Cant decide whether to sell my 996TT

[The Red Devil]

g7jhp said:

I own a 996 turbo X50.

Before buying a tried a E92 BMW M3 and B7 RS4. The engine is nice in the M3 but when I stood back and looked at it, it's just a 3 series. I loved the RS4 but the suspension issues are a PITA.

The 996 turbo is in another league performance wise.

In manual coupe form it's a very sought after car. If you don't need the extra money it's probably safer than any of the other cars from a depreciation POV and better than money in the bank.

An M3 and RS4 and M5 will always be family saloons that have been redeveloped to offer a high
performance package. A 911 Turbo was never designed to be a anything other than a 911
Turbo, and I wish people would stop comparing them to warm saloons. 6Ts are such good investments
currently that I am considering putting another one right beside the current one over
and above any other current model within my price range......

[g7jhp]

The Red Devil said:

g7jhp said:

I own a 996 turbo X50.

Before buying a tried a E92 BMW M3 and B7 RS4. The engine is nice in the M3 but when I stood back and looked at it, it's just a 3 series. I loved the RS4 but the suspension issues are a PITA.

The 996 turbo is in another league performance wise.

In manual coupe form it's a very sought after car. If you don't need the extra money it's probably safer than any of the other cars from a depreciation POV and better than money in the bank.

An M3 and RS4 and M5 will always be family saloons that have been redeveloped to offer a high
performance package. A 911 Turbo was never designed to be a anything other than a 911
Turbo, and I wish people would stop comparing them to warm saloons. 6Ts are such good investments
currently that I am considering putting another one right beside the current one over
and above any other current model within my price range......

Try reading the thread. The reason people are comparing the 996 turbo to the M3 etc is because the OP suggested he was considering swapping to one.

Edited by g7jhp on Sunday 8th November 21:05

[Lordjimimac]

Thanks for your replies everyone.

On the original question - that of 'keep' or 'change' a 996tt (all in the context of my criteria) I can report back on yesterdays maserati gran truismo visit:
Very pretty, bit too blingy, super refined, not that exciting, too muted. Great presence and a true 4 seater but too much like my old m540 as a driving experience if I'm honest!
The day was rainy and the roads awful - perfect conditions for reminding me how awesome the turbo is!
The options remain open (Im going to check out a gran turismo S next week) - but last weekend was a big win for the 996tt.

Im really interested in more stories from folk who have moved from a 996 (or 997 : ) tt to another car and not regretted it!
Shout out if thats you!
Big thanks,
james

[The Red Devil]

g7jhp said:

Try reading the thread. The reason people are comparing the 996 turbo to the M3 etc is because the OP suggested he was considering swapping to one.

Edited by g7jhp on Sunday 8th November 21:05

Well stop comparing, you heard it here first, having owned it all there is no comparison.

[Budflicker]

The Red Devil said:

6Ts are such good investments
currently that I am considering putting another one right beside the current one over
and above any other current model within my price range......

Is that in addition to the two you are currently trying to sell?

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...

[EGTE]

Busted!

Well done Buttflicker.

[Moosh]

StuH said:

bit low-rent

The 996 turbo is anything but "low-rent" They were all hand built and even the roof lining is leather. Mine is 11 years old going on 12 next April and looks as new inside and out as the day I purchased her

StuH said:

and less exploitable to drive due to the on/off nature of the power delivery.

Could not disagree more. (and I have driven both)

StuH said:

Plus the 996 will always be the ugly duckling to me,

I love the 996 headlamps, let's face it when you see round headlamps in your rear view mirror at night I am never sure if it is a Porsche or a BMW Mini. Other than the headlamps (which I appreciate not everyone likes) the lines of the 996 turbo are beautiful and clean.

StuH said:

Why do people insist on comparing apples with oranges all the time?

Because the 996 turbo is an "apple" and the 997 turbo is also an "apple"

I personally love both turbo's, but I must stick up for the underdog, the 996 turbo is truly a wonderful car.

[davek_964]

Lordjimimac said:

...Im really interested in more stories from folk who have moved from a 996 (or 997 : ) tt to another car and not regretted it!...

I have (sold the turbo in May), although it's not a car that would suit your requirements since it only has two seats (AM V8 Vantage). I don't regret it at all - the turbo was significantly faster, but 99% of the time that's irrelevant. The 4wd made it fun in the wet, but in almost every respect I prefer the Vantage. Ultimately, it's all about whether you enjoy driving it - that wasn't the case with my turbo for quite a while before I sold it.

[Lordjimimac]

A good friend has an AMV and I've been on a trip to the highlands and le mans driving it. A very very impressive machine - such a great GT on those long drives and a very exciting sports car when we got there. It ticks all the boxes apart from getting the kids in the back. I am tempted though - some great examples in budget on the classifieds, and i think the depreciation curve has to be in good shape for the early ones.

[Moosh]

TBH Lordjimimac, don't sell, just remap and new exhaust. you will never regret it.

[StuH]

Moosh said:

StuH said:

bit low-rent

The 996 turbo is anything but "low-rent" They were all hand built and even the roof lining is leather. Mine is 11 years old going on 12 next April and looks as new inside and out as the day I purchased her

StuH said:

and less exploitable to drive due to the on/off nature of the power delivery.

