bcarr22

Hi All,

Title says it all. The car will be my daily driver. Can anyone comment on reliability? I'm in SoCal, so AWD in the Turbo isn't really needed so much. Not very much inclement weather to worry about. Probably a dumb question, but is there a significant increase in acceleration in the Turbo over that in the 997?

Drove a Carrera S yesterday. Sweet machine. Well optioned. I especially liked the PASM/Sport Chronos duo of options. Together, they make the car a real hoot to drive. The PASM truly provides a comfortable ride on bumpy freeway surfaces and can tighten up the entire car with a single touch of the Sport Chronos button on the lower dash. Very responsive, fun car.

Haven't driven a 996 Turbo yet. Should I bother?

A 2008 Carrera S lists for about $100k. I've seen similarly optioned 2005 examples going for $60k-$65k-ish on AutoTrader.com. Are there any ****** in the 997's armor, given that 2005 was the first year? I've seen mint '01/'02 996 Turbos going for low $50s to $60k-ish. For the sake of discussion, let's just say the used 996 Turbo and 2005 997 Carrera S are similarly priced. Which should I go with and why?

Or....... should I wait and go with a 2009 Carrera S - also around $100k? Will there be that many significant changes or improvements?

I'm in a real quandry. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Best,
Brad

Mussl Kar

If you can wait a few months then go for the 09. 380 hp with better fuel economy to boot.
Search back because there is already a long thread about this.

GHills

Dude, you're in a real quandry? It sounds like you've driven 1 example of 1 911. Have you seen the inside of a 996? They look different.

agdamis

Brad - I went through a very similar dilemma and I went with the 2005 997S. My reasons were very subjective, 1) I liked the way the 997 drove better, 2) I am not a huge fan of the turbo, prefer naturally aspirated motors, although I have driven 993TTs and 996TTs and they are intoxicating when they spool up, 3) I not a fan of the 996 looks outside but particularly inside.

If you do no track and just want a super car that can be driven daily and you can open up on the highway way the 996TT is right for you, drive them both and see what you like. 997S and 996TT are both a lot of car for $55K to $65K. 2005 997S have had no issues to speak off and you can get 997s CPO'd with extended warranty.

Which ever you go with I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Best of luck.

David A

The 996 Turbo has a much better motor ( derived from the 964).

ELUSIVE

For me it was all about how much I hated the 996 interior and headlights.

Vitamin_J

I'm not so sure about the 996 motor comment. The 997 is miles different in the cockpit. It will be an obvious choice when you test drive them both on the same afternoon.

pl

get 09 with PDK

yemenmocha

1. I don't think the stock acceleration times are much better for the 996TT, but I'd wager they're slightly better. Keep in mind there's some HP loss due to it being AWD instead of RWD. If acceleration matters a lot to you, get the 996TT and with a few cheap mods you can have significantly better acceleration.

2. 996 interior and headlights look horrible to me, and many others, but of course that is subjective. Keep in mind that it is the interior you're looking at much of the time that you're actually driving the car, so this should be an important reason. The 997 is more of a classic body style, whereas the 996 strikes me as more of an attempt to look more modern, and failed. In a few years there's no question which one I'd rather own.

3. If you buy used, make sure you've got the PPI, warranty, and in an ideal world you know the previous owner. People thrash on their turbos and base Carreras, and I'd prefer to know if the previous owner was responsible or not.

AP997S

When I was looking early last year I was confronted w/ the same issue. I quickly decided on a 997; the 996 interior looked and felt just like my 2001 (987) Boxster. The 997 interior is so much more refined.

I'm sure you'll find the 'ride of your life' in the 997.

GL

jumper5836

Your kidding right, with a simple flash to the ecu the 996TT is faster then the 997TT, thinking a 997 S is even in the same ball park is quite funny.

Targa Tim

I drove both and picked 997S. The only advantage 996TT had are faster acceleration, can mod for even faster, 4WD if you need them, and some said GT1 engine. Everything else 997S is better - looks, chassis, steering feel, interior, and most people will prefer a 2WD.

You can't go wrong with either. But this is the 997 board, what answer do you expect?

jumper5836

I wouldn't go with a 997 S. Wait for the 09 997 S. It is a huge improvement. The 996 TT engine is more durable and doesn't have the leaky RMS problem that all the other models have.
I read an above post where someone's saying there is hp loss with AWD. Technically the AWD is only 5% to the front and 95% to the rear. There is no loss at all because when the rear wheels lose traction the power is sent to the front. When as in a C2's when the rears lose traction the wheels spin and the HP is lost.

Now the choice for a mkII 997 S and a 996 TT, I would go with the 997 S. Mostly because I track my car and the TT's power is not really all that well used at the track unless you have nice long straights. The 400 lbs extra weight really doesn't help in the corners and AWD really is needed to keep this heavy weight planted around the corners.
If I was looking for a non-track car. I think I would take the 996TT. The power is freaking crazy.

As for looks the 996 TT is a widebody and I love the bi-xenons. Having all the turn signals and other lights all in one spot and not shoved into the front bumper leaves room for that awesome front bumper.
The 996TT is full leather and looks much better then the standard 996 interior. It doesn't look that bad, though I agree the 997 interior is better looking and modern but having the window functions on the door rather then the center console is not my preference.
From the rear the 996 widebody is the best *** ever on a 911. The 997 hips are nicer looking at in from the front but from the rear they have lifted the hips to high and increased the hieght of the rear deck lid which makes it look like a basketball is stuck up its ***.

bcarr22

Thanks for all the replies. You've really got me thinking. ;-)

I've had several Porsches in the past. I've had a 914, 944S, a Boxster, but no 911. Sometimes I can get the keys to my wife's Cayenne S Titanium Series away from her. We love the Cayenne S, BTW. The comments about a more modern interior are spot on. That's one of the things I thought about as I looked at the 996TT ads after driving the 997S. My first thought was, "Man, that dash looks dated." I never thought about it until I drove the S. Hmmm.

I don't want to diss any TT owners' or their cars, for sure. It was good to hear from several who have gone through the same process; choosing between a 997S or 996TT. I'm monitoring a similar thread over in the 996TT forum. I still want to drive a TT before making my decision. I'll have to find a dealer with one on the lot, since, out of respect, I have a hard and fast rule against joy rides in cars for sale by private party. If my test drive is for research, it's always in a dealer's car.

If I had to make my decision without first driving the 996TT, I'd lean heavily toward the 997S. It's plenty fast for my purposes, even though it may or may not be 996TT fast. I like the more modern interior, which is what I'll be looking at most. It appears my reliability concerns about the 996TT are unfounded, though I'd purchase an extended warranty, for sure.

But the curves of that 996TT are a sight to behold! Gotta drive one and see. ;-)

Anyway, thanks again for your responses.

Best,
Brad

Kamran

Don't!!!
The boost is so addicting.