Standard and upgrade equipment on a 996 Turbo

[Billsnemesis]

In the hope that this time it is actually going to happen I am starting to scope out adverts for a manual 996T with a view to buying by the end of October but I am getting confused by the adverts. Some refer only to extras in the specification while others seem to include anything they find interesting, whether it was standard spec or not.

So which of these was standard?

1. cruise control
2. memory front seats, driver and/or passenger
3. sunroof
4. rear parking sensor
5. heated seats, driver and/or passenger

I am less concerned over PCM as I have read criticism of the satnav and unless it has been updated it will have long since developed gaps but what would be an appropriate replacement? I have an instinctive preference for originality and I can understand that if a car has it then it helps resale but if there is general acceptance of a particular system then I would consider putting that in as a replacement. I have seen some with Pioneer Kenwood or Alpine set ups but I am not overly keen on the look of any of them. Is there something that prompts the "ooh, you have that" rather than "oh, you've gone for that one have you"?

I also read in one comment that the memory seat system was not available on sports seats. Is that true?

Finally (for now) does anyone know the history of the blue X50 at The Supercars Rooms in Worcestershire? The price looks tempting but the listed service history has a few significant gaps and the advert mentions 9 owners.

[davek_964]

Billsnemesis said:

In the hope that this time it is actually going to happen I am starting to scope out adverts for a manual 996T with a view to buying by the end of October but I am getting confused by the adverts. Some refer only to extras in the specification while others seem to include anything they find interesting, whether it was standard spec or not.

So which of these was standard?

1. cruise control
2. memory front seats, driver and/or passenger
3. sunroof
4. rear parking sensor
5. heated seats, driver and/or passenger

I am less concerned over PCM as I have read criticism of the satnav and unless it has been updated it will have long since developed gaps but what would be an appropriate replacement? I have an instinctive preference for originality and I can understand that if a car has it then it helps resale but if there is general acceptance of a particular system then I would consider putting that in as a replacement. I have seen some with Pioneer Kenwood or Alpine set ups but I am not overly keen on the look of any of them. Is there something that prompts the "ooh, you have that" rather than "oh, you've gone for that one have you"?

I also read in one comment that the memory seat system was not available on sports seats. Is that true?

Finally (for now) does anyone know the history of the blue X50 at The Supercars Rooms in Worcestershire? The price looks tempting but the listed service history has a few significant gaps and the advert mentions 9 owners.

1 and 4 are not standard.

Memory seats I think are standard for driver, but definitely not passenger.
Heated seats I <think> are standard for both.

Sunroof I believe is standard but can be a delete option.

[Crimp]

Billsnemesis said:

In the hope that this time it is actually going to happen I am starting to scope out adverts for a manual 996T with a view to buying by the end of October but I am getting confused by the adverts. Some refer only to extras in the specification while others seem to include anything they find interesting, whether it was standard spec or not.

So which of these was standard?

1. cruise control
2. memory front seats, driver and/or passenger
3. sunroof
4. rear parking sensor
5. heated seats, driver and/or passenger

I am less concerned over PCM as I have read criticism of the satnav and unless it has been updated it will have long since developed gaps but what would be an appropriate replacement? I have an instinctive preference for originality and I can understand that if a car has it then it helps resale but if there is general acceptance of a particular system then I would consider putting that in as a replacement. I have seen some with Pioneer Kenwood or Alpine set ups but I am not overly keen on the look of any of them. Is there something that prompts the "ooh, you have that" rather than "oh, you've gone for that one have you"?

I also read in one comment that the memory seat system was not available on sports seats. Is that true?

Finally (for now) does anyone know the history of the blue X50 at The Supercars Rooms in Worcestershire? The price looks tempting but the listed service history has a few significant gaps and the advert mentions 9 owners.

Think I'm suitably qualified to answer this

1) cruise is an option
2) memory seats standard on non sports seats
3) Sunroof standard but can be deleted as a NCO
4) parking sensors were an option
5) heated seats were an option on non sports seats

[Nobbles]

My 2000tt does not have cruise control, heated seats (I think - but where are the switches located)and rear parking sensors.

[Mad March Taffy]

Crimp said:

Think I'm suitably qualified to answer this

1) cruise is an option
2) memory seats standard on non sports seats
3) Sunroof standard but can be deleted as a NCO
4) parking sensors were an option
5) heated seats were an option on non sports seats

Agree - and now I can tell what a tight wad the person was who specced my car when it was new!
"If it says 'Option' then the answer is 'NO!'"

