997 Turbos

[Stumpy]

Hi

Anyone got one?
Essentially I've always hankered after a Porsche Turbo, ever since having a poster of a 993 on my bedroom wall. Yes I am that old!

They're roughly the same price these days as the Cesils so I find myself able to easily get into one assuming I do ever sell Cesil.

Could those that have one currently or previously, or eben those that have driven them extensively comment on what they're like to live with?

I find it harder each year to commit to track days due to family commitments so it wouldn't really be for TDs, just weekend fun and A/B road blats.


Ta muchly.
Mr Stumps

[PeteGray]

Hi,
Nearly. I've got a 996 Turbo which, whilst not the same as the 997, is apparently similar.

I'm very impressed with mine and find it a much more interesting and satisfying car to drive than I'd been expecting. The Tubi exhaust, with a complimentary remap, makes a big difference. I'd recommend something similar for any 911 Turbo owner as it now makes a fantastic guttural sound to match the pace (for me the remap is about facilitating the exhaust to work/sound as it should and isn't just to get oodles more power, although that's a nice extra).

The overall experience is a good one and it has a nice manual box, good ergonomics and feels very useable all of the time. Mine doesn't have the sports seats which I'd like to have and if I were buying again I'd put these as a must have.

[MisterCorn]

I have a 996 turbo, currently running about 670hp. As you would expect it is very quick indeed, mine is running a Europipe stage 2 exhaust which helps a bit with the sound. It handles well enough for any road driving but for a quick Sunday morning blast I generally prefer the CSL, it feels more connected, more immediate, and can be pushed harder on acceleration without getting to silly speeds. My 996 will do 60-100mph in 3s in 3rd gear, so during 'normal' road driving you are never on the throttle for more than 2s when on boost. I haven't driven a 997 but from what I have heard from friends who have owned and driven both extensively, the 997 is another step more sanitised and refined than the 996. Great if that is what you want from a car.

Throttle response is obviously very different. Individual butterflies right at the intakes will always be better than a single throttle with a large plenum and two big turbos to spin up, mine should be improved on that front soon as I am getting a larger engine and different ECU which can do rolling anti-lag to keep the boost up through gear changes.




I found the bodywork design on the 997 to be a bit too fussy for my liking, particularly on the later version, with extra lights peppered across the front of the car.

MC

[Matt21]

Also recently bought a 997 Turbo to potentially replace one of the CSLs.

I bought from Porsche and it is a Gen 1 auto. I know what you are thinking, but the gearbox is not bad!

For track work the CSL is better. For a high performance GT car the Turbo, even as an auto, is great.

The quality impresses me. Feels really well engineered. However, the sat nav and audio interface is a bit dated.

Economy bit worse than CSL, but who cares.

Overall I recommend it, it feels a special car. Clearly GT3 is more of a CSL rival, but the Turbo is still something special.

Best part is even from Porsche with 2 year dealer warranty and 3k less on the clock I paid £10,000 less than I have been offered for the CSL. Maybe that gap will widen still but I am happy.

[patphnx]

My dad bought his Gen 1 997 Turbo brand new when they first launched. It is now rapidly approaching 10 years old and has just clicked over the 100k miles mark (many of which I was in the driving seat for on road and track).

It hasn't caused him much trouble at all in that time, but it has been under warranty all along so Porsche have fixed a few minor bits like hoses around the radiators and electronic gremlins caused by a faulty control unit. For context, it also has the PCCB option, which is an expensive one, but he has only had to change one set of pads in that time!!! Pretty impressive!!

As far as the drive goes, personally I love it. It's probably the fastest point to point car I have ever driven and inspires plenty of confidence to push on in all conditions. Would I swap my CSL for it...no. But luckily I don't have to make that decision as we share our cars. The CSL feels more precise, especially on track, but the Porsche is brutally quick. With the ceramics you can approach a corner at ridiculous speeds, brake late, then get back on the power very early and just let the all wheel drive drag you out of the corner and launch you down the road. As mentioned above though, you do tend to feel less involved in the process than you do in the CSL.

They are quite different cars at the end of the day, both with their own benefits and limitations. I'm happy to try and answer any more specific questions if you want.

[Yanto]

Bealo will have a view on turbos....

[nw99]

I have one of the last manual 997 turbos love it for the speed , but my CSL sounds better and is more fun around the lanes.

[Stumpy]

Thanks all.

Interesting comments. Its the overall package/experience I'm after with a semi-practical 4-seater option Well that's what I tell the Mrs anyway!

It's a dream (super) car. The CSL is amazing fun and I do love it, but I will always want the Pork.

Those that know, understand what the CSL is about and respect it. 90% of road users just see an M3. Those that see a TT think, wow a Porsche Turbo...

[cslsuperfan]

Originally Posted by Stumpy

Thanks all.

Interesting comments. Its the overall package/experience I'm after with a semi-practical 4-seater option Well that's what I tell the Mrs anyway!

It's a dream (super) car. The CSL is amazing fun and I do love it, but I will always want the Pork.

Those that know, understand what the CSL is about and respect it. 90% of road users just see an M3. Those that see a TT think, wow a Porsche Turbo...

Agree with your appraisal of bmw v Porker

2 very different cars but equally capable, shame the gt3's are so heavily priced.