mjposner

Assuming same color and condition, which would you choose and why?

177mph

997S is a great car. No question. You didn't mention which year - but post 2009 even better,

However the 996 turbo has an amazing motor and performance. small upgrades will go a long way. And prices are low compared to the car you get.

I would go 996 turbo...

wjk_glynn

https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...-opinions.html

TopKatz

For me the styling and interior updates to the 997 trumps the turbo. Even then I love the NA 3.8 sound and power band.

termigni

997.2 S over the 996 Turbo. 997.2 NA engine and interior does it for me.

php

If comparing 997.2 S vs 996 Turbo that would be a hard choice....I'm not sure which one I would pick. But if you're talking 997.1 S, then I pick 996 Turbo all day every day. In fact, since you mentioned 996 Turbo S....I think I'll still take the Turbo S over a 997.2 S.....it's a Turbo S after all with that leman engine.......and I am of those who prefer 997 styling, but 996 looks are just fine for me as well. Turbo S........yes

SpeedyD

996 Turbo is a cool car. Have driven a few and there is no way I would choose one over a 997.2 S.

The 997.2 is pretty much equal performance but with better exhaust note, better looks, better chassis, no turbo lag.

If someone was looking to tune a car heavily though, the 996 turbo is a better option.

GoldenGorilla

I voted with my wallet for the 997 2 C4S.

The stats are fairly close on paper, but that can be deceiving. I was on a highway a while back and a 996 Turbo pulled up next to me and then dropped the hammer. There was no way I could have kept up unless I was already in 3rd at that moment. The power band in the turbo is so broad.

I think you really have to drive both to determine which speaks to you. Its not like the 997.2 is slow.

Carreralicious

As sweet as the engine is in the Turbo, I can’t choose it on the engine alone, as the rest of the car’s experience matters to me too. After owning a 986 based Boxster for many years, that interior just seems too old and dated now, and also I don’t like the older weird shaped headlamps on the 996 models which look like Shrek ears to me. I’d choose the 997.

93Jaffe

I drove a 996tt recently. I might be the odd one out but I do not like the whole package. The interior felt more like Dodge than Porsche and the manual was not engaging. Granted that could have just been the car I was in but the clucth felt cheap, like the rental cars I've had in Europe, and the shifting feel was awful. There are cheaper options for a fast car if that's the goal.

Once you drive both I am sure you will be agreeing with most here.

Ironman88

Post 2009 even better - why?

Carreralicious

Starting from 2009, Porsche updated the engine to a Direct Injection engine without an IMS bearing and much less part count than the older engine but with more HP. Slight updates/refresh of exterior and improvements in the interior as well.

Fined

It depends on your goals and desires. When I was sure I wanted a 911 the sporty car I had at the time was a turbo AWD. I was sure I did not want a turbo AWD sports car anymore. I do love a turbocharged car, but for my 911 I want N/A. That would be one easy thing to help me decide. There are strong merits to turbocharging. Boost is addictive, first of all. Thats one of the things I, oddly, found as a downfall to having my fun car be turbocharged. I ended up continually wanting more (ever wonder why there are so many modified high powered turbo cars of all kinds?) and the joy of getting the car into boost, for a high powered AWD turbo car, means going from legal to illegal in 2 seconds. Ends up being somewhat limiting.

For cruising at high speeds a turbo is awesome. I wouldn't choose it for my fun car though, more for my autobahn storming cross continent holiday trips. In that case an Audi RS6 would be the ticket, but thats another discussion entirely.

hatchetf15

An X50 996 Turbo w/ aero kit is an absolute beauty! A Turbo S is great as the ultimate non-GT 996. The interior is cheap compared to any 997. No matter what you pay for it, a properly done 996TS is a $55-65k car to get to a zeroish defect baseline and ‘personalized’. A 997.2S is phenomenal. For roughly same money ($65-70), one could get a ‘12 GTS with all the goodies. A 997.1 doesn’t even get consideration. No question for me: 997.2S, fully optioned, is faster, better looking (maybe the best looking of all modern 911’s) and better performing.

Ironman88

Yes - certainly am aware of 2009 forward with the 997.2.

My question was more directed as to why "post 2009..."?? I interpreted that to mean MY2010 forward... Maybe that is not what he meant...