrong gear - I wanted a car when I put my foot down it just rockets forward allowing you to overtake at ease.
Well that's what mine does Can't see how the tip could give you the wrong gear - Did you try driving it in manual mode where you can change up at higher revs?
rottie102 said:
steve singh said:
I wanted a car when I put my foot down it just rockets forward allowing you to overtake at ease.
There is no replacement for displacement, you need a big V8 with a manual gearbox I so wanted to be thrilled by the 996 turbo as I'm a speed junkie - the problem is I would love to try another one, but it's so hard to get a test drive.
I don't mind the grip levels but I wanted a car that I could overtake in short spaces - my old MK5 GTI would give me more confidence on shorter sections of road.
The more I type, the more I'm convincing myself that I've driven a dud...
If there was a boost leak how much power could the car be down by? Annoyed I didn't look at the boost levels when I drove it.
Getting offered a good cash deal - but the lack of performance has killed it as I don't want to commit to it if it does't tick the boxes.
Really frustrating.
Try coming down a slip road in a manual (preferably x50) floor it in 2nd /3rd/4th &. . oops , we have run out of that stupid little island we (well no, actually you) live on. If you weren't impressed by the acceleration (the rest is an individual thing) I suggest either it was a duffer/tiptronic was changing up in response to the last owners "profile" (I believe ECU/Tip are adaptive ? ) or you didn't push the pedal hard enough. I have driven ( a bit) an E46 M3 & there is NO comparison. . sumfin wrong mefinks !
steve singh said:
I don't mind the grip levels but I wanted a car that I could overtake in short spaces - my old MK5 GTI would give me more confidence on shorter sections of road.
This is its party piece, if you feel it wasn't capable of a quick overtake something was hugely wrong. When I first bought mine on multiple occasions I almost crashed into the back of the car I was attempting to overtake because of the sheer pickup when on boost. I'm blaming the tip gearbox, perhaps the previous owner was a granny and the box has learnt their driving style
Worth asking on the forum if someone nearby is willing to take you for a spirited drive?
Edited by shantybeater on Tuesday 30th July 21:43
Mine was a manual - and a total disappointment. However, I suppose it depends on what you've driven before - and what you want from a car; the 996 TT just didn't do it for me. But, clearly, there are many who derive great satisfaction from the model - and that's all that matters, for them. But, please, don't make a purchase decision based wholly on internet hype!
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