997tt test drive,

[kayc]

I drove the 997tt yesterday and have to say i was really impressed by the performance,build quality,and general usability of the car.The engine note a huge improvement over my 996tt.However i found the whole driving experience extremely sterile and very 'un-Porsche' like.The steering has very little feel and the car feels so well balanced and 'four-wheel' drive like that it reminded me more of 'EVO 'type handling with the electronics controlling the action.It actually made my tt feel a bit of a handful on bumpy roads by comparison.Porsche have definately moved things forward with this car but the improvement over the 996tt is quite small compared to how far the 997s is better than the regular 996 imo.I then drove a regular 997s which was beautifully balanced with awesome steering and surprisingly quick and much more fun.Anyone else driven the 997tt and not been totally impressed?

[Koln-RS]

Jeremy Clarkson

[bund]

I liked it but was only in it for 30 minutes, im at millbrook for a day next month ill have better judgement on it then. Plus the only other Turbo iv driven was a scumbaru.

[Pugsey]

kayc said:

I drove the 997tt yesterday and have to say i was really impressed by the performance,build quality,and general usability of the car.The engine note a huge improvement over my 996tt.However i found the whole driving experience extremely sterile and very 'un-Porsche' like.The steering has very little feel and the car feels so well balanced and 'four-wheel' drive like that it reminded me more of 'EVO 'type handling with the electronics controlling the action.It actually made my tt feel a bit of a handful on bumpy roads by comparison.Porsche have definately moved things forward with this car but the improvement over the 996tt is quite small compared to how far the 997s is better than the regular 996 imo.I then drove a regular 997s which was beautifully balanced with awesome steering and surprisingly quick and much more fun.Anyone else driven the 997tt and not been totally impressed?

Please, don't want to start the old debate but knowing you as a staunch tt man was interested in your comments. I felt the same after a drive and while I haven't driven one yet I know that Chris Harris feels that the new GT3 may be a better car - on road as well as track.

[charlie360]

I was left rather cold by my drive in the 997TT and infact it didn't feel any faster than my 996TT (with a few mods!) The interior is so much better and feels more solid, but I really don't see it as being worth the thick end of £60K to change - and I guess I don't find the 996 too much of a hardship for now whilst I consider what to do next. Because of the impending family, I'd wanted to stay with a TT (either 996 or 997) because of the back seats and also the alround ease of use for the other half driving it (plus the PSM) - however the GT3 seems to fulfil all these roles bar the rear seats and looks so much better than the TT - so who knows, I'm going to sit on the fence for a while I think........

[glenn mcmenamin]

I also found the 997tt sterile, and actually thought it sounded worse than my tt now.

Interior is a leap forward, but the overall feel of the car was very uninspiring tbh.

I get the feeling that many die hard 996TT owners will better spend their cash modding the their
current car, rather than rinsing near £50k on a car that is only a marginally better

[Relaxed]

Talking about 997TT:

When I saw one the other week being at my OPC I talked to the chief mechanic
(a guy with 40+ years experience as a mechanic and very down-to-earth) and
asked for his opinon on the new VTG-turbochargers as far as reliability
is concerned because of the extreme heat they have to withstand.

He looked at me with a distant view, smiled and mumbled, "I hope it works."
'Nough said. I wonder what it would be like if those turbos gave up as
easily as many of the modern diesel-turbos. OMG, that would even surpass
Porsche's RMS-problem...

But I have decided to ask for a test-drive during the course of the next
3 weeks. Am curious as to how much of a difference it offers to my current
996TT (non-S).

Cheers,
Frank

[simonharrod911]

I drove one recently and was very impressed by the whole package. I thought it sounded better than my GT2(996) from the cockpit, and had the same devastating performance, but much easier to exploit. I agree with what everyone is saying about the financial difference, but that always happens these days when a new model comes out.

I personally don't like the feel of 4WD 911s at the front end, but I'm sure I'd get used to it.

[dealmaker]

I can ditto the comments re sterility and blandness - and TBH it didnt feel that fast to me.

I've delayed my build/order until there is some clarity around X50 Powerkit, and PSE!...BOTH of which it desperatley needs in my opinion (along with perhaps a smidge more steering tactility), to be a car for enthusiasts.