Looking to buy 996 TT as daily driver

[vv23]

Hey guys. I'm new to the form but don't own a Porsche yet. I'm looking to purchase a 2001 996 Twin Turbo as my daily driver.

Just had a few questions regarding driving Porsches in winter. We get quite a bit of snow in Alberta, is the 4 wheel drive able to handle it? Ofcourse, i would have winter tires in winter.

Currently I have a 2001 BMW 530i sport rear wheel drive and it runs fine all winter with winter tires, so my guess would be the Porsche would be better. The Porsche is low, but so is the BMW so ground clearance i think would be similar.

Howmany people run the 996's in winter?

Also, what are some common problems to watch out for in these cars? I'm still in the process of reviewing them.

Thanks.

[Loren]

:welcome:

In one phrase - 4 wheel drive. The TT has 4WD - I suspect it will handle much better.

[vv23]

:welcome:

In one phrase - 4 wheel drive. The TT has 4WD - I suspect it will handle much better.

Yah I would suspect so.

But is it a reliable car to drive in winter? Or will I be running into a lot of expensive problems? People drive Boxters all winter round here.

[somahone]

i have a 2001 996TT.

If the BMW is low the 996tt will be lower and it has a poorer entry / exit angles due to the splitter and rear tail, which means getting in and out of driveways and crossing spoon drains at intersections etc becomes a minor inconvenience.

Also the 996TT has a very stiff chassis and small suspension travel and again crossing gutter, speed humps etc can cause the vehicle to lift wheels completely.

I have a couple of large speed humps which I cross diagonally and the car 'rocks' over them as you crawl over the hump.

You might also consider that if driving in snow the 996TT has very tight clearances between the front wings and tyres and the front air intakes are very good at 'hovering' crap from the road.

Despite this if your prepared to look after and maintain a 996TT then a daily drive is very rewarding.

Scott

Edited December 30, 2007 by somahone

[vv23]

i have a 2001 996TT.

If the BMW is low the 996tt will be lower and it has a poorer entry / exit angles due to the splitter and rear tail, which means getting in and out of driveways and crossing spoon drains at intersections etc becomes a minor inconvenience.

Also the 996TT has a very stiff chassis and small suspension travel and again crossing gutter, speed humps etc can cause the vehicle to lift wheels completely.

I have a couple of large speed humps which I cross diagonally and the car 'rocks' over them as you crawl over the hump.

You might also consider that if driving in snow the 996TT has very tight clearances between the front wings and tyres and the front air intakes are very good at 'hovering' crap from the road.

Despite this if your prepared to look after and maintain a 996TT then a daily drive is very rewarding.

Scott

I think i can live with all those, i've been doing some research and it seems quite a bit of people drive the 996 TT in winter without problems. I guess Edmonton's not too bad, not too many speed bumps either, plus my daily commute is short

Thanks for the replies.

[Superfly]

I think i can live with all those, i've been doing some research and it seems quite a bit of people drive the 996 TT in winter without problems. I guess Edmonton's not too bad, not too many speed bumps either, plus my daily commute is short

Thanks for the replies.

Hi vv, there IS actually a black 996 turbo running around town right now. I don't know whose it is (neither mine nor Mikes) and I have NOT seen it, only heard of it through the grapevine.

Some of us are meeting at Earl's Whitemud Crossing in about two weeks (on the 15th). Come out and join us. Maybe you'll get some more insight on winter drives with the tt. :D

[greenboxster]

vv23 -

I don't have much guidance for what to look for or avoid, but I just took delivery of a 2003 X50 on New Year's Eve. I'm not prone to buyer's remorse but - even if I were - that car is the cure! Holycrapwhatablast! (It's so smooth and fast there's no time to hit the space bar.) I picked up a bone stock CPO car with 30,000 miles. It may be sacreligious to say here, but I think they came off the line perfect. I hate to see them modded up.

I stepped up from a Boxster S and I'll be damned but the extra 200 hp is pretty significant.

I feel very fortunate to have a wife who agreed it would make a great 40th birthday present - and there's room for my 3 and 5 year old girls in back.

Steve

PS - It has handled the Atlanta winter fine so far, so Canada should be a breeze. :lol:

[Chuck Jones]

Greenboxter: Congrats on two counts....one being the car, and the other having a wife who appreciates your desire for such a fine machine. Welcome aboard mate.

I agree with you...sort of about keeping it stock....but there are mods that serve to "liberate existing horsepower" rather than artifically add....things like a good exhaust system will liberate HP by reducing back pressure....Diverter valves help on boost etc. So even though you may not be amenable to performance enhancing thru chipping or flashing....you might consider some of the "liberating" methodologies. For me...the Europipe exhaust system was a wonderful change....not only with performance but also with the most sophisticated sound. Just my take on some of the modding issues.