Gen 1 Turbo Tiptronic or Gen 2 4S PDK
Discussion
Hi, i ve been looking for a wide body 997 for few months now , and i shortlisted a Turbo Tiptronic gen 1 and a 4s PDK gen 2. I like the look of the Turbo, but i also like the driving experience of the PDK aspirated...
Turbo would come from an indipendent dealer that is willing to buy it back in 6 months time in case i don't like the turbo driving experience (estimate a depreciation of 3k). Pdk would come from a private but with porsche warrant still on it...
Price wise we are talking about 43 for the turbo and 45 for the 4s PDK...
Anyone had the same doubts before? What should i go for?
Turbo would come from an indipendent dealer that is willing to buy it back in 6 months time in case i don't like the turbo driving experience (estimate a depreciation of 3k). Pdk would come from a private but with porsche warrant still on it...
Price wise we are talking about 43 for the turbo and 45 for the 4s PDK...
Anyone had the same doubts before? What should i go for?
Buy the newer car with warranty defo. Its a much better gearbox. If they were manuals then the turbo but the tip is really old tech nowadays.
Edited to say the running costs on the PDK car are also much cheaper as turbos out of warranty can be very expensive to run. Have a look at my running costs from new and thats with warranty. If you're actually going to drive the wheels off the car and do some mileage a car with warranty is a much better bet. Having said that as others have said drive both and see which you prefer. The tip does work very well in the 996 and 997 turbo. If its a good turbo you can always put it back under OPC warranty for a few years for £2k. If the cars a dd like mine used to be I wouldn't have a turbo without warranty.
Edited to say the running costs on the PDK car are also much cheaper as turbos out of warranty can be very expensive to run. Have a look at my running costs from new and thats with warranty. If you're actually going to drive the wheels off the car and do some mileage a car with warranty is a much better bet. Having said that as others have said drive both and see which you prefer. The tip does work very well in the 996 and 997 turbo. If its a good turbo you can always put it back under OPC warranty for a few years for £2k. If the cars a dd like mine used to be I wouldn't have a turbo without warranty.
Edited by IMI A on Monday 6th October 13:52
Surely the answer is to have a drive in each and pick the one that you prefer? I happen to have a 997 Turbo Tip and think it's brilliant, but I accept others might not. I never really get the chance to worry whether it's "old tech" or not because driving it really takes all of my concentration.
I've had the Gen 1 Turbo and have a Gen 2 4S PDK.
The Turbo is a very quick car, and the Tiptronic's downsides are somewhat masked by all of that torque and power. However, it makes it a GT car, not a supercar. Ultimately though, it still has the aura of being a Turbo and will dust most cars out there... if that's your priority.
The Gen 2 997 is a step up when it comes to the interior, ride quality and overall refinement. And yet, Porsche made them drive better too; so much more engaging than the 997.1s. The handling in my 4S feels far sweeter than what the Turbo did, and despite the performance deficit, the noise makes up for it.
Looks wise, the purity of the 4S shape is nicer, in my opinion. You really appreciate those wide rear haunches thanks to lack of rear spoiler, although you could argue the front looks feminine.
Just to throw a spanner in the works, i fall more out of love with the PDK the more i drive it. Why? well after the initial honeymoon period, i realised the lack of connection and emotion. There's no blip, no theatrics and i never step away thinking "Wow, this new dual clutch stuff is the bees knees!" It just is what it is - boring.
This issue has been brought light by the 981 Boxster S which is completely the opposite. With the newer PDK, it is far more 'racey' and far more enjoyable as a result. With the PSE it felt and sounded like a mini Ferrari. As a such, when i get a bit of spare time, i am considering going 'pure' and getting a 997.2 C4S manual - the last six speeder. I miss that connection and will put up with the aggro of living in London with a clutch!
I'm rambling on a bit here but i would really suggest driving a new Boxster S or Cayman S with PDK. I imagine a second hand one is around your budget and, assuming an auto is a must for you, they are probably the best options. In fact, my old Boxster S was the best specced in the UK at the time at Porsche Tonbridge - go buy it because i lost a shed load!
The Turbo is a very quick car, and the Tiptronic's downsides are somewhat masked by all of that torque and power. However, it makes it a GT car, not a supercar. Ultimately though, it still has the aura of being a Turbo and will dust most cars out there... if that's your priority.
The Gen 2 997 is a step up when it comes to the interior, ride quality and overall refinement. And yet, Porsche made them drive better too; so much more engaging than the 997.1s. The handling in my 4S feels far sweeter than what the Turbo did, and despite the performance deficit, the noise makes up for it.
Looks wise, the purity of the 4S shape is nicer, in my opinion. You really appreciate those wide rear haunches thanks to lack of rear spoiler, although you could argue the front looks feminine.
Just to throw a spanner in the works, i fall more out of love with the PDK the more i drive it. Why? well after the initial honeymoon period, i realised the lack of connection and emotion. There's no blip, no theatrics and i never step away thinking "Wow, this new dual clutch stuff is the bees knees!" It just is what it is - boring.
This issue has been brought light by the 981 Boxster S which is completely the opposite. With the newer PDK, it is far more 'racey' and far more enjoyable as a result. With the PSE it felt and sounded like a mini Ferrari. As a such, when i get a bit of spare time, i am considering going 'pure' and getting a 997.2 C4S manual - the last six speeder. I miss that connection and will put up with the aggro of living in London with a clutch!
