How big is the jump to a 911 Turbo?
Discussion
I want to upgrade! Its either the f355 or the 911 Turbo (993).
How big a jump is it from a 944 Turbo? Are these cars still fearsome quick in the real world? Whats its like to drive? Driven the 355 a few times, really love it... worries about reliability etc force me to consider the 993tt (then again, it is my favourite).
I love the 993 s, but I think it may be a bit low on oomph...Haven't had the time to do a test drive yet, with any luck will have one next week!
Looking for some experiences put in words!
How big a jump is it from a 944 Turbo? Are these cars still fearsome quick in the real world? Whats its like to drive? Driven the 355 a few times, really love it... worries about reliability etc force me to consider the 993tt (then again, it is my favourite).
I love the 993 s, but I think it may be a bit low on oomph...Haven't had the time to do a test drive yet, with any luck will have one next week!
Looking for some experiences put in words!
Edited by AdvocatusDiaboli on Friday 20th October 17:02
Cant comment because I havent had ether but surely from a running cost point of view the Porsche would be miles cheaper to maintain and more reliable.
Cant see it being slow ether, you could always add a few modifications.
Nice choice to have though. F355 is stunning but I would have to have the 993TT
Cant see it being slow ether, you could always add a few modifications.
Nice choice to have though. F355 is stunning but I would have to have the 993TT
I own a 97 993TT and have driven a friend's 355. I'm obviously biased, since this is my 4th Porsche over a 35 year period. The TT is an awesome car, even in its stock form. A few mod's here and there and it's incredible. The 355 is a very fine car, but not in the TT's league, and is subject to very frequent and very expensive servicing/repairs. My friend tried desperately to keep the milage down just for that reason. I can't remember what he told me the 15,000 mile service was going to be, but it was a *very large* number. Instead he just sold it and bought a 360, a not unheardof story among Ferrari owners. I think you'd get to know your local towing company very well with one of these.
These preferences and choices are so personal.
And so, I agree with TRPLBLK. The 993tt is an awesome car. When this car appeared and the first reports were published, including Steve Sutcliffe's road test in Autocar which had a sub 4 sec 0-60 time (3.8 s iirc) and, more relevant, a stunning 30-70 time of 3.4 s, his and other testers' words about the car amounted to one major eulogy after another. Unlike TRPLBLK I haven't owned a Turbo 4 but have test driven three, as well as a 355, and the Turbo is the car to go for here...unless you're talking aesthetics and even then it's close as the 993 shape is one of the best. Given the choice, and a good 993tt available, it would be no choice: turbo every time.
And so, I agree with TRPLBLK. The 993tt is an awesome car. When this car appeared and the first reports were published, including Steve Sutcliffe's road test in Autocar which had a sub 4 sec 0-60 time (3.8 s iirc) and, more relevant, a stunning 30-70 time of 3.4 s, his and other testers' words about the car amounted to one major eulogy after another. Unlike TRPLBLK I haven't owned a Turbo 4 but have test driven three, as well as a 355, and the Turbo is the car to go for here...unless you're talking aesthetics and even then it's close as the 993 shape is one of the best. Given the choice, and a good 993tt available, it would be no choice: turbo every time.
Have owned both cars the 355 before the 993T4.
Depends what you want it for. Weekend use only, 355 any day of the week, and twice on Sunday. Semi-regular driver then the 993T4.
The 355 has a sense of occassion the 993 can't even hope to match, however is far far more fragile. I prefer the steering feedback and the handling of the 355 over the 993. Front end of the 993 feels lighter / steering more vague, and the 355 overall feels more planted and communicative.
Horses for courses really, figure out what you want the car for, and make your decision taking that into account.
Depends what you want it for. Weekend use only, 355 any day of the week, and twice on Sunday. Semi-regular driver then the 993T4.
The 355 has a sense of occassion the 993 can't even hope to match, however is far far more fragile. I prefer the steering feedback and the handling of the 355 over the 993. Front end of the 993 feels lighter / steering more vague, and the 355 overall feels more planted and communicative.
Horses for courses really, figure out what you want the car for, and make your decision taking that into account.
