Hello,

I am currently in the market for an 996 TT. I have yet to drive one, so I am trying to get a feel from drivers who have had experience with both M3's and 996's to chime in. I've done several searches and found many threads on the 996 versus the e90/92. I would rather have drivers opinions rather than those strictly after aesthetics.

My first e46 m3 was supercharged and produced roughly 370whp, the 2nd m3 produced roughly 430whp. I daily drove both of them, but I can't say this will be the case with the porsche. The M3's are lacking in the torque department, and while I love the BMW's, I have to say that the 996 is still wonders better than the e90/92 aesthetically speaking. Aside from the obvious good looks, what do drivers think of them? I tend to drive my m3 pretty hard in cooler seasons, here in the Arizona summers I stay off the throttle due to high intake temperatures. How do they hold up to higher miles? Should one expect to rebuild / replace turbos around 100k? From my reading, it seems the engine is rock solid.

From a drivers perspective:

-how is the power band (weak/low in certain areas on the 996?)
-any high mileage 996TT's out there? Issues you've run into?
-Does anyone daily their 996TT? What do you think of it as a daily?
-Milking them for power? BMW's are pricey to mod, I am sure porsche's are similar.

I am looking to spend around mid 40's for a used 996TT. I'd like the x50 package as well. I am a little flexible on the price depending on the car and it's history. I'd also like to stick under 50k miles if possible. Color preference is white with black interior (or even the really dark blue).

I am interested in hearing from some drivers.

Thanks

 

I had a E46 M3 2002 Laguna Seca Blue....really beatifull car,i enjoyed so much.
996TT vs. E46 M3 is a big,big difference.No way to compare both cars.

996TT are much more powerfull.If you have 400WHP you feel 400WHP,the car performances as she has the 400WHP.
The 996tt is cheaper to get more WHP then the E46 M3 because of the turbos,and when 996tt is modded then you are in another leage completly.

Stability 996tt is superior to E46 M3,brakes i liked better the E46 M3 brakes.

Try to get one with low milles,i got mine with 23k and no problem at all...now she has 43k.It's not a DD car.

Good luck on your search.

 

Thanks rdss - friend of mine has an LSB, beautiful color.

Finding one with low miles with the color I want is going to be difficult for sure. Everything I am finding is around 40-50k miles. Color preference is white / black / grey (not silver). Dark interior is a must, unless porsche offers a red interior which I would be interested in. Must be a 6spd manual as well.

I like the idea that you mentioned you can feel the power, torque is what you feel and it's a damn good feeling.

The goal will be to keep the porsche around 450-500whp, it seems I can do that with a few minor upgrades and a reflash.

 

From overall standpoint and driving experience, the M3 is a tour bus compared to a TT (unless it's a fully built racecar M3).

-how is the power band (weak/low in certain areas on the 996?)
The TT can have some lag in very low rpm ranges. Good work on turbos and tune can give a fast response, and especially at mid-higher rpm.

-any high mileage 996TT's out there? Issues you've run into?
Several. Engines are very strong. Typical gremlins are clutch slave, door switches (that drop the window when you open doors), search around I think there are threads.

-Does anyone daily their 996TT? What do you think of it as a daily?
Purely awesome. With close to stock suspension nice and comfy (everything is relative) but as with any low car you have to approach high kerbs etc pro-actively. With coilovers and other suspension mods it gets a little rough but if you love how it drives it's easy to deal with. Personal preference.

-Milking them for power? BMW's are pricey to mod, I am sure porsche's are similar.
You will get a lot of power with only DVs and a flash. The main difference is a 996TT can take A LOT of power without internal mods, and without the notorious BMW overheating issues.

Good luck and once you drove one I think you'll be sold.

 

Welcome dhahlen,

+1 and MrWhite had lots of track time around these cars too. Heres my .02...

- Get ready for one of the best power bands out there. From 3k to redline you will be a tq pig and love it! I love the handeling on M3's and also an NSX I had but this will be all-new to you. maybe not as tossable but better is many ways.
- I have seen tons of 70k-100k cars with 500-700hp packages on them running hard in all weather and at the track. The two highest mileage TT's I've seen were 112k and 152k. Both stock and running fine plus a few ill-maintained suspension clunks here and there.
- If you havea good mechanic maintenance is not so bad.
- Pricey to mod but you get a lot. For less than a supercharger kit on the M3 you can get over 650hp and tq. Lastly with intercoolers you can drive it anytime you want.

pm me if you need help finding one. I help my old customers sell/buy there cars. Good luck and I say do it. You wont go back.

SamboTT

 

you wont miss the M3.

 

I'm going on 16 months with mine as a daily driver. I drive through rain, snow and of course sun! Couldn't be happier.

 

I daily drive an X50, but I can't compare to the BMW as I haven't driven one.

What I can say about the Turbo is that even the stock ride is a bit stiff on bad pavement, but more than tolerable and not any worse than the STi this car replaced. There is a bit of turbo lag on the X50 that I have experienced, but again nothing surprising or annoying. The only other issue is limited trunk space. I was expecting a bit more having already driven a 996 C2 cabriolet before, but with the awd and radiators I think it eats up some of that front trunk space. The back seats seem to be my second trunk when really needed.

I have only had the car a few months and I will say that every day that I drive the car I like it better. I just figured out recently that having my seat lower would make my inputs on the pedals much more natural and intuitive. If only the steering wheel would tilt and was not just telescoping.

 

Ditto. Drive one.

 

 

I plan on keeping a DD, especially if you do plan on selling it will keep the value of the car up (less miles, etc).

Thanks for all that input guys, keep it coming. I can't wait to get behind the wheel of one, really looking forward to it. However, I don't want to drive a car I am not interested in purchasing. My options are very limited, but hopefully in time I'll find exactly what I am looking for.

How is the leg room for taller drivers?

 

I couldn't imagine having one of the greatest performance cars in the world, and not driving it everyday. Seems like a waste. I'd drive that -ish everywhere I went... Grocery shopping, Home Depot, Taco Bell, work, pick my kids up from school, etc... before going to the track on a weekend.

 

I'm 6'3" and its not an issue for me.

 

"a waste" hhm, seems a bit brash. Not sure how the traffic is Fayetteville (population 200k) but in Los Angeles (population 10 million), Mon--->Fri there is no where to go yet alone fast. I'd prefer canyon driving on the weekends, and lighter traffic days to have more fun w/ the car. Better yet, track time!

OP,
How tall are you? I'm 6'1'' and the ****pit is comfortable. I don't have much seat time so I'm still under-qualified to comment.

 

lol @ the sensor for c0ckpit

I am 6'3" too (just as the XLR82XS is). I fit in an s2000 (bit crammed, but not as bad as you'd think and a 3rd gen rx-7. I imagine the porsche would be a bit more comfortable