Porsche 996TT has been a dream car for me since around 2004. Almost got one back in 2005 (unfortunately did not manage at that time in the end) and then after a while became an owner of one in June 2011.

I do love the car, love the looks, love the interior, its performance... but the more I read around and listen to some opinions, the more I start to feel like 996 is not a "real" turbo. It is like for most people 964 and 993 models were the last real Turbos or maybe even last real Porsches. There is so many people not respecting 996s, not liking the exterior, the interior. And honestly, even pricewise - it is the most affordble 911 Turbo that there is, cheaper than many way older cars from 964 and 993 generations.

How do you guys feel about it? Do we have a kind of a Boxster Turbo instead of a real 911 Turbo? A Porsche's mistake of a kind? Is there a chance this model may get some more respect down the line?

 

It was the first sportscar I ever drove @ 17. No one can convince me I'm driving a Turbo boxster

People like to ***** about the new generations moving away from the 'core values' of any product. Did they want Porsche to keep building 993s for 25 years? Or 964s? Seriously, what did they expect was going to happen?? There's no reason you can't like them all.

 

The main reason for the love of the 964's and 993's, was that they were the last air cooled porsches that were built to an entirely different standard. They were not based on the Japanes means of assembly line production and part procurement. The 996 represented this change that was adopted in 1999. I own both a 1991 964 and a 2003 turbo. The turbo is incredibly fast and handles beautifully. It is my daily driver. I love the car. With that said, the build quality is not close to my 964. Will my turbo look and feel like my 964 in another 11 years - we'll see, but I doubt it. My 964 feels much more solid and doesn't rattle at all. For the snobs saying the 996 TT is not a real Porsche Turbo, then they need to say that for the 997 and the upcoming 991 - all of which will outperform the 964 and 993 generations. I myself love the car and plan to keep it for many years to come.

 

I see a lot of hate for the 996TT, but it comes from people who HAVE NOT DRIVEN THEM. IMO, I think the 993 looks like crap....

 

I am pro 996TT

For those that hate 'em? Eff 'em

 

It's your car not their's, personal preferances are just that and they all vary.

You said it correctly when you said this " I do love the car, love the looks, love the interior, its performance... "

If that I ever feels for it's own reason that he wants something else then he can discuss that with the people that really matter in his life. That is his wife and his wallet not someone else on the internet.

 

It's real Porsche.

Power potential is incredible
Gt1 derived engine
Amazing cruiser and comfortable

It was mass produced so lots of car in circulation.

Look is personal but I think it looks good.
I do prefer the look of the earlier aircooled turbo cars.

I think there the most underated out there and make them a performance bargain.

 

i LOVE the soul, i hate the body.

 

I haven't heard anyone say the 996 is not a "real" turbo or Porsche for that matter. The engine is based off the Lemans winning GT1 block. In fact, the casting actually still has the 964 part number. That alone should hush the critics. It's also lighter than the 993 turbo. The only reason the 996 turbo is catching flak is because of the flop that was the N/A 996's (excluding the GT3).

Personally, I think it's quite awesome to know you have a race derived and tested engine back there reving away when you mash the gas.

 

I think you have the BEST Porsche of the lot and here is why:
1/ best engine - GT1 derived
2/ modern bodyshell with way more space than the 993
3/ sporty (not luxury) interior appropriate for a real sports car
4/ very supporting seats and good ergonomics inside
5/ a sleeper you can park anywhere without getting too much attention
6/ a great many (cheap and expensive) after market options offered by 10's - 100's of professional after market shops, tuners and manufacturers.
7/ made in enough numbers so parts will be available for a long time to come and without having to resort to Porsche to supply them ( hint - $ saved)
8/ that thing goes like stink, all day (and night) long
9/ and last but not least, I have one too for all the reasons above and more.

 

I have owned 924's - 944's and now the 996 turbo. I am also looking for a matching Boxter to the turbo.

I guess I have owned a lot of Porsches that aren't really Porsches

 

OP, you must not have handled peer-pressure very well when you were growing up. It was your dream car and you made the decision and purchased one. No matter what you have 964, 993, 996, 997, or even 991; there's always a supporting side and an opposing side. Simply just efff the opposing side.

 

I love mine. To all those who don't - they can buy something else. If one really cares what others think - who would you rather impress - "that guy" who thinks because they aren't air cooled or (currently) really really expensive that they aren't a "real porsche" or the hot chic that doesn't know the difference between a 993/996/997 anyway? You typically can't convince "that guy" that anything other than what he may drive is "real" anyway. One ride is enough to convince everybody else it's a real porsche. And lastly with an original sticker price in excess of $100K, I think there is very little comparison to a boxster of any sort.

And even Boxsters have a place...for me that place is just in somebody else's garage, along side their Prius. Neither are bad, just not my thing.

 

LMAO Agreed.

 

Of course some would say the 944's aren't much of Porsche either. I'll take a clean 944 turbo anyday - in black. Fastest run up Blood Mountain, GA in a car I have seen was a local guy in a black 944 turbo with twist wheels. That dude could drive. Smooth and flowing all the way up. Early on the power out of the turns. Near perfect lines. I followed him up. Started at the bottom expecting to pass him in the first couple of curves. I ended up staying 6 or so bike lengths behind him the whole way up. It was probably the quickest run up that mountain I have ever done on the monster (bike). The bike was singing above 8 grand almost the entire way. One of those rides you just never forget.