Greetings,

I've been trolling here for a while to learn about 911 community as I'm starting to plan my next car purchase...and as many of you know this is a dangerous (but very fun) process

My current situation is this:

I've had the 911 turbo on my "list" for a while and now getting one is a legitimate option, my problem lies in the issue of whether to go for a 996 Turbo in the near future (next 6-9 months depending on available cars) or wait (2 yrs??) till the prices of the 997 turbos comes down (as will happen with 997.2/new model coming)


I live in the NE and this car will be my daily and that mean 20k miles a year EASY...


I currently drive a '05 M3 vert with FULL CPO and maintenance coverage for 2ys (60k miles left on coverage) and drive enough to take full advantage of that coverage. The wife has a 350z and uses the Trailblazer in the bad weather (hence my need for a car with AWD)


Do previous 996 turbo owners (or current 997 ones) feel waiting 2 years for a clean 997 model is worth the wait?

I must admit the styling of the 997 gets my blood flowing every time i see one while as the 996 styling looks much plainer and bland to me...but the issue comes down to the driving experience. I've test driven the 997 turbo and although it was a short drive the car felt amazing, so nice to have some power back.

Would the driving experience of the 996 turbo be enough to compensate for it's bland looks compared with the 997 or am I setting myself up for disappointment and wishing that i had held out a bit longer and gone GTR over the 996 turbo NOW? Only asking this because i'm leaning toward that more in my mind but as I haven't driven the GTR or 996 turbo yet i'm torn...as their price differential is less than the 996 vs 997 it puts them in the same ballpark for purchase and knowing the capabilities of the GTR it make for an interesting option...although i'm not 100% sold on the GTR


Previously had a C5 vette (cam, headers, intake, tune) ~380rwhp so now that my work situation has changed and i'm able to daily drive a higher performance car the bug to get back into something with power has hit me.

Sorry this post is on the longer side but i wanted to give as much info upfront.

Thanks for the help!!!

Dukekid68

I drove a 996 c4s for yrs (same platform), awsome DD. The 997tt is spectacular as a DD, the best all around car I've ever owned.
I'd go for a killer deal on a 996tt now, look for the latest/greatest unmodded specimen you can find.
c

Tough call based on your description. Personally, I would wait. A lot can happen in two years, especially if you really don't care for the look of a 996tt. If it was me, I would want something that is going to get my "blood flowing" every time I looked at the car. You're going to get used to the car's performance over time so it will come down to aesthetics in the end.

If you purchased the 996 tt you would always be second guessing yourself on that move.

I d wait and go for the filet mignon.

The 997 is a great all around car.

Good luck

Cabman

you won't lose anything on a well-purchased 996TT here so I would say buy the 996TT and trade across when you have the additional jack.

I drive a 996TT (on the fence whether to go 997TT, Aston, or Italian in 2-3 years).

First of all, congrats for deciding that a "regular" 911 doesn't cut it.

Second, I wouldn't buy a car I consider "bland". Of course, most laypeople couldn't tell the two apart going down the road, so make sure the 997TT isn't just a little less "bland". A turbo Porsche is a committment to excellence so the very sight of it should give you wood.

Nothing wrong with waiting, a 997TT is in the meat of a massive depreciation curve, should come down well over $20k in those 2 years

What is your budget? If the 996 turbo is bland to you then wait and get a 997 turbo.

Thanks for all the responses so far guys, really appreciate the perspective.

To add a bit more I'm a CAR nut who loves cars, not a corvette/Mustang/BMW/or even Porsche die hard who can't appreciate a performance platform due to a loyalty to a specific brand.

I restored a '68 Mustang Fastback with my dad as my first car because I grew up loving muscle cars...i got a corvette because it was an awesome platform which would be built off easily and reliably (heads/cam/exhaust/etc)...I've got the M3 cause i wanted and "M3" not a BMW...the 911 TT has always been more of an idea in my head and now that my work/life situation affords the option i want to explore it as best as possible.

honestly (flame suit on) this goes for the GTR as well as i'll prob want to try one out at some point just to experience what the reality of the car is like.


As far as the budget goes, if i was going to go the "get the car now route" i'd be selling my M3 vert in the spring, prob get what i owe on it and look to spend in the $40s range primarily because I'm not as thrilled with the looks (the more i think about this I always seem to come back to the aesthetics of the car being an issue) it'd be more about moving back into a car that has some awesome performance potential, which from reading is very accessible, and something i can use year round.

I'd prob be able to talk myself into going to the ~55k range for the 997TT so what i'm primarily trying to tease out is the $$ differential and wait worth it. i envision this as a car i'll plan to keep this car at least 3 years and put about 50k miles on it, i'm just nervous that if i go the 996TT route i'll end up wishing i'd waited and then end up spending significantly more time and money when i could've saved the trouble by simply waiting the extra year.

i'm primarily looking to stay below $60k for whatever car i get as i know i'll be putting major mileage on the car and would like not to get absolutely destroyed if i had to resell for some reason 2/3 years after i bought it


Thanks again guys for the thoughts

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all!!

If you can find a nice 996tt for 40k buy it, you should make money on it. I'd be shocked if the 997tt gets in the 50s in 2 years. I think the market has bottomed and will go back up. But that's just my opinion.

I had a 996TT x50 as DD for a while, and would wholeheartedly advise to wait for a 7, simply on grounds that the 6 interior ages so poorly. I've had two 6's and both left me wanting a lot in the build quality dpt. Any other consideration aside, i don't think a 6 is worth the aggravation, unless you don't care and are going to trash the thing to the ground.

Thanks for the thoughts guys...looks like i'm leaning toward the "wait" and be sure to get exactly what i want without the buyers remorse which i think i'd feel after the 996tt, especially the looks dept

plus gives me lots of time to plan

i'll be sure to stay on here to learn and "plan"

I would wait . Never buy a car when you know in advance that you wanted another car . I would rather have no Porsche than settle . You'll spend the money , face repairs, place more money into it , and all this could have been saved .

If you want to limit it to $60k....for a 997TT you will be waiting....for a clean unmolested example that is.

+ one on that, but they have them going for about 70-75 grand with about 25-30k miles, at dealer auctions, if you have that connect...... just to give you a idea....Once the 2010 come out they should drop even more....wait...

The prices of 997T's have dropped like a stone and are very close to 996T prices in Europe, thanks to the economy etc. I would think the next time the prices fall, at least here in Europe will be when the 991 arrives.
Go for the 997. The interior and speed are superior.