Well I'm looking for a 996 turbo, I've always wanted one and now I can actually afford it and maintain it. My dilemma is I've have a few high hp cars and currently drive an 03 Evo with 630awhp right now. It mainly use it for weekends and drag but I really want to road race as Mid Ohio is really close to my house. I would like to see what people with first hand experience with both cars think about making the switch. I will have to sell the Evo to get the Porsche but I am really attached to it because everything on the car was hand made by myself. Is it worth it to have a nice reliable, lightly modded 911 or keep the Evo?

 

I'll make it simple 911 > Evo

 

Speed per dollar it'll be tough to beat your evo honestly.

I think it depends on what your goals are. You can make the 911 faster than your evo, but the parts are significantly more $$$ and if anything breaks it'll hurt more. Just saying that from your "self built" stuff in your post which is impressive.

If you put an equivalent amount into the Evo, I think you'd be faster.

 

'Faster' is subjective with power when it comes to road racing. That's why the OP is posting about his dilemma.

I can't believe this is even a question in your mind, a 911 will be more of a car than the Evo ever was. DO it. 4 cylinder turbos are fun when boost hits (especially at your power levels), but the 911 turbo is a different animal. It's rear engine with completely different handling characteristics. It's a rocketship with plenty of usable torque through the RPM band. Maybe you should go test drive one first and see what your thoughts are?

GL either way, I've always wanted a 911, and I finally have one. It's truly special to drive it, no matter what iteration you end up with.

 

One of the owners here made the switch some years back and LOVES his Porsche. His brother however, still has an Evo making about 750whp and you really can't go wrong with that either.

Do you need the 4 doors?

 

No need for 4 doors, I really don't like a lot of people in my car anyways. How is maintenance, I've heard they are pretty much bulletproof. I'm only looking to do basic bolt on mods, stock turbos and be reliable to drive everyday and take to track days a few times a year. I really want to drive one but don't know anyone that has one close to do so

 

Maintenance is about the same or close. With the mods you are looking to do even the stock block will be sufficient, they are good to about 800hp. The main complaint with the 996 he owns is the trans is a little notchy, but the thing gets a lot of hard miles so I am sure with a fresh trans it would be perfect all around.

 

Fouringevo,

I owned a tuned '07 WRX STi prior to purchasing my 2002 996 Turbo back in December. I loved that STi, and with an upgraded suspension and good tires it handled unbelievably well on the tight backroads here in NorCal (while I'm not into the big HP #s you have, I do enjoy running the coastal and canyon roads).

As other have said, 911 > Evo (or STi).

Totally different car despite AWD and turbo power. If you need 600+ HP to be happy that's going to be expensive in a 996, and come to think of it, it's probably not so cheap in an EVO either. You could always buy a modded 996TT and get to the bigger power numbers cheaper than building yourself.

But to answer your question, yes, it's worth it to have a nice lightly modded 911 Turbo vs. an EVO. With an exhaust, tune, short throw shifter my 100% stock '02 has been transformed and is very fun to drive.

 

If you want to road race, don't get a turbo. Get a gt3. I road race my corvette and the budget to do that gets big. I couldn't imagine having a Porsche track only car. I'd be bankrupt.

 

Most guys here don't drive it everyday.. mileage affects the value alot more on porsche if you care. and i think you know maintenace is way more expensive.
There is alot of DIY if you are competent and it seems like you are so I'm sure you can save alot doing your own work, just research before doing anything, like oil changes, LOL.
The porsche crowd isnt the same as the evo, evo owners get together more often and actually look at each other on the road.

 

Maintenance is what, oil changes, plugs, and filters? It's not that bad just more volume to change. Plugs are harder to get to but if it's not misfiring don't freak out. Miles on the car may reduce it's value but that's true of any car and I hardly ponder that when I turn the key else I'd never leave home in any of my cars!

Will this be the first car you've road raced? Will you be starting from scratch on the track with it? IF so my advice is to buy a cheap Miata! I haven't tracked my car and won't until I've spent time in another car. Miata will teach you car control, not get into kill you speeds, cost less for tires and brakes, and are cheaper to insure and crash. A 911 can get you into troublesome speeds bigtime especially with a few mods. I won't track mine until the nut behind the steering wheel has been upgraded. My .02 on that.

That said - the car is a hoot to drive and a PITA to work on. There's plenty of areas you can improve to get more power as Porsche did some pretty hokey crap with the intake tract and intercoolers IMO. Plenty of good aftermarket turbos, intercoolers, and exhaust but it's not cheap. Scope out the $3K exhaust systems and you'll see what I mean.

 

whoever said this was more than prescient:

"which part of porsche racing did you think wouldn't be expensive? the racing part? or the porsche part"?

 

I had an 06 Evo IX with a few mods (320 AWHP) and a slightly modded 04 STi, and I just got my 996 TT a week and a half ago. I haven't driven an Evo as powerful as yours but I have to imagine the turbo lag is pretty good. A stock 996 turbo pulls pretty hard when you are in the groove. You can upgrade it to make as much HP as you want, but it's not going to be cheap, hell, you can even make it RWD if really want to. I absolutely love driving the 996 every day and giving it the old highway punch when I get the chance to put a big sh*t eating grin on my face.

I remember reading about how the Evo and STi were "poor man's" Porsche alternatives when they came out back in 03/04. They really are tremendously different cars than the 911, as nothing feels remotely the same. The Pcar is more solid and feels much heavier and planted thant the Evo and STi tin boxes felt.

My opinion is you'll like it, hell, you'll love it, but you are going to get the mod bug. If you keep it stock and keep up on maintenance though, it will be cheaper to run than a 650 AWHP Evo, I would think.

 

I have a 99 RSTi with a big turbo and a 2.5l in it, STI brakes, 6spd - the works. The 996 does indeed feel much more planted and screams around offramps compared to the other car. Both are a hoot but the 996 spools up faster and is plain quicker despite the added weight. With the right exhaust the 996 makes sweet music too. I cannot imagine leaving one stock though lol. The 99RSTi fully swapped cost me about 1/4 what the 996 did however.

 

I sold my 2010 X to get the 996. I liked the Evo a lot and was hesitant about making the switch even though I've always wanted a 996 turbo since I first saw one. I have to say as soon as I got the Pcar all doubt was gone. I never really felt like the Evo was a car I would have long term anyway, but with the 996, if I never owned another car in my life, I could easily live with that. The build quality is so much better and its much easier to make reliable power (and possibly less expensive all things considered). Drive one and see what you think, but I'd never go back.