To Turbo or not to Turbo?

That is the question, I'm sure many have considered. A colleague is leaving town and is selling his 2002 996 Turbo. Guards red, black leather interior. It's got 32,000km on the clock (20,000 miles) Selling for about USD 75,000. Could sell my 2001 C2 for around 45-48,000 USD. Whaddya all think. I love my car but I am most definetely interested in this 420hp beast

Do it......Nothing like a TT

Go for it!

Having had an '01 TT and a current Carrera Coupe, I would pass unless you will need the high speed application. In the U.S., the legs are too long to appreciate the design, IMHO. 0-60 mph, the higher compression stock 3.6 and non-awd is preferable, believe it or not, based on personal experience. Just $.02.

Just do it. Do a PPI on it before you buy though.

Buy a Cayenne Turbo and have fun in all your fantastic sand dunes as well !!

I would do it - If I could find a Turbo Targa - To Me That will be the PERFECT CAR ! IMHO

I have a landcruiser for the dunes, much more effective than a Cayenne. Gonna test drive the turbo next week and decide. He bought it less than a year ago from the Porsche dealer, and has only serviced it there. It will need a new clutch soon

Sounds like fun ! I've been to Dubai six times on holiday but haven't done the dune driving yet. We have a vague plan hatching for next year's annual 'boys trip' to be the Porsche organised Cayenne Tour staying at the Ritz Carlton. Do you know of this tour ? (it's on the Porsche wensite (the UK one)) - Would you recommend it ?? Adrian

Adrian, haven't been on the Cayenne tour, more interested in the track days But the P Club always organize great events, check out their site http://www.porscheclubuae.com/

A friend of mine has a '03 TT x50 aero coming off lease soon, less than 10k, I may jump on it myself. Exact same color combo as my C4S, my wife won't know the difference!

Rhamy, do it! The TT is an amazing car and very easy to live with...

Last summer, i was looking for a Turbo and finally settled for a C4S. This summer I'm again looking for a TT. Go for it, nothing like a TT

Haha, that is awesome!

I much prefer the linear N/A over a Turbo, but given the RMS problems and lack of a dry sump on the N/A 996 - I'd say go for the TT.

ahem...the turbo is pretty linear. PPL talk about turbo lag. I never notice or experience it.

Drive one! And "Search your feelings." You will know "It's your destiny."

this is pretty funny, because my 03C4S is Artic Silver and I know of this Artic Silver TT....except that my 16yr old daughter might tell her mom. LOL

Funny you should say that, I've had the same fantasy. Just swap the C4S for the turbo in the same color combo. The differences are subtle enough to fool most people. I've heard that the Turbo really only makes a significant difference above 100 mph. Any truth to that?

TT's get RMS leaks too, just not as common/publicized. You will probably never see the benefit of a dry over a wet on the street. I've never heard of a single engine failure on a m96 due to the wet sump system alone. Don't get too bogged down in all the hype, wet sump racing engines have been run for years with great success. JMO Chas,a TT is a totally different beast to drive, gobs of low end torque, like comparing a small block to a large block V8.

Based on owner experience of 996's with TT, 3.4, and 3.6 motors; my '01 TT had low compression motor to turbo transition time that has markedly apparent at about 3K rpms. These are twin low inertia turbos, so it is nothing as marked as a Mitsubishi Evo 8 or aftermarket over turboed WRX. Out of the hole the stock normally aspirated 3.6 feels best out of the three I've owned, IMHO. When the forced induction torque of the TT kicks in, no question it is mind blowing. Having recently driven a 997S, that would be my pick for U.S. road only ownership. Having a turbo in the States leaves one with the feeling of never optimizing its full designed potential; kind of like having a PhD and working in McDonalds. Just $.02.

I test drove it today, and I kind of see re-animators point. Don't get me wrong, the acceleration was just mind blowing, I was grinning ear to ear when I shifted into 3rd, the torque is awesome. 1st gear launch, for a second nothing happens, then the rpm hits 2000 and wham, thrown back into the seat, shift to second, slammed back into the seat again, truly amazing, fastest car I've ever driven. It looks amazing, so aggressive Downsides: Is it lacking in soul? My C2 with PSE sounds much better, does one need that much acceleration? Am I just gonna drive around flooring it all the time? How long lived will the pleasure of the acceleration be? Maybe I should just keep my car? I'm confused

throw a fabspeed exhaust on the TT and it'll sound as aggro as your PSE. The first time i drove a TT i kinda felt how you do. After owning it, i thought it may be too refined for me, until i started leaving PSM off all the time. I say go for it, the acceleration is stupendous, but so is the handling. there's more initial understeer than a C2 perhaps, but on any road, any condition the TT will leave the C2 far, far behind.

Isolate the driving experiences and mentally try to ignore other factors (ie: prestige). There is a right fit for everyone. Personally, I liked my recently sold '89 Vitesse enhanced 944 Turbo more than the 996 TT; even though I will always have a 911 variant as my sole transportation. If you prefer the C2 after all that, I suggest you never drive a 997S or GT3.

I've driven a 997s albeit tiptronic for 10 laps around a circuit, I felt that the electronics were doing the driving, was not blown away by the acceleration, and much prefered my C2 with no PASM, it feels purer. I drove a MK1 GT3 that was for sale, now that was interesting 360hp, revs like mad, but too stiff as a daily driver. I'm sure I would love the new GT3, maybe I should hold out for one of those, it is a bit less rough than the Mk1, would have to sacrifice the rear seats, hmmm?

That's great that you were able to sample everything to make your choice. Kind of weird, but I drove all and ended up with a '02 Carrera Coupe as well that only needed suspension mods to make it perfect. If you are already in the perfect 911 for you, perhaps you should love the one your with.

Get the mk1 GT3. That thing is a future classic and, seriously, other than the lowered ride height, it's a great daily driver. Can't get a purer driving experience than in a mk1 GT3.

A TT accelerates much faster than a non Turbo. There's a long uphill entrance ramp to I95 in Boston, from a standing start in my C4S I can get close to 80mph before the merge, I was over 100mph in a TT and I dont think I gave it full throttle. It's hard to put in words the reason why I would want a TT, it's not the prestige, but mostly something that says, hey how about the 450hp!

How much is gas in the UAE? The tt sounds like a plan.

turbo, no question for me...