997tt vs 996tt
Discussion
I have driven both but owned neither.
I had a day around Millbrook proving ground in a 997 TT (with a bit of a road run too) - and managed to get about 180mph out of it on the track :-). It was great fun - but I found the whole experience rather unexciting for a £100k car and subsequently cancelled my order. Undeniably awesome - but perhaps too perfect / tamed?
I have test driven a 996 TT and a few of my mates have them - and I have to say that you can't get much better value for £50k. If I can find the right black/black manual car before my new shape M3 comes in Sept then I'll probably take the TT... though I am still undecided between the two - both will offer AWESOME bangs for your bucks.
I had a day around Millbrook proving ground in a 997 TT (with a bit of a road run too) - and managed to get about 180mph out of it on the track :-). It was great fun - but I found the whole experience rather unexciting for a £100k car and subsequently cancelled my order. Undeniably awesome - but perhaps too perfect / tamed?
I have test driven a 996 TT and a few of my mates have them - and I have to say that you can't get much better value for £50k. If I can find the right black/black manual car before my new shape M3 comes in Sept then I'll probably take the TT... though I am still undecided between the two - both will offer AWESOME bangs for your bucks.
excellent point Steve...from my personal experience having owned both,it's the 996 version I remember having the better fun in.The 997 was too clinical,almost too good for me.At 50 odd grand it seems to me a 996tt represents exceptional value.At 110 grand plus,I'm not sure the same can be said for the 997tt.It's a hell of a price difference...
£39,995 and low lileage www.queensparkgarage.com/search.cfm 
its hard to see why not eh! but the behaviour of others toward Porsche on the road puts me off to be honest
I never drive our Boxster.
its hard to see why not eh! but the behaviour of others toward Porsche on the road puts me off to be honest
I never drive our Boxster. pvapour said:
£39,995 and low lileage www.queensparkgarage.com/search.cfm
its hard to see why not eh! but the behaviour of others toward Porsche on the road puts me off to be honest I never drive our Boxster.
its hard to see why not eh! but the behaviour of others toward Porsche on the road puts me off to be honest
I never drive our Boxster. lol. Perhaps you're preening yourself driving slowly past shop windows in the boxster...
But seriously, I can see why someone wouldn't want to stump up 40k for one of the best supercars money can buy, and enjoy that engine and chassis that'll nearly tear the very tarmac off the road leaping out of third gear corners because once somebody said "boo" when you were posing in the boxster...
Just get your 40k together, get in it and drive the thing about courteously and (like me) you'll get no attitude whatsoever.
Edited to add:
Oh, on the subject of the 997tt how can anyone honestly contest the looks are worse than the 996. Obviously a matter of opinion but I go weak at the knees when I see a 997 turbo, they are just sensational looking and definitely on my list when I can afford one. Until then I'll just have to slum it with the old model.
SM
Edited by supermono on Monday 2nd April 07:29
supermono said:
pvapour said:
£39,995 and low lileage www.queensparkgarage.com/search.cfm
its hard to see why not eh! but the behaviour of others toward Porsche on the road puts me off to be honest I never drive our Boxster.
its hard to see why not eh! but the behaviour of others toward Porsche on the road puts me off to be honest
I never drive our Boxster. lol. Perhaps you're preening yourself driving slowly past shop windows in the boxster...
But seriously, I can see why someone wouldn't want to stump up 40k for one of the best supercars money can buy, and enjoy that engine and chassis that'll nearly tear the very tarmac off the road leaping out of third gear corners because once somebody said "boo" when you were posing in the boxster...
Just get your 40k together, get in it and drive the thing about courteously and (like me) you'll get no attitude whatsoever.
Edited by supermono on Monday 2nd April 07:29
eh? did you read the post
i dont drive the Boxster, mind you, I do preen myself in the Maserati when not going hell for leather 
have had other cars that attract bad attitude from other road users no matter how courteous you drive, so would rather stick with other marques tbo, admittedly Porsche are fast cars from a - b but they are dull to look at, common, and a little sanitised character wise (have driven 996tt) although an RS probably injects some life back into the experience.
But if none of the above bothers you, then yeh, 996TT has alot going for it on the 2nd hand front, but not the 997TT @ £110k.
