I just sold my '03 TT for no good reason and I miss it dearly but I have driven the 997S several times and although it's not as quick as the TT, I believe it is a superior car. I believe the chassis, areodynamics, steering and interior are all noticeably better. I drove an '04 TT cab and the 997S again on Sunday, sure the TT cab is fabulous but for 40K less the 997S is a great driver's car. I didn't think I could do it but I may pick the 997S over the expense of another TT.

 

3 WORDS

REAR WHEEL DRIVE = A TRUE SPORTS CAR!

 

I'm curious what your point of ref is.
Ever spend much time behind the wheel of a 3.6 996?

I get in one every weekend and love it........totally different than the Turbo.
No way I'll say it's 'superior' to the Turbo.

 

"Superior" to the Turbo? Is that statement made from a value perspective or a performance perspective?

T

 

Well........he did say "chassis, aerodynamics, steering and interior".

Liking one interior vs another is subjective.......aerodynamics (well I guess he'd be talking drag co but dif can't be that big can it?), steering?......golly, been tracking a turbo for a few yrs & can honestly say have no complaints on the Turbo in that dept.
997 chassis is better than Turbo?........not sure what we're refering to there.......these cars are very 'different'.

Sorry, I still think the 'superior' word doesn't really get it...just my opin.
A normaly aspirated 911 (even a Boxster) is a blast to drive when you step out of a Turbo.
More an apples/oranges thing to me.

 

I guess what I'm trying to say here is that while the TT is one of the greatest Porsches ever , my 'flying by the seat of your pants' meter tells me that the 997 platform is better than the 996 platform. Just as the 996 platform is better than the 993 platform. I didn't want to like the 997 because I'm in love with all the TT's out there but I just come away with the feeling that the 997 is a great car . The bottomline is that the 997 TT will be fantastic.

 

Every time they do this change we all hate it. I had a 993 "S" Coupe (for such a short period I don’t even declare it) and I loved its design, when the 996 came out I hated it, now I love both its design and the 993. The 997 is growing on me every time I see one. Porsche is always on the technological edge of perfection. It’s like my friend here who has had everything from a Vanquish to a 360 and has a 430 on order tells me a Porsche is "boring perfection�, whereas all his Ferraris have there quirks but they have personality. I agree but the Porsche is a better car for all day to day driving no matter where you live and in what climate. PS he has also owned every version of the 911 since 1980 up to the 993. so he has driven plenty of Porsche's.

 

I own both a 997S and a 2004 Turbo coupe. They are really different cars. I love them both. But the 997 does have some kind of solidness and comfort that none of my 996s ever had. The steering is quicker, and the chassis does feel more solid. The turbo is noticably faster, but the 997 may actually be a better car to drive everyday. I wouldn't mind getting a job delivering pizzas in it so I could drive it all day!

 

Now I would DEFINITELY order a pizza from somebody that would deliver it in a Stradale or a 997S

 

After some seat time in the 997S, I know what klong is saying. My C4S gets traded in tomorrow for a 997S after 4 months of ownership. Two extended test drives and I was poisoned. The 997S has a notably superior chassis, from the feel of every control to the way the suspension handles transitions, resists dive and squat, takes a set in a corner, and is predictable. Hell, it's so good, the car does not feel obviously rear-engined, even when pushed.

To me, the 996TT felt like my C4S with a rush of power. In contrast, the 997S feels like a totally different beast, and with more driver involvement.

I continue to await the -20 suspension option in the US (-10 in the states), but am hopeful it comes here before I'm infirm from old age.

 

Frayed,
Are you going to take a big hit on your C4S?
Why not just wait for the 997TT and really step up!
I also tested the 997s, awsome car but not significantly better than my C4S to justify the trade in, IMHO
Besides, I love the AWD. Heard from sly lately?

 

I just traded in my '02 turbo for a seal gray 997S two days ago. I must agree with the majority of the opinions here as I do think the 997 is a much better car than the 996 particularly in the way the car feels much more solid, smoother, and at the same time feeling more agile. The rattles and squeaks on my turbo was really getting to me to the point that I was actually enjoying driving my son's 4 cylinder Honda Accord more than the turbo. The new 997 looks similar to the 996 but it is a vastly improved car in every respect.

 

Another one down, I have always been a fan of lighter cars with better steering then the TT or the C4S. My 996 coupe always had better road manners and steering feel then any TT or C4S I drove, speed was another issue. It is like a friend who recently traded his 03 TT for a GT3 and has NO regrets!

 

Surgeon, I've been keeping an eye on sly for y'all. This assmunch has re-registered under new aliases, but the style of his posts show through. For some odd reason, he seems to be behaving himself, so I haven't made a fuss.

As for the C4S, IMHO, the 997 chassis makes the 996 chassis feel dated for the reasons stated above. Not that the C4S is bad, it's just that it is all relative. For me, my test drives of the 997S ruined me. To such an extent that I have trouble enjoying my C4S on a daily basis, and would prefer to drive my E36 M3 around, b/c my expectations of my M3 are much more realistic than those I place on the C4S.

As for AWD, I have a love/hate relationship. It's awesome for a daily driver, but I prefer RWD on the track. I also like the RWD platform for occasional street hooliganism. Not that I make a habit out of that though.

To be honest, I really wish I didn't like the 997S, or felt it a marginal improvement over the C4S. I think the C4S looks better, and I continue to get 'thumbs up' from random people and a few girls have asked for rides.

 

Oh, and for trade in, the C4S is yellow/black, with bose, carbon shifter/brake, painted seat backs and console, 6spd, can't remember what else at the moment.

Bought 4 months ago for 59k, at 30k miles (but I put 1k of tires on the car). Now 35k miles, one dealer offered 57k, another 56k a month ago. The latter dealer is local, and now will only give 54k.