As a weekend-only, reliable, thrilling car is the 996tt a good choice in 2011? I'm afraid the 997.1 S wont have the thrust I'm looking for and the 997tt are out of my price range. The only alternative is the C6 Z06 which is cheaper but resale bleeds quickly there. Love the looks of all 911 turbos so thats where my heart is.

 

Budget is 60k-ish since it's just a weekend toy.

 

You can get a 996TT X50 with low miles for 60k. You should be able to find one in the mid 40s with 40k miles in great condition. I use my 996TT X50 as a semi-daily driver and it's great. Personally, I might have gone with a GT3 instead if I didn't live at such a high altitude. There's a lot of choices in the 60kish price range. Have you driven any 911 yet?

 

No, my only Porsche experience was a Cayman S. Agreed that I need to drive them but they are very hard to find locally.

GT3 are appealing but I think the turbo modability factor makes it more so for me.

 

The problem I have found with having a TT is that you want to drive it every day, not just weekends. It makes going to the store that much more fun.

I found an 05 TTS Cab with only 17K miles in like new condition. The Boxster S I had was great, but this TTS is in a whole 'nuther league.

 

Engaging? Absolutely. Maybe a GT3 is more engaging, but compared to anything else I've ever owned, the most engaging car I've had or driven.

 

Very different, but the 996TT and C6 are both a lot of fun. I didn't have a Z06, just a Cab, but miss it.

Do love the 996. I have an 04 X50 and bought it at 54K miles in 12/08. Have close to 80K miles now.

Why make it weekends only? It's a great, fast, fun, comfortable, reliable car. I drive mine year around, including every day we have snow (snow tires strongly recommended). Love it!

 

What exactly are you looking to do if/when you mod it? It sounds like you're going to be wanting to add more HP? What about suspension mods? What's your goal with modding it?

I've only owned two car models twice in my life, otherwise I'm always buying new, different cars. Those cars are a 911 and a Subaru STI. I also have only owned two cars for more than 2 years, again the 911 and the STI. Both of those made it 3.5 years before I sold them. The 911 was sold due to getting married and changing my commute from driving every day to taking the train every day, so the car rarely got used (my now ex-wife didn't like how fast I drove it so we always took her sloooooow car). My first STi blew up the motor and turbo after owning it 3.5 years or else I might still have it.

My first 911 was my first Porsche and was a 2001 C4 I bought new. It was an amazing car to drive and I had a $hit-eating grin on my face every time I got back home and parked it, even after 3.5 years of ownership. When I got divorced and was allowed to buy whatever cars I wanted again, I had to go with the Turbo. My first STi was pretty heavily modded and was faster than my C4 up to about 120 mph when the aerodynamics got in the way, so I needed a Porsche that was faster than the STi to really get the satisfaction I wanted out of it.

Now 2.5 years after buying my Turbo, it still puts a huge smile on my face, even though it's still stock other than HRE wheels and a GT2 facelift front bumper. I went with the X50 car because you already have the bigger turbos and intercoolers you would otherwise be putting in when you modded a Turbo. You get a heck of a bang for your buck for the Turbo when modding it too. Same thing with the STI.

 

I can't see myself getting mod-crazy. At minimum, a tune from one of the more reputable vendors here.

Suspension? Not sure, I'll have to wait to drive one. As I'll never track it, i think coilovers are a little overboard, but I can't say I wouldn't explore shocks/struts/springs. I want firm but not a punishing ride.

My goal is to have a car that's rewarding for weekend drives. Reliability is very important, I don't want to be constantly fretting about electronic gremlins or rattles or check engine lights.

 

I fully agree! I drive it mainly during weekend but if i didn't have to drive the (3) kids to school, I would drive it much more. I love a Turbo engine.
GT3 is probably great in twisty road, but not for everyday, plus it's only a 2 seater (not for me)

 

beautifully stated and I couldn't agree with you more

 

You sound like me. I came from a 2006 STi that I had for 5 years to a Turbo X50. How would you characterize the handling differences between the cars? I felt like I could get away with about anything in the Subaru, but the Porsche requires me to do my job as a driver much better to get the results I want.

 

Engaging, eh....... Fun, heck yeah!!!!

Engaging for me is something with really high revs and razor sharp handling OR really sporty (like the Z06) and has a lot of character. I think the 996 TT is a little numb in stock form, it gets the job done, but it doesn't move me. Still love the car though, one tough ****.

I'm tough to please though and this post is nitpicky as they get.

 

Yes exactly the STI is a much easier drive than the 911. I just put stage 1 on my latest STI (2011 sedan) tonight and it turns it into a much faster car, but still the 911 requires a lot more attention.

 

I actually just last month picked up an 2003 x50 with 20k miles for 58k with a 3 year 100k mile warranty. In 2 weeks I have already put 2k miles on the car... I dont even drive my R at all... I love the way the car feels, looks, and drives... Cars are meant to be driven not stored... lol with that said I put KW V3s on the car and boy does she handle like a dream.