All,

This is my first post, so please try and avoid the compulsion to rip me apart for any stupid questions.

I am getting ready to buy my first Porsche. I have a budget of approximately $150k.

I am trying to decide between a 2007 TT with some modifications, or a 2010 TT stock (with selected options).

The modifications I am considering would be an aero kit such as Gemballa, Wicked, Techart, etc. I am leaning toward the Gemballa setup for the aero, plus some custom interior mods. I don't really plan on doing anything with the engine, but will be replacing wheels and tweaking the suspension.

If I get the 2010, I will leave it stock and order it with the options I most desire.

Here are my questions:

1. While I realize the 2010 has some significant upgrades, does it warrant the difference in price from a good clean 2007? From what I can tell it is approximately $60k premium for roughly the same options.

2. Does Gemballa/Wicked/Techart mods kill the resale value and ability, or is it just a basic loss of mod investment, or can it increase the value?

3. Any personal experience with any of the above mods?

A little more about me: I plan on keeping this car for a while. I tend to buy and keep versus buy and trade up. However, with life as uncertain as it is I don't really like the idea of something setting in my garage that I can't dump if times get rough (the last year has taught us that lesson).

I typically want something that looks more supercar than something that looks like it was put together in the ghetto. The majority of my cars are simple window tint, nice wheel, modifications.

However, I really like the wide rear look of the mid '90s C4S, Turbo, etc. I want to put some wide rubber in the back and like deep lip wheels.

I am a highly experienced professional driver who likes to push my car a bit. However, I will not be using this for any track days (have real race cars for that purpose).

I already know what the purists will say, as I have searched the forums in a bit of detail to understand those thoughts. Would like to get opinions from those that are more "middle of the road".

Thanks all. I appreciate your time and comments.

 

Hello sirjohnathon welcome. I was faced with the same issue/budget as you, but not so much all the aero mods. No matter how much money one makes or has to spend it is hard to justify a 30 to 40 % hit in one to three years for just having something new. I was concerned with the new engine and pdk and decided to buy the tried and proven and I am very happy as well as having a lot of money left over to do mods. Good luck with your decision.

 

Make the right choice, im sure you will.
After all , you can always do it again differently.

 

I am in a similar situation. For your budget have you considered a GT2? This way you get a factory aero kit too.

Maybe somebody could chime in about the differences between the new engine and the GT-1 block.

Personally I am leaning towards a gently used 07-09 and would really like to get my hands on an 08 GT-2. Buying brand new Porsches is a serious depreciation hit, and unless you must have new, there is good value in the used market now.

 

The 2010 motor and PDK really makes it stand out. Although I cannot tell you from driving experience, If I had 150k to spend I would def look into the new one possibly with PDK (possible because I am a 6spd fanatic).

Edit:
FYI: I'll prob stick to an 07 or 08 due to budget.

 

Personally i think you should strongly consider a 08 gt2. You will not have to touch it and can get it for around the same price as a brand new 997.2 turbo!

If not then get an 07 turbo with following mods:
1)ECU flash--$2500
2)Nice exhaust--$5000
3)Bilstien pss10 damptronics---~~$3000ish
4)some sort of bodykit and wheels.

You can choose between a stock beast(997.2) or a absolute monstrous disgustingly beastly turbo which sticks out compared to othere porsches

 

If you want to keep it long term get a 2007-09 with something like a Ruf conversion or a GT2.

 

I own 997 Turbo with the basic 3 suspension/ECU/exhaust mods and recently drove 997.2 PDK.

1. Unless you must have PDK, IMO, no, the difference between 997.2 and 997.1 is not worth the difference in price.
The 997.2 PDK is a stupendously fast car but it still feels insulated and too soft and you will need to do the same as what we've done with 997.1 Turbo: exhaust and suspension mods. Take away PDK, then the difference between the 2 cars are not significant enough to warrant a 50k difference.

997.2 PDK's other problem is that the next gen. Turbo, 991 is really just right around the corner, around 2012. IF you plan to keep the car a long time, you can't ignore this fact.

2. Since you were a professional driver, I suspect, if, and only if, you are not using this car as a daily driver, a used 997 GT2 is the best choice for you. I do not think that the GT2 is a good daily driver, this is where the Turbo rules; otherwise, the GT2 is the king of 911.

3. The second best choice IMO is a 997.1 Turbo with manual box, and as others have mentioned, with the basic triad of mods: exhaust, suspension, ECU. For ECU mod I would pick among the big 4 of US companies: EVOMS, GIAC, Protomotive, and Swizer. All cost about 3k and all have great reputation and proven reliability -- at least from what's publicly posted .
A stock 997.1 Turbo has no chance against 997.2 PDK with respect to the sense of speed and power. An ECU tune would narrow this gap considerably. My GIAC tune has some of the "speeding bullet" quality of 997.2 PDK.

