996 vs 997

[ekulluke]

Hi all

Looking to realise an obsession and buy a 911. Question is - a nicer 996 Carrera 4S or a slightly leggy 997? My budget is about 26k.

And also are tiptronic really that bad?

Thank you.

[g7jhp]

Depends if you ask a 996 or 997 owner.

A nice 996 C4S will be better than a leggy 997.

Personally I'd choose a manual and go for a 2wd coupe.

The 996 interior is a nice place to be when driving. Some don't like the headlights.

Look at the usual engine issues on both.

Best go and see and drive a few to see what you like.

[MDL111]

I am a big fan of how the 996 4S looks and I prefer the 996 interior to the 997 interior (esp with a Centre console delete or whatever it is called). I have not driven one though, so have no opinion on the impact of the extra weight and 4wd.
I am not a fan of automatic transmissions in sports cars and the 996 and 997 manual shift is really nice.
As mentioned research engine issues, they do put some people off.
Probably best to drive a couple of cars to get a view for which one you prefer.
Good luck
Edited for typos

[IREvans]

ekulluke said:

Hi all

Looking to realise an obsession and buy a 911. Question is - a nicer 996 Carrera 4S or a slightly leggy 997? My budget is about 26k.

And also are tiptronic really that bad?

Thank you.

You won’t go wrong with either. I’ve got a 996 3.4 manual, and a 997 C4S tip. They are quite different in character, but don’t ask me which is my favourite as I really don’t know..!

You could use them both as a daily, and could equally take either on a trip across Europe.

I prefer the cabin of the 996, but the 997 is a little quieter and more refined.

Maintenance history is key for peace of mind, so avoid any car with significant gaps in it’s history.

Go and drive one of each.

[ekulluke]

Thanks all. I’m intrigued by the comments especially as I thought the 997 interior would be better!

I of course will view and drive some but they’re all 100ish miles away so Id prefer to narrow down my search virtually before committing too much time travelling for something that may not be a smart move.

[Billy_Whizzzz]

Had a 996. Could never get past the looks or the interior. Hated it in the end. Bought a 997. Loved everything about it. Get whichever you like best, but the 996 will always be the poor relation.

[stretcher]

Poor relation, i beg to differ. I have been looking for a C2 manual 996 for several months now and good examples are reaching the mid 20k mark rapidly.
I see tons of gen 1 997 cars at around the 22k-25k mark that are a ticking time bomb and nobody is risking there hard earned on a potential 10k + engine re-build. To my eyes there seems to be far more 997 cars around.

I think the C2 manual 996 car will sail past the gen 1 997 very shortly...hardly the poor relation. Didn't they say that about the 964 a decade ago....!

PS: if anyone has a nice looked after manual non sunroof C2 996 for sale, please message me.

Edited by stretcher on Friday 31st December 09:16

[67Dino]

I’ve had two 996s and a 997 (as well as a 964 before and now got a 991). Obviously a lot of personal taste here but…

Interior - I find the comments on interior a little hard to understand. The 996 interior was made at a time when Porsche was struggling a bit, and much is shared with the cheaper Boxster. For me, it shows and looks very plasticky, and is one of the few things that would put me off one. The 997 is to my eye much more upmarket.

PDF - I sold my 997 PDF because I found it dull. Absolutely had to use Sport mode and even then not exciting. My 996 manuals were way more fun to drive. Combination of the gearbox I think, and the general softening of the car.

I keep coming back to Porsche 911s because they are such a wonderful compromise between comfort for a motorway run whilst also being fun to drive. Plus you can leave them in car parks without attracting the sort of attention most equivalent cars attract.

So my recommendation depends on whether your leaning is towards luxury or driving fun. If the former, go for the 997. If the matter, the 996, ideally in a manual.

[twizellb]

stretcher said:

Poor relation, i beg to differ. I have been looking for a C2 manual 996 for several months now and good examples are reaching the mid 20k mark rapidly.
I see tons of gen 1 997 cars at around the 22k-25k mark that are a ticking time bomb and nobody is risking there hard earned on a potential 10k + engine re-build. To my eyes there seems to be far more 997 cars around.

I think the C2 manual 996 car will sail past the gen 1 997 very shortly...hardly the poor relation. Didn't they say that about the 964 a decade ago....!

PS: if anyone has a nice looked after manual non sunroof C2 996 for sale, please message me.

Edited by stretcher on Friday 31st December 09:16

I thought the engine's were basically the same in both with lots of borescoring effecting the 996 also?

[Stuart70]

CrunkleFloop said:

Having spent many trips driving both in a previous life I preferred the 996. The interior feels better for a start (Metal interior door handles on the 996 and silver painted plastic on the 997 for example) The lower console delete on the 996 makes it even better.

