Hello everyone,
Thinking of taking the step of entering the porsche world, and having doubts about whether to enter with a 996 4s or take the step to 997 tt.
Can anyone talk about the choice between one or the other?
Does anyone have both models? Driving experiences?
Has anyone done the reverse way, from a 997 turbo to a 996 4s? I really like the aesthetics of 996 4s, and of course prefer the price.
Thanks for shedding a little light,

 

These seem like strange cars to be cross shopping. I would understand comparing a 996 C4S vs 997 C4S or a 996TT vs 997TT more than what you are proposing. I've owned a 997.2 C4S and a 996.1 C2. I'll say this... the 997 was prettier and much more of a head turner. Especially the hips on the widebody 997 cars. Much more pronounced than the widebody 996 cars. I probably enjoy my 996 more, because I actually work on it and have modified it to my liking. They both drove very similarly to one another. I don't really miss the extra 85HP that the 997 had. Both are great drivers and feel almost the same. The interior of the 997 was immediately a nice place to be. The 996 had to grow on me, but after changing the steering wheel and installing the GT3 center console delete, I really love the 996 interior. I can't believe I'm saying that. I don't love the basic seats in either car though. Sport seats are probably a big upgrade, but I never sat in them. Both cars have noisy interiors at speed.

Without having driven either TT variant, I think there would be a much bigger difference between the 996 and 997 versions than the N/A cars.

 

Thanks for the reply.
Indeed they are two cars that not much in common.
The question is asked from the perspective of a person who has never had a Porsche, in case the 996 4s (it is the 996 that I like the most aesthetically) is more than enough for a novice in the brand (the 997tt is the one that I like it better from the perspective of 997), or in other words; the 997tt is a monster that has so much performance capacity that there really are no roads to get its full potential, so much power that it is not therefore a more fun or entertaining vehicle than a usual Carrera 4s. And in this case, the performance of a 320hp car today may have been a bit outdated.

 

I would say get what you think you will enjoy more. Some people are horsepower junkies and they need that extra power the turbo provides. If you are that person, you won't be satisfied with the C4S. Even my 997 C4S wasn't crazy fast with 385 hp. It definitely was fast, but there are special edition Mustangs and Camaros that are faster in a straight line. Like I said in my first post, my 996 C2 is a blast to drive, and I don't feel like I am missing anything at all compared to the 997. With coilovers, shifter upgrades, etc... my 996 is more fun to drive than my 997. If I had done the same mods to the 997, it would have been equally as fun. I say that so you don't think that the 320 hp is outdated. You really don't need more. What makes a car fun to drive is the handling, steering, and shifting. You can't go wrong with 996 C4S or the 997TT. It's just a matter of your budget and what you want from the car. A lowered 996 still gets looks and attention, but the 997 will get you more attention, if that's important to you. People had very strong reactions to my 997.

 

If you can afford a 997tt, that is what you should buy.

 

+1

Nothing like a TT on a Porsche.

 

Thank you, I give a good thought, and probably you are in the right way.

But I have a question, on a road where you can't get full performance from the turbo, can you get the same fun behind the wheel with both? Or the question of not being able to extract all the power and having to modulate makes it less fun.

 

It all depends what you are looking for in a car. The C4 is naturally aspirated and will give you that flat 6 sound and overall fun that you need on a daily basis. A turbo gives you that extra 'edge' and performance when you need it. So, both will give you what you need on the street and are fun/enjoyable to drive.

But hands down, - the turbo will leave you breathless.....

FYI - I own a C2 that I drive daily and track and a Turbo.

 

I have owned a 996 C4S and a 997 Turbo. They were both great cars, and I loved them both. The overall driving experience is quite different between the cars. My 996 was quite nicely appointed, with full leather interior and many upgrades. However, it seemed primitive compared to the 997 Turbo. The 997 was a bit more of a GT car than the 996. The 996 sounded better, and the linear power delivery of the normally aspirated engine was very nice. The 997 had much more “presence”, and the rush of boost was unbelievable. They’re realty hard to compare.

If I had a choice between a 996 C4S and a 997 Turbo, I’d pick the 997. You really can’t go wrong though. There’s no bad choice.

 

Thanks!!
All the opinions in favor of 997!! probably that's the way...

 

Another option to consider is the 996 Turbo. Same twin turbo Mezger engine as the 997TT at a fraction of the price. The 997TT is an amazing machine but hard to justify the 40k premium over the 996 C4S and 20k premium over the 996TT. While the 997 is the superior car in nearly every way it is up to you to chose whether it is worth the premium. For 40k I see the 996TT as the sweetspot for 911 values right now.

 

+1 on checking out a 996 turbo. I have both a 2003 996 turbo and a 1999 996 na race car. The turbo is great road car due to the huge amount of torque, interior comfort and as far as price it is the performance bargain of the universe! The 996 is a better base for a race car as it can be lightened far easier. Although down on power to the turbo it can be made to brake and corner better and race tracks are 80% corners. The only disappointment you might have with a 996 turbo is the exhaust note. Many people feel they are too quiet. That can be solved with an after market exhaust ( but that can be a smog problem if you live in a state like CA)