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    Jan 5, 2009 9:33:38 PM

    Gadgetguy Offline
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    Gadgetguy
    Loc: San Diego , United States
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    997 C4S or older Turbo- Need advice

    Six months ago I sold my Cayman S so I could save for a 911.  In a couple of months I will be ready.

    I have been looking at 2007 Carrera 4S models, with a focus on low miles and some basic configuration.

    Recently I have been watching some 2004 and 5 Turbo models which can be had for the same money, (less than 80K) and the ones I have been watching have less than 10K miles.

    My question centers around the 2004/5 Turbo's. 

    How reliable are they?  What problems am I likely to find and compared to the normally aspirated models, how expensive will it be to maintain if I assume both cars were in excellent condition when I purchase them?

     

    Thanks for any advice you can give.  This is an expensive purchase I have been waiting on for a very long time now, and I want to do it right.

     

    Jan 6, 2009 6:22:23 AM

    TT Gasman
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    TT Gasman
    Loc: Texas , United States
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    Reply to: Gadgetguy

    Re: 997 C4S or older Turbo- Need advice

    I think you can do a lot better than $80k for an '04-5 996TT, in fact there are a few 997TTs showing up at auctions in the $80s. It's a buyers market, don't settle for N/A when you can get a GT1 based turbo for the same or even less dollars.
    --

    Doug

    Houston, Texas USA 

    997TT

    Jan 6, 2009 5:13:21 PM

    GT Offline
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    GT
    Loc: london , United Kingdom
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    Reply to: TT Gasman

    Re: 997 C4S or older Turbo- Need advice

    test drive both. You ll know within 5 minutes (or less). Agree with above, its a buyers mkt, you  may be able to get a 997tt for that kind of money.. And it is going to get worse in the next few months..

    Jan 6, 2009 6:13:51 PM

    FSU-997TT
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    FSU-997TT
    Loc: Florida , United States
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    Reply to: GT

    Re: 997 C4S or older Turbo- Need advice

    I agree.....save up a few more bucks and get a 2007 turbo.

    Jan 6, 2009 6:31:38 PM

    MMD
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    MMD
    Loc: usa
    Posts: 9652, Gallery
    Registered on: Dec 16, 2004
    Reply to: FSU-997TT

    Re: 997 C4S or older Turbo- Need advice

    I'd forget about the 996TT. NA 997 is "equivalent" to a 996 TT all things considered. If you're driving on public roads: definitely get a 997TT if you can swing it.

    Oh..., BTW..., I used to know the replacement cost for the 997 Turbo engine compared to the NA 997S engine (assuming the worst possible post-warranty maintenance cost). Oddly, I have no recollection of the price of a replacement  TT engine: must be the result of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
    --
    2007 997 Turbo

    Jan 7, 2009 4:41:34 AM

    TT Surgeon
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    TT Surgeon
    Loc: Long Island, NY , United States
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    Registered on: Dec 28, 2004
    Reply to: MMD

    Re: 997 C4S or older Turbo- Need advice

    Get a lightly used 07 997TT. Forget the NA car. (What did you expect me to say on a 997tt forum?)
    --

    Chris '07 997 TT Midnight on Sea

    Farnbacher-Loles prepped!

    Jan 7, 2009 3:52:45 PM

    Gadgetguy Offline
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    Gadgetguy
    Loc: San Diego , United States
    Posts: 3, Gallery
    Registered on: Nov 7, 2008
    Reply to: TT Surgeon

    Re: 997 C4S or older Turbo- Need advice

    Thanks everyone. 

    Obviously I did expect a bias toward such a fantastic car, but I have belonged to the Cayman forum for quite a while and find people who drive Porsche's tend to provide well rounded advice to less knowledgable folks. 

    I'm about 3 years from retirement (I'm 63 now) and long term maintenance costs are a consideration compared to a NA car.  My last (and only) Porsche was new and everything was covered under warentee.  Even so, typical maintenance costs ran somewhere between 600-1000 a year.  What can I expect to see on a 997TT?

    Again, thank you all for your advice and understanding for the naive questions

    Jan 8, 2009 12:19:57 AM

    MMD
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    Reply to: Gadgetguy

    Re: 997 C4S or older Turbo- Need advice

    Gadgetguy:

    What can I expect to see on a 997TT?


    Good question. I'm queasy and a bit "afraid" to own mine after the warranty runs out. I fortify myself by thinking like this. If I'm really unlucky what amount of money would create a can't-live-with-myself nightmare scenario? For me I guess