Over the last two weeks I made a plan to trade my Camaro in for a P-Car...either it was going to be by the time my birthday comes around (mid-March) or during the true Western NY Summer (late June / early July).

Going through a budget forecast, if I buy in march, it would be a 4S Cabrio. If later, then I would have enough to afford a Turbo. Originally, it was going to be a Cayman S...but some friends have recommended going the 997.

Who has gone from a "regular" 997 to a Turbo? And why did you make the switch? Is it rather impractical for one who (probably) would not track it?

Thanks for the opinions!

 

A few things to consider:

-Do you like the look of a Turbo and its fixed large wing over the 4s? Be honest

-Do you need to go 0-60 faster then 4.3 seconds which is what you will do in a 4S?

-Is it a daily driver and is gas MPG any issue at all?

-If you are buying used are you prepared for what could be higher repair costs to a Turbo out of warranty vs the 3.8L 4S?

-What kind of options could you get on the 4S for the same or less money then buying a stripped Turbo? PDK?

There are no right or wrong answers, just a few things for you to consider. Personally I think the Turbo is cool as a supercar, but it would not suit me for an everyday driver. I am a little conservative though when it comes to my cars. I like sporty AND classy, and the fixed Turbo wing is just a little much for me.

As for the 4S and its power, our gen 2 997's have something like 385 hp and 320ft/lb torque before mods while being relatively light <compared to say an M5> and like I said 4.3 sec 0-60 is as fast as I will ever go. So far I have had a hard time flooring it in my car. I go so fast so quick it's simply enough, which is why I have a new Radar detector being shipped to me as I write this lol.

So you just have to figure out what suits you best, but you might want to go drive a 4S and see. One piece of advice if you drive a pdk car. Put it in manual mode drop it to second and take a loopy loo turn around really fast. Then see if you can stop smiling.

 

A Porsche Turbo is the one true everyday super car. The prodigious amounts of torque make it feel like an old school big block muscle car. At just about any engine speed above 2000 rpm (in the poper gear), put your foot down and it just goes! I drove a 996TTfor 7 years, 35,000 miles, a lot of track days, and enjoyed every minute of it. I think most of the people who try to steer you away from one have never actually driven one.

 

For the GT1 Mezger engine. Read up on it and you will know why the 996T (and 997.1) are true super cars. Personal opinion of course.

 

I have a 997 gts and I find the power nice, but not outrageous. I think the turbo would be outrageous, but personally I don't like turbo lag, turbo looks, or turbo repairs. Going from a v8 to an i6, I'm not so sure you'll be satisfied with the torque. But the 911 isn't made to be a zero to 60 car, other than the turbo.

 

I think you might get better answers by posting this on the Turbo section. Many of those guys have made that switch and can speak to the reasons better.

I will tell you that I considered moving to a Turbo, but after enough time with a couple of 997s (PDK C2S and 6-spd GTS), I gained a different perspective about the Turbo:
* Just because it says 'turbo' doesn't necessarily mean it's "better"...just FASTER
* I've grown to prefer the shape of the car w/out the rear wing and front fogs
* I've grown to prefer the SOUND of the NA engine over the TT
* The linear power curve of the NA car is more enjoyable for my tastes
* A move to a TT would begin the never-ending carousel of P-Cars through the garage: never satisfied with the present
* besides costs of the car going up (note, insurance, etc), the added 'stress' of 'Go Straight To Jail' card that comes with it. I'm not disciplined enough to not get in a ton of trouble with a car like that.

So not the reasons you were looking for in terms of why to move to a TT, but rather taking a Devils Advocate position and tell you Why Not.

Good Luck. There is no wrong answer, just different variations to the same answer: get a 997.

Also...food for thought: look at a GT3 of some sort...unless you need rear seats.

 

Beyond the NA/FI question... coming from a Camaro, are you sure you want a Porsche? This is not a facetious question. These are very different philosophies in cars - they drive differently, they feel differently. You either like one or the other.

 

That is, in my mind another major decision factor, 2-wheel versus 4-wheel drive and the resulting difference in how the car actually "feels" to drive. You either like it or you don't, the Turbo definitely gives you the feeling that you need to point the car in the right direction and held right there where as the 2 wheel is a mere point and shoot action. You should drive both before you make the decision. I can tell you that the turbo acceleration will knock your socks off and it does is effortless .

 

I previously owned a 550i and a TTS (Audi) at different times. I've grown to miss the German refinement and attention to detail that is sorely missing in the Camaro. I've never owned a Porsche before and came close to buying a Boxster the time I bought the Camaro. I'm under the belief that I want to live life experiencing everything I can---that includes cars.

It's just tough to decide since I've actually never driven either model before. The Porsche dealer where I live has about 4 911's and Caymans (combined). They just changed owners, so maybe they're not taking in inventory. I haven't test driven...primarily because I don't want to feel "pressured" to buying a car from that dealer. The 4S I liked because of the widebody rear. The turbo I liked because it looks much more aggressive than the rest of the line up. Not a fan of the wing of the 997 turbo, though.

 

I looked at a 997.1 turbo and ended up with an 09 C2S. For the bulk of my driving I liked the C2S better. Even happier with the GTS.

 

As always this is a matter of personal taste. You have to drive both to make your decision. I chose none of the above when I went with my GT3. I loved my C4S and have driven 997 turbos as well (did not own one). The GT3 did it for me, but to each his own - drive them all (even the non 997 models - Boxter, Cayman) and make your decision. They are all good for different reasons as I have figured out by testing them all.

You mentioned that you would probably not track it, so either a turbo or C4S is fine for that. Turbos are a bit soft on the track anyway - I think they are more of the street beast while the GT3 is the track beast. I still love my GT3 on the street, however.

Good luck with it and let us know what the verdict is.

 

Knowing now that you know BMWs and Audis I again reiterate my question. Are you sure you want a Porsche - a 911 in particular - as they are very different cars? You ought to drive one before you buy. And drive it as you like to drive... is that he car for you?

The Turbo may be more your liking from a raw torque perspective, but Porsches are all about handling and finesse, not smoking launches and 1/4 mile times.

 

All fantastic responses to your question. Dallascajun and Katera bring up great points. Yes ask the TT crowd, many there would have made the plunge and no one has ever regretted the move. If you are the kind that watches a TT drive by you and think to yourself I should have or could have and what if ... then you may want to get it "right"the first time by going in for a TT. Some say you have to graduate into a TT. I guess that means enjoying ownership of a NA for a few years before getting the turbo itch. I did not get a turbo as I felt the looks were too aggressive for me. Every now and then I have thought about a turbo only to come into grips of reality on how great my car handles, steers and brakes. Like Adias mentioned these cars are so much more than just brute power. The 997.2 engine revs so freely and is a joy to drive. Puts a smile on my face every single time. I see TT's fly by me all the time. Honestly I have never felt bad. My 3.2 reminds me time and again that these cars are not about horsepower. The TT crowd feel that we NA guys are missing out on the mesmerizing response of the turbo. I am yet to mash the throttle on my 997. So I may not be the right person to answer your question.

 

If 'status' is part of the draw, then a TT, otherwise drive both (and the 987), and see which you like best.

 

That's why Porsche makes so many models - you have to find the one that is right for YOU.

The first one I had was a Turbo. Now I'm more than happy with the C2S and GT3 I have. I prefer the 2WD, narrow body NA cars myself. Get the one you like. Rent one of each and see which you prefer.