Hello Everyone,

I test drove a 996 turbo (2002) today, and it was the first time I ever drove one, I have been a passenger in many high power turbos before, but I have never had the special day of driving one until today.

First off, Wow, the boost is amazing and addicting! Power wise the car feels like a whole different car, and handling wise the car feels the same as a 4s.

Two quick questions about the 996 turbo:

Why is the clutch so light, like to press the pedal down it took no effort. In my 4s the clutch is very stiff, but I know for sure that the clutch is not worn, and there are no other problems with the car. The clutch on this turbo honestly felt like a VW or Honda clutch.

And my 4s doesn't have a short shifter, but the turbo did, and why is it so notchy and hard to put into gear? My 4s shifter is as smooth as glass when you shift, while the turbo shifter felt like it was hitting something "solid" every time the car was being shifted. But I love the shortness of the shifter.

Anyways, I had such a fun drive driving the turbo, it defiantly put a huge smile on my face!!

-Alex

 

No one??

 

I have a TT and I think the clutch pedal feels the same as the one in my 02 996. I know the TT has a clutch assist, so maybe that's why it feels light. In terms of the short shifter, they will feel notchy if not adjusted right. That's not unique to the TT. Now that you've driven one, you won't be the same.

 

I had a C4, not the "S," and when I went to the Turbo, there was a definite difference in the clutch. The Turbo clutch has a much lighter feel. I friend of mine has a C4S and just went to the Turbo - and he said the same thing.

 

Turbo clutch is assisted for all of us weak drivers!

Short shifters can be a bit notchy, my turbo likes to be shifted slowly into 2nd, can't force it in!

Very different cars. Both are unique and fun in their own way. The turbo is obviously faster but the C4S has a unique and visceral thrill (mainly due to amazing sounding exhaust) IMO. I had an '02 C4S with PSE, intake, chip and headers and it was one of the best sounding cars that I've ever owned! My dad now owns it and LOVES it. I miss that car but my turbo makes up for it...

 

I recently sold 2003 C4S with 17k miles and bought a 2003 TT with 7k miles. My observation is that my clutch is a little light in the TT. both cars had stock clutch.
FWIW.

 

If you do a seach on clutch pressure, you'll find a number of posts about the assisted clutch on the Turbos. I may be wrong, but I recall something that the higher HP turbos required a stiffer clutch pressure plate, so they designed the clutch to be assisted so that it wouldn't be unbearably stiff.

I definitely miss the better clutch feel of my 996C2 vs my current Turbo. I also put a B&M short shifter in my 996C2 and hated it, so I took it out after only a week. When I bought my 996TT it already had a Porsche short shifter, which is a tiny bit better than the B&M, but I still don't really like it. Still thinking of taking it out.

I've had short shifters in a couple of my other cars which I loved, but for some reason the 996 versions are so notchy still.

 

I definitely noticed the difference in the clutch pressure. TT is Very light compared to the C4S. After a month of driving the TT I no longer think about it. I had SSK in the C4S and actually moved the SSK from the C4S to my TT. Again, it took a little getting used to but now I shift without thinking about it and I shift very smoothly, and quickly. Would never go back.

So drive the TT for a short period of time and you will be thrilled. I loved my C4S but am so much happier with the TT. Just my 2 cents.

 

I went from a 996 C4S to a 996 TT and took it back to the garage right after to check the clutch wasn't on it's way out. It's assisted which is why it's light.
The gearbox on the TT (GT2/3) is a bit notchier, but that's due to it having to cope with much more power and being a completely different gearbox. As Sensitive47 says, you get used to the different feel the more you drive it.

Go for it, you won't regret it.

B

 

Thanks for the responses guys!