No more 996TT's

[Guest]

I learnt today that production of the 996TT stopped in February.
So that's it, unless you already have one, you're going to have to take someone elses spec.

If yours is less than 12 months old, even if your insurance policy says they will replace it with a new one if it gets written off (in the first year), they can't now, so you'll get market value.

Anyway, it means that a line has been drawn under this episode of the turbo story.

We just need to wait a few more months till the pictures of the 997TT start appearing. I think it should be officially announced in the autumn, which would mean the first cars should appear early in '06.
I just want to know what the spec will be, how much power it will have - I think 450bhp - and what the rear will look like.

 

[Colin Booth]

Stuart,
Are you sure ? April fools joke right ? I can absolutely assure you that my new 996 TT S was built in March 2005, and that I am going to collect it from the factory next Friday 15th April. For the last six weels I have driven my contact mad at Porsche Exclusive by contacting him nearly every day to ask him what stage of build my car was at. It was finally finished on Friday.

COLIN.

 

[Guest]

For the 997TT I am interested to see which engine it will be based on. Would like it continue using a version of the GT1 engine. I look forward to seeing the official pictures when they are released as spy shots generally give a taster.

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: uppy

For the 997TT I am interested to see which engine it will be based on. Would like it continue using a version of the GT1 engine. I look forward to seeing the official pictures when they are released as spy shots generally give a taster.

http://www.onlyporsche.net/News/Porsche-997/Next-generation-Porsche-997-Turbo-and-GT3-photos

It seems that Porsche is already in a finished stage for both the next generation Porsche 997 Turbo and GT3. First of all, the new Turbo has been caught on a parking near the Porsche factory. As can be seen on the photo on the left, the car is still a bit camouflaged. As for the new GT3, photos keep coming and it seems the release date is just a matter of months and not a year as published earlier. I expect both cars to attend the IAA this year at Frankfurt. Click read more to view all photos.

 

[Guest]

Colin,

This is just what I was told on Sunday by one of the sales people at Reading.
Perhaps they mean there is no more allocation and that the factory is now just completing any outstanding orders?

Unless yours was scheduled for Feb but slipped a week or two?

 

[Guest]

I doubt they will change the basic engine design. The bottom end should stay the same, so keeping an extra bearing and not using the iron bearing holders (if memory serves). From a strength and reliablility perspective, there is little reason to change, especially since there is little cost pressure on the turbo model.

Note that the bore of the cylinders is not the same as the normally aspirated cars, so if the keep the bottom end, they can't just use the 997 S cylinders to stretch it to 3.8 litres.
Of course it may be stretched to 3.8 anyway.

I reckon on a 7-8% power improvement, 10% more torque, 70 kg heavier and a bit better fuel economy.
This would make the basic 997 car the same as the x50 996, and would be consistent with the general strategy.

Rather than give it more power, I think it could be best improved by making it lighter. If it weighed 1300 rather than 1500-1600 kg, then this would have a dramatic effect on the performance and agility.
However, we may have to wait for the 998 for that.

 

[Mark_Bennett]

ORIGINAL: Colin Booth

Stuart,
Are you sure ? April fools joke right ? I can absolutely assure you that my new 996 TT S was built in March 2005, and that I am going to collect it from the factory next Friday 15th April. For the last six weels I have driven my contact mad at Porsche Exclusive by contacting him nearly every day to ask him what stage of build my car was at. It was finally finished on Friday.

COLIN.

If you are having "Exclusive" options done, then the car would be built on the line (in Feb?) and then pulled off at the approporiate point to be finished at the Exclusive Programme workshop. This can take some time from when the car first entered production, so it could all make sense?

 

[Guest]

Sorry, I just read it more carefully.
I think there may be a few more Turbo S slots, but the vanilla Turbo is finished.

