I'm new to this forum and need some help. After performing a search for this topic I wasn't able to find the exact info I needed to answer my question so if its been ask before please forgive me.

I own a 2004 996TT cabriolet and have been considering trading it for the 997TT Cabriolet. I would like some help deciding why or why not I should take the leap. Has anyone made this trade and do you think it's worth the extra moola?

If its worth the leap then hopefully everybody's input will give me some suggestions on how to rationalize the importance of the upgrade to my wife.

 

I tell everyone who asks this sort of question, buy the newest you can afford.Every generation is better then that last.If you have to rationalize to your wife then I guess you shouldn't buy it.These cars are not about making sense, they are about want.

 

Thanks......I understand about the emotion of want but I still have to live with my wife. I've got an idea maybe I should buy her one too.

 

I can't comment on the convertible comparison as I have always selected coupes but in terms of the interior fot and finish, as well as the quality of structural improvent on the body shell in terms of safety , as well as the ease of xenon light theft in the 996 front lights compared to the newer car --the 997tt wins hands down . I can also add the extra HP to the list .

 

Makes a lot of sense.

 

If it's a cab, 997 TT for sure. the 997 TT cab looks much better than the 996 TT cab. The only reason you'd keep a 996 TT over 997 TT is for modding to high hp, track etc. IMO.

 

Theft of headlights? How often is this happening and would it really be a deterent to buying a 996?

 

A few years ago it was an extremely serious problem locally . Mine were taken from my 2002 996 in a matter of minutes and the job was not clean . In short the entire front end was damaged . In 2004 I bought a launch 997S and almost immediately the rear lights were taken . A neighbor had his taken three times off his 997 in various locations (including getting a haircut and on a college campus) and the 997 is more difficult . The 996 is so simple that they were getting three cars per day .

Here's an article from 2004 --
com/searchautoparts/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=109550

Solution -- I bought a pager alarm for my 996 but it interacted pooly with the factory alarm from day 1 . My launch 997S I sold the car . I missed it greatly and took 18 months driving a 330i which was more anonymous before buying another 997S , modding that car, and then 5 months later buying this current Turbo.

The Turbo is NOT my daily driver . Dinds , light theft, construction , etc . Instead I also have a Civic Si that I take to the supermarket worry free and a Mercedes (lights most difficult of all xenons I am told) for passenger outings.

 

Failed Link --I'll try this
http://www.search-autoparts.com/sear....jsp?id=109550

 

I guess I'm lucky to live in Oklahoma although we have had a recent infiltration of some of the bigger gangs from Florida and California. Its amazing that we live in a country that we have to worry about our headlights being stolen when your trying to get a haircut.

 

I had a 996TT cab for 4 years and took delivery of my 997 TT cab in December. Personally, I feel that the difference is remarkable. Even though I thoroughly enjoyed my 996, it was not my favorite Porsche. It never really had the "Porsche feel" that my other 911s had. The 997 has this in spades, the car simply feels better. It seems more crisp and concise when driving. I have not tracked my Porsches in many years, but I have raced in the SCCA for the past 14 years and I am currently campaigning an IMSA Lites car (a support series for ALMS), so when I talk about a concise feel, I have a fairly good basis to make that assessment. Is the performance hugely different? Probably not. Is the feel dramatically different? In my opinion yes.

I also love the looks of the 997 over the 996. When I picked my 997 up, the dealership had my new car and my old car on the showroom floor (I had given them my 996 a month earlier to lock in the trade-in price). It was amazing to see them side by side. The 997 is to me esthetically far superior and this sentiment has been echoed by many others. If you make the swap you will not be disappointed.

 

Thank you for the excellent advice it is exactly what I need to help me make my decision.

 

+1 on the 997 tt. I had a 996tt to compare to my present 997 and feel looks, quality, handling and performance have been elevated to a new level.