Looks:

I like the 997 looks just like any other round headlight loving Porsche purist but the love affair stops there. The 997 interior was nice when it was current but now it just yesterday's news and reminds me of when I owned a piece of **** Cayenne Turbo. The 996 interior in the right color and condition (preferably with sport seats and full leather) actually feels higher quality to me than the 997.

Power:

The 996TT in regular K16 or K24 trim is more of an analog turbo lag experience that actually makes them a blast to drive. I find myself on and off throttle just to feel the turbo kick in. In comparison, The 997TT's that I have driven felt more linear and overly refined to a fault.

That's just my .02

 

Drove a students 991s with a PDK while it worked well was boring in just a couple of laps. If I'm chasing Madison Snow around in his Tudor cup, a paddle actuated sequential would be handy +1 on the 996tt interior, classic Porsche with a touch of modern. Touch screen double din is all it needed!

 

I used to be one of the those people who said that I would never buy an "automatic". But then technology dramatically changed and now a simple bolt-on "automatic" and fully warrantied (through 2016) 911 is capable of this:




Cheers.

 

I agree wholly, the 997 interior was changed for changes sake and Porsche actually went backward. It looked more modern, more plastic and paint. The reality is I'm sure it was not a timeless and well thought out design but a quick, we need something new and we need it now. It was different and had a new look but actually a look that became dated very quickly and unappealing.

I actually had my full leather interior on my '99 996 Cab for 7 years prior to my Turbo and I'm still love the timeless classic look. It reminds me of an old leather wing chair with the brass studs, comfortable, simple and welcoming.

I too much prefer the more visceral 996 to the more soft and refined 997. The longer I have my 996 the more I like it. I feel in time the prices will slowly start increasing. I think they bottomed in the pit of the recession a few years ago.

 

Very interesting perspectives here. Truth is I don't want to pony up another $40k to step into a 997TT as I feel it will be worth $55k in 3 years so I am going backwards. My 99TT most likely has bottomed so from a dollar and sense perspective it is wiser to keep. Maybe I just need a new project to rekindle the spark. Nothing crazy.

I got antsy with my Lotus S260 as I was't going to the track enough and didn't like driving it on the street. Dumped it, now miss it, and it's worth $20k more than what I sold it for. Insult to injury.