Dave Thornton

I've been browsing the ads on Pistonheads as a 911 would be my next car. The way the economy's going they'll be at their best value by the middle of next year.

So £16-17k would get me a good 996 Carrera 2 or 4 (4wd being my preference as I live in the country)
But then £17-18k would mean I could have it in Seal Grey, my favourite colour
But then again, if I went to £19-£20k I could forego the Seal Grey and get a lovely C4S
Add on the £1k again and I could get the Seal Grey back
But hang on, you can get an early 997 for £23k, so much nicer interior and I'm told it handles safer than a 996 4wd
£24k for a 997 in my favorite colour
£25k for the more powerful 997 Carrera S if I opted for tiptronic
£26k for a manual 997 Carrera S in Seal Grey
and it keeps going to the point where I don't have the money ...

Anyone else experienced this dilemma (for any modelof car)?
I wonder if a 996 C4S will hold its value better than an early 997 C2 over the longer term?

Jimpreza

Had exactly the same dilemma when I got my 335i. I was looking for a mint e46 M3 then realised I could get a 335i with the dct box for a few quid more. Then a mate was selling his E92 M3 for a few quid more but it would have been a manual. I decided to get the 335i as was just as quick as the E46 M3 and I wanted the dct box.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

I played that game and lost...


...and won at the same time if you see what I mean!

stilover

997 Carrera S manual.

fawor

iTrader: (3)

carrera 2 S 997
better than 996- interior,body/looks, lighter than 4S 997 -same stick on road what I read.
I would consider gt3 yet but 30k or more for 996 and with carrera You could drive all day i think, against gt3.
hard decison in future- cl 600 v12 bi turbo , sl55amg,bmw m3 e90, nissan gt-r or
500hp scoob

Dingdongler

997 everyday of the week over a 996. Imho the 996 was one of the worst model series Porsche made, anything other than a GT3/RS looked awful and had an awful interior.

The 997 tried to mimic the 993 more and hence looks much nicer.

PS yes the 996 C4S looks nice as well but I've heard it's heavy and underpowered.

stilover

Try for a Carrera S with the power pack upgrade. 380bhp.

Steve vRS

I'd pay the extra for a 997 over a 996. I think the better looks and engineering will mean it holds more value as well as being a better car to own and drive.

I'd love to be in the position to choose!

Steve

MMT WRX

Unless it has a Metzger I wouldn't bother.

zip106

Ahem...there's no 't' in Mezger....

MMT WRX

You're so right

Unless it has a Mezger I wouldn't bother.

zip106

In a 911 I agree.

But 911's ain't all that.....

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Completely agree

scoobyc

iTrader: (2)

996 turbo for 25k? ...

you can also get a couple year old cayman s' for around 20k i think.

zip106

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3279381.htm

The owner of this car knows everything about Porsches - a cracking car from a fastidious and knowledgeable owner.

Brun

........can't have know everything - he bought a 996

Dingdongler

I test drove a 996 Turbo tip about 5 or 6 years ago and must say it was the most disappointing drive ever. I had been dreaming about owning one for years and really wanted it to be good.

The turbo already had issues with a somewhat non linear delivery of power and lack of aural pleasure but the tip box just killed it.

I have never driven the manual 996 tt which might be a lot better.

DJ_Jon

iTrader: (7)

I'm in a similar position at the moment. I'm looking at either chopping in my 135 against a 997 or maybe going down the classic 911 route, either a 964 or 993. Good ones are hard to source though.

Edit: I didn't realise I could get a 996 Turbo for the same or less money than I was thinking of spending... hmmmm... *strokes chin*

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Turbos are autobahn cruisers for fat, middle aged men.

They even come with special 'comfort'* seats.






* For fat *****!

DJ_Jon

iTrader: (7)

Checks D.O.B - approaching 40 - check

Checks hemorroids... check

So, you think they are crap then Trout?

I was looking at spunking £35k on a C2s 997 - admittedly the interior on the 996 is hideous, but I can live with that when its 420bhp out of the box. Is the 997 a hugely better car?

Terminator X

iTrader: (7)

Jealousy is a terrible thing trout

TX.

Terminator X

iTrader: (7)

They built them for c7 years didn't they, a few peeps must have bought them!

TX.

zip106

A tip turbo isn't my thing.
Mine was a manual X50 so better

I wouldn't have one again - be it 996, 997 or 991 turbo.

They're just not interesting enough...

Dingdongler

I must say that the 997 turbo manual I drove felt much better. It felt more lithe and nimble than the 996, it gave me the impression I could have more fun it.

Driving it whilst owning the M5 was interesting, though the 997tt was faster and the torque miles ahead, once again the slightly non linear delivery of power made it feel a little less honest than my V10. And once again it didn't really have any sort of engine note to speak of.

Would still give my left arm to own a 997 Turbo S PDK though!!

zip106

You'd be bored ****less even with the PDK S, Ding.

As you say, there's just no sense of occasion with these cars.
Bloody fast, yes - but as I found out, much more fun to be had with a lighter, less powerful car.

The wave of torque is nice, but having just driven the D3 from Notts to Wellingborough and back tonight, I had the same amount of torque under my bum that I had in my 996tt.

And I liked it much more in the Alpina...

scoobyc

iTrader: (2)

did u just say you prefer your d3 to your 911 turbo?

zip106

Yes, I did.

For that particular journey I did last night.

Perhaps having had the 996tt for 2 years I've been spoiled and also having another Porsche sat here doesn't help (which I also prefer over the turbo) - but really, the D3 is comfier, quieter in a good way and generally a much, much nicer place to sit.

zip106

Yes, I did.

For that particular journey I did last night.
And if I still had the turbo? I'd still have used the D3.

So good, people don't know what they're missing!

Perhaps having had the 996tt for 2 years I've been spoiled and also having another Porsche sat here doesn't help (which I also prefer over the turbo) - but really, the D3 is comfier, quieter in a good way and generally a much, much nicer place to sit.

scoobyc

iTrader: (2)

fair enough

Trout

iTrader: (1)

What? Like a GT3?


I did tell you