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YOUR RESEARCHAre 996 owners the same as 996 turbo owners?
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best performing na porsche at
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It was the best performing NA Porsche at that time, the first of it's kind in the area.
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I absolutely loved my '99 C4 aero - I consider it one of the best cars I've ever owned (and I've gotten to own a ton of cars since I've had a dealer's license since 2001 and can easily change cars on a whim).
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In other words, all that power is great, but is rarely used, especially since I only autocross my car.
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I absolutely loved my '99 C4 aero - I consider it one of the best cars I've ever owned (and I've gotten to own a ton of cars since I've had a dealer's license since 2001 and can easily change cars on a whim).
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than I opened my wallet and I was dead set on getting a 911 non turbo...
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I absolutely loved my '99 C4 aero - I consider it one of the best cars I've ever owned (and I've gotten to own a ton of cars since I've had a dealer's license since 2001 and can easily change cars on a whim).
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The way my 996 performs during street use, it does not require a turbo. If I tracked a car then I would have gone for the turbo. Plus the turbo holds its price better than the naturally aspirated 996.
Turbo is different league, IMO the 996 N/A owners aside from a GT3 are driving a poor mans Porsche version however most not all act as though they are driving a 200k vehicle. The 996 is a bargain and a great car but the turbo is so much more car. I found my 03 C4s under powered feeling and always wanted a turbo, which I was about to buy but ended up falling in love with an R8
Is there a way youre supposed to act when you buy a 200k car?
Same here...my old Subaru would walk this car in a straight line, but this 996 sure puts a smile on my face while at the track, handles wayyyyyy better than my old subaru, but I would love to have that torque back.
Turbo didn't exist when we bought ours, so no we didn't buy it wishing it were a Turbo.
Now she did want the GT3 instead, but it wasn't available for street use in the US at the time.
We certainly ogled the TT when it came out as we have done for just about every new 911, but there's never been any real interest in anything else. In fact "you'd have to sell the 996" is how I typically end conversations when she gets a little too serious about a new 911
Never driven a turbo. Don't need one. The NA is more than enough for what I use it for. Maintenance is more expensive on Turbo, as I understand. What's the point of that much more HP on the street? I am a big proponent of "It's neat knowing all that HP is there even if you don't use it much..." but still the NA is enough. The NA makes me smile each time I drive it. Check!
It's a different car entirely, and I do think it serves a different purpose. I specifically bought a C2 because I wanted the lightest weight and fewest moving parts possible. No turbos, no AWD, no Tiptronic, etc. Simplicity and ease of maintenance.
Oh also because it's the only one I could afford.
Honestly I'm not sure what the point of the Turbo is. Drag racing? I seem to keep up with them just fine on road courses
You can't use 100% of any of these cars on the street anyway, so to me the only point of a Turbo is if you need more straightaway oomph on a track. I don't.
I understand your question completely. Part of my brain wants a 996 Turbo for a variety of reasons, known to those who have researched the car.
That aside, my plain Jane '99 was the perfect choice for me. The car is in pristine condition and very affordable. For less than $5K I can realize the modifications that I want. It meets my needs and makes me smile every time I drive it.
While the turbo is very appealing, if I had it to do over I would make the same decision.
ya.... I was dead set on getting a 911 turbo.. loved everything about them and have owned many turbo cars over the years. than I opened my wallet and I was dead set on getting a 911 non turbo... loved everything about them lolololol
I'm happy though. after having my boxster for three years... this 911 which I'v only owned for one full week is amazing. having both... what amazing cars. both make me smile. there is plenty of differences between them and I love it all.
I would expect the turbo to do the same thing. make me smile at all the difference. wide body, skinny body, slow , fast ... I love em all
Atrox, 996 owners are the starving orphans you see on TV during charity drives. So deliriously happy with the few measly crumbs they have. Why do you want to taunt them with the indulgent lifestyle of the rich kids in far off golden cities? What are your other hobbies, pulling the wings off flies?
Two completely different animals and driving experiences. When I bought my turbo, I apparently lied to myself on my way in and had the intention of selling my n.a. cab due to having to insure and store too many cars, trucks and motorcycles. That thought lasted about two minutes into a drive in my n.a. c2. It's not going anywhere. There's no such thing as a bad Carrera.
There is a C2 that's calling my name, I just don't want to be in a position where I bought two of the same cars. Aside from the turbos, awd, and the tourque is there that big of a difference to notice?
OK, maybe Brother Atrox coulda asked the question thusly:
"I've noticed a lot of NA 996 guys have sold their cars and moved on to a 996TT. How many of you in here wish you had bit the bullet and bought a 996TT? How many of those converts from NA to 996TT are still glad they made the switch?"
If I am not mistaken, I believe you (Atrox) fall into this group of converts, as do I. I absolutely loved my '99 C4 aero - I consider it one of the best cars I've ever owned (and I've gotten to own a ton of cars since I've had a dealer's license since 2001 and can easily change cars on a whim). I never considered it slow and really didn't want for more power. The things people ping on the Mk I cars for (mainly headlights and no glove box), didn't bother me. I actually came to prefer the GT1 headlghts and the two huge door pockets make the lack of a glovebox a non-factor. My Mk I car had full leather interior and I always thought the interior was nice for a true sports car.
The main reason I switched was because I wanted something other than a black car - it was just too hard to keep looking nice since I drove my car nearly everyday in all kinds of weather. Once I decided to switch cars, I decided to move up to the 996TT because I thought I could do it without breaking the bank (basically got $18k out of my old car - sold it for less but made some $$ on a hail damage claim - and figured I could get into a decent, higher mileage 996TT for around $30k). If my '99 had been guards red or speed yellow or cobalt blue or seal gray (with a little bling), I would still be driving it.
The main reason I switched to the 996TT was the styling (I like the air inlets in the side) and the promise of a more robust engine. Of course, the thought of buying a mildly modified car with 550+ hp was intriguing as well. I ended up paying $35,500 for a 47k mile car with X50 package, basically every option and some nice mods. I got a helluva deal and bought at the bottom of the market, and it was more car than I ever thought possible for my budget. Like the '99 C4 aero, it has also been a fantastic car. I like it more than I liked my '99 C4. But not by much. And certainly not twice as much (referencing the price of the 2 cars). Second gear pulls are incredible in the 996TT, but first gear gets you to the redline so quickly that the boost doesn't have time to kick in. And if you do a full 3rd gear pull in the 996TT on a public roadway, you'd better be prepared to spend some time in jail if caught. In other words, all that power is great, but is rarely used, especially since I only autocross my car.
In a nutshell, the NA 996 is 90% of the car that the 996TT is, at about 40% of the price. I'm happy I made the move to the 996TT, but as I stated earlier, I'd be just as happy if I still had my '99 C4 aero but in a different color, and had another $18k in my bank account. At the current 996TT prices (I figure mine is worth about $45k now), no way I'd give a '99 C4 aero AND another nearly $30k to move up.
Had a low mileage SUPER nice 996TT for 4 years, drove it for 12K miles and sold it a few months ago. Now I have a '01 986S and as of Wednesday this week a '99 Cab with issues. Plus a 1980 SC but that's another story altogether.
996TT is a wonderful 911. Giggle machine every time you drive it. I took mine to the track a few times (with tune, exhaust, suitable tires and suspension) and it was a monster - destroyed everything in the Red group except dedicated super-serious racecars, and when driven on a power track (NJMP Lightning) it could even dispatch almost all of those (haha Interseries Cayman).
Great street manners also - my wife drove it to get groceries regularly. I sold it because it was a garage queen that only came out on the nicest days and was handled with extreme care WRT rock chips, etc. That just got old - I like to drive my cars a lot. Also, as noted above you can't drive it on the street using anything more than 25% of the capability without getting into "jailtime" speed zones in a hurry. The adage of a "slow car fast" instead of a "fast car slow" works for me when it comes to the street.
great answer Jennifer.
Atrox... nice bangai cardinal.
My answer, no I don't feel or wish I had bought a turbo instead of a 4S. I remember the first day I saw a new 4S back in 2002, I was driving on Alton Rd in Miami Beach and saw a black one fresh from the dealer turning on 14th Street. Back then I was building custom aquariums and had to have a truck as my primary vehicle. (Aprilia RSV was toy of choice back then) I said to myself, "self one day you will drive one of those...". 7 years later I realized that dream with my 2002 arctic silver 4S. The only other 996s I would trade or upgrade to are GT3 and GT2. However as time passes by and those GTs are getting older my next 911 will most likely be a 997.2 GT3. Even those are 6-7 years old today. My suggestion would be to drive a .2 996, a 4S and a turbo then the choice should be clearer.
Just don't drive a turbo so you can keep telling yourself that!
The 996tt is an unbelievable car that elevates the fun, passion, and awe of driving, working on, and admiring a 911. Isn't that what having a 911 is about? It's not about having the cheapest maintenance cost, the most reasonable horsepower... there are other brands of cars for that.
There's just nothing like the torque of that turbo monster... holy smokes! Go drive a 996turbo and decide for yourself that there's a point for all that power on the street: fun!
Looking good, the SPS frags showing nice growth, blastomussa also very nice. I can't tell you how many hours I've spent with my hands in reefs, literally years...