 

[tallmat]

Here's a bit more speculation from what appears to be a will informed source:

http://forums.germancarfans.com/zerothread?id=11566

And here's something that shows the danger of relying on press speculation (power reduction?). Or maybe lesser power for the yanks?

http://www.autothing.com/funthings/SpyShots/funthings-spyshot05Porsche997.htm

Anyone have idea when the 997T will reach UK shores?

It'll be interesting to see the impact on 996TT values, though I have to say I don't care too much, I still absolutely love my car, wether it's the current model or not!

 

[Guest]

I thought long about the depreciation of my 996TT which I have only just bought. Depreciation is fact with 99.99% of all car purchase's and is part of the running cost. Also the 997TT is not due until 2006 and as I haven't pre-ordered if I wanted a new one I'd a have a fair wait. The 996TT is an awesome car so I am not in anyway bothered a new one is coming out as there are still few cars you see day to day on the road that can touch it in it's current guise.

 

[tallmat]

Well said!

It's a rare modern car that does not depreciate (could never understand why Morgans reputedly kept 95% of their value - a fine reason to breed wood worm).

Even the mighty Ferrari suffers (have you seen how many 360s are on the market?) - perhaps because the F1 boys are down on their luck. Schooey was a right grump yesterday.

I'm sure Stuart's correct - the 997T will have a bit more power, a few more toys, be a bit heavier and undoubtedly be a superlative car. Any faster A to B than a 996? I doubt it.

 

[Colin Booth]

Stuart is correct, my build slot was in February, but it did slip a couple of weeks. it then went to Exclusive for two weeks. So now collecting it from the factory next Friday.
Overall I am not sure what to think, I have never spent this much on a car and found out that it is an old model before I collected it. I did know that it would be replaced when I placed the order, but so quickly ! I wonder how many " S " models will be built ?

COLIN.

 

[Guest]

Colin, it's an awesome car you are getting once run in you will not give a thought to the newer model as you will be obsessed with the one you have they are truely addictive and every drive will result in a bigger and bigger grin.[]

 

[Colin Booth]

Thank God for that I didn't think that I had made a mistake, I just bought a new bike too, a MV Augusta Brutale. This car is going to have to be something to give me a bigger grin than that bike.

COLIN.

 

[Guest]

I have to admit to embarrsing a couple of bikers with my TT so I reckon and hope your 996TT will make you smile. That MV though looks beautiful just had a look on the MV site at one..[]

Not being a biker at all I am can't confirm if your grin will be bigger but I look forward to you letting us know in due course.

 

[Guest]

Colin, the Turbo S is the end of production run out model.
It a regular turbo with the X50 engine upgrade and ceramic brakes. They have priced it so that you get the ceramic brakes for free.
It has a couple of other cosmetic items, relating to the badge, the colour of the wheels, some exclusive paint colour and a plaque inside I think.

It was intended to mark the end of the run by putting all the options on one car and getting a few more sales before everyone focussed on the 997TT.
In terms of total production numbers, there are not many. I don't know what the allocation for the UK is, but I would guess no more than 100. I may ask Reading sometime.

I wouldn't worry about being towards the end of production. You have bought the car when there has been 5 years to fix all the issues.
The new one will no doubt have a few teething problems - I personally would always avoid the first year of production of any new model.
Anyway, the new one is at least 9 months from the shelves. Waiting for one would mean you miss this summer, and maybe next if demand is high enough.

You have a fine vehicle, that will keep you happy for many years.
It is immensely tweakable, so if in a couple of years you decide you need a bit more to keep up with the latest, turn the boost up a bit. There is no need to change the car. This is my thinking.
The only significant thing that the new one may have, is active damping. But this adds weight and complexity and is another thing to go wrong.
I am pretty sure the underpinnings of the new car will be near enough identical, so if you really wanted it, I reckon it could be added later.

The new one may have a marginally higher top speed, but it's pretty much academic, since you can't really use it even on a track - the straights aren't long enough.

Adding lightness is the way forward, and avoiding over complication.
I though about the depreciation, but if you don't sell it, it is never an issue. I don't plan to sell it.