I'm rambling on a bit here but i would really suggest driving a new Boxster S or Cayman S with PDK. I imagine a second hand one is around your budget and, assuming an auto is a must for you, they are probably the best options. In fact, my old Boxster S was the best specced in the UK at the time at Porsche Tonbridge - go buy it because i lost a shed load!
Edited by hondansx on Monday 6th October 15:55
Personally it would be the 4s for me.
None of the IMHO over fussy styling of the 997 Turbo, and fast enough. And even irrespective of any comparisons to the Turbo it looks great.
I'd hazard a guess however that the only downside being that depreciation on the 4s may be greater than on the Turbo.
None of the IMHO over fussy styling of the 997 Turbo, and fast enough. And even irrespective of any comparisons to the Turbo it looks great.
I'd hazard a guess however that the only downside being that depreciation on the 4s may be greater than on the Turbo.
100% turbo. Intergalactic pace and the buttons on dash work well enough for me, full auto for cruising about. I must say I love a 4S' styling but having bumped into a lovely couple in the services the other day in one, and he stuck his head out to say "do a swap......!?" It was a straightforward... Nah..... 
Funnily enough, someone came up to me in a petrol station and said "Love the car, but considering the negligible difference in price, why didn't you just get a Turbo?"
For some people, the Turbo name has that allure which distances it from the regular model. I get that, but in my reality, the 996 and 997.1 Turbos struggle to hold a candle next to the original Turbo in terms of character, or any Turbo since in terms of competence.
Anyway, pick your rump!
For some people, the Turbo name has that allure which distances it from the regular model. I get that, but in my reality, the 996 and 997.1 Turbos struggle to hold a candle next to the original Turbo in terms of character, or any Turbo since in terms of competence.
Anyway, pick your rump!
usedtobehappy said:
Normally aspirated for me, although I would go for the regular 2S with lots of toys in manual if it was in the equation.
I always thought the difference in the width of the 2 & 4 wheel drives was in the track not the body, is this wrong?
Yes! The panels are different. Good photo here:I always thought the difference in the width of the 2 & 4 wheel drives was in the track not the body, is this wrong?
http://rennlist.com/forums/997-forum/418602-pictur...
I have a C4S, and often wish I'd bought a turbo.
The turbo is largely the halo 911, and whilst the C4S is lovely it's just not a turbo. My wife doesn't understand it, as she says the car is already fast enough, but ...
Anyway, running costs are likely slightly cheaper with the C4S, but the Turbo will depreciate far less at that level.
The turbo is largely the halo 911, and whilst the C4S is lovely it's just not a turbo. My wife doesn't understand it, as she says the car is already fast enough, but ...
Anyway, running costs are likely slightly cheaper with the C4S, but the Turbo will depreciate far less at that level.
If you can't stretch to early fifties for a private early poverty spec GTS 2wd, which imo and others is considered the last of the greats, spend £42k on a C2S. Proper sports car as opposed to sports GT and dodgy outmoded box on the high maintenance turbine, involving and fun challenging 2wd with better steering feel than the 4.....and save yourself some £ or get a newer car for 4 money with a better warranty......win win....
I wanted to move from a gen1 manual c2s to a gen2 c2s or c4s. I had my heart set on a gen2 carrera.
I'd already test driven a gen1 c2s tip but not driven a gen2 pdk at this point, I took a c2s PDK out and just wasn't impressed ( i assume I didn't try hard enough with the loud pedal to feel the lightning quick changes etc)
I also couldn't believe the only interior difference was the PCM unit amd A/C buttons. I don't doubt the pdk box is great and I
Directly because of this I went and test drove a gen1 turbo tip for the same money and bought that instantly, the car is amazing, i agree with an earlier post that the turbo and tip box do work well together as my gear changes are smooth and in manual mode they happen when I want.
The gen1 tip I tried was a bit sluggish so maybe thats where it falls short as old technology mixed with an N/A engine? , either way the tip is still better than my old e46 M3 SMG2 semi-auto box, the gear change was slow and clunky!.
I don't doubt the pdk box is great and I always get one on the boxster I'm given at the OPC but the tip box and the turbo are a good pairing.
Get the gen1 turbo mate!
I'd already test driven a gen1 c2s tip but not driven a gen2 pdk at this point, I took a c2s PDK out and just wasn't impressed ( i assume I didn't try hard enough with the loud pedal to feel the lightning quick changes etc)
I also couldn't believe the only interior difference was the PCM unit amd A/C buttons. I don't doubt the pdk box is great and I
Directly because of this I went and test drove a gen1 turbo tip for the same money and bought that instantly, the car is amazing, i agree with an earlier post that the turbo and tip box do work well together as my gear changes are smooth and in manual mode they happen when I want.
The gen1 tip I tried was a bit sluggish so maybe thats where it falls short as old technology mixed with an N/A engine? , either way the tip is still better than my old e46 M3 SMG2 semi-auto box, the gear change was slow and clunky!.
I don't doubt the pdk box is great and I always get one on the boxster I'm given at the OPC but the tip box and the turbo are a good pairing.
Get the gen1 turbo mate!
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