The best advice yet...

 

Gary: do you want all of us to say "KEEP YOUR CAR" or "STOP WASTING MONEY ON MODS" or "GET A NEW CAR"

 

Mods please delete that post. I don't want my wife to see it and think that anybody even remotely agrees with her philosophy.

 

 

Gary,
I think modding your 996TT to a GT800 package is the definte way to go, for now. Here is my reasoning.

Comparative Design Analysis
The 996TT has a unique look in the history of the species. The lights, the more streamlined shape, the interior were all grand departures from the traditional Porsche thinking and spartan look of the previous cars. I believe all of those design decisions were very progressive and raised the 911 into a more refined and "sexy" car. I am particularly talking about the nose, headlights and interior when I say that. The 996's lack of "hips" like the 993 and 997 was and still is somewhat of a disappointment to me but the factory justified this by calling it progressive, wind cheating, more streamlined, lower drag, etc., etc.
I am not particularly fond of the 997's interior. It is very "Cayenne-ish". There are a lot of straight lines. Porsche has decided to be a bit retro and go back to the pre-996 interior concept. You can see it all over the place. While this is not a bad thing, as I did own a 993 and at the time it was the cats meow, it is no longer my personal preference. To me, "sexy" doesn't change. The 996 interior is sexy. The Ferrari 360 and 430 interiors are sexy. The 997 interior is simply not sexy. But hey, to each his own. Don't get me wrong, there are several aspects of the 997 that appeal to me. I like the way the rear tail light/bumper fit together far better than the 996. The seam is angled lending to more of a n aggressive look. The "hips" speak for themselves. I don't care for the curved front corners of the hood, nor the lights, now having lived with the 996 and 993 lights. And, I don't like the front bumper.

Perfomance
There is no arguing that the 996 cars are more streamlined and I wonder if the Cd of the 997TT (presumably with hips, as compared to the 996TT) will actually be higher. The 997TT's higher Cd (coefficient of drag) with more horsepower may actually equal the 996TT's perfomance since the Cd becomes the biggest factor preventing faster speeds.

Aftermarket mods
Much has been said regarding the engine block choices of the 997TT. Wet sump vs dry sump, 3.8 vs. 3.6 block....
I like the idea of the dry sump engine personally, and as I believe will be the case, the 997TT will use this as well, at least according to the rumors. That said, there will be some overlap with the engine modding parts developed by the tuners and parts suppliers. That is a good thing. Good because the time to availity will be shortened. If it is a differeent layout, there will be a bit of development time and you will have to exercise some patience. In the end, it will all be there, it is simply a matter of when.
On the aerodynamic front, companies like TechArt and Gemballa, among others, will need time to develop there new noses, tails, wings, etc. More waiting. And who is to say that you will even like the next generation of the ubiquitous TA fanged nose? Typically, TA has done well with their aerodynamic product appeal, but you would be banking on an ambiguity here.

Advice
So, my advice to you is throw the few more dollars towards this car, freshen up the internals in the process and sit back with the knowledge that you will be part of a select group of individuals that have one of the most powerful Porsche street turbo cars in the United States!! Enjoy it with its new lifeblood and bide your time until the aftermarket mods for the 997TT are well established and proven before diving in. By that time, the 998TT rumors will be flying! Incidentally, us New Jersey folk have talked about this and we pretty much universally decided that we'll wait for the 998TT since it should represent a much bigger performance advantage over the 996TT.

I know, for one, when I twist that key and hear the boxer engine fired up with the cold start valve adding to that raspy cold start sound, I still get chills. Couple that with its look, I will continue to mod mine and keep it until that excitement wears off.

One final comment......
Whether you sell the 996TT now or wait a year, or two, the bulk of the depreciation has already occurred. You really don't have much to lose (short of the new GT800 mod depreciation) by keeping it and watching in the wings for just the right moment to jump on the new bandwagon.

GT800, here comes Gary!!!

 

Ken,

Thanks and I agree with your points that is why I posted this to begin with....

 

if you have the cash to get a new one I would go for it...
I like the new 997 look a lot and I can't even imagine how nice the 997 will perform...
just me though. you *should* probably keep your car but I'm a fan of change. it just so happens that my kind of change costs money

 

why not just wait for a few months till the 997TT comes out before throwing more $$$ at the 996? Then you can really make an informed decision.

 

i agree- give the 997TT a go, if you dont like it don't buy it...
looking never hurt anyone

 

I think you should do the mods, Gary. You'll never know what it'll be like, unless you go ahead and do it. There's only one way to find out. And having met you, you don't see like the kind of guy to hold back, and not take it all the way to the limit.

Good luck with this. I can't wait to see it.

 

I was thinking along the same lines...........upgrading my car to the bigger package keep it a few more years and then move on the 998TT

 

Gary,
You know yourself right now, don't you?
Do you think you will be satisfied with the 996 when the 997TT hits the street? Be honest. I think the most prudent way to go is to wait until the 997 TT comes out and than make an educated decision. However if money if no object than mod away and don't worry about it.

 

That's a good suggestion.

 

mmmm 998TT
*drool*

 

gary, keep 996tt, rumor is the new 997tt will do away with the GT1 engine case and a wet-sump case will replace it, to save on costs. If this is the case (no pun intended)the 996tt will be the turbo to own atleast till the 998tt is out then porsche will have to iron the bugs of the 998tt. It will be awhile till they would improve the turbo, atleast mechanical wise.

Also the question of weight and size is an issue. Look at the 997 it's HUGE in comparison to the 996.Even though the stock 997tt will have more power it will at the cost of more weight and size. Personally, I'm not sure that Porsche is going in the right direction.