Good post, Turbobloke. I forgot to mention the difference in performance between the two. There is *no* comparison. Perhaps the 355 might be a more "balanced" car, given engine placement, weight, etc. But if you're interested in any of the performance paramaters stated above, as well as its inherent braking capability, you'll get this car. And this is not a hard car to drive. In fact, it's a lot easier to drive than my 180 hp 911SC was. I've also tracked it a number of time. Yes, it's a fat bottomed girl (definitely part of the appeal) and weighs a bit more than many of its Porsche relatives you see discussed on this forum. But on any back straight, on any track I've driven it on, it's taken a long time to wipe the smile off my face.
turbobloke said:
These preferences and choices are so personal.
And so, I agree with TRPLBLK. The 993tt is an awesome car. When this car appeared and the first reports were published, including Steve Sutcliffe's road test in Autocar which had a sub 4 sec 0-60 time (3.8 s iirc) and, more relevant, a stunning 30-70 time of 3.4 s, his and other testers' words about the car amounted to one major eulogy after another. Unlike TRPLBLK I haven't owned a Turbo 4 but have test driven three, as well as a 355, and the Turbo is the car to go for here...unless you're talking aesthetics and even then it's close as the 993 shape is one of the best. Given the choice, and a good 993tt available, it would be no choice: turbo every time.
And so, I agree with TRPLBLK. The 993tt is an awesome car. When this car appeared and the first reports were published, including Steve Sutcliffe's road test in Autocar which had a sub 4 sec 0-60 time (3.8 s iirc) and, more relevant, a stunning 30-70 time of 3.4 s, his and other testers' words about the car amounted to one major eulogy after another. Unlike TRPLBLK I haven't owned a Turbo 4 but have test driven three, as well as a 355, and the Turbo is the car to go for here...unless you're talking aesthetics and even then it's close as the 993 shape is one of the best. Given the choice, and a good 993tt available, it would be no choice: turbo every time.
Excerpts from Top Gear magazine in 1994 - "Duel - 993 Turbo v Ferrari F355 - Irresisteble Force versus Immovable Object"
- Fist test around Donnington - Andy Pardoe, Chief Instructor Jim Russell Racing Driver School. 911 first. "You can be a real hooligan in this" "Will be a raelly tough act to follow". F355 next. "The steering and suspension of the 355 feels more like a racing car". "The ferrari sits down on the circuit, and the steering is more direct". "The Ferrari, in my hads at least is quicker"
- Next stop, Bruntingthorpe. Jonathan Palmer driving. "The 911 is excellent, very well sorted". "911 engine is more torquey, but less immediate throttle response". "911 has a softer chassis charecteristic". "911 would lap faster, but 355 provides a more rewarding experience". On the runway top speed test - 911 - 162.2. F355 - 164.8.
- Next stop Santa Pod. F355 gets obliterated in the 1/4 mile! 12.82 v 13.49
Summing up - Would be easy to call the match a draw - 911 Turbo is more comfortable, and accelarates harder than the 355. But the Ferrari matches it for outright speed, is more rewarding to drive, at speed it sounds better, and, in our opinion looks better.
Anyone who wants a scanned copy of the article, email me!!
Edited by ek993 on Friday 20th October 21:40
I have worked for ferrai and porsche and yes theres some reliability issues but not so much any more on 355s they are quite amazingly 1 of the prettiest cars in the world they drive like a proper sports car!
Mid engined normally aspirated 3.5L producing 380BHP ......come on its working for that not 2x blowers helping you get there.
The ferrari produces an engine noise most others cannot even get close to they sound absolutly beautiful,given the choice i would be very hard pushed to choose between a 993tt and a ferrari 355.
Not the quickest accelerating car in the world anymore but still capable of 180mph.
I loved working on ferraris (well still do the odd 1 or 2 now) and they are truely an amazing machine.
F355 manual , rosso corsa (Red) with wing badges and red piping in the seats with red stitching.....mmmh nice oh yes its a GTB (Coupe)!
Mike
sportsandclassic
Mid engined normally aspirated 3.5L producing 380BHP ......come on its working for that not 2x blowers helping you get there.
The ferrari produces an engine noise most others cannot even get close to they sound absolutly beautiful,given the choice i would be very hard pushed to choose between a 993tt and a ferrari 355.
Not the quickest accelerating car in the world anymore but still capable of 180mph.
I loved working on ferraris (well still do the odd 1 or 2 now) and they are truely an amazing machine.
F355 manual , rosso corsa (Red) with wing badges and red piping in the seats with red stitching.....mmmh nice oh yes its a GTB (Coupe)!
