F80 M3 or 996TT or 997TT

[thags]

I'm considering selling my F80 for either a low mileage 996 Turbo S or 30k mile 997 Turbo.. I had a 996 turbo s before my f80 and it was just the most fun car to drive, I'm missing it! I drive a chipped macan s daily and there's something to be said for porsches that isnt replicated in bmws. sometimes I enjoy blasting around in my macan more than the FBO f80...

Has anyone made the swap from an f80 to 997 or 996 tt? If anyone has made the move to a 911 of that matter, could you comment on if you miss your f80/82? or what you miss about it?

[jmg]

I haven't done the swap, but a 997TT is high up on my list of cars to replace my F80. I don't care much for the 996 however.

[Honda]

997TT for sure

[markns2]

I just sold my 05 996 TTS 6MT Coupe a month ago and have an F80 arriving later this month. In the last 2 years, I barely drove the car 1500 miles as my daughter is still rear facing and have another little girl coming in Feb, so resigned myself that it made more sense to sell. I debated getting a Macan Turbo, but my wife has a new X3 X35i and I have a Touareg TDI, so I need another SUV like a hole in the head, so the M3 was really the only choice for something small, fast and usable everyday.

Anyway, the 996 is nice as there is no PASM like on the 997 which = PITA if you do anything beyond springs. 05 996TTS is also especially rare in coupe form. The 997 does look better though, having had a couple of 997 Cup cars. Can't go wrong either way with the Mezger engine. If you get a 997, try and get a 2009 with the newer nav setup; last year for the Mezger too. That said, the 997.2 Turbo S DFI cars are a bit of bargin, but the PDK in that car does overheat if you play with the motor (which is really more of a wet sump).

Once my girls are safely forward facing, I'm getting ride of the M3 and switching back to a 991.2 TTS or next gen. There is no substitute for a 911 Turbo.

Good luck in your search.

[dr.mba]

997 TT/S is the way to go. It's my next car acquisition for sure.
996 does nothing for me. 991 unfortunately got watered down by Porsche. 997 is where it's at (excluding 993 and 930 which cost a fortune)
M

[Bowser330]

Sorry no feedback on your original question but 997.2 turbo all the way.

Just watch longboarder's videos on YouTube (longboarder949 I think)

He murders super fast cars on his stock engine, stock turbos, stock pdk. True he's spent probably $10k on a tune, full exhaust, intake, intercoolers, and meth but if performance is what you want you are getting a supercar capable platform in a daily drive-able package, win-win.

Issue is 997.2 turbos aren't cheap, even 2010's (first year .2 with PDK) are still $85-95k but you can get a cabriolet version for $75-85k.

If pdk is not a requirement then the 997.1 turbos are going for $20-30k less.

[A418t81]

Owned an F80 (next one shows up next month) and currently own a 997TT and a 991 GT3.

The 997.1TT will feel decidedly old school compared to the F80. The handling of the stock car is also sloppy, though a TPC suspension module helps to clean that up some. The engine REALLY wears it's turbochargers on its sleeve. There is a lot of lag. It is a fun car, but not something I would really want to daily drive. Mine is modified but still on the factory turbos and is a downright rocket. There are design flaws that will rear their heads if you own the car long enough. Most of them in the 30k mile range also have had lots of deferred maintenance. Flash tunes have come a long way, and even just a pump gas flash with an exhaust and 997.2 intercooler upgrade is enough to slip the weak factory clutch. I would keep a minimum of $5k on hand for when, not if, you'll need work done.

The 991 chassis on the other hand is just sensational. I COMPLETELY disagree about it being watered down. The performance and limits are SO much higher than anything a 997 chassis can approach unless highly modified. The cars are EXCELLENT and a very nice transition from anything modern like an F80. My GT3 is by far my most favorite car I've ever owned.

[996ttelise]

Originally Posted by markns2

I just sold my 05 996 TTS 6MT Coupe a month ago and have an F80 arriving later this month. In the last 2 years, I barely drove the car 1500 miles as my daughter is still rear facing and have another little girl coming in Feb, so resigned myself that it made more sense to sell. I debated getting a Macan Turbo, but my wife has a new X3 X35i and I have a Touareg TDI, so I need another SUV like a hole in the head, so the M3 was really the only choice for something small, fast and usable everyday.

Anyway, the 996 is nice as there is no PASM like on the 997 which = PITA if you do anything beyond springs. 05 996TTS is also especially rare in coupe form. The 997 does look better though, having had a couple of 997 Cup cars. Can't go wrong either way with the Mezger engine. If you get a 997, try and get a 2009 with the newer nav setup; last year for the Mezger too. That said, the 997.2 Turbo S DFI cars are a bit of bargin, but the PDK in that car does overheat if you play with the motor (which is really more of a wet sump).

Once my girls are safely forward facing, I'm getting ride of the M3 and switching back to a 991.2 TTS or next gen. There is no substitute for a 911 Turbo.

Good luck in your search.

I have had a couple of 996 and 997 Cup cars. Switched over to 430 Challenge and then 458 Challenge. Are running PCA, SCCA, NASA or etc?

I had an 01 tt coupe, 04 tt cab, 08 tt cab and an 11 tt.

I put over 80k on my 04 and about 12k a year on the others. Bullet proof, easy daily drivers with gobs of power in tap. One could get a smoking deal on a low mileage 996tt, but 997.1 tts are pretty high mileage for anything around $60k.

Going from an M to either a 996 tt or 997 tt is like going from a Civic to a Ferrari . . . a little exaggerated, but one is a sports car in feel, seating and presence, one is not.

Picked up my M3 on December 23 as a daily driver as I have a 5 year old and a 991 GT3 for play. I have been looking for another Porsche since I got it, tried to trade it last Thursday for a 2012 C4S aero kit and have a possible deal working today pending PPI on a 2012 C4S cab . . . I really like the hips and lines on the 997 wide body.

[MCarRacr07]

that is a tough cross shop as they are so very different...
I may be in the minority but I am a big fan of the 996TT especially if you can find a maintained X50 package car....what a treat to drive....
fast forward to a 997.1 TT and you multiply the fun factor quite a bit...as you do the price..unless you want a Tip. I've seen Tips go for 5k to 7k less than a comparable manual...a 996 represents a smoking deal...which may allow you room to keep the F80 as they do completely different things...Good Luck with your search

[nicknaz]

Hey OP, I had a stock f80 dct (passive suspension, cloth seats, low options car), and now have an 03 996TT (mods are minimal: aftermarket 19s with a lot of dish and slightly wider PSS tires, tubi style exhaust, epl chip, gt3 clutch and lightweight flywheel, gt2 wing and aftermarket head unit and subs).

I completely agree with the others on sports car feel, seating position and presence vs f80. The rear quarter look on the car is really great (wide body + huge wing!). One caveat is it takes the light mods above for the 996TT to have similar performance to stock f80dct so don't go in expecting a huge performance bump

I think this car is the best deal in the entire used 911 lineup. The headlights save you a ton of money and the car is great to drive.

F80 is great too (you have to accept it's meant to be a daily driver... something I missed when the exhaust was aurally assaulting me for 15hr on way back home after buying) but I really doubt you will regret the switch