I keep thinking about changing - having driven the 997 version and owned the 996 version for 4 years, I don't think there's a significant difference in performance (between a standard 997TT and a chipped/x50 996TT with a suspension upgrade) but I guess it's that question of owning a younger seemingly better built car, but is that really worth the £50K + probably not..........
If you want to compare a 996TT to a 997TT then compare them like for like. Value for money shouldn't come into it.
If it did we would all be driving Scoobies and EVOs.
I have no doubt a 997TT is a better all round machine than the 996TT and if any 997TT owner thinks any different I'll be happy to do a straight swap
If it did we would all be driving Scoobies and EVOs.
I have no doubt a 997TT is a better all round machine than the 996TT and if any 997TT owner thinks any different I'll be happy to do a straight swap
supermono said:
Oh, on the subject of the 997tt how can anyone honestly contest the looks are worse than the 996. Obviously a matter of opinion but I go weak at the knees when I see a 997 turbo, they are just sensational looking
beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that but to me the 997TT is a 996TT with additional over-fussy styling and crap alloys
prefer the exterior of the 996TT any day and wioth proper turbo alloys (interior of the 997 far superior though)
Adam B said:
supermono said:
Oh, on the subject of the 997tt how can anyone honestly contest the looks are worse than the 996. Obviously a matter of opinion but I go weak at the knees when I see a 997 turbo, they are just sensational looking
beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that but to me the 997TT is a 996TT with additional over-fussy styling and crap alloys
prefer the exterior of the 996TT any day and wioth proper turbo alloys (interior of the 997 far superior though)
You're right -- I thought the same thing at first but it's really grown on me now. But after seeing that dark grey one in action on the M25 Friday afternoon made it a done deal as far as I'm concerned.
SM
I canned my 997tt order. The initial pics were a huuuuuuuuuge let down, sorry but when I first saw those pics my first thought was, "oh f**k..." 
I cant see anyway the new car is worth £50k over the old car.
I keep being tempted for a 996tt in basalt black, but I have no temptations for a 997tt now.
I cant see anyway the new car is worth £50k over the old car.
I keep being tempted for a 996tt in basalt black, but I have no temptations for a 997tt now.
I`ve just spent the weekend with the new 997 Turbo and driven about 800 miles in it. I think its superb. Having driven the old 996 TT a number of times, the new car is more refined and better built. The car I drove had the sports chrono pack with the overboost facility, and its nice to see that like my carrera S it really does make a difference. I`ve never driven the standard 996TT, only the one with the X pack. The new 997 is faster and sticks to the road even more tha before and I swear it does all this quieter !
I`ve put my name on the list and signed over a 10k deposit .. My only criticism, no sports exhausts available as yet! A car this devastating should have an exhaust soundtrack to match. The turbos and engine sounds superb, but its just missing that little bit extra. Hopefully by the time I come to spec it, the X pack and sports exhausts will be available - if not Techart here we come ..
Have a great deal of respect for the old 996 and it is a performance bargain .. but i`m 997 all the way now.
I`ve put my name on the list and signed over a 10k deposit .. My only criticism, no sports exhausts available as yet! A car this devastating should have an exhaust soundtrack to match. The turbos and engine sounds superb, but its just missing that little bit extra. Hopefully by the time I come to spec it, the X pack and sports exhausts will be available - if not Techart here we come ..
Have a great deal of respect for the old 996 and it is a performance bargain .. but i`m 997 all the way now.
I think its very simple..everytime Porsche bring out a turbo it becomes more refined and quicker however loses some of the character associated with the brand. I found the 997tt very sterile compared to a 996tt,which is sterile compared to a 993tt etc..If its perfomance you want the 997 tt has few peers but i did enjoy driving the 997s more..also the steering on the 997tt is the probably the least communicative of any Porsche ive driven ,excluding the Cayenne of course.
Edited by kayc on Monday 2nd April 11:18
Steve_M said:
If you want to compare a 996TT to a 997TT then compare them like for like. Value for money shouldn't come into it.
If it did we would all be driving Scoobies and EVOs.
I have no doubt a 997TT is a better all round machine than the 996TT and if any 997TT owner thinks any different I'll be happy to do a straight swap
If it did we would all be driving Scoobies and EVOs.
