996 or 987 turbo

[mikees]

Searched ( even using google ) but can't find a topic - but I may be an idiot

So 996 turbo 35-40 manual or 997 50ish

Did I read that the 997 mezger less solid?

Sold my 997 c2 and 911 SC and looking for next toy. Also considering a friends 997 GT3 but maybe to focused

Mike

[Mad March Taffy]

You might want to start by changing the title of the post

987 is a Boxster.....

[mikees]

Obviously meant 996 vs 997 but cant find how to edit title!!!!!

[lukeharding]

Are you planning to use it daily?

[mikees]

Not daily. Twice a week. Not sure how to change title. Not obvious on new skin

[lukeharding]

mikees said:

Not daily. Twice a week. Not sure how to change title. Not obvious on new skin

Twice a week is little enough that the GT3 could be a contender, though not little enough that you could easily say yes. Personally the looks of the 997 are better but I believe that the 996 are rising in price faster for the moment

[rickprice]

I have a similar conundrum. I am looking a either a late 996 4S coupe or an early 997 2S.

I get differing opinions:

2 Porsche dealers, independently, said go for the Manual 996 C4S - neither selling one, just in discussion. Principles being (a) this is more collectible, and therefore more valuable, (b) late cars more sorted than early cars

1 Porsche indie specialist says 997 2S, why not the tiptronic gearbox? Just buy the newest you can. 2W drive less complicated than 4, i.e. go simple and forget the residuals.

This is to be a regular car - I plan on using it more or less daily and will put 8k on the clock each year. Budget is not limitless so I would like to spend under £25k if possible.

I realise that everybody will have an opinion but a few main questions:

1. How unreliable would a 80k tiptronic gearbox be, in reality?
2. Which engine more reliable - 996 or 997?
3. Which car might be worth more in 10 years and with 125k miles - 996 C4S or 997 C2S. Or will they both be for retiring?

Any advice gratefully received. I am getting dizzy thinking about the whole thing and getting to the point of buying a mini instead.

Thank you,

Rich

[Atomic12C]

Weren't the engine issues sorted in the 997 gen2 cars?

Remember, dealers may give advice on which to choose depending on what they are finding difficult to shift.


4S or 2S?
Depends heavily on what experience you want with the car.
RWD vs 4WD and a wider body.
RWD is always a winner for a "driver's car".
4WD is a winner if you are going to need that extra traction and weight up front.

There are a few youtube vids on the 4S vs 2S issue, so I'd would recommend spending some time having a good think which drive-train you want first - and definitely test drive both models to get a feel.

[Digga]

Atomic12C said:

Weren't the engine issues sorted in the 997 gen2 cars?

IIRC pretty much.

Here are the threads for engine info/issues on 996 and 997.1 cars:

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

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

N.B. The 'Mezger' engines on turbo, GT2 and GT3 variants of 996 and 997 cars are different and the above issues do not apply. 997.2 turbo only (not GT2 and 3) had new, non-Mezger engine, but was considered pretty good.

[skinny]

rickprice said:

I have a similar conundrum. I am looking a either a late 996 4S coupe or an early 997 2S.

I get differing opinions:

2 Porsche dealers, independently, said go for the Manual 996 C4S - neither selling one, just in discussion. Principles being (a) this is more collectible, and therefore more valuable, (b) late cars more sorted than early cars

1 Porsche indie specialist says 997 2S, why not the tiptronic gearbox? Just buy the newest you can. 2W drive less complicated than 4, i.e. go simple and forget the residuals.

This is to be a regular car - I plan on using it more or less daily and will put 8k on the clock each year. Budget is not limitless so I would like to spend under £25k if possible.

I realise that everybody will have an opinion but a few main questions:

1. How unreliable would a 80k tiptronic gearbox be, in reality?
2. Which engine more reliable - 996 or 997?
3. Which car might be worth more in 10 years and with 125k miles - 996 C4S or 997 C2S. Or will they both be for retiring?

Any advice gratefully received. I am getting dizzy thinking about the whole thing and getting to the point of buying a mini instead.

Thank you,

Rich

I think of all the considerations between 2 and 4 wheel drive, less complicated is one of the more irrelevant.

The 996 C4S is probably more of a special / unique 996 than the C2S is a 997 and therefore likely to hold value better long term. You'll be looking at a 997.1 so the 3.8 engine is probably slightly less reliable than the 3.6 on the 996.

