Hi Guys,
I have an opportunity to purchase a 997 2012 turbo S. But, I’m not sure if it is worth to replace my 996 turbo S. I know the 997 turbo S is a lot quicker than my car. What I’m looking at is day to day driving. Is the 997 Turbo S significantly better than my car in every feature? Has anybody gone from their 996 Turbo S to the 997 turbo S and never looked back! I know in a few years the 991 Turbo will be around the corner. Any input or comment would be appreciated.

 

Can you live with an automatic?? I know you can live with out patron gran burdeos

 

We went from a 997.1 turbo to the 997.2 Turbo S. The new car is definitely better than our old car in every way, and very easy to drive around town. But if you love a manual, stick (pun intended) with your car.

 

Is your Turbo S modded at all? Do you want a manual, or are you interested in being able to get the PDK? Your manual isn't that much slower than the new car. The difference is so small it really comes down more to you as a driver than the car. Unless you're tracking it, you really have very few opportunities on public roads to come anywhere close to pushing the capabilities of either car.

 

It really boils down to looks, interior and PDK versus manual (think about the later long and hard). Once the PDK novelty wears off, you may miss your manual desperately.

PDK is only faster due to launch control and super-fast shifts. Once both cars are on the move (full throttle from roll) there isn’t much difference, especially if your S, just like mine, is mildly tuned – flash and exhaust; (I have about 530 crank bhp).

Finally there is another point to consider; at the moment, my gearbox is being rebuilt due to typical wheel bearing failure. Two wheel bearings are 500$ plus labour and I am done – everything in 996TT gear box is replaceable and you can buy all parts from Porsche making rebuilding gearbox a breeze. Bear in mind 997TTS gearbox is a swap whole unit affair only. And with automatics this always results in a daylight robbery from Porsche. 996TT gearbox as replacement is $15K. I would dread to think how much $$$ the PDK replacement will be… We will have to wait a and see how durable this PDK boxes really are... with all those hard launches and 0.0034 seconds shifts… I am watching 997TT forum with interest.

 

Hey, good to hear from you! hope your enjoying that vintage collection of yours!
as for the auto, the pdk has the fun factor! but nothing like the old school manual!

 

Gearbox rebuild due to wheel bearing failure? Can you elaborate on that?

 

near as i can tell, the main difference between the 996 turbo s and the 997 turbo s is a hundred grand. give or take. terminator's point on the pdk trans vs the 996 mt isn't without merit either, but i can't see being able to damage the pdk through normal usage. at least not while still under factory warranty. i say this after having had to replace synchro's etc in my previous 96t. thankfully porsche ponied up on that little repair.

so for me, it would come down to cost. everything else being equal, who wouldn't want a new 160k plus turbo? tough choice which is "better".

 

The newer S is beautiful. But I still like the 996 interior better. Instead of moving up to the 997, I decided to keep my 996 and get it modified. The PDK allows for faster shifts and all, but unless you're a red light speed racer type, when do you take advantage of that? I'd much rather enjoy the manual 99% of the time instead of the advantage the PDK has 1% of the time.

 

Agreed on the Trans, probably why i'll never own a GTR....love the stick too much.

 

for me that would depend on where i lived and regularly drove, traffic etc. in fact, i had to move to properly enjoy my 6spd

if i was stuck in traffic daily, the pdk would be a no brainer. not so, the tip

 

That's true. If I had to drive mine everyday to work, the manual wouldn't be that much fun.

 

Ha ha ha - gbox main shaft bearing. I have no idea why did I put wheel bearing. Loopy! And I have not been drinking. This now worries me indeed... Ha ha ha.

 

Stick with the Mezger engine. It will be a collectors item in 20 years from now. I am thinking Porsche is moving exactly the way the old american muscle cars did. From purpose-built-for-avid-car-nut to mainstream-for-the-masses. And then they died!

 

[QUOTE I am thinking Porsche is moving exactly the way the old american muscle cars did. From purpose-built-for-avid-car-nut to mainstream-for-the-masses. And then they died![/QUOTE]

I agree, and the world isn't exactly moving toward individuation, is it? Thats my impression after driving the 991 s also. Why should Porsche be any different.