Porsche Buying Advice

[tarmac terror]

Some of you may have read in some previous posts that I was considering replacing my E46 M3 with some kind of 911 .
Well, it seems I have found a couple...both VERY different and I need some insight as to which might be 'better'.

First one I was interested in was a 996 TT.....


Full details HERE


The other one is a beautiful 997 C2S.......


Full details HERE

Can anyone with a bit of Porsche savvy give me the pros and cons of each as Im in a bit of a dilemma. I've always hankered after a TT for the performance but as the 997 is around the same price and comes with a raft of options as well as being in my favourite 911 colour Im stuck.
Unfortunately I cant find any decent 997 guides and have already bought Peter Morgan's 996 guide which was helpful


Without having driven either of them YET, the bottom line is, would a 997 C2S be a worthwhile proposition over (and as satisfying a drive as) a 996TT????????

Help please as I'm genuinely stuck.

TT

oh and no 'porsches are sh*t' thread cloggers please

[Simonh]

no advice here - but the red one looks cool as fcuk!

[bernmc]

I assume you're buying a porker because you want a drivers car... in which case would you really want a tiptronic?

[tarmac terror]

Originally Posted by bernmc

I assume you're buying a porker because you want a drivers car... in which case would you really want a tiptronic?

Well, the M3's an SMG which I actually like. I drove a 996 C2 Tip a while back and, while not seeming as 'nice' a shift as the SMG box wasnt disappointing. TBH, the missus would probably use it more than I would and she likes the whole paddle/button shift thing.

What i'm trying to find out is if a 997 C2S is all the Porsche I'd ever really 'NEED' or if a 996TT is required

TT

[Cris]

Can't give give you first hand advice but many consider the C2S to be the pick of the crop amongst the Porker world (GT3s aside). Apparently the 2WD steering is nicer than the 4WD cars.

I'd imagine that the 996 represents the better investment and could be more easily tuned if such is your desire.

[ChrisR32_GTR]

Why ask advice on GTR forum, if u wanna blow your trumpet about the budget you have to buy a volkswagen, go ask on volkswagen forum

[tarmac terror]

Originally Posted by ChrisR32_GTR

Why ask advice on GTR forum, if u wanna blow your trumpet about the budget you have to buy a volkswagen, go ask on volkswagen forum

Oh well done that man!!! . Didnt you read the subforum title 'Other Marques'???

As for blowing my own trumpet about my budget why dont you have a go at all the folks on the R35 subforum who are clearly spending similar, if not greater amounts on a new R35GTR.
Besides, a lot of folks on here own/have owned Porsches and I respect their opinion.
This is not a willy-waving thread but a genuine query, please treat it as such . Clearly your not taking the advice you give in your sig

TT

[bernmc]

Well then, another bit of useless 2nd hand advice - a colleague of mine has a Turbo (and is on the list for a new GTR ). He's had several porches, and bought the turbo after he'd rolled the previous car- wanted something a bit 'safer' .

Says he wishes he'd got a GT3 instead. He's a ROSPA Gold driver, has done all the CAT training etc.

If I was in the position to choose, I'd have the turbo if it was going to be driven everyday, come rain or shine, and a 2wd for if it was going to be a fun/track car.

Uninformed opinion of course - I've not driven either!

[NISFAN]

That 997 looks stunning. And seeing as it is a replacement to an M3, will be more than enough.

[Bajie]

Every time porsche update their cars, they are leaps and bounds ahead of the older model.
As mentioned above, the C2S is argued to be a better drivers car than the C4S.
I would go for the C2S. I think it would make for the better drivers car and maybe would not have the turbo genie suggesting upgrades for more power.
The one you have pictured also looks mighty fine.
Funny, but the turbo actually does look old when you go from one picture to the other.
Get the C2S!

[pitbull]

i have driven a couple now a 996 c4s and a 997 tagra and i didn't like ether. the 996 is my best mates and it has needed 19k worth of work in under a year and this is common! cranks warp and ecu goes and clutches are weak and bloody expensive. they feel way to light over the front and the boxer trust me handles better.
if you want to spend that monet get a maserati 4200 as that is by far a better car,it looks nicer and drives better the inside is to die for. its faster and makes a better noise and two pwoplw i know have had them without a problem at all. a much much nicer car.

[Blow Dog]

Originally Posted by ChrisR32_GTR

Why ask advice on GTR forum, if u wanna blow your trumpet about the budget you have to buy a volkswagen, go ask on volkswagen forum

That's not helpful - I guess I should go too then?

TT, a 996TT is a great car if you are at all interesting in tuning. There are loads of possibilities with this car now and the relatively cheap purchase cost makes it an incredible point to point car.

The TT will be a faster car than the C2S, but I'm a big fan of the C2S - simply because the engine is a peach, it's very powerful and as a complete car, you can't go far wrong. Although that particular car does indeed look good, beware of the fact that it's wearing a GT3 kit, which many see as a fake GT3.

It comes down to what you want to use it for. For me, I would probably go for the C2S. It's N/A, it's plenty fast enough and is a current model (although there are facelifts planned for 2009 with a whole bunch of upgrades, such as increased power and better creature comforts).

The TT is unbeatable A to B. There is very little out there that is faster. But I think it's looking a little old now and I never was a big fan of the fried egg headlights. I think the 997 shape is a delicious design and makes massive changes from the 996. The 997 is also better ergonomically with modernised dash-design and better build quality overall.

If you track cars much, the TT off the shelf isn't a great car. The N/A C2S would be much better. Please, for the love of god avoid Tiptronic if you're even remotely a car enthusiast. It's an utterly dull trasmission and will not inject any enthusiasm into your soul.

Here's a great car:
Janusz Performance : Black/Black/Black 997S OPC Warranty

Obviously don't know much about it but it's black/black, has loads of good spec.

Also, test drive the different S models as some come with the sports suspension and also the PASM, some combo's of which can make the car handle a bit too harsh.

More info on my other site Stuttgart 9s - Talking Porsche

[Adam Kindness]

my porsche is old so not much insight... but if it was me i'd go for the 997 C2s.

I'd love a 993 C2s just now

Also something about the 996 that is just a bit bland. The TT would be quick though

[Hugh Keir]

I'm not sure how helpful this is, but I decided I needed a car for towing my daughters horse and my track R32 GTR once it is finished and thought a Porsche Cayenne Turbo would be the answer.

As far as I could tell it had all the right credentials, it was fast and it was a 4 X 4 and by all accounts great engineering.

I saw the car I wanted online and bought it without actually having sat in or driven one.

Turns out that although it does what it says on the tin, I don’t enjoy driving it nearly as much as the M5 it replaced. The M5 is miles better in every aspect that can be satisfied by 2 wheel drive.

The moral of the story, which may seem very obvious to most, is take a test drive before you buy as there may be things that just don’t suit you.

Cheers

Hugh

[bladerider]

Well,

Im selling my GT3 as I would only really get benefit from tracking it, whereas its meant to be my weekend fun car and for the roads I enjoy its just too harsh to really use it and I dont fancy tracking £40+k of car in case it gets mullered. A TT would have been the better choice but I thought the more driver focused GT3 would suit my preference for harder edged performance and I love the fact its the original Mk1 GT3 which is sort of iconic I guess. It IS more driver focused and a lot better car than the C2s of the same vintage but its not as able in all departments like the TT.

The 997 C2s you picture is just a wannabe GT3 so i wouldnt bother personally, but certainly its looks cleaner than the 996 and has the kudos of being the current model (and to Johnny Average it looks like a GT3 so bonus points to some I sppose !!) but personally I think I'd still have the TT for regular use. I'd rather kill myself than have an auto though !!!

So buy the TT if you want to get the best out of it more often on the road
But the C2s if you want to pretend to have a fast one thats quite flashy
Or buy my GT3 if your wanting something for track and to polish thats the genuine article - ie a Mk1 !!

Hope that helps,

J.