I would say that if you do/can consider it a failure it has nothing to do with its safety or speed, it would have to be it's price. For $118K you can have a base model turbo with 415 hp, awd, the turbo look etc., etc. then for an additional $73,000 you get rwd, a different body kit, a spoiler and 62 horsepower. To me that sounds like a fools car.

Why spend the extra money for basically nothing? If you took a regular turbo and dumped $73K into it, you would have something that would make the gt2 look like a childs toy.

 

Uh, oh!!

Don't let Tyson hear you say that!!

 

The GT2 failed from a sales standpoint ( sold less than 20 in 2004 ) because everyone knew it lost 50-60 K in trade- in value the moment dealer stuck the temporary registation on the windshield. That car should never have had an MSRP over $149,999.

 

But WHY did it lose so much so fast?

 

That's a good question. Perhaps the value just wasn't there - the market may have made its own correction in the vehicle, and one based so closely on another that is significantly less, even if it is made in much smaller quantities, might open itself up for market correction. The GT3 is more unique than the GT2 is, due to the similarities to the TT and X50 TT. Guess it means a bunch of GT2 drivers who are buying pre-owned examples are getting a heck of a deal! Frankly, that car scares me...

 

my father is #1 on the waiting list at a local porsche dealership! My only concern is that you guys said that the porsche double clutch is standard, does this mean we can still get a stick? If not I dont know if I would be going that route(not that I can personally afford it anyways)

 

As the first on the list, if he doesn't like it, he can always flip it for likely a decent profit if you don't like the double clutch. Personally, I doubt they will offer the turbo without a "manual" option, as they went to the trouble of making their brand-new, premiere, latest-technology car (the CGT) a stick instead of F1 paddle tranny. I am pretty sure you are safe.

 

Yea you are probably right. He has been waiting for a new turbo for a long time and about a year ago put his name down on the list when a list had not even begun to form. I am hoping that the 996TT market will drop so that maybe I can have a turbo too but I def cant afford a new one unless the market becomes very kind. Anyone know what the displacement will be on the new motor? 3.8L i take it

 

490 hp? The z06 is going to blow the 997 turbos doors off and weigh 300 pounds less if not more.

 

Maybe not, sticky - many current cars with more hp and torque still dont' blow the doors off the TT nor the X50 - the rear engine layout actually helps acceleration, while many of these front engine, 50/50 weight distributed cars have their weight working against them. Think of all the inertia when that car goes back on its haunches, right where the engine weight already is, and digs in for acceleration. That's why there are still very few cars that can match a TT, and I'm sure the 997TT will match the acceleration of the GT2 currently.

 

I'd be very excited driving a 997 Turbo with DSG/PDK. As any current Turbo owner knows, it's clutch is econocar overboosted w/o any feel , has a weird high take up point ,and the shifter is not exactly the slickest or most accurate, even with the SSKs.

Imagine the Turbo engine on full boost with split second shifting and the DSG's ability to keep the power / boost going at WOT shifts and I predict a very different driving experience . I'm ready. The "purists" can have the 6 speed manual.

 

By all means let him here it, because it is the truth. Knowing what he has written in previous posts hell search his archives for some dull track facts. However the truth is, for that amount of money spent to mod a turbo, one might get a much better performing and probably a better looking car.

 

Doesnt sound like a bad idea. Just worried about what the 996 will be worth in a year and a half.
So if its introduced in Jan 06, when will we see it at the dealers?

 

Agreed.. 490 is crap... that is only 40hp over an x50 today.. The car will not be any lighter than todays and we will all have to mod...

They need to wake up... It should be 550... if it is not coming out until 06

 

That mainly applies from a stop, once rolling the z06 WILL put the power down with it's massive rear contact patch. The rear engine setup does produce lower drivetarin losses, but only in a rwd setup which is not what the turbo will be.

If anything, the z06 will be the more efficient of the two at putting actual power to the ground, traction is another story.

If the new turbo matches the current GT2 numbers that still isn't enough, but then again, does it really need to be as fast as the new z06 in a straight line?

Most people get the turbo for the brutal acceleration and daily driveability, if they want a track car porsche produces other vehicles more akin to that task.