9964s vs 997 - what to buy
05-14-2012, 09:10 PM
#47
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
I just drove these two cars back to back ... dropping of my new-to-me 06 Carrera cabriolet at the dealership and they gave me an 04 C4S coupe as a loaner.
(I once owned a 99 C2 cab and an 02 Targa, but had been driving a 993 since 2006.)
Back to back, the 04 C4S felt comparable in power to the base 997. What I had forgotten about was the characteristic high pitched "whine" of the 996 motor when you rev it up, almost like a jet engine. That never really sounded like a 911 to me -- I've been driving various 911s since 1990. The 997 is much throatier sounding.
The car felt planted, and braked well, but the gearbox on the 996 is as I remembered it ... too notchy and the shifter feels rattly and loose in the gate. I think the 997's shifter is a huge improvement and much closer to the 993, a more heavy and positive feeling. The 996 shifter reminds me of a Honda shifter, too light and notchy.
As to the interior, this car happened to have the full-leather dash, which is a big improvement, so the car didn't feel as plasticky as some of the 996s do.
Overall, the 996 is powerful and drives well, but I really think the 997 is big step in the right direction, at least for those who have owned multiple air-cooled cars. I'm happy with my choice, and it was good to drive this one, as I was briefly tempted by the low prices on the 996 Turbos, and as stellar as the performance is in that car, I would not have been happy for long in it, something I discovered in a hurry after the 99 996 and 02 Targa I owned. I went right back to the 993 from those cars.
YMMV ...
(I once owned a 99 C2 cab and an 02 Targa, but had been driving a 993 since 2006.)
Back to back, the 04 C4S felt comparable in power to the base 997. What I had forgotten about was the characteristic high pitched "whine" of the 996 motor when you rev it up, almost like a jet engine. That never really sounded like a 911 to me -- I've been driving various 911s since 1990. The 997 is much throatier sounding.
The car felt planted, and braked well, but the gearbox on the 996 is as I remembered it ... too notchy and the shifter feels rattly and loose in the gate. I think the 997's shifter is a huge improvement and much closer to the 993, a more heavy and positive feeling. The 996 shifter reminds me of a Honda shifter, too light and notchy.
As to the interior, this car happened to have the full-leather dash, which is a big improvement, so the car didn't feel as plasticky as some of the 996s do.
Overall, the 996 is powerful and drives well, but I really think the 997 is big step in the right direction, at least for those who have owned multiple air-cooled cars. I'm happy with my choice, and it was good to drive this one, as I was briefly tempted by the low prices on the 996 Turbos, and as stellar as the performance is in that car, I would not have been happy for long in it, something I discovered in a hurry after the 99 996 and 02 Targa I owned. I went right back to the 993 from those cars.
YMMV ...
05-19-2012, 09:56 PM
#50
Race Director