[ds666]

I had a very quick look at the 996tt at Supercar showrooms on Tuesday - it looked very nice

[Adam B]

Nobbles said:

My 2000tt does not have cruise control, heated seats (I think - but where are the switches located)and rear parking sensors.

stupidly just in front of the gearbox at the bottom of the dash under aircon, not somewhere sensible like between the seats using those annoying blanked buttons (that are used to lower rear windows in the cab I believe)

[Billsnemesis]

I read a comment that the standard seats are rather lacking in support. Do they really make much difference? I rather like the idea of memory seats in case Mrs Bills drives it and leaves the seat at "small person" setting.

[Adam B]

Billsnemesis said:

I read a comment that the standard seats are rather lacking in support. Do they really make much difference? I rather like the idea of memory seats in case Mrs Bills drives it and leaves the seat at "small person" setting.

try both, unfortunately IMHO the seats in 996 were quite lacking vs 997, the sports seats lose memory and full electrics, but they feel very tight and narrow (and I am no fatty) but they look and hug better

[Adam B]

Crimp said:

Think I'm suitably qualified to answer this

1) cruise is an option
2) memory seats standard on non sports seats
3) Sunroof standard but can be deleted as a NCO
4) parking sensors were an option
5) heated seats were an option on non sports seats

only one correction, you can get heated seats on the sports seats too, but you do lose some of the electrics and memory

[Mad March Taffy]

Billsnemesis said:

I read a comment that the standard seats are rather lacking in support. Do they really make much difference? I rather like the idea of memory seats in case Mrs Bills drives it and leaves the seat at "small person" setting.

I have standard seats in my 996T and SWMBO has sports seats in her 996 Turbo S - personally I find it more difficult to find a comfortable position in the standard seats than the sports seats and also that the sports seats are more comfortable for longer journeys - which is the opposite of what you might think at first

[stuttgart737]

I found the 996 turbo memory seats really uncomfortable, worst thing about the car in fact. Can't speak for 996 sports seats but 997 seats are much better. If I still had the car, I would have put in some 997 sports seats for sure.

[Adam B]

stuttgart737 said:

I found the 996 turbo memory seats really uncomfortable, worst thing about the car in fact. Can't speak for 996 sports seats but 997 seats are much better. If I still had the car, I would have put in some 997 sports seats for sure.

you wouldn't like 996 sports seats either then, they are similar but feel tight and narrow to me, 997 seats are a massive improvement, comfort or sport, and especially the adaptive sports seats

[Onetrackmind]

My 2001 TT has memory seats, Cruise, sunroof, climate which I think we're all standard in this market. Typical gulf spec options like extended red leather (even the roof lining!) and then loads of carbon, phone, Bose.

If I could have specd it from New I'd have gone for sports seats, although I find the standard ones both supportive and comfortable, and Bose. Don't need anything else.

[Adam B]

OTM - Cruise is a cost option in UK but Bose standard

[DKL]

Cruise, heated seats and parking sensors are all options. Options that cost about £300 each and 3 I would have liked. Many is the time I wondered why the boxes weren't ticked when the cost in comparison with the options ticked, PCGB for instance, was tiny. Ah well.
I'm not that broad across my shoulders but 996 sports seats were very uncomfortable to the extent that I wouldn't have bought a car with them. Comfort seats were just fine.

[StuB]

Cruise is a very low cost & easy retrofit using Porsche original parts. Revolution in Brighouse did my X50.

[Adam B]

and plenty of places can fit park sensors, and make it look totally OEM

[ZeroH]

Adam B said:

and plenty of places can fit park sensors, and make it look totally OEM

OEM sensors are integrated into the rear bumper so no way can aftermarket items replicate the OEM look.

Re 996 sports seats, indeed they are narrow across the shoulder - 997 sports seats are a massive improvement for sure and can be fitted to the 996. That said, I find the 996 GT3 recaro's fit like a glove and really enhance your connection and feel with the car.

[ZeroH]

StuB said:

Cruise is a very low cost & easy retrofit using Porsche original parts. Revolution in Brighouse did my X50.

Dont think you can get the OE loom anymore for the cruise retrofit so not quite fully using Porsche parts - but you can still work around it for the retrofit. Shouldnt cost more than £400 odd.