996 TT or 997 S
Discussion
I'm thinking about moving onto one of the above from the Gallardo.
996 TT prices are making it alot of car for the money - it seems that a 2003/4 car can now be had for £65k ish, the question is....do I plump for the newer 997s for similar money?
I've just bought a Cayenne S, and I'm really impressed with it - the Tiptronic box is nice and I was a little worried I should have gone for the turbo but the S never feels under powered.
I have driven a 996 TT (nice) but not a 997 yet - any thoughts gentlemen?
996 TT prices are making it alot of car for the money - it seems that a 2003/4 car can now be had for £65k ish, the question is....do I plump for the newer 997s for similar money?
I've just bought a Cayenne S, and I'm really impressed with it - the Tiptronic box is nice and I was a little worried I should have gone for the turbo but the S never feels under powered.
I have driven a 996 TT (nice) but not a 997 yet - any thoughts gentlemen?
Ok I'll pitch in with the 997'S' as my recommendation.
I had a 996 C4S at the beginning of the year (I also have a 310bhp/1250kg Impreza nutter job) after 6.5k miles there were a multitude of rattles in the car. Now I could forgive it if it was amazingly fast or exclusive, but a £68k car which had a worse interior than our £20k audi, and which wasn't any quicker than the rice rocket, I just got sick of it. Coupled with the fact that with my long legs I could never get comfortable, I had to let it go...that was the last time I looked at the 996 model in any guise.
The 997 is much better inside, the engine is beautiful, extremely flexible and of course N/A so don't have to contend with turbo lag, plus it's RWD as opposed to the TT's namby pamby awd
Nah, you should go for the 997, or a 993TT - much more exciting.
Cman
I had a 996 C4S at the beginning of the year (I also have a 310bhp/1250kg Impreza nutter job) after 6.5k miles there were a multitude of rattles in the car. Now I could forgive it if it was amazingly fast or exclusive, but a £68k car which had a worse interior than our £20k audi, and which wasn't any quicker than the rice rocket, I just got sick of it. Coupled with the fact that with my long legs I could never get comfortable, I had to let it go...that was the last time I looked at the 996 model in any guise.
The 997 is much better inside, the engine is beautiful, extremely flexible and of course N/A so don't have to contend with turbo lag, plus it's RWD as opposed to the TT's namby pamby awd
Nah, you should go for the 997, or a 993TT - much more exciting.
Cman
Interesting, I too had a Subaru Impreza STi tuned to around 315bhp, after a C2 & a C4S I now have a 996 Turbo. I would disagree with your comments, esp the performance thing & the rattles. My Subaru felt like every penny had been spent on the engine & suspension then the designers had gone "oh sh1t it needs an interior !" & the remaining 25p spent on that, cheap & nasty at best. In contrast the 996 TT (indeed all Porshce's) feels like its been engineered to the N'th degree in all areas.
>> Edited by roshambo on Friday 17th June 14:03
>> Edited by roshambo on Friday 17th June 14:03
A biased view, but I obviously could've bought a 996TT.
The 997 is the best Porsche I've ever driven as an everyday tool. It feels so much better in every area than the 996(inc TT), although obviously the TT has superior power.
The appearance of the 997(don't tell me you're only interested in performance, otherwise we'd all be driving Mitsi Evos) inside and out leaves the 996TT looking and feeling dated.
Another thing, but this is purely personal preference. A 911 turbo should be a shocking experience, as my turbo II 3.6 is, delivering a punch in the back that is way beyond the ability of the Carrera. The 996TT doesn't do this for me, although it's phenomenally quick it does everything it can to dull your sense towards this fact.
Also being male I wouldn't want a four wheel drive 911.
The 997 is the best Porsche I've ever driven as an everyday tool. It feels so much better in every area than the 996(inc TT), although obviously the TT has superior power.
The appearance of the 997(don't tell me you're only interested in performance, otherwise we'd all be driving Mitsi Evos) inside and out leaves the 996TT looking and feeling dated.
Another thing, but this is purely personal preference. A 911 turbo should be a shocking experience, as my turbo II 3.6 is, delivering a punch in the back that is way beyond the ability of the Carrera. The 996TT doesn't do this for me, although it's phenomenally quick it does everything it can to dull your sense towards this fact.
Also being male I wouldn't want a four wheel drive 911.
i had a colbalt blue 997C2s with 20mm lowered
suspension which i did 6500 miles in the car
handled well and I took it on track once
I always wanted a Turbo so I traded the 997 in
loved the power and luxury of the Turbo but after
a while found it too heavy and cumbersome when pushed
hard
So I now have a blue and white GT3 RS which in my opinion
is a proper car ( no PSM,a lot less weight ) and I smile everytime I drive it , it also concentrates the mind driving it + in 3 years what will be worth more ?
tim
suspension which i did 6500 miles in the car
handled well and I took it on track once
I always wanted a Turbo so I traded the 997 in
loved the power and luxury of the Turbo but after
a while found it too heavy and cumbersome when pushed
hard
So I now have a blue and white GT3 RS which in my opinion
is a proper car ( no PSM,a lot less weight ) and I smile everytime I drive it , it also concentrates the mind driving it + in 3 years what will be worth more ?
tim
Hiya Ro!