The difference between 2 and 3? I think about 50k.

PDK btw is a huge dilemma. It's fast, but lacks "driver involvement." I think the basic issue is that PDK is fun only at 10/10 driving; otherwise it removes the fun acts of shifting, rev matching, feeling clutch engagement, etc., etc., that makes driving fun.

 

great post Can. I don't think the OP could go wrong with a 997.1 with ecu,exhaust, and susp. mods that you have done, and as noted by sam12345 (or buy a stock low mile CPO'd 997.1 and have one of the reputable shops sponsoring here to do these mods). Of the 997.1 generation, an 09 would perhaps be a very good choice, given the budget available, having the upgraded NAV, Bluetooth,etc. while still retaining the GT1 engine platform. (IMHO). The 2010 would be in the running, if the OP wants the PDK option vs 6spd. Bottomline, sure nice to have the 150K budget!

 

You seem to want a lot of items on the car , even though i normally advise a used CPO Turbo -- expensive aerokits , engine mods, and suspension at the level you are describing on a used car -- is not the typical used car shopper.

I would either -
a) buy a car that someone else modded
b) but a used CPO car and modestly modify it
c) buy a new 2011 Turbo S.

I never heard of a 'wicked" aerokit.
I believe Techart puts out the best for this car.
I like the Gemballa hood.

But to buy a used car and spending 60+ grand modifying it now .. this is kinda late to the party .
Better off negotiating on a completed car (where those mods took a depreciation along with the car-- and its first owner shared some of that loss) . However -- then you face the risk that the driver did not take care of it and 120K + is a lot of money to have any uncertainty. Unless you know the previous owner service and repair history --the risk is too great.

My feeling is that if what you really want is aerokit and all the mods .. don';t try and save money .. get a new car .. and then modify that from the ground up with a tuner whom you respect and go over the car step by step from day 1 to make it your special car.
In my opinion 150K is NOT exactly saving money and cutting corners at this price .. is like dipping toes instead of swimming.

 

can and yrralis, great posts.

If i was in your situation i would get a 2008 gt2 due to the following factors:
1)No need for engine/suspension mods at all
2) No need for visual mods, car already has an aero kit
3)Retain warranty, and the car will keep its value very well compared to buying a 2010 turbo

 

I'm with Can. I too was going through this debate. Drive a PDK car and a 6 spd. If you love/have to have the PDK, then your decision is made. That's where I thought I was going to come out b/c my use is as a DD. However, I drove the PDK and didn't like it at all. yes, would be the faster way around a track (I road race bikes, not cars, but we put speed shifter on the bikes that allow clutchless full throttle upshifts and they are important to going fast), but for a DD that I want to enjoy, I decided I wanted a 6 spd. Once you made that decision, then (for me) the decision to go with a low mileage, well optioned 997.1tt was easy. Now I'm planning my mods (custom 9500ci install, then likely to TPC for Bilsteins and a Europipe and short shifter), and once I'm done I think I'll have a cars that is as good as or better than a 997.2 for my intende use, and %55k in the bank to go with it.

 

Just to echo others, I would say try the PDK before you think of buying one. They are much less involving than a 6 speed. And I would not consider the new $160K (base price) Turbo S, it is built from the parts bin using the inferior engine.

 

Wow. You guys are great. Thank you. I think I can pretty well scratch the 2010 off the list. The one reason I was shying away from a GT2 was the fact I have a couple kids I like cruising around with on occassion. Daughters 11 and 13 fit in the back fine. :-) If I recall the GT2 looses the back seat....correct?

So what do you guys think about the different aero mod companies? The ones I have seen are Wicked-7, Gemballa, and Tech-art. I really like the clean lines of the Gemballa, but I also love the wide back on the Wicked-7.

Any opinions/experience with these kits?

Do mods like these lose value quickly and do they hurt the resale of the car?

I really appreciate all the great feedback. Thanks for your time.

 

GT2 has no back seat and isn't the best daily driver. If those two things aren't factors, then I agree with most of the opinions above and would recommend it for you. If you want a fast comfortable daily that you can take the kids in then TT, though I'd recommend an 07 as they've already taken a big depreciation hit and the mod market is fairly mature.

Any body kit you put on will get you very little if anything in resale (and may hurt the value), and you may have to revert to stock if you want to sell it to the average consumer as you may scare some of them off. Not a big deal if you plan on keeping the car for a while as you have said.