I just found the 996 felt less refined but strangely more solid than the 997, that appealed to me.

Earlier this year I bought my second 996 and don't regret it for a second.


Here's my slightly reworked 996 interior - I like a minimalist feel.

Love that interior. Before I go and fillet the interior of my Boxster does that steering wheel pass an MOT without an airbag?

I am hoping that it is a yes .

[IREvans]

twizellb said:

I thought the engine's were basically the same in both with lots of borescoring effecting the 996 also?

Bore scoring is far rarer than the internet would have you believe. Regular oil and filter change (I use a 5W40 oil), and routine oil sampling ensures peace of mind.

[oddman]

ekulluke said:

Thanks all. I’m intrigued by the comments especially as I thought the 997 interior would be better!

Objectively it is. Of course it's down to taste.

997 interior is more modern coherent and refined

996 is a big shift from the air-cooled era and was/is widely disliked but I think it's pleasantly classic now

[IREvans]

oddman said:

Objectively it is. Of course it's down to taste.

997 interior is more modern coherent and refined

996 is a big shift from the air-cooled era and was/is widely disliked but I think it's pleasantly classic now

I’m of the same view as you. I prefer the 996 interior to 997. I like the swoops and curves on the doors and the dash.

[S600BSB]

I guess it is down to personal opinion, but I think the 997 is better in every respect. I have driven both and have a 997 C4S as a keeper.

[MDL111]

oddman said:

ekulluke said:

Thanks all. I’m intrigued by the comments especially as I thought the 997 interior would be better!

Objectively it is. Of course it's down to taste.

997 interior is more modern coherent and refined

996 is a big shift from the air-cooled era and was/is widely disliked but I think it's pleasantly classic now

I think a big one is that a 996 interior without a screen (or without Nav) and with a console delete looks like a purposeful / classic interior IMO. The screen dates both the 996 and the 997, but on a 997.1 the screen painted silver plastic just looks rather bad to my eyes. Having said that, it is about the driving so not that big of an issue either way.
My 997.2 has the small non Nav screen and my 996 has co sole delete, buckets and a Momo - I really like the uncluttered appearance of it

[ekulluke]

Wow thanks for all the responses fellas. I definitely need to get out and look at some but the selection is lacking near me. I did a tour of 5 dealers (mix of OPC, Porsche specialist and performance). None had any 997s or 996s other than Turbos which are out of my price range.

Does anyone know of any decent centres near Leeds W Yrks?

[S600BSB]

Revolution Porsche in Leeds look after my 997.

[oddman]

ekulluke said:

Does anyone know of any decent centres near Leeds W Yrks?

Looks like Strasse have a C4S in stock.

[CrunkleFloop]

Stuart70 said:

CrunkleFloop said:

Having spent many trips driving both in a previous life I preferred the 996. The interior feels better for a start (Metal interior door handles on the 996 and silver painted plastic on the 997 for example) The lower console delete on the 996 makes it even better.

I just found the 996 felt less refined but strangely more solid than the 997, that appealed to me.

Earlier this year I bought my second 996 and don't regret it for a second.


Here's my slightly reworked 996 interior - I like a minimalist feel.

Love that interior. Before I go and fillet the interior of my Boxster does that steering wheel pass an MOT without an airbag?

I am hoping that it is a yes .

Sailed through an MOT last week with no advisories. :-)

I bought the wheel from Bella Volante, it came with all the bits necessary to make the horn work and prevent the airbag light coming on.

It does cut off the view of the top of the gauges however that's never bothered me, if it does you can get an offset steering boss.

[ATM]

CrunkleFloop said:

Stuart70 said:

CrunkleFloop said:

Having spent many trips driving both in a previous life I preferred the 996. The interior feels better for a start (Metal interior door handles on the 996 and silver painted plastic on the 997 for example) The lower console delete on the 996 makes it even better.

I just found the 996 felt less refined but strangely more solid than the 997, that appealed to me.

Earlier this year I bought my second 996 and don't regret it for a second.


Here's my slightly reworked 996 interior - I like a minimalist feel.

Love that interior. Before I go and fillet the interior of my Boxster does that steering wheel pass an MOT without an airbag?

I am hoping that it is a yes .

Sailed through an MOT last week with no advisories. :-)

I bought the wheel from Bella Volante, it came with all the bits necessary to make the horn work and prevent the airbag light coming on.

It does cut off the view of the top of the gauges however that's never bothered me, if it does you can get an offset steering boss.

You can add an eccentric spacer too which will raise the wheel off centre. I'm still trying to decide if I like with or without. The standard Porsche wheel is off centre like this but you probably never realised.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164169064206