I have been looking at 997 coupes for some time but now have the opportunity to buy a cab. I have never driven the cab or been in one for that matter. I live several hours from the nearest dealer so I can't just run over a test drive one. A few questions - Any difference in head room in the cab? Noise level with top up and down. Any difference in handling b/w coupe and cab? Any other input would also be appreciated.

 

I dont personally find much of a difference when i sit in a coupe compared to my cab. Porsche does a good job of making the lines of the cab very very close to the lines of the coupe. my car is a 996 though. but, the height of both the 997 coupe and cab are the same so headroom should be very similar.
i happen to love the sound of my gemballa exhaust top down or up, but i can hear the roar more when the top is down, so yes, more music when the top is down.
the 997 was built from the ground up to be a cab, so there is A LOT of structural rigidity in it. not as much as the coupe, but Porsche has been known to produce some of the most structurally sound cabs in the world. plus porsches in general are some of the best handling cars ever built, so no worries there either.
I personally think Porsche makes the best looking cab on the market, so if you can swing it, and will use it, get it over anything else you might think of getting a conv. of.

 

I drove coupes and cab's and ended up buying a cab. They are just to fun with the top down. The cab is very stiff and handles great. Lots of people even track there cab too. Head room is the same and with the top up they are pretty quite for a convertible but a coupe will be a bit quieter. With the top down you have the air noise but they give you a rear screen to cut down on the wind....I never use it though.

 

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Cab is definetly louder, the only major difference with the cab is that you loose the rear quarter window. But its only usefull when your backing up. Other than that I prefer the cab.

-N

 

I have had only cabs(2). I do love the open air feeling. But the lines of the coupe are nice. Headroom is the same. the cab top is well insulated so it is quite when up and the aerodynamics are very good when down. I love my cars exhaust sound with the top down. I think to some extent the resale MIGHT be a little easier too. The 997 cab is stiffer than the 996 cab.
I say get the cab...but I am biased.

 

actually for those of us that are vertically enhanced, the coupe has less headroom than the cab. It's the sunroof in the cab that eats up headroom. For me it is critical. I fit in the cab but not the coupe. Of interest to the tall folk, the hard top on the cab has the most headroom.

 

After driving Porsche coupe for decades I switched to a cabriolet this time. I ordered a 997S cab in Sept 05 and picked it up in Zuffenhausen in June 06. Fantastic car. The roof is solid as can be and provides great security. (I also happened to order the hardtop for it as well). Of course, part of this is a function of where you live and whether you can enjoy it that much. So far, I have never regreted it. The best part with the hardtop installed is that I get a rear coupe window again,--with much improved rearward visibility.

 

Mine does anyway, and they also go up and down.

Agree car is louder with top up than the coupe.

Handling is close, but the Coupe feels stiffer on bumpy roads and crossing railroad tracks.

 

I had four cabs all were run on the track what great fun. The new top has thick padding.
I bought the cab to enjoy off the track but it is a very stable race car on the track.

 

Just sold my 997 CS Cab Tiptronic, but only because I ordered a Turbo. It's only been a few weeks, but I sure miss the Cab. If I didn't need to sell it as down payment for the Turbo, I would have kept it for sure.. I agree with the reduced (slightly) rear-side visibility, but with the top down it's not an issue. If the rear window feels a bit too small for you, you could always get the hardtop. Just make sure it has park sensors for hassle-free downtown parking.

I have tracked the car, and as a novice track driver, I could barely notice the difference in stability between it and a friend's coupe. Plus I managed to beat 2 manual 996 C4S's both on the track and at the drag strip (with a Tip no less) so it's a great all-rounder.

Get it and you'll understand what we're all talking about!

 

The only drawback I have noted with the cabriolet is reduced visibility to the rear quarters, suboptimal when changing lanes or backing out of a parking space. I really want a convertible, so it is unavoidable.

 

I traded my 06 coupe for an 06 cab. The cab is awesome! Driving around town even a little spirited and I don't notice much difference. I am sure the difference is more noticeable on the track. I highly recommend it!

 

Go for the cab. It can have a roof when you want it to.

It just looks so great, and feels great, on a bright sunny day.

Here it is on Saturday morning.

 

I love the cab. My father and I did a rally from Seattle to Oregon last year and quite a few people commented on how the lines of the cab with the top up looked like the coupe.

 

Beautiful! Is that NBL?