Never know, maybe he has more self restraint than you
I've driven a 996 and 997 TT. Impressive machines, of that there is no doubt. Nothing that makes me want to toss the 996 and get one though.
Honestly as long as the 996 keeps plugging away as it has, if someone just came up and gave me perfectly healthy TT that needed nothing, I'd probably turn around and sell it on. Just no need or desire for it.
Nothing against those that do love and prefer them. We all have different tastes. Some of us really do like and prefer our NAs with no interest in the TT.
Going the turbo route may come with higher maintenance costs but you'll also know that you don't ever have to worry about IMSB failure.
I don't regret not buying a Turbo but I'm pretty confident I wouldn't regret it if I had bought one! lol
In any instance, make sure you do your diligence and know what you're getting. A basket case Turbo is still a basket case.
-Eric
It's hard to say exactly what the differences are on average. Odds are that many will have different blood types, ages, locations, parents, et cetera. In the case of flat6music, they are indeed the same. But that seems to be the exception, rather than the rule.
Im probably getting a turbo and selling my 996. I need a car thats nice on the street and that I dont have to worry about so much on the track. For the amount of money needed to make a 996 3.4 engine reliable for the track it makes more sense for me to buy a turbo which can handle track abuse much better.
Honestly I have experienced both (both 04s). There is no doubt the turbo has that... turbo feel. For my decision though it was just about fewer moving parts and fewer things that could go wrong.
This is the first car I have bought for fun (purchased it about 4 weeks ago) and I'm pretty happy.
I was feeling REALLY good about the car I purchased (04 CS4 996) until I looked at the new 911s on the showroom floor of the local Porsche dealership! Amazing looking GT3 there - but at $200k... I'm happy with my pristine Porsche for now.
With my 958 there is no way I can go to a Base/S/GTS and give up the diesel torque even if it doesn't have the top end power that the others do. Consequently I specifically have not driven a 958TT due to the extra torque.
Torque is fun and addictive, but the 996 NA provides all I need in a manner that is easy to use (e.g. I know where the band is and can easily maintain it). In 16 years I have never seriously wished for more than it has to give. Should I ever send it to Jake I'll certainly have him work his magic on it because why not.
I also prefer NA and supercharger power delivery over turbos. Just how I'm wired I guess. Modern multi-turbo systems are much better than their older counterparts though. Almost to the point of not being able to tell the difference in some cases.
Finally, I'm a MkI guy. I know it's silly in the context of 996 ownership, but I've just never liked the MkII headlights
So to me the only advantage of a TT (since I'm not the least bit worried about my M96) is that I could say I have a TT which just isn't my thing.
Not sure why people can't accept that there are those of us that really don't have a need/desire for the TT and really would choose the NA variant over the TT. I know some just joke about it (like me saying TT owners are obviously compensating), but some really do seem to seriously feel that we all secretly believe owning a NA instead of a TT was a monumental mistake that we can't wait to escape from...
Happy with my 996, my only wish is that the M96 was as rock solid as the mezger motor. But then again if it was prices would be much higher so...
I like driving turbos generally and like the torque and rush of the boost coming on but I didn't want AWD with this car at all.
FWIW, I don't secretly want a TT but I do secretly want a whale tail on my C4S. lol I've got a tune, headers and an exhaust on mine. It doesn't make power like the TT but it's still enough to put a smile on my face. Besides, mine is a convertible; not a track queen.
-Eric
I bought a 996 C4S in 2002, brand new. It was the best performing NA Porsche at that time, the first of it's kind in the area. I still love it.
Looking back, would I have bought a Turbo in 2002 instead? Absolutely! BUT, I couldn't afford the turbo then, so that point is moot! It would have added another $20K-$30K to what was already an almost a $100k car out the door. Anyone on this thread who say they prefer their NA car to the turbo is in denial, IMHO.
This is what I got out of test-driving a TT roughly a year into NA 996 ownership, which is how I ended up with a second NA 996 and an M5 on the side for torque.
My daily driver is a Mercedes with turbo and for a good reason. Turbos are so much more fun to drive than NA engine IMO. More exciting, engaging and the adrenaline rush you get when the turbo kicks in is what driving a sports car should be about. Maybe this was the reason when I test a 3.4L 996 C2 for the first time felt a bit slow. Now the 3.6L 996 C2 that I drove gave me a nice rush and at that point I was convince I don't want anything less. If you can afford a turbo, GET IT! Some pointed out you will never use all the power of a turbo on the street but that is not true. There will always be a time when you're on an open road to yourself, you instinctively downshift, slam on the throttle and just feeling that boost kicks in makes it all worth while.