Not sure what you are are disagreeing with, I didn't say the 911 rattled more than the scoob, and I didn't say the scoob was faster than a 996tt, just quicker than my 996 C4S(which weighs much more and develops the same power)...those were just arguements against the C4S and 996 build quality in general. My 997 is still too new for me to realy guage the performance, though early (sub5krpm) signs are encouraging
Cman
Not sure what you are are disagreeing with, I didn't say the 911 rattled more than the scoob, and I didn't say the scoob was faster than a 996tt, just quicker than my 996 C4S(which weighs much more and develops the same power)...those were just arguements against the C4S and 996 build quality in general. My 997 is still too new for me to realy guage the performance, though early (sub5krpm) signs are encouraging
Cman
Another vote for the 997S from me too. I have driven the Turbo and it felt heavy and sloth like in the corners. It is quite understeery and does not adjust its attitude in the corners as readily as I would have expected.
The 997S with -20mm suspension is far more fun and if you are not some crazy drag racer who only cares about straight line performance it is actually faster on track too.
So if you enjoy real driving the 997S is the best choice of the two and if you like going fast in straight lines the Turbo is a better choice.
As for the GT3RS well if they come down to 65k I would swap and get the ultimate fun 911
The 997S with -20mm suspension is far more fun and if you are not some crazy drag racer who only cares about straight line performance it is actually faster on track too.
So if you enjoy real driving the 997S is the best choice of the two and if you like going fast in straight lines the Turbo is a better choice.
As for the GT3RS well if they come down to 65k I would swap and get the ultimate fun 911
sorry chuck ster - misread your post re the performance thing. I agree with you on the C4S vs STi performance thing.
I found my C2 was about even in performance to the STi(maybe a little faster over 85mph) & the C4S felt a touch slower than the C2/Sti - like you say - same power but more weight.
What I will say though is that the C4S had IMO the best handling of them all, very delicate & well balanced, more so than the Turbo which probably loses a bot of that feel with its extra weight.
Lambojim - What I would do is get a 997 S or a 996 TT now & then get a 997 TT next year - I can get one for Autumn delivery next year & am very tempted.
I found my C2 was about even in performance to the STi(maybe a little faster over 85mph) & the C4S felt a touch slower than the C2/Sti - like you say - same power but more weight.
What I will say though is that the C4S had IMO the best handling of them all, very delicate & well balanced, more so than the Turbo which probably loses a bot of that feel with its extra weight.
Lambojim - What I would do is get a 997 S or a 996 TT now & then get a 997 TT next year - I can get one for Autumn delivery next year & am very tempted.
Good idea,
I'm thinking black/black or silver/blue 997S now....anyone know the lead time on a 997 Turbo?
One other thing - will Tiptronic cars get kicked in the sacks once DSG transmission appears? I know this fear of savage depreciation is a bit rich coming from a gallardo owner but you have to ask..
I'm thinking black/black or silver/blue 997S now....anyone know the lead time on a 997 Turbo?
One other thing - will Tiptronic cars get kicked in the sacks once DSG transmission appears? I know this fear of savage depreciation is a bit rich coming from a gallardo owner but you have to ask..
The Turbo is a drag machine although having said that I have chased one on the road and he couldn't get me off his tail so don't believe all the hype about its sledge hammer acceleration. Yes I am sure it will go faster in a straight line if you sent them up a drag strip but on the road it makes absolutely no difference. I have never met anyone who is willing to keep racing me so its all academic.
The 997S just feels lighter and more fun. In the corners the front will understeer slightly but if you drive through that point or lift a little you can exploit the oversteer with ease. On a track I have had it fully sideways in 3rd gear and just held it there lap after lap; something the Turbo hates doing as it loves to understeer everywhere. Admittedly I did kill the two brand new rear tyres in less than 1 day so I won't be doing that again.
If you want that thrust in the back feeling then a Turbo is the one but if you want a more balanced 'sporty' car then a 997S is a better option.
If you want a proper Sports car then get a GT3 or RS although the 997S is not that far removed (with the -20mm suspension) from a GT3 as some might imagine.
A GT2 is also a good option now the prices have crashed but you will definitely need to change the exhaust as the standard car sounds terrible.
The 997S just feels lighter and more fun. In the corners the front will understeer slightly but if you drive through that point or lift a little you can exploit the oversteer with ease. On a track I have had it fully sideways in 3rd gear and just held it there lap after lap; something the Turbo hates doing as it loves to understeer everywhere. Admittedly I did kill the two brand new rear tyres in less than 1 day so I won't be doing that again.
If you want that thrust in the back feeling then a Turbo is the one but if you want a more balanced 'sporty' car then a 997S is a better option.
If you want a proper Sports car then get a GT3 or RS although the 997S is not that far removed (with the -20mm suspension) from a GT3 as some might imagine.
A GT2 is also a good option now the prices have crashed but you will definitely need to change the exhaust as the standard car sounds terrible.
I haven't owned either model, but I have spent plenty of time with a 996 Turbo S and a 997 S while testing them for Total 911 magazine. The 996 TT, while undeniably capable and user-friendly, doesn't match the new car when it comes to looks or build quality.
After a week with the Turbo S I had grown to love it. It took less than a day for me to feel that way about the 997 S - it is, without a doubt, the best car I have ever driven and although I've yet to try out the new C4, I can't help but wonder why Porsche needed to build it - the rear wheel drive S is that good.
If you do buy one, though, please don't choose silver - it looks so much meaner in black and I'm fed up with seeing silver cars everywhere. We need some colour on our roads!
After a week with the Turbo S I had grown to love it. It took less than a day for me to feel that way about the 997 S - it is, without a doubt, the best car I have ever driven and although I've yet to try out the new C4, I can't help but wonder why Porsche needed to build it - the rear wheel drive S is that good.
If you do buy one, though, please don't choose silver - it looks so much meaner in black and I'm fed up with seeing silver cars everywhere. We need some colour on our roads!
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff