Used 2002 996 TT or USED 2005 997 Carrera S?

[tagger]

Hi Guys

New to forum and would love to hear your opinions. I am selling my 2000 Carrera coupe this weekend ( had it from new and it has been a tremendous daily driver). I now have the fortunate situation of spending about $70k on a replacement vehicle. The replacement vehicle will be my daily driver and reliability is very important ( hence no Astons, Jags Maseratis etc despite how great they all can be on the right day!) I have narrowed it down to a used 997 Carrera S ( 2005s available with 5000 miles for about $72k approx) or a 2002 996 Turbo ( have one ready to go with less than 10 000 miles for $71k in mint condition). Different cars or should I say interiors ! Plan to purchase extended warranty from INSURANCEPOLICESONLINE.COM (about $3000 for Turbo for 6years and additional 72k miles) .By the way this is really a great policy ... it even includes keys and I have had three cars covered by it in the past and not one bit of hasssle getting repairs covered at dealerships .

I am swaying towards the Turbo (stick) and installing a SSK . I plan to drive the new vehicle about 8ooo miles per year and will keep it for about 6 to 7 years.

Please share your thoughts and preferences .

Thank you all for such an informative and friendly site.

[barry73]

Hi Tagger,

I'm new to the site also, and have just been through the same as you 5 weeks ago. I came out of a 996 C4S and was planning to upgrade to a 997 C2S before stumbling across a manual 2002 996 TT with the X50 pack fitted. I use it most days and my annual mileage is about 8k. After driving both, the C2S just didn't give me the wow factor of the Turbo and my reasoning on depreciation was that due to the C2S being a newer model, it would lose more over the next few years than the 996TT, but to be honest with you after consulting many people for their opinions, this could go either way.

Ultimately, both cars will depreciate and I just loved the Turbo (dream car since I was a kid) so made the final decision more with my heart than my head and I don't regret a thing.

Let me know what you go for.

Barry

[CarreraNYC]

Either way you can't go wrong. I previously owned a 2004 Carrera (996) which was a great car. I now have a 2007 Carrera S (997). Going from a 996 to a 997 I was surprised by the upgrade to the interior finish and placement of the controls. For me the 'S' has all the power I need for my driving. But, if you are set on a turbo, then by all means go for it. Just my .02

-Jay

[CarreraNYC]

deleted duplicate

Edited March 16, 2007 by CarreraNYC

[alpha]

Tagger -- I think both are good cars. After you drive them, you will probably have a good idea which one works best for you. The power delivery of the 996tt vs the 997 C2S is very different. The 997 will have some factory warranty remaining, and for some, that makes a difference. The AWD of the 996tt makes it easier to put the power to the ground, but also makes the handling a bit different feeling than the traditional RWD. I think you will be happy either way.

[CSDMagRed01]

I had the same decision about 4 weeks ago. I test drove multiple examples of both cars and although I liked both, the TT won my heart. They do drive very differently. The 997S felt lighter and easy to toss around and the throttle was immediate like any NA P-car. The TT with an X50 is intoxicating to drive slow or fast. I'm sure I would have been happy with the 997S but I think I'll be happy with the 996TT X50 longer.

Edited March 18, 2007 by CSDMagRed01

[smistry007]

one other thing to keep in mind the ability and ease of modifications. The TT with an ecu flash and exhaust is easily good for another 100+ horsepower and with new turbos, some people are putting out 700hp!

I doubt similar modifications are possible for the 997.

Good Luck!

Sameer

[zaverdi]

Had the same dilemma 4 months ago. I came out of a 2003 996 anniversary model and I decided to move on with a 2002 996 TT. Wow, I made the right decision... :jump:

[glh]

Had a similar problem coming out of 2001 C4 wondering between a newer C4S or TT, went with the Turbo to no regrets at all.

[GearUp]

If you can, drive them both and then decide. Either would be an excellent choice.

Personally, I bought a 996tt last year and think it's an amazing car. You might too if you drive one.

Good luck either way.

[JRL]

I faced a similar choice - bought an 02 TT 2 weeks ago. My previous experience with turbo Porsche as years ago in a 930 - 2 deacdes made a huge difference. The TT will be my wifes daily driver and my weekend toy.

[smistry007]

I faced a similar choice - bought an 02 TT 2 weeks ago. My previous experience with turbo Porsche as years ago in a 930 - 2 deacdes made a huge difference. The TT will be my wifes daily driver and my weekend toy.

"your wife's daily driver"! YOU Sir, are a better husband than I will ever be! :notworthy:

[samuel_adam]

Hi Guys

New to forum and would love to hear your opinions. I am selling my 2000 Carrera coupe this weekend ( had it from new and it has been a tremendous daily driver). I now have the fortunate situation of spending about $70k on a replacement vehicle. The replacement vehicle will be my daily driver and reliability is very important ( hence no Astons, Jags Maseratis etc despite how great they all can be on the right day!) I have narrowed it down to a used 997 Carrera S ( 2005s available with 5000 miles for about $72k approx) or a 2002 996 Turbo ( have one ready to go with less than 10 000 miles for $71k in mint condition). Different cars or should I say interiors ! Plan to purchase extended warranty from INSURANCEPOLICESONLINE.COM (about $3000 for Turbo for 6years and additional 72k miles) .By the way this is really a great policy ... it even includes keys and I have had three cars covered by it in the past and not one bit of hasssle getting repairs covered at dealerships .

I am swaying towards the Turbo (stick) and installing a SSK . I plan to drive the new vehicle about 8ooo miles per year and will keep it for about 6 to 7 years.

Please share your thoughts and preferences .

Thank you all for such an informative and friendly site.

i m in the same dilemma right now, but this is off topic.

i checked out the website you mentioned above about the extended warranty, how trustworthy are they? i m looking into extending the warranty on my 2003 M5. but i tried reading up on who are liable for the warranty when i buy it, like if its dealers or some 3rd aftermarket place, but this website is offering dead links in there. i tried calling the customer support number 5 times since last week, but the voicemail box is always full and i cant even leave a message....sounds fishy to me...

anyone else have experience with this place before? http://www.insurancepoliciesonline.com/Default.aspx

[glh]

My brother was wondering the same thing, he had driven my C4 and was telling me that it would be OK.

He went for a little try of my TT while I watched his kids... An hour and ten minutes later once he came back he never mentioned non-turbo again...

[Mikelly]

My brother was wondering the same thing, he had driven my C4 and was telling me that it would be OK.

He went for a little try of my TT while I watched his kids... An hour and ten minutes later once he came back he never mentioned non-turbo again...

Well I've recently bought a 996TT myself and was considering the 40th anniversary Carrera and the Carrera S... After tracking the car this weekend, and after having the brakes fail at 165mph, and then finding that the brakes on these cars suffer, due in no small part to the issues with weight, I might have bought a carreraS.

Just think about what you plan to do with the car. I'm an advanced driving student, and my car lapped every car on the track in the advanced group this past weekend... That said, It was a handful, even though it's partly to blame with its 175BHP extra...

If you plan to track the car, and you're a beginner/intermediate, you might think about your skills when pumping a fairly dead pedal at 165MPH at the braking markers at VIR!

Food for thought!

Mike

[viszla]

Hi Guys

New to forum and would love to hear your opinions. I am selling my 2000 Carrera coupe this weekend ( had it from new and it has been a tremendous daily driver). I now have the fortunate situation of spending about $70k on a replacement vehicle. The replacement vehicle will be my daily driver and reliability is very important ( hence no Astons, Jags Maseratis etc despite how great they all can be on the right day!) I have narrowed it down to a used 997 Carrera S ( 2005s available with 5000 miles for about $72k approx) or a 2002 996 Turbo ( have one ready to go with less than 10 000 miles for $71k in mint condition). Different cars or should I say interiors ! Plan to purchase extended warranty from INSURANCEPOLICESONLINE.COM (about $3000 for Turbo for 6years and additional 72k miles) .By the way this is really a great policy ... it even includes keys and I have had three cars covered by it in the past and not one bit of hasssle getting repairs covered at dealerships .

I am swaying towards the Turbo (stick) and installing a SSK . I plan to drive the new vehicle about 8ooo miles per year and will keep it for about 6 to 7 years.

Please share your thoughts and preferences .

Thank you all for such an informative and friendly site.

[viszla]

for me the choice was about design; i was burned by a 996 motor failure and became jaded about the newer cars until i learned that the 996 TT is a dry sump, bullet proof motor; it has turned out to be my best car ever It runs cool in 100 degree plus heat, rattles alot and makes a huge amount of torque

My 996 carrera was nice, the turbo is a brutal car. I have to laugh when the usual BMW commuters come up behind me (what they don't know won't hurt them)

[glh]

when pumping a fairly dead pedal at 165MPH at the braking markers at VIR!

Food for thought!

Mike

If you track your car and hit 165mph you might need to get a race car or modify the stock road car you have, I would not expect stock breaks to last 25 laps getting ridden in that matter, even Porsche Turbo breaks.

On the road a TT is a blast.

[PyroKerry]

I second viszla's comments. The TT motor is much stonger than the 996 motor, really no problems to speak of. With the 996 motor, there is always that chance...

[contigo]

Hands down 996TT, the after market Mods and upgrades are great...

[porschinator]

it always depends on what you want. Do you want a nice cruiser..997S or do you want to go tracking and keep up with those Z06es? Decisions, decisions. it appears that this will be your daily driver, if so I would go with the 997S.

I wish I could get my ride warrantied...total pain in CA.

[SurfCityTurbo]

I used to own an '05 Speed Yellow Carrera S. I traded it in on an '03 996TT with 7K miles. Still glad I did. There is nothing like turbo boost and I wish I would have discovered that ten years ago. One more thing, these turbos are so mod-friendly. Put some software on it, boom 85hp. Just like that. Put the same software on a Carrera S (same price too) you might see 20-25hp or so. There is a down-side to this. You become a junkie and are always craving more. I'm somewhere around 520hp at this point and I've only owned the car for six months! Even with all this hp it's still an easy car to drive around town and it's my daily driver. Look out, it's catching.

Edited May 24, 2007 by SurfCityTurbo

[SpawnyWhippet]

I had same question, drove the 997 Carrera and 996TT back to back, starting with the 996TT. After about 2 mins in the 997, I wanted to park it and get back in the 996TT

[contigo]

For me hands down the 996TT, the amount of toys and mods you can find is incredible if you want to go that way and the power you can get for little money is well worth it...

[powxxl]

for me the choice was about design; i was burned by a 996 motor failure and became jaded about the newer cars until i learned that the 996 TT is a dry sump, bullet proof motor;

I'm planning to buy a 2002 Porsche TT,

Is buying a TT the only guarantee against all the engine/rms/crankshaft failures of other 996ers?

Will I definitively not face these problems with a TT?

Thanks for any input ;)