As for why not a tiptronic - because you might derive driving pleasure from the mechanical interaction that a manual box provides?

[Rockster]

mikees said:

Searched ( even using google ) but can't find a topic - but I may be an idiot

So 996 turbo 35-40 manual or 997 50ish

Did I read that the 997 mezger less solid?

Sold my 997 c2 and 911 SC and looking for next toy. Also considering a friends 997 GT3 but maybe to focused

Mike

If you are playing a 996 Turbo against a 997 Turbo I'd tend towards the 997 Turbo as it is a newer model. It has a better AWD system. The turbos are water cooled and do not require the 2 minute idle time to cool down that the 996 Turbo turbos require. Some 997 Turbo models have essentially same the same engine (Mezger) as the 996 Turbos and the Mezger engine has a rep -- and deservedly so -- for being a fine power plant. The new Turbo turbo engine ain't shabby though and I would not reject anotherwise good example just because it had the next generation engine in it instead of the Mezger engine.

If you are playing a 996 Turbo against N/A 997 then this is not really apples to apples.

There is of course the very big difference between a turbo-charged engine vs. a N/A engine. The 996 Turbo is a pretty powerful and high performance car. I mean the N/A 997 ain't no slouch but it ain't a Turbo either.

However a N/A can can be a nice drive as the engine is very responsive down low while the Turbo is a bit flat until the boost comes on.

The 996 Turbo is an older car which in my opinion -- based on owning one now since 2009 and puttlng over 145K miles on it -- is a rather too complex machine in various areas. The boosted hydraulic clutch: The accumulator and slave cylinder can fail. The hydraulic spoiler: This can leak and repair can be a chore and outright replacement expensive. The AWD system is practically useless and if not treated properly or even if one does treat it properly but just has a bit of bad luck can develop problems that are expensive to put right. Often when a 996 Turbo owner is faced with a bad front diff/viscous coupling he'll remove the AWD hardware -- well, the up front hardware -- and convert the car to just RWD.

The 996 Turbo is a nice road car though and can really eat the miles. Effortlessly eat the miles. Maintaining freeway speed is not a problem even in hilly or mountainous areas. Passing is a breeze. Even at elevations of 9K feet or thereabouts the 996 Turbo delivers impressive performance compared to a N/A car. If I lived or spent a fair amount of time driving in higher elevation areas a turbo-charged car would be a must have.

996 Turbo servicing can be a bit expensive. New the car listed in the vicinity of $120K (USA $) and it costs like a $120K car to service. I own a 2002 Boxster and both cars require about the same servicing: oil/filter; transmission/diff fluids; periodic coolant replacement, just the usual vital fluids servicing and wear items replacement and the Turbo always costs considerably more for what is about the same servicing. Wear items are more expensive. Things like tires, brakes, plugs, etc. The Turbo requires plug changes more often. It has a fuel filter that needs changing regularly while the Boxster has no serviceable fuel filter.

Sure the above is Boxster vs. 996 Turbo but I think there would be a noticeable difference between servicing a 996 Turbo vs. a N/A 997 given the same usage/miles driven.

Of course the servicing cost differences aren't that much and if properly servicing either car means cutting essentials elsewhere then neither car is a viable choice.

After it is all said and done my best advice is to seek out good examples of both cars and test drive then and make up your mind what you want. Then buy the best example you can find and afford.

[RicM5]

Evening
Think people are forgetting your budget........
Have owned 964 C2 ...... late 996 c2...... and currently own 997 C2 S
The 997 is a wonderful piece of kit !!! If you're a driver that loves involvement this is the car for you!!!! It's fu#kin so good...... soooooo much feedback
Buy on service history and not spec
Borrow 5k and make your budget 30k]
MANUAL!!!!!!

[mikal83]

Glad I found this thread as I am sort of wondering what to do next as well. (MY topic is in the gen Porker section).

[mat205125]

RicM5 said:

Evening
Think people are forgetting your budget........
Have owned 964 C2 ...... late 996 c2...... and currently own 997 C2 S
The 997 is a wonderful piece of kit !!! If you're a driver that loves involvement this is the car for you!!!! It's fu#kin so good...... soooooo much feedback
Buy on service history and not spec
Borrow 5k and make your budget 30k]
MANUAL!!!!!!

Sounds like a wonderful garage.

Understand perfectly the pairing of the older and the newer, however with the competence of the 997 and the charm and classic appeal of the 964, what's left for the 996 to bring to the party that the other two can't?