One week in with a 996TT cab
Discussion
Just over a week, really.
Friday of the week before last I picked up my turbo cab from RSJ. The entire buying process was fantastic, and the car was pretty much flawless when I took it, but that's a whole different thread - suffice to say I don't think I've made my last RSJ purchase.
I had glorious weather for the first weekend and pretty good weather since. But the single most amazing thing about this car is that it's made me enjoy driving again. It brings back the same sort of grin factor that I last had in my twenties driving a Mk II 16v Golf GTi, and in the many intervening years I've had a lot of time to readjust my grin sensors so that they take a lot to register anything these days.
Just as amazing is that it has made me look for opportunities to take it out for a spin, in a way that I remember doing tons in my twenties, and haven't done in years and years. Driving had become a wholly functional exercise, but not any more.
The cab is great, mainly because having the top down amplifies the feeling of speed quite considerably. The wind and noise will feel like you're doing over a ton, whereas in fact you're still comfortably legal. And I love being able to shoulder check and see clear blue sky rather than roof. Just can't beat it.
Bottom line is that it is one of the best purchase I've made. Full stop. If anyone is looking at TTs thinking "maybe I should, but maybe I shouldn't", all I can say is grab the chance with both hands. I could tell as early as the test drive that this is a car that I'll grow into, and that will keep showing me more and more as I get to know it better. It's a rare package in a car, and not one to be passed up.
Friday of the week before last I picked up my turbo cab from RSJ. The entire buying process was fantastic, and the car was pretty much flawless when I took it, but that's a whole different thread - suffice to say I don't think I've made my last RSJ purchase.
I had glorious weather for the first weekend and pretty good weather since. But the single most amazing thing about this car is that it's made me enjoy driving again. It brings back the same sort of grin factor that I last had in my twenties driving a Mk II 16v Golf GTi, and in the many intervening years I've had a lot of time to readjust my grin sensors so that they take a lot to register anything these days.
Just as amazing is that it has made me look for opportunities to take it out for a spin, in a way that I remember doing tons in my twenties, and haven't done in years and years. Driving had become a wholly functional exercise, but not any more.
The cab is great, mainly because having the top down amplifies the feeling of speed quite considerably. The wind and noise will feel like you're doing over a ton, whereas in fact you're still comfortably legal. And I love being able to shoulder check and see clear blue sky rather than roof. Just can't beat it.
Bottom line is that it is one of the best purchase I've made. Full stop. If anyone is looking at TTs thinking "maybe I should, but maybe I shouldn't", all I can say is grab the chance with both hands. I could tell as early as the test drive that this is a car that I'll grow into, and that will keep showing me more and more as I get to know it better. It's a rare package in a car, and not one to be passed up.
Hi Gregg,
Still enjoying the 996TT?? Been toying with the idea of changing my E93 M3 for a 996TT (probably coupe) and your post may just have tipped me over the edge! Would be great to have a daily driver that is engaging all of the time. With the M3 you have to get to stupid speeds before it really comes alive and just doesn't have the tactility and interest factor of 911s.
Been looking at JZM and RPM T for one, but the market for them seems red hot at the moment (at least according to them). Think I will give RSJ a call on your recommendation. Do they haggle on prices or it is a 'take it or leave it' operation?
Cheers
SL
Still enjoying the 996TT?? Been toying with the idea of changing my E93 M3 for a 996TT (probably coupe) and your post may just have tipped me over the edge! Would be great to have a daily driver that is engaging all of the time. With the M3 you have to get to stupid speeds before it really comes alive and just doesn't have the tactility and interest factor of 911s.
Been looking at JZM and RPM T for one, but the market for them seems red hot at the moment (at least according to them). Think I will give RSJ a call on your recommendation. Do they haggle on prices or it is a 'take it or leave it' operation?
Cheers
SL
As it happens it was about this time last week that I got home with my new turbo.
First impressions.
I was so petrified of sticking it in a hedge on the journey home I got overtaken by a chap in a Boxster, didn't go over 75 the whole way, that feeling is slowly going away as I get more comfortable driving the car.
This is my first Porsche and I feel very conspicuous when I drive it. I think it actually makes me drive more considerately.
I have a small issue with finding somewhere to store the hardtop, I'm desperate to get the top down & make the most of these sunny autumn days.
However my overriding impression of the car is......OH MY LORD IT'S FAST!
I mean this thing is fast!
It'll still trundle around town but then you light up the turbos and all of a sudden the scenery blurs, by 'eck it's fast!
Did I mention it's fast?
I feel like I've joined a very exclusive & privileged club when I open the door to my garage & see that turbo badge peeking out at me
First impressions.
I was so petrified of sticking it in a hedge on the journey home I got overtaken by a chap in a Boxster, didn't go over 75 the whole way, that feeling is slowly going away as I get more comfortable driving the car.
This is my first Porsche and I feel very conspicuous when I drive it. I think it actually makes me drive more considerately.
I have a small issue with finding somewhere to store the hardtop, I'm desperate to get the top down & make the most of these sunny autumn days.
However my overriding impression of the car is......OH MY LORD IT'S FAST!
I mean this thing is fast!
It'll still trundle around town but then you light up the turbos and all of a sudden the scenery blurs, by 'eck it's fast!
Did I mention it's fast?
I feel like I've joined a very exclusive & privileged club when I open the door to my garage & see that turbo badge peeking out at me

DJFish said:
However my overriding impression of the car is......OH MY LORD IT'S FAST!
I mean this thing is fast!
It'll still trundle around town but then you light up the turbos and all of a sudden the scenery blurs, by 'eck it's fast!
Did I mention it's fast?
Yes they are aren't they!I mean this thing is fast!
It'll still trundle around town but then you light up the turbos and all of a sudden the scenery blurs, by 'eck it's fast!
Did I mention it's fast?
Best way I can describe it is it's like being fired out of a catupult (I would imagine)

Glad you're enjoying yours.
Now one month in. Loving it.
It is remarkably docile and easy to potter around in at low speeds, with the possible exception of a suspension that is a bit stiff for the patchwork quilt roads of London. Steering has a nice direct feel even at low speeds. Every drive still feels "special", that's for sure.
Foot down, and it is (as has been said) "Oh my fckuing God" fast. Sufficiently fast that it takes a while for your reactions to speed up enough so that you can keep track of the rev needle, the speedo, the road and what's on the road. I'm getting there with that...
Top comes down all the time. At the moment the autumn days are perfect for it. Hood down, heated seats on, heaters turned up...
RSJ: I didn't have any need to haggle. It wasn't overpriced in the first place, and everything Peter Morgan picked up was sorted pre-purchase without any hassle.
It is remarkably docile and easy to potter around in at low speeds, with the possible exception of a suspension that is a bit stiff for the patchwork quilt roads of London. Steering has a nice direct feel even at low speeds. Every drive still feels "special", that's for sure.
Foot down, and it is (as has been said) "Oh my fckuing God" fast. Sufficiently fast that it takes a while for your reactions to speed up enough so that you can keep track of the rev needle, the speedo, the road and what's on the road. I'm getting there with that...
Top comes down all the time. At the moment the autumn days are perfect for it. Hood down, heated seats on, heaters turned up...
RSJ: I didn't have any need to haggle. It wasn't overpriced in the first place, and everything Peter Morgan picked up was sorted pre-purchase without any hassle.
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