For Those Who Have Driven Both TT and SC 996s

I'm really on the fence on this issue. If I wait a couple of years I could get a TTCab, or I can buy a '99 or '00 now and add a supercharger. For those who have driven both, what are the differences? For others, if you have any thoughts on whether the standard engines can be SC'ed without adverse effect on engine life or other aspects, I'd like to hear them. Thanks

pass on the SC (RMS) superior engine design from the factory on the TT

The 996 TT's are crossing into the 70's whats your budget? the TT GT2 and GT3 have different superior motors, based on the older dry sump GT1 993 motor.

Forget the supercharger. Buy a normally aspirated 996 now and trade it in when you can afford a Turbo Cabriolet.

OG, before the GT1, there were plain old 964's and 993's with the same crankcase as in the cars you describe. The GT1 has little else in common. Also, these motors are superior to the immortals. Us mortals would never know the difference.

What about the 996 3.6 motor? Isn't the TT 3.6 the same?

No.

Thanks for the replies. The problem for me is that I don't make all that much money (Engineer with 15 yrs experience) and I really would have to wait two full years to swing a TT cab (my target price is $95k) with its depreciation and my savings. I hear the part about buy a cheaper car now and trade up later, but any car will depreciate and that will put the goal (operation Supercar Convertible) even further into the future. I was hoping a SC'ed car would be the solution. The EVO SC is only using 5 psi boost, which after reading the FI section of the Corvette Forum is extremely moderate (they are pushing 14-16 psi....some guys are asking if 25 psi is possible). Is that because the chevy 8 cylinder block and internals are so much stronger than the Porsche? But I won't risk substancial engine life decreases. The other option is a TT coupe (can get '01s for $70k) but not sure I could live without the top down experience. Keep 'em coming

Buy a car you can afford today, learn to drive it and enjoy a Porsche....Fine to dream but you may be dead in two years....I am 56 and I have always lived 24 hours at a time..... Oh, consider a '89 930 Cab.....that will hold your attention on the road and hold value fairly well

Don't add a blower. Aftermarket forced induction, from any company, is sketchy. Don't believe the marketing department. Teething problems, tuning problems that can lead to detonation and kill your motor, hardware issues, heat management issues all plague aftermarket FI. And, if you have downstream problems with the car, some techs will not touch it. 5psi is indeed moderate, but keep in mind that the motor, the entire intake system, valvetrain, exhaust manifold, and importantly, software was designed for natural aspiration. The factory figgered it all out with the Turbo, and is the preferable, OE level solution for FI. Pressure tested. Desert tested. Track tested. Has brakes and assorted peripheral components to deal with the power of the car. I'd say, buy a nicely depreciated C2, have fun with it, do some DE's. You may find that the turbo is not your dream car after all as your needs/wants in a car change after driving the 'entry level' 911. For me, a turbo is not appealing b/c I like the RWD chassis and the feel of a notably lighter C2. Still plenty of power to land you jail anyway.

I agree 100%. Before I started DEs, the turbo was my dream car. Now, I know that I prefer C2s. In fact, I would prefer a GT3 over a GT2 even if I had that kind of cash lying around. Great advice!

I consider my C2 to be a 'stepping stone' to the GT3. I'm not yet worthy, but hope to be after I figure out this rear engine thing (after years on track in the more benign and balanced front engine/rear drive E36 M3, 911s are a notable change). I was on hairy edge of picking up a nice GT3, but in the end chickened out and went with the C2, with its (hopefully) more accessible performance envelope.

All true, plus as far as I know they still won't pass CA smog test (I don't know where you're located). Get a C2, enjoy it and then you'll have an upgrade path. Dollarwise, the TT will depreciate more rapidly than a used C2 (just like whatever you're driving now), so you're not really setting the clock back on getting a TT if you get a couple year old C2 now.