Mike
sportsandclassic
ek993 said:
Top Gear 993tt F355 head to head
That rings a bell. The single tests heaped praise on the 993tt and then found three 'faults' with it: price compared to the Carrera, hard suspension, and fuel consumption. Hardly faults as such, two are unavoidable characteristics given the performance levels, the other inevitable given the brand and model positioning. Comparison wise it's often said that the Ferrari - or even any Ferrari - gives the sense of occasion, a point I referred to as aesthetics. In performance terms in the real world i.e. their road driving characteristics, these cars appear to me to be further apart than the TG comparison notes. Curious how the F355 is 'as fast' or 'faster' and then posts slower times in just about everything. On the road, a 993tt will be far quicker in the real world in the hands of an average driver, which it will flatter, unlike the 355.
I haven't driven either on the track though you can get a faster track car than both of these for reasonable money, and have only one 355 experience but that's indicative of the personal nature of these choices in that I wasn't tempted to take it further.
Excellent, precisely the position I found myself in back in late 1999.
You want the Ferrari like mad, you want to want it and you want it to be the better car but somehow for me, at the time, with a sports bag full of folding di dodgem the concept of sustaining a prolonged front against Mother Russia with Herr Bosch rather than Hector Mussolini seemed like unavoidable destiny.
That said, I still yearn for a 355 more than any other Ferrari and like the Diablo, ownership is an essential experience, once the wife isn't looking...
You want the Ferrari like mad, you want to want it and you want it to be the better car but somehow for me, at the time, with a sports bag full of folding di dodgem the concept of sustaining a prolonged front against Mother Russia with Herr Bosch rather than Hector Mussolini seemed like unavoidable destiny.
That said, I still yearn for a 355 more than any other Ferrari and like the Diablo, ownership is an essential experience, once the wife isn't looking...
Both great cars and legends in their own right.
its a personel choice.
I would go for the 993tt my favourite Turbo due to 4 wheel drive and usability. I had a 965 Turbo 2 last year, which was a real handful, i just could not relax in it, hence my preference for the later model.
The 911 will be more reliable and have lower life costs.
The 355 sounds nice has a soul and all that interesting stuff, but lets get real here chaps, you can't go wrong with 993tt, quicker too!
One last note the 911 will never date like the Fez.
its a personel choice.
I would go for the 993tt my favourite Turbo due to 4 wheel drive and usability. I had a 965 Turbo 2 last year, which was a real handful, i just could not relax in it, hence my preference for the later model.
The 911 will be more reliable and have lower life costs.
The 355 sounds nice has a soul and all that interesting stuff, but lets get real here chaps, you can't go wrong with 993tt, quicker too!
One last note the 911 will never date like the Fez.
ED965 said:
One last note the 911 will never date like the Fez.
Sorry, completely disagree. Apart from the F355 interior which is pretty horrible to my eyes the F355 shape hasn't dated at all. And i've recently been looking at 993's and thought up close that they had dated quite a bit actually. Just little things like the proportions seem 'older' somehow - wheel/wheelarch gaps, etc. I'm sure this is exactly the kind of stuff which makes it a classic, but certainly doesn't keep it looking modern.
Edited by futie on Saturday 21st October 12:55
Don't forget that you are posting the question on a Porsche forum - so the majority of responses are going to be biased. I suggest posting the same question on a Ferrari forum.
For what it's worth I would go with the Porsche - mainly because they just work. I have owned a couple of 997s and they never have any problems then I stepped into a new AMV8 and it was such an effort to own... I am sure that a 10 year old Ferrari will be even worse.
Will
For what it's worth I would go with the Porsche - mainly because they just work. I have owned a couple of 997s and they never have any problems then I stepped into a new AMV8 and it was such an effort to own... I am sure that a 10 year old Ferrari will be even worse.
Will
For a witty (in an American sort of way) account of living with the 355 on a daily basis, check out www.nsxfiles.com/f355_update.html.
Morning all, fantastic replies all around - many thanks.
I remain torn, after having seen a red F355 on the road off Regent's Street and then spotting a black 993 (not a turbo) shortly after!
I guess it will come down to price and on the spot decisions I would expect!
Do keep the accounts, opinions and photographs coming...
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I remain torn, after having seen a red F355 on the road off Regent's Street and then spotting a black 993 (not a turbo) shortly after!
I guess it will come down to price and on the spot decisions I would expect!
Do keep the accounts, opinions and photographs coming...
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