WTB: 996 versus 997?

A friend of mine just sold his S2000 and has been thinking about getting a Porsche (ever since he rode in mine, lol!). Now, of course I would rather recommend a 993, but that's another story. This guy is looking for the pros and cons of each car. He wants to be able to compare and contrast so that he can make a more informed decision. I would cross-post this in the 997 forum, but I think I might get in trouble for that. Any (preferably non-biased) help would be greatly appreciated.

997 is all Pro's VS 996... get the 997

Thanks, Zookie . . . but this fellow wants to know WHY. I did get some info at our track day yesterday about the HP difference, etc., but like I was able to write that down. One guy said that (to which I chuckled) the reason to get the 997 was that the 996 headlights "look stupid." Okie dokie. I just really want this fellow to get the right car. It's not like our cars are on the cheap. THANKS.

I would tell him to drive both, and pick the one he likes better.

997>996>993>etc Contrary to what the individual fanboys tell you, Porsche does NOT goes backwards when creating a new 911 line.

I would recommend to buy you the latest you can afford - willing to spend (assuming the car has a good history and is in good condition).

996 is the better value and the 997 is the better car. Not by much if you are camparing to the base 997, but still it is better. I still remain very happy with my 996. 997 is not enough of an improvement in any model I could afford to justify a switch for me.

Thanks, folks so far, for your inputs. I promised I'd gather up info by Monday at work. You folks are awesome!!!

Yesterday I spent some time with the owner of a very basic '05 997. He was absolutely astounded at how much better my interior was than his. (Mine has full leather, supple leather, embossed crests, etc...) His other comment was that he didn't see all that much difference between the two while looking at the outside of the car. Now, I'm not crazy. The 997 is a much newer, more advanced and probably better driving car than mine. However I paid 2/3 of what he paid for his car, and I got a fully loaded one while he got a very basic one. Tell your friend to drive a lot of them and buy the NICEST one he can afford.

IMO 997, albeit more power and possibly better stock chassis, is a softer car then 996, more japanized. This opinion of mine applies to almost each newer model of 911; they appeal to broader and broader audience and keep losing enthusiast appeal. Other then that I like the 996 interior better; again, its less japanized. Many people prefer 997 interior though. Again, it appeals more to average owner, I think. I like 997 headlights better. To be fully enjoyed NA 996 needs an upgrade in suspension. PSS9/10 is good enough.

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+1

All good points. I believe the 996 is a better value too. And the 997 is a nicer car (apples to apples on options), IMO. There are also important differences between 2005 (first 997) and 2006 on, especially regarding the engineering of the IMS. Then you get into non-S vs. S. You can search this on the 997 forum. It is well covered there. Each little step up costs you. Then you get to the point with the 997 where you are spending enough that you next say "I want a CPO," and that costs more. So it is easy to do the walk from $25k/996 to $45/50K and up 997. Then you start to say, man I'm at $50k, i should start looking at Turbos. Most say buy the newest you can afford. That's generally true. But for me there is an element of overall purchase satisfaction relative to price paid, especially if it not a DD. I'm looking at 996's and 997's right now. But for value and the fact that it is a weekend car (hard for me to imagine a $50k car sitting in the garage), and the cheaper 997s are generally out of warranty, I'm leaning at 996's (but keep looking at the 997s). I'm a tormented soul.

+1 Get the newest one you can afford. Better HP, better interior, better suspension. What's not to love?

996 gt3..... Id get that over a 997 carerra.

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Not sure I'd pull the GT3 (or Turbo) into this discussion. THey are not 996's. Rather, they just share the outer skin. The heart of a Porsche is the motor, gearbox, and suspension. So more like a wolf in sheep's clothing.

I think the interior of the 996 is way behind its time and the 997 is more modern. The price delta is still significant and there is a lot of depreciation left in the 997s vs the 996s. From a bang for the buck stand point a 996 tt cant be beat but that my opinion thrown in for fun...

The interior of the 996 was designed prior to and subsequently released in 1996 with the 1997 Boxster. 15 years old will look dated. But then again is was a refreshed take on the austere interiors of the 911 line. I agree, the best bang for the buck is a Turbo (or GT3) in the 996 line. You can get a solid Turbo in the 40's right now. But the same model year Carrera would be 15-20K less on the market so I would say the ENTIRE line (Carrera, GT3, Turbo) are the best bang for the buck right now.

Tell your friend to get a 2006 to 2008 Carrera S 997 which has 355 HP. PSM, (Porsche Stability Management) and PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) are standard. The Base Carrera has 325 HP and is not worth jumping from a 996 (320 HP). The 2006+ cars have an improved IMS bearing and there has not been one report about an IMS shaft problem that I recall reading the 997 Forum. If he can swing it the 2009+ 997.2 base Carrera has 3.6L engine with 345 HP and the S has a 3.8L engine with 385 HP. They have an entirely new engine (9A1) that: - has 40% fewer moving parts - has DFI (Direct Fuel Injection) - does NOT have an Intermediate shaft, so no IMS problems - improved PASM suspension (derived from the GT2) - is available with the PDK transmission if that is your preference * * PDK it is an awesome transmission but the car MUST also have Sport Chrono to take full advantage of the transmission mapping capabilities. With Sport Chrono you get 3 different transmission/throttle mapping programs - Regular, Sport, and Sport Plus. Just to put things in perspective, I had an '04 996 C2 for 3 years and 3 months and loved it. However, I have "Porsche-less" for 2 years, 4 months and 17 days (but who's counting?). If I am able to get another Porsche anytime soon, it will most likely be a 997.2, preferably an S model.

