Prepare to eat these words when you buy a 996TT. Nothing else will satisfy you (in the price range you mentioned) so just find the right car for you and your budget and pull the trigger. Best of luck, and hoping to hear that one is in your driveway soon.

 

you will have lot more fun with 996tt than the 997 c2. The price on 996 tt wont depreciate as much as the 997

 

Ha Ha Ha... Time will tell my friend. I came from WRX and STI too. (1st mod wrx couple with Turbonetic t4/t3 and later STI engine swap.) When I got 996tt and repeated to myself " no mod & no mod! "
6months past. Tial turbos, Protomotive tune, exhaust, header, injectors, Evom V flow, big intake and ICs keeps coming.
But this is what I want to cheer you. Mod STI is nobody. It would not survive challenge from plenty of sport cars even wannabe one. But mod 996tt would be fun for you. It would pretty stand up to anything out there. And many time it flexs its muscle over them.

 

Not modding turbo (& buying watches & pimping out your garage) is impossible, unless you throw away your computer and stop visiting these forums - which I should have done!

If you are truly going to keep it stock, probably the biggest con about the 996TT is the stock suspension - its way too soft. I think this is the one place where a stock 997 C2 (with PASM) has an worthwhile advantage.