Newbie - keen on 997 Turbo, seeking advice

[Nightwing]

On Saturday had the pleasure of being in car showroom as the only customer and it was truly like a kid in a candy shop. All my fave Porsche 911s. I of course went to test drive a 997 Turbo. But whilst there I enjoyed a good close up look at the other cars. They say don't meet your heroes or you will be disappointed. I wasn't when I met a 930 Turbo....after all those years of seeing it on my bedroom wall as a kid. Boy did it look good! The whale tail looks even better in real life. It's truly like meeting an icon. For those that own one and are used to it, its no big deal. But you have to understand I had this car picture in a frame on my wall all through my childhood. I felt a bit like that also when I picked up my DB7 but I didn't have pics of the DB7 on my wall growing up, so the 930 Turbo for me is a but more special. Anyway, the chap I spoke to happened to be there and he could not be nicer. He moved about 7 cars out to get to the 997 Turbo for me to test drive. He rode it out. The country roads are a delight. And he drove fast. So fast I had to hold onto the door. I figured it's his car and he knows the roads. When it was my turn I was much more conservative and careful, naturally. When I looked down at the speedometer at one point I noticed it was 75+ miles, I couldn't believe it. The car is SO planted and it feels so safe. The speed and brake and the control is way better than my RWD car that is tail happy. It was a marvellous day and the sun was out, the roads in Halstead were a joy. The car didn't sound as raspy and throaty or spitty like the 930Turbo but that may need to be looked at by way of exhaust tuning. Still, my first experience of a 911 and a Turbo at that was a pure delight. I left my spec and hope that by the years end (or sooner) I will have my own everyday run around 911 Turbo.

 

[N.Alam]

Sounds awesome with shell v power fuel with the sports mode activated

 

[Nightwing]

ORIGINAL: N.Alam Sounds awesome with shell v power fuel with the sports mode activated

You appear to have had quite a history of Porsches. I notice your 997 Turbo is a manual. I am unsure if to go for a manual or the tiptronic? What are your thoughts?

 

[robbosliding]

I'll chip my penneth in as I recently bought a 997 turbo, a tiptronic and I love it. I previously had a lovely sounding 996 C4S coupe that had a factory sports exhaust fitted and sounded great (noise on or off) and handled great. I previously had a Boxster, that had far better multi tone exhaust, the 911's don't without getting aftermarket exhausts (the standard exhaust will outlast the car so you will bin a perfectly good system for little gain). The car is awesome. The tiptronic took some getting used to after enjoying a manual C4S but I can still enjoy getting involved with the steering wheel mounted shift switches. Newer cars won't have manual so they are the future. The newer cars (PDK) (and I haven't driven one) are mean to be better yet, but the Gen 1 car is fantastic. The blue looks good but the dog shit brown, I'm not so sure of [].

 

[N.Alam]

I always preferred manual in a Porsche , I know with precise gear changes and michelin pilot tyres warmed up in a 997 tt its just as quick as the 997 tt triptronic to 60 with much more control we have a 996 tt triptronic in the family modified with big garret turbos. In my 997 tt With PSM off and sports mode activated I get the feeling of my old 911Sc & 930 but much more power & Without the turbo lag. I would prefer PDK model over triptronic and have tested a few PDK Porsches including Gen 2 997 4S and turbo on different occasions when PDK was introduced in the road Porsches given to me by Porsche cars reading while my car was in for a service and at Porsche experience centre at silverstone in the lovely Cayman R on the handling and slip circuits at the Cayman R launch . I liked the instant gear changes in manual sports and aggressive sports plus mode good if you race or use the race track alot ,I don't and don't love the PDK enough to give up my manual ,i loved my caymans S in manual too great cars.

 

[DrSimon]

After having owned my 997.1 C4S for a mammoth ten weeks I'm just about to part-ex it on a 997.2 PDK Turbo cab in GT silver. I haven't driven it but I see it as the pinnacle of Porsche ownership, so I'm willing to take the leap. I was just too disappointed with the performance of the Carrera - a stunning car to drive but it just lacked that immediate grunt and grin factor. My only worry I have is any noticeable turbo lag; something that's driven me mad in other turbos I've driven. I'm hoping with the twin turbos in place any delay will be eliminated. Is there any lag, and if so does the overall performance make up for it?

Simon

 

[tscaptain]

Hi Simon

If you are tootling along with less than 2000rpm and floor it then there is a small but noticeable bit of lag. Keep it "on the boil" and there isn't[] Enjoy the new purchase and let us know what you think. After 7 years with mine it's still a hoot. Nice colour, btw.[]

 

[DrSimon]

As I live in central London I doubt I'll have chance to floor it from 2000rpm. I'll leave that to the open roads, when it'll be permanently 'on the boil'. I'll certainly miss the sound of my PSE though. Also looking forward to playing with the paddles. I've never owned a car with them.