Is your friend going to track the car at all? If so, a 996 with upgraded suspension would be a better deal than a stock 997, IMHO. The Gen 1 PASM shocks on the 997S produced some odd handling over bumps, especially in the rear. For me, X74 suspension upgrade on the 996.2 is better for a mixed use car. Other points: 996 is slightly lighter than 997. And the complexity of the electronics and computer systems increased substantially from 996 to 997. 996 also has a spare tire... 997 does not. True what they all say above: 997 is the better street car of the two.

It all depends on budget at this time, if you don't care about depreciation too much, then 997 no doubt. If your budget is limited or depreciation is a problem for you the 996 is a great deal. you can get a full option 2003 996 with less than 30k miles for $30k. The 997 will cost you $10k more. I really wanted a 997 because I love the headlights, but after driving both, the difference was minimal and driving a bargain always add a little bit of fun for me. Also, even though I could afford it, the bargain criteria was a BIG Wife Acceptance Factor ! If I was single, I would have gone for the 997S and I would have certainly regreted not buying a 996 Twin Turbo for the money 1. bargain : 996 2. better car: 997 S 3. better and smarter choice: 996 TT

I have a 996 40th anniv and test drove a Carrera (non-S). I would not give up my car for that base Carrera. The handling was softer, and the engine did not rev as willingly as my X-51. The exhaust note was also underwhelming. However, the aesthetics are better both exterior and interior in my opinion. He can get a lot of car with a 40th at a very good price these days. If he wants to go 997, he should definitely check out the S. As an aside, I was given a loaner Boxster (non-S) and I don't see how it can be marketed as a sports car.

997 looks good 996 not so good 997 especially late model with 9A1 engine, stronger engine than 996 997 rattles less. 996 much cheaper.

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Tim, excellent post, thanks.

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I'v researched 996 vs 997 quite a bit. I wouldn't say that the 997 is "more advanced". It's probably a little bit advanced, but I guess it depends on equipment. The interior is definitely nicer in the 997. But the suspension is only slightly different - not different enough for most of us to notice an improvement. But probably different enough for few of us to notice a difference (but not necessarily to notice that it's "better"). Engine-wise, depending on the year 996 vs 997, it's the same engine. The latter 997's have direct fuel injection for example. I'd have to disagree... the late model 993 is much better than the early model 996. +1!!! this is case in point how you would have to compare "which 996" vs. "which 997". In my case, it was a 40th Anniv vs. 994 C4S vs. 997 Carrera S. I narrowed it down to a 40th Anniversary vs. the 996 C4S. I wanted the X51 of the 40th Anniversary vs. the "wide body/sexiness" of the C4S. When I found a C4S with the X51, I was sold!!! Ideally, I would have wanted the wide body, X51 and rear wheel drive only. But this doesn't exist. Pricing aside, if your friend was considering any other 996 other than the C4S or 40th, in my opinion, he/she might as well get the entry level 997.

Here you go - the differences between a 996 and 997 in one picture...Look how pretty the 997 is But a nicely sorted 996 is still very pretty... PS: I STILL like my headlights :-p Anyway, having spent a lot of time in both the 996 and 997: If money is not a big deal, buy the 997. If you want to save some money and still have a fantastic Porsche driving experience - get a 996 - it's a fantastic used car bargain and prices have definitely stabilized from a year ago. (i.e. they've stayed basically the same from a year ago)

G....T.....3....... (996 variant)

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How? Resale? Of course. Anything else? Not a chance unless you count nostalgia as better. And please don't give me the RMS/IMS argument.

^ It's the headlights, you fool.

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I LOVE THESE HEADLIGHTS

DAMNIT!!!! Silly me forgot about the headlights.

Bang for the buck the 996 comes out on top in any variant. The 40th anniversary is a great car, though if you find a optioned with X51 package (345HP) car it is also a sweet find. If your taking 997 C2 money then go with a 996TT, not much can touch it performance wise after a chip, not even its fatter heavier younger sibling the 997TT.1. 997's are the dawn of sensors and computer controlled for everything. 996 is fairly stupid in this regard. Which to some of us is better and puts the driver more in touch with the car. The newer the car the more it removes the rawness of it. Again some of us think having the rawness is better. Contrary to what other think newer is not always better. Quality of parts due to cost savings measures increase premature component failure. I am not saying that the 997 is terrible but the quality has decreased. Clean simple interior, dated I don't think so. Full leather interior pictured here.

