04'-05' also get 2nd generation PCCB's

 

476hp vs 456hp are the correct figures.

 

No it's 477 and 456. And they did NOT get Gen II brakes. Only the '05 Turbo S had them.

 

It's worth noting that the earlier cars are easily modded to perform well beyond 04-05 specs. The platform is very mod friendly and if mods are a consideration, earlier cars in good condition are a great place to start and a bargain given the performance envelope of the car.

 

Why are they necessarily easier to mod than the later cars?

 

They are not necessarily easier to mod, just more cost effective since aftermarket purchase prices for the earlier cars are usually less than the later cars. Depending on the mod, the performance gains are typically much greater than the 04-05's which were very minimal. Essentially, a stage 2 or greater mod. could be added to either car with the same performance results for both cars. The later cars benefited from a reprogrammed ECU for a slight power bump. The suspension tweeks for these cars were from recalibration of existing hardware and can be surpassed fairly easily. Again, if you like the 996 GT2 and intend to mod anyway, you'll get a better bang for the buck with a nice earlier car. If you don't intend to mod and want to make it a keeper from a investment standpoint, the 04 and 05 cars are a bit nicer stock for stock.