Was happy with my brand new 4S. Thought it was quick.
Until a TT blew past me like I was standing still on the Major Deegan one night. It was a little depressing seeing just how much faster it was.
When the time came to reprise the 996 experience a number of years later I remembered that and went boosted. I don't regret it one bit.
I have a 2005 Cdi for the wife now, 370ft/lbs of torque at 3700rpm is a rush and mid speed acceleration is very good.
I also love the longevity of the diesel's, some guy with the same car as mine has 422,000 miles on it with virtually nothing wrong, still original timing chain, never even had the cam cover off it!!
2002 Porsche 911 Carrera 0 - 60 mph 4.8 seconds
2002 Porsche 911 Turbo 0 - 60 mph 4.2 seconds
So the owners are not the same. Turbo owners are living .6 seconds in the future.
Wow, this man says it perfectly......thank you sir!
I've got a low mileage 2 owner 04 AE and every once in awhile I consider selling and moving on to a TT but I honestly love the feel of my car and it checks off all the boxes for me perfectly. The biggest temptation for me to go 996TT are some of the worries about owning an M96 power plant.
If not for those worries I would never consider selling my AE, fits like a glove and perfectly balanced with just enough power for my skill set.
Those 0-60 numbers make it sound like such a minor difference exists between the models. I have a 2002 C2 x51 that is about 600lbs lighter than stock and it feels like a slug at any speed compared to my 03 996tt, especially in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th gears.
For my it is the body. I love the wider hips of the C4S and TT. Almost bought a TT but found the C4S shortly after the TT's PPI came back showing it needed another $10k in work over and above what the dealer was going to do for me on the car before driving to Atlanta to buy it.
That said I am thinking about selling the C4S to pick up a blown 968 Cab.
I agree 100%. Right now I could jump to a 991 or possibly a Cayman S and I would choose either of those over a 996TT without any hesitation what-so-ever. Primarily for the updated interior. The 996TT would still be the faster car but I would go for the newer model year, interior, warranty, reliability.
I'm having a lot trouble deciding between the two. The 2014 or newer Cayman S looks very good to me but no back seat storage area which I find very useful in the 911. My high mileage 996 still looks good and is a blast to drive, especially with the new suspension, wheels, tires, etc. If a new to me 991 or Cayman S is going to cost me $50,000 above the current cost of my 996, I'm not convinced either will feel $50,000 more fun.
I like my 996 (non-turbo) just fine. There is a purity in the driving experience that is hard to replicate after one adds forced induction and all-wheel-drive. To be honest, at the price point that turbo's go for, I'd be sorely tempted to spring for a 997.2 instead.
I have owned a 996 C2 about 2 years ago...? Wonderful car! However, when the opportunity came up, I jumped ship into a 997.2 Turbo with PDK. Great car but it left me wanting more as the turbo felt boring. The Turbo had mind blowing acceleration but it was not emotional enough for me. So I sold it waiting for a 991 GT3 allocation which I never got and I am kinda thankful I never did. The 991 is just to big of a car, and is not a sports car anymore, but more of a grand tour car. So I bought a 996.2 GT3 and I absolutely love the car. I will keep this car for a while, as nothing comes close to the pure joy of a naturally aspirated motor, combined the awesome interior layout of the 996. Call the materials cheap or what not, but when I am sitting in the car I feel in charge. The driving position is perfect, and I can feel the car fit me like a glove. I can not get that feeling in the newer, bigger, wider 991 cars. They just feel like boats in comparison.
My .2 cents.
I got an 06 CDI for my wife as well. It's an awesome highway machine. Dead smooth, lots of passing power, and 35 mpg+ at 80 mph. And the extra feature of being able to "smoke" left lane hogs when you finally get in front of them 😀.
I recently added a 2003 Turbo 6MT to my garage and kept my 2000 C2 cab for driving in good weather - I did not expect the cars to be so different in the driving experience, the turbo is much more raw and handles much better but the ride is fairly harsh and not as easy to DD as the C2.
as far as the power train the C2 feels more modern to me - I plan on keeping them both for a long time then I want a 991 turbo Cab with a PDK - I will keep the older Turbo for the winter
I purchased my '03 targa because I already have one overpowered all-wheel-drive turbocharged vehicle, which while impressive, was just too much car to just simply enjoy driving.
The m96 engine is super responsive and confidence inspiring, the RWD 996 chassis extremely communicative and rewarding, breaking the rear end loose is fun once in a while, and the big stupid expensive sunroof makes me smile regardless of whether I'm enjoying backroads or fighting traffic in the daily commute. It's also
yellow
.
No regrets here after a year and 10k miles on the targa!