The easier question for you to ask is what's the best car for "$X". I think this is the biggest deciding factor - what's the best car you can get for your money...that will narrow down the field....then pick based on other things (looks, mileage, HP, handling, etc). I just went through this. My budget was $40-50k....That basically put me between a 2005 997 C4S and an 2002 996 Turbo w/X50. I went with the 996 because it gave me more "car" for less $$. Yeah, I have replaced a lot of wear items and fixed things to my liking I wouldn't have bothered with (yet) on a 997 - but hey, its a Porsche and I think still cheaper to maintain than my damn boat was.

Just my .02 But, the 996 unless modded doesn't even look like a sports car, pretty plain & simple. But I love the way it handles & I've never had any issues with it (except dashboard lights ABS & Brake, tried everything to no avail) Oh & last 2 years I think it's depreciated like 10k a year. But I really do love my car.

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I've noticed that too. One reason I'm having a hard time warming up to the 997. My 996 was full leather, CF, painted seat backs and console and had a very deluxe and rich looking interior. Manufacturers have a way of putting profits before the need of customers, and often what is preceived as better and newer and has more style, is in reality cheaper to manufacture and gives the custome less value.

+1 40th Anniversary Edition 2004 with the X51 kit. I have loved it since ownership, which started in June of 09. I still have 8 months of CPO as well. I love the looks of the 993, but the newer cars have more features, HP, etc. I would like to own one some day.

I would personally rather own a 996 GT3 or turbo at the 997 price point. Though I'm not a fan of the fact that the 997 is far more computerized, the S versions in particular do feel rather stout and well put together. I would shop between the 996 and 997 based on price more than anything. That said, the 996s I've had have been extremely reliable and simply a joy to own.

when you think about the component quality the gt3 is hard to beat. the car is basically built to race, everything is over the top for daily driving, which in term I assume would translate into bullet proof reliability. On the other hand, if something fail, might cost a lot more to replace and I don't know if you can find extended warranty for the GT3 ? 996 Turbo seems a clear winner in the 40k range, especially if you compare it to the 997 turbo that are nowhere under $75k at this time.

After spending a week driving a 997 C2S cab in Europe a few weeks ago, I can say that I do like the interior better than my 996 interior. The car I drove had the full leather interior, heated and cooled seats, nav, etc. It was very, very nice. I did feel a little more refined, quiet and smooth than my 996, but at the same time, it felt a little more disconnected from the road. The 997 shifter mechanism felt flimsy and cheap, while the shifter in my 996 feels solid. The differences are subtle, but overall the 997 is nicer. I'll probably buy a 997 C4S or turbo for my next Porsche, and I think it would be hard to go wrong with that choice.

Oh, wow. I forgot what a goldmine this forum is for Porsche love. I have asked him questions quite similar to what you all posted about -- I am waiting for him to return my email. I think I will tell him to open an account with RL and direct him to this thread. You guys have more than answered any questions I know I would have if I were in the market again. It's a funny thing . . . folks think that if you own a Porsche -- A Porsche -- that you know all about the others. Lol. Heck, I don't even know everything about mine. That's why I have a great mechanic. Thanks again, guys!

I will reveal my bias and indicate that I bought a 996 C4S this year. It was a steal of a deal for a great car. It would have cost me over double to have purchased a C4S that was only 2 years newer - which makes my purchase a great deal, frankly. I know I'll have a 997 or a 998 sooner or later, and love all Porsches, so you can't really go wrong with a 996 or a 997. I do like the interior of the 997 more for sure (especially that multifunction steering wheel), but those darned LEDs on the front just look so gimmicky and "Audi" - I'm looking forward to LEDs becoming more refined so they don't look so "ghetto" and "tuner" on the cars. However, I think a big part of the bias towards the 997 on this board (which is mostly populated by Americans) is that the U.S. is very status driven, where you *lease* the best car you can afford, and where the belief (driven by years of Madison Avenue indoctrination) is that newer is always better. I love the U.S. and Americans, but they are much more showy and "look at how rich I can pretend to be" than many other places, so obviously the 997 would be preferred in the U.S. Having a new car is so important to you guys. You are one of the greatest countries and the world and I love you, but you are too focused on having the newest and best. Just my two cents. That being said, I like the take on the Porsche 911 from Top Gear (UK) - that the changes to the Porsche lines in recent years are so subtle that it's hard to tell the difference from one year to the next!

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GREAT QUOTE! I used to have a small sailboat a few years back, and ouch, you are so right. You reminded me of that old saying about what BOAT means -- Break Out Another Thousand...

I would say unless it's a 996 turbo, gt3, or maybe one of the millennium or anniversary cars, I would steer him to the 997 "S", if he doesn't mind taking the depreciation hit. Won't be as fast a a turbo or gt3, but it's fast, and you're far more likely to be able to find one with CPO or some warranty. If we're talking straight bang for the buck, I don't think there's a car on the planet that beats the 996 right now, but if I was buying today, the 997s are a steal as well.