Thought about a 930 turbo cab at one point, but a 16 year old daily driver for a 50 mile one way commute won't work. I drive a 2000 Corvette convertible now, which will only depreciate another $5-6k over the next 3-4 years versus a '04 TT Cab which will depreciate $8-$10k per year for a while (depreciation in year one is about $15k for cars with 7-8k miles). Pricing C2 upgrades it looks like you can gain about 35 hp with $5k addition of intake, software, headers, and exhaust, or For post 2002 you can spend about $17k on a Porsche Power Pack, intake, and exhaust and net about 39 hp.....but I think Porsche is a little conservative with the rating of the Power Pack considering you get new heads, camshaft, software, and exhaust manifold (wonder if swapping this out for headers would be better), but keep warranty intact. But 17 bones is a lot to spend when you can take the $58k spent on a '02 cab, add the $17k, and get a reasonable low mileage (25k) '01 TT coupe......then I'd have to get my saws-all after it to make my vert Surprised I'm not hearing anything from the pro-FI crowd.....I guess that says alot

If depreciation is a big consideration...stick with a stock car, but get a GT3, that will be your best bet for losing as little on your "investment" as possible. The Porsche power pack is really a lot of money for nothing (IMHO). I think with as little gain as that is, you'd benefit from track time and learning to drive the car properly. So save your money if that is the route you are going to go. But, again, if depreciation is a consideration, it's really best to keep your car stock. Anything you throw in it aftermarket really isn't worth much...and neither would the X package on a C2 (a little but not as much as you spent that's for sure.) I personally don't give a rats patootie about depreciation. I do it, I have fun with it and I have no regrets. In the end, you still need to do what you want, even with all this advice. Are you in NorCal?

Having had an '01 Cab and an '01 996 TT for under a year each, go drive the stroked 3.4 (or '02 and > 3.6 C2) before you decide. The turbo is a hands down monster, but the AWD platform still feels a bit alien. My ex-Cab had marked cowl shake and the difference between the 3.4 and the stroker 3.6 is more than the numbers reveal. The design of the C2 coupe is the source code making everything else a variant. If I still lived in Germany and worked at night the Turbo wins hands down, but in high speed felony America; 3.6 C2 please. The high compression 3.6 delivers power more readily in NA form, albeit not as much as the turbo. Also, work some power to weight ratios across the model line for some impressive insight. ex-'01 Cab

All the good advice....if you go 996, then try to stay at or above MY '02...I've had a hard time finding a Porsche I am comfortable with since selling my '98 993 C3S.....I had a '00 996 C4, two Boxster S models, a '95 993 Cab. and now the '02 996 Cab....I driven 996 TTs, a '04 40th Ann. 996 and GT3...the latter is the car if just for thrills.....and DEs etc... But, for daily driving the '02 Cab., $61,000 my cost with MSRP over $95,000, is just fine...GR/ Nat Brown, Hardtop, PSM, etc, etc.....and 3 years plus of Factory Warranty was a good deal...usable by my bride and eight year old little girl.....Having raced and lived with Porsches all these years, it is a nice compromise

I bought my '02 C4 in May 2002. No TT cabs available at that time, so I was living with boost envy until last month. Got my baby SC'd and all I can say is WOW! The car is incredibly faaaaaast. I have to try a TT to see what the difference in power will be, but I suspect that my car would feel (and be) faster than even an X50 TT. As far as the gloom and doom naysayers that say you engine will explode or turn into an IED, I have heard nothing of the sort from any of the SC'd car owners out there. I will be going to Buttonwillow with Jakemate and C4C_Peter on May 23rd. Jake has a TT (although hardtop) maybe I can interest him in a car swap for a few laps.

How are you liking the stage II clutch? My clutch was in such a good shape, I didn't want to throw good money away replacing it at the time of the supercharger. Too bad you can't make it to BW next weekend, a group of us will be there. (I haven't had time for a dyno...but I think are cars would hold their own against an X50...and then some.)

The only SC I would even consider is the Ruf conversion. I'm very close to pulling the trigger on this deal, even if it's $25-30K it's way less than the price delta for me to upgrade to a TT or GT3.

frayed, excellent advice man. thumbs up to you.