I have no doubt a 997TT is a better all round machine than the 996TT and if any 997TT owner thinks any different I'll be happy to do a straight swap
Why shouldnt VFM come into someone's purchasing requirements? If VFM wasn't a major part of my buying process, then I probably wouldn't have either car. I'd have a CGT, amongst other more exotic things.
For me (and I'm sure for many others), there isn't £50k's worth of difference between a 996TT and a 997TT. More refined, slightly faster yes. But not £50k's worth more. It will be interesting to see how many 997TT's enter the UK market, because like the 996TT, if they proove to be as popular, they will also become a performance bargain 3yrs from now.
That is a fair point well made.
But I find it hard to believe that people who can afford to buy a new 997 TT are going to look at an old 996TT and say "If I go for a 996TT I could save 50k and get a similar experience for less money". The new model is a new car; if you base your car buying decision on what car gives you the most thrills and you have the finances for both, then obviously its a close call. But in reality 98% of people will look at the car as a whole; the new shape, the new engine, the new ergonomics and then use this to base their decision on. I myself would never look at a 997TT and think in my head I could have a 996TT for 50k less or alternatively is the 997TT 50k more car?
However, this would be something I would ask myself if I had a top of the line £45k limited edition impreza or Lancer or equivalent; A Porsche or piece of flying plastic? Not really a choice is there?
Whilst the 997 may be an evolution of the 996, they are different. Is the 997TT worth 100k? Yes, as was the 996TT so many years ago. Compared to its rivals, even at 100k it remains a performance bargain. So in terms of value for money - in reality your comparison should be to its competitors i.e. Ferrari, Aston, Lamborghini and not to its predecessor, no matter how good it is
But I find it hard to believe that people who can afford to buy a new 997 TT are going to look at an old 996TT and say "If I go for a 996TT I could save 50k and get a similar experience for less money". The new model is a new car; if you base your car buying decision on what car gives you the most thrills and you have the finances for both, then obviously its a close call. But in reality 98% of people will look at the car as a whole; the new shape, the new engine, the new ergonomics and then use this to base their decision on. I myself would never look at a 997TT and think in my head I could have a 996TT for 50k less or alternatively is the 997TT 50k more car?
However, this would be something I would ask myself if I had a top of the line £45k limited edition impreza or Lancer or equivalent; A Porsche or piece of flying plastic? Not really a choice is there?
Whilst the 997 may be an evolution of the 996, they are different. Is the 997TT worth 100k? Yes, as was the 996TT so many years ago. Compared to its rivals, even at 100k it remains a performance bargain. So in terms of value for money - in reality your comparison should be to its competitors i.e. Ferrari, Aston, Lamborghini and not to its predecessor, no matter how good it is
ukwill said:
Steve_M said:
If you want to compare a 996TT to a 997TT then compare them like for like. Value for money shouldn't come into it.
If it did we would all be driving Scoobies and EVOs.
I have no doubt a 997TT is a better all round machine than the 996TT and if any 997TT owner thinks any different I'll be happy to do a straight swap
If it did we would all be driving Scoobies and EVOs.
I have no doubt a 997TT is a better all round machine than the 996TT and if any 997TT owner thinks any different I'll be happy to do a straight swap
Why shouldnt VFM come into someone's purchasing requirements? If VFM wasn't a major part of my buying process, then I probably wouldn't have either car. I'd have a CGT, amongst other more exotic things.
For me (and I'm sure for many others), there isn't £50k's worth of difference between a 996TT and a 997TT. More refined, slightly faster yes. But not £50k's worth more. It will be interesting to see how many 997TT's enter the UK market, because like the 996TT, if they proove to be as popular, they will also become a performance bargain 3yrs from now.
If you have 100k set aside for a new car burning a hole in your pocket you are going to use that 100k. So anyone it that position is not going to look at a 5-6 year old 996TT with 50k on the clock, out of warranty (I know extended is available) and have a holiday in Monaco with the rest. They are going to look at alternatives like the Aston or used Ferrari. So you are right, to compare the 2 cars in terms of value for money is an unfair advantage to the 996TT if value for money is your major concern, and if value for money is your major concern then what are you doing in a Porsche showroom in the first place? What I am saying is if you sit a zero mileage 996TT next to a zero mileage 997TT which one are you going to walk away with?
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