better ECU, better AWD, better suspension, updated GT1 engine with GT3 oil pump with dual pickups, better piston design, dual oil coolers, updated heads casting, electric water pump for turbo cooling, better intake manifold and TB, better fuel system ( 2 pumps ), better turbos, better

 

you forgot better

 

oh did i mension 997 has 40 degrees of variocam movement instead of 30 in 996

and that is better

 

It's hard to argue for the 996 when the price delta is 20K or less. If I was in your shoes, I'd go for a 997tt.
I'm with you on keeping your car for a very long time. That is my plan too and it makes investing more money in the car pretty painless.

 

I believe if you did the math again you would find neither car makes much financial sense.

If you buy a Turbo, 996 or 997, over a lesser car math takes a back seat to emotion.

The 996 being the older car will depreciate less, cost less to insure, cost less to register. Being the older car it will probably need more things taken care of as time and miles take their toll. However, it reads like you are not going to be putting "big" miles on the car so running costs will probably be pretty low. But things will crop up nonetheless.

From your list of cars, to me then the 996 Turbo makes the best choice. Very well cared for. Reasonable (dare I say "low"?) miles. It costs less to get into.

Be sure you get the stock exhaust if possible.

While the 997 Turbo has some improvements no one is throwing away 996 Turbos because the 997s are that much better.

Oh, I'd leave the 996 Turbo stock. Modifying the car just adds to your cost and you will probably not get this cost back when/if you sell or trade in the car.

 

996tt gets my vote. Not because I own one, but because of the overall feel of the vehicle (rawness and driver to vehicle connection) when compared to the many 997tt I have driven. It reminds me of the same feeling the 2003 zo6 gives off compared to a 2006 z06. I love the lines of the 996tt compared to the 997tt as they seem to have a beautiful body line. From an interior prospective the 997tt definitely looks updated, but only slightly to the untrained eye and this did not justify the more than marginal price difference. A 996tt just seems more unique even though some do not favor the headlights I seem to like them. However, I have never been one to follow the "what looks cool" approach. Different strokes for different folks I guess. The difference to me didn't justify the price increase so I chose to buy the cheaper 996tt and have spent some money tailoring the vehicle to meet my needs. Everyday I see the car or drive it, I know I made the right choice financially and emotionally.

 

You asked.

I'd invest the $65K in a biotechnology mutual fund for 2 years. You should then have close to $120K. Take a disrtibution of $55K and buy a terrific low mile '6TT. It should not depreciate from here on out if you keep it in nice shape. Keep the remaining $65 in the fund or what ever sector is hot.

You really don't give us much to go on. How old are you, married? kids? rent? own? yearly income?

Really hard to give advice knowing so little about your situation. I'm very happy with my 996 TT. I could trade it in tomorrow on a brand new one and pay $XXK difference. Would I be that much happier?

 

996 Turbo, yup leave it stock. It will hold its value, maybe even start appreciating as these are getting harder to find unmolested.

 

What would I do with 65K? I'd look for and BUY a 50-70k mile (higher mileage) 997 Turbo! My buddy has a 997.1 stock slush box and that thing is just insane compared to my 996T. Plus the new updated interior is soooo much nicer IMO than the 996. I think you will be happier in the end going with the newer gen. Good luck!

 

^ or maybe we can get lucky like the supra guys. They can have a totally molested car and still demand high return and get it!

 

I'm a recent buyer (get my car tomorrow), and I was in the exact same position as you.

My budget was $65k-70K (max) - ended up spending $72K (Like some have said, if you find the right car, go for it and worry about the extra couple thousand later)..

I ended up buying a relatively low mile, highly moded (tastefully), and very unique 996TT instead of a 997tt which I could have gotten for less actually ($65K)..

(You can see specs of my car in the Blue Dream 996TT thread).

If Al's Minerva blue 996TT wasn't on the market, I would have most likely gone with a 997TT.. However it was available, and the characteristics of an awesome 996TT is more rare than a 997TT.. It fit what I wanted as a company demo vehicle. I was going to have to mod a car anyway, and I found one that was done very well (and mainted very well - I think that is a huge key in making a decision for an older model).

Good luck!

 

I'm a finance person as well and it is a senseless purchase LOL

That said, get the one you like. I personally liked the 997TT a little better but not $20k better!

Even in stock form, they're both fast cars that you will enjoy for a long time.

 

I don't know about that in regards to the 996tt.
Two years ago I actually wanted a GTR, was looking for one under 70k, the best I could find was high mileaged abused 09s, and the late models were over 100-110k. 997s were over 80-90k min and 996s were in the 40s. Two years later I can find 2011-2012 gtrs around 70ish, even 2014s are about 85k I can't believe how far the newer models have come down, and 65-70k will put u in a 997tt but 996tts are still in the 40s if not slightly higher, they've been pretty stable for few years now. The 996tt seems to have leveled off and not really depreciating any further.

 

Not so better "Spun" Camshaft issues, and yes it will happen to most if not all of the 997T according to this thread.
http://rennlist.com/forums/997-turbo...-camshaft.html

 

anyone trying to sell you on a 996 turbo over a 997 turbo is mistaken about that being the wiser choice or "better" car. you can make the 997.1 tt just as 'raw" as any DD of the car would need with a couple of very simple mods.

the 997.1tt is the "better" car in spite of the shared gt1 block. it's the 997.2 where things get even more muddled up, but that doesnt seem to be your concern, based upon the criteria you've stated

i'll say it again since i enjoy typing, get a "relatively" higher mileage 997.1tt tune it with a nice exhaust and drive it for as many years as you like. i'm on my 2nd 96t and i was able to slide sideways into my 2nd 96t and pocket a nice wad of change or else i'd be bothering the nice people over in the 997t forum. they dont know how lucky they are lol