Could not disagree more. (and I have driven both)

StuH said:

Plus the 996 will always be the ugly duckling to me,

I love the 996 headlamps, let's face it when you see round headlamps in your rear view mirror at night I am never sure if it is a Porsche or a BMW Mini. Other than the headlamps (which I appreciate not everyone likes) the lines of the 996 turbo are beautiful and clean.

StuH said:

Why do people insist on comparing apples with oranges all the time?

Because the 996 turbo is an "apple" and the 997 turbo is also an "apple"

I personally love both turbo's, but I must stick up for the underdog, the 996 turbo is truly a wonderful car.

Lol - never guess you were a 996 owner

Like I say I drove several back to back a few months back when I ended up buying my 997. I looked at the 996 as I could save myself £20k+ and values are holding up well BUT, the 996 felt dated and low rent 996's are known for the poor interiors and that was one of the major improvements with the 997. I'm delighted you like the 996 shape, like I say 'in the eye of the beholder and all that - if you can't tell teh diff between a 997 light cluster and a mini, how do you manage between a 996 and any 80's Japanese coupe . As regards power delivery, if you look at the power/torque curve of the two cars side by side the on/off nature of the 996 is completely apparent and it feels that way to drive. The 997 much more linear, and to some people who prefer the whack in the back lag of older-school turbo's that fine.

Anyway, both great cars, vice la difference

Edited by StuH on Monday 9th November 18:21

[StuH]

Lordjimimac said:

A good friend has an AMV and I've been on a trip to the highlands and le mans driving it. A very very impressive machine - such a great GT on those long drives and a very exciting sports car when we got there. It ticks all the boxes apart from getting the kids in the back. I am tempted though - some great examples in budget on the classifieds, and i think the depreciation curve has to be in good shape for the early ones.

If you didn't like the Maser, I'm not sure an AM is going to work for you. They just feel very big and heavy, and compared to the TT a bit lacking in grunt, unless you go for a V12.

Best upgrade from a 996TT is a 997TT

[Lordjimimac]

Ive driven the Aston quite a bit and it felt a lot faster and more nimble than the masser!
shame it hasn't got 2+2 though!

There was a rebuilt 964 at GT One that I'm now considering - I'm going to have a drive in that and see if the old school air-cooled route offers what I'm looking for.

Thanks all for your replies, do keep em coming.

[boxsey]

Lordjimimac said:

There was a rebuilt 964 at GT One that I'm now considering - I'm going to have a drive in that and see if the old school air-cooled route offers what I'm looking for.

With one short drive you might not 'get' a 964 when coming from a much more modern Porsche. After getting out of mine after the long drive home on the day I bought it I thought.....WTF have I done! A few weeks later I started to 'get' it.

[harleywilma]

996t has an interior and the face only a mother would love . It would have to be the 997 as Porsche listened to the critics after negative comments on the launch of the 996 concerning sharing cosmetic styling with a boxter .The 997 interior and exterior is just so 911 it doesn't get any better..

[Lordjimimac]

Thanks Boxey - thats a very interesting thought. Glad that you get it now though!
I shopped my much loved s2000 in for a z4c a while back and had that 'what have i done' feeling on the drive home (despite it being a significantly more expensive and newer car!). Have to say that the 'what have i done' feeling never truly evaporated during my ownership and when I changed it for a 987s I could not believe how many time better that car was - immediate joy that only grew with ownership.
The 996tt has been an interesting ownership journey. The test drive was and still is the most intensely exciting drive of my life! Then you get used to the power and thing 'too fast'. Then i stopped mashing the throttle everywhere and discovered a beautifully balanced car. And then there are the rainy days where it just becomes incredibly satisfying to drive fast.

Mmmmmm.
I would be very, very, very sad if i messed up this decision!

[Lordjimimac]

Moosh said:

TBH Lordjimimac, don't sell, just remap and new exhaust. you will never regret it.

Thanks Moosh - I have a 100 cell speedtech exhaust on there but no map. The exhaust transformed the response and obvs noise - did your map change the character of the engine or was it mainly 'more, everywhere'? Did you gain more of a creshendo in top range (that's really what I seek, I think).

[davek_964]

Lordjimimac said:

Thanks Moosh - I have a 100 cell speedtech exhaust on there but no map. The exhaust transformed the response and obvs noise - did your map change the character of the engine or was it mainly 'more, everywhere'? Did you gain more of a creshendo in top range (that's really what I seek, I think).

When mine was mapped I'd say it was most noticeable in 3rd and 4th. It just seems quite ridiculous (in a good way) that it continues to accelerate so quickly in those gears / at that speed.

[Ranman]

Your Turbo will be a hard act to follow so going down the modding route may be the answer?
I've had a"mild" remap on my 996TT to 480bhp......
then I blew the intercooler pipes...turns out they weren't on properly anyway so no bigie.....
then I blew the plastic dump valves....now replaced with Forge Motorsport dump valves.....
what next? Oh yes some go faster stripes.
9E?
5k will buy you an E46 M3 for when the Turbo feels too fast.
Life is a journey

[fredt]

Lordjimimac said:

Mmmmmm.
I would be very, very, very sad if i messed up this decision!

As long as you work on "one in, one out basis" you can't really mess up

I'm guessing your main concern is that the 996t might continue going up in price? I would forget about this aspect and just go ahead a change the car for something else!

Get rid!