I’m sorry if this topic has been beat to death already. I’m getting close to making a decision, and have two cars I’m deciding between. Both are 6-spd manual cars around the same price (high $50k range). I don’t have PPI details on either yet, but I was hoping to get some of your opinions to check my gut instincts.

One is a 2008 with 87k miles on it. It’s alpine silver with black interior (carbon interior package), with about $25k worth of parts and work in the last few years (AccessPort, Kline catless exhaust, Sachs 2.5 clutch kit and BBi slave cylinder conversion, headunit, tune up, all new brake pads/rotors, DSC Sport V1 suspension controller, Avant Garde wheels with new tires, semi-solid motor mounts, coolant pipes pinned and Sharkwerks elbows). The ad from the 2014 sale indicates “APR tuned” and “New, upgraded turbochargers”, but it currently has an AccessPort, and the local shop didn’t notice anything special about the turbos. From 2008-2014 (0-78k miles) it was a California car with frequent service (shown on CarFax). From 2014-2017 (78k-82k miles) it was in Alaska with virtually no records. And in 2017 (85k miles) it came back to the US and has detailed records from the last year. I’m told the exterior is in great shape, but that the interior has some flaws and some of the carbon is yellowing and delaminating.

The other is a 2003 with 38k miles. It is a sunroofless seal grey with black interior (carbon interior package and manual adjust sport seats with red stitching). It in almost all stock with the exception of a Markski exhaust, Ohlins suspension, and ceramic tint and paint protection. From 2003-2012 (0-18k miles) the car was in New York/Massachusetts with frequent service (shown on CarFax). From 2012-2016 (18k-32k miles) it was in Oklahoma with PDF service records. Since 2016 (32k-38k miles) it has been in the Bay area (no notable records). Both interior and exterior are mint on this car.

So, I guess I’m looking for your opinions on the pros/cons of a high-miles, mildly-modified 997TT vs. a low-miles near-stock 996TT. I’ve driven several 996TT’s, but not driven a 997TT at all (scheduled to look at the car this Tuesday). The exterior (headlights) and interior of the 996 do not bother me at all (I know some people can’t stand them). I’ve read that a well-maintained high-miles 997TT with the coolant pipes addressed is often a fairly trouble-free car. I’m guessing that the lower miles 996TT may be more likely to need work (radiators replaced, coolant pipes welded, etc.) while I own it.

I have enough vehicles that I don’t put many miles on any of my cars. From a future-value standpoint, is it a crap shoot about which would be a better decision? From a driving standpoint I can appreciate the advances in the 997 (electronic AWD and damping control, improved seat/comfort). Anyway, I’m just hoping some of you that have worked through this same decision might be able to weigh in with what factors you would consider, what direction you would lean, and why. Thanks!

-Dan

 

I always go for the lower mile, less modded example.

 

Drive a 997 to see what you like better and then buy that car.

 

Depending upon what has been replaced of the known to fail items on the 997 ( same as the 996 ) and depending upon condition and maintainance personally I'd opt for the newer model with higher miles. Provided it's a mezger engine and not the 997.2.

Mods sound better and more suited to my liking on the 997 also. Depends primarily on what your primary usage of the car will be, and if LONG TERM resale value is more than a secondary consideration. If that is of primary importance. Lower mileage and less mods? wins.

Gl either way.

 

Thanks for taking time out to share your thoughts! The 996 is currently listed on the 6speedonline classifieds (https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...o-sunroof.html) The seller has been great to work with, always getting back to me quickly with tons of useful information.

The 997 is listed on cargurus at: https://cargur.us/nqyl4 The seller has also been very responsive and helpful. My gut instinct has been telling me just what each of you has said too. Drive/inspect the 997 to see how I like that platform compared to the 996. But that a clean/stock low miles 996 will likely have better long-term resale interest.

Thanks again for the responses!
-Dan

 

 

Hi Dave,
I'm very curious about your opinion, especially since you have both cars. People have told me that it's relatively easy to make a 997 feel like a 996 (more analog and visceral), but it would be hard to get a 996 to feel like a 997 (refined and comfortable). What were your goals for the 6t, and what changes did you make to get it where you liked it?
-Dan

 

I would try to stretch the budget a bit if at all possible ($5-10g) and get a lower mile 997.

 

996TT, then convert to RWD.

Look at both, drive both, get a PPI on the one you are leaning toward. Go with your gut.

 

Thanks Griza and Nick. My original budget was more like $25k, and I was shopping for a low miles V8 S5 with a manual to replace my C5 S6 avant (manual swap). Then I started looking at $35k for a newer V6 S5, and that got me thinking that is in the high-miles 996TT range. But I didn't like any of the high-miles 996's, so I started shopping for medium-miles 996's with good options/colors, which got me to the $50k range. I can comfortably do this, but to go $65-70k is going to be a bit of a stretch for me. I'll either need to save up some more, or sell off some things I've currently got to free up the funds. And in all honesty, that may be a great piece of advise. One reason I decided against the newer S5 is that they are still depreciating like crazy. A 99xTT may be much more expensive, but if kept immaculate and serviced it should only be increasing in value from this point on.

Nick, I also understand the RWD conversion. Initially I was attracted to the 996TT because of the AWD system - a supercar that could still get you home in a snow storm. However, a viscous-coupled primarily RWD-based system is definitely no Quattro, and dropping 70 lb off the car and improving steering feel certainly has its merits. I see quite a few 996 owners that convert to RWD. But the electronic center differential in the 997 has made RWD conversions on those cars a real pain. That said, it *is* a much better AWD system.
-Dan

 

 

Beautiful car, Evoking! You're the fifth person I've read about or talked to that switched from a 7T to a 6T because they liked the early car more. I will probably know more how I feel about the 7T 24 hours from now. But in stock form I worry about the car being a little more digital than I would prefer. My past fun cars have been a MKIV Supra TT and a SW20 MR2 turbo. Both are very analog compared to the 7T.

From a long-term value standpoint I still wonder if a high miles modified 7T is a good choice at all. No doubt it would be a fun car to own and drive. But I imagine trying to sell it 10 years from now with 125k miles on it....few people will be looking for a car like that.
-Dan

 

I could have a 997 turbo or 996. I chose 996.

 

I also chose the 996 turbo. Overall, I liked the styling better of the 996, exterior and interior. The only thing I like better on the 997 is the front headlights and the AWD system, and the front headlights I really didn't care about much. But I do like how the 997 lets you run a variety of different wheel/tire sizes that you can't do with the 996 and still keep the AWD.

 

Dan (the OP) is an old buddy of mine, and nearly bought my old 01TT back in 2013, so you know I'm rooting for him to have his first water cooled 911, whether or not it's a 996 or 997. He has enough seat time in the 996 that I think he'll know pretty quickly what he wants after trying out a 997!