Yeah, I'm still SUV shopping 
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I just noticed that the flappy paddle/slushbox ones are getting into the upper reaches of my price range, which gave me bad thoughts.
Do they also suffer from similar engine problems as the 3.4L engines (yes, I know the turbos are 3.6L) or in an unmodified one actually a reasonably robust car.
Disclaimer: I don't much care for 911s. I might be recalling things incorrectly as a result of the aforementioned lack of caring.
I believe that engine is an evolution of the GT1 engine and is perfectly capable of absurd power levels. I understand that they are very sturdy and don't suffer the afflictions of the Carrera engines.
Edit: Quick check seems to confirm my memory. The turbo engine is of the old split case design. It has no desires to be a paper weight.
Turbo's are fun to modify, but honestly the 997 2S is a significantly better car to live with and drive and in some cases cheaper.
Didn't look like 997s are cheaper or the same price out here so far but I'll keep an eye open. I do however need AWD so C2s and 2Ss are out. At least the turbos are all AWD...
Yep, the Turbo used an evolution of the Mezger engine, which was first developed for the 956, which in itself was an evolution of the 934/935/936 engine which had been in use since 1976. They have had some time to work the kinks out, so you won't have any problems with a 996 Turbo engine.
If you need AWD, the Turbo may still not be your bag. IIRC the front wheels can only receive up to 30% of the power. That said, they are one of the easiest to drive quickly cars in the Porsche world.
I love the one we have at work, and I flog it regularly! I will contend that it is probably the best bargain on the supercar market right now.
My best advice is to drive one. A 996 turbo can be a very unforgiving car. I would go 928s4 or 951 before a 996t
I will give it to the 996 for looks.
Maroon92 wrote:I love the one we have at work, and I flog it regularly!
have i mentioned that I'm jealous?
dean1484 wrote:My best advice is to drive one. A 996 turbo can be a very unforgiving car. I would go 928s4 or 951 before a 996t
I will give it to the 996 for looks.
928S4? Why?
Unforgiving? Not at all. I can put my foot to the floor on full opposite lock and it will react 100% the same way every time. It's as easy to drive quickly as any other car. Turbo lag is nearly unnoticeable, it will never catch you off guard, and it doesn't have any unsettling qualities. It was the R35 Nissan GT-R of it's time (my grandmother could set lap records in it...it's that easy to drive fast.)
If you had said 996 GT3 I would agree with you. If you had said 996 GT2, I would have run away screaming. The GT2 is balls to the wall insane nutty. The GT2 should be locked in a padded room and only allowed to be driven on miles upon miles of empty tarmac. THAT is a car that is unforgiving.
dean1484 wrote:My best advice is to drive one. A 996 turbo can be a very unforgiving car. I would go 928s4 or 951 before a 996t
I will give it to the 996 for looks.
Bull the 996 turbo especially in a tiptronic is one of the easiest cars in the world to fast in, and they are extremely comfortable. You can put someone who has never even been on a track in one and they will destroy 90% of the field with minimal fuss and distemper. Then put you wife in it and take her to dinner, two states over in good comfort.
I've not driven the 996 Turbo, but I have rung out a tiptronic 997 Turbo. It was extremely easy to drive, in fact it felt a little numb compared to a rwd 911. It was also biblically fast - point it straight, peg the throttle, and before you can breathe you're hitting well into the triple digits with no fuss or drama at all. The speed was a rush, but I actually prefer a little more drama 
nderwater wrote:I've not driven the 996 Turbo, but I have rung out a tiptronic 997 Turbo. It was extremely easy to drive, in fact it felt a little numb compared to a rwd 911. It was also biblically fast - point it straight, peg the throttle, and before you can breathe you're hitting well into the triple digits with no fuss or drama at all. The speed was a rush, but I actually prefer a little more drama
If you think a 997.1TT Tip is quick, try a 997.2TT PDK. Epic acceleration does not even begin to describe it.
I can't even imagine. The Tip made the Lamborghini I had just driven feel slow and awkward.
The 996tt is one of the best bang for the buck deals out there. They've depreciated like rocks and you can buy one for low to mid $30k's all day long with fairly low mileage.
The engines and turbos are very robust, the cars have very few faults really, with the exception of a 2nd gear pop out issue on the early 2001-2 cars and the wing hydraulics failing.
A friend bought a cherry 2001 with 50k miles on it for $35k and it's been extremely dependable for him, to the point that he DD's it.
Maroon92 wrote:Yep, the Turbo used an evolution of the Mezger engine, which was first developed for the 956, which in itself was an evolution of the 934/935/936 engine which had been in use since 1976. They have had some time to work the kinks out, so you won't have any problems with a 996 Turbo engine.
If you need AWD, the Turbo may still not be your bag. IIRC the front wheels can only receive up to 30% of the power. That said, they are one of the easiest to drive quickly cars in the Porsche world.
I love the one we have at work, and I flog it regularly! I will contend that it is probably the best bargain on the supercar market right now.
I'm aware of the power distribution - IIRC that's pretty much the same on all AWD 911s since the 964 C4. Given the traction that even the 2WD ones have thanks to that big lump behind the rear wheels that should be more than adequate. It's just that out here, your DD needs to be AWD for winter. Although I must admit that the snow tires for the 996t are a little on the scarily expensive side.
docwyte wrote:The 996tt is one of the best bang for the buck deals out there. They've depreciated like rocks and you can buy one for low to mid $30k's all day long with fairly low mileage.
The engines and turbos are very robust, the cars have very few faults really, with the exception of a 2nd gear pop out issue on the early 2001-2 cars and the wing hydraulics failing.
A friend bought a cherry 2001 with 50k miles on it for $35k and it's been extremely dependable for him, to the point that he DD's it.
That's good to know, because I would have to DD that car...
Hummmmmm Then what 911 turbo am I thinking of. I drove one in the late 80's on the track and it scared the you know what out of me. No warning and it would swap ends and god forbid if you lift.
EDIT: My mistake I am thinking 930 not 996
I still would take a 928s4 over an early 911. Something about a big GT supercar. I have not driven a modern 997. I have been told that they are spectacular cars.
Sonic and I know of a 1-owner 996TT X50 that was still on its original turbos at ~320k miles. 
They are stout cars. Pricey when something goes wrong, but certainly well-built/engineered.
In reply to dean1484:
Oh--and the later 928's were indeed spectacular. My uncle owned one and it was a glorious machine. It always had electrical issues (IIRC, a ton of solenoids underneath the driver's seat that never wanted to cooperate) but he drove it for well over 100k miles and the only thing that ever "broke" was the steering rack ($1200).
The engine was awesome. Pulled like satan. It tops my list of cars to take on a long road trip.
There's a guy on rennlist with over 200k on his 996tt. Motor and tranny have never been opened, original turbos. Just normal maintenance and he's replaced the radiators.
No way would I put a 928 into the same hemisphere as a 996tt in both performance and reliability.
docwyte wrote:There's a guy on rennlist with over 200k on his 996tt. Motor and tranny have never been opened, original turbos. Just normal maintenance and he's replaced the radiators.
No way would I put a 928 into the same hemisphere as a 996tt in both performance and reliability.
They aren't even on the same planet!
(Not saying I wouldn't love a well-cared-for 928 GTS....)
dean1484 wrote:Hummmmmm Then what 911 turbo am I thinking of. I drove one in the late 80's on the track and it scared the you know what out of me. No warning and it would swap ends and god forbid if you lift.
EDIT: My mistake I am thinking 930 not 996
996TT is 2001 to 2005. That's three generations of 911 Turbo removed from the 930.
930 WILL kill you. Not a question of if, a question of when.
Maroon92 wrote: The GT2 should be locked in a padded room and only allowed to be driven on miles upon miles of empty tarmac. THAT is a car that is unforgiving.
Had the pleasure of riding in one with some sort of turbo upgrades:
I've taken to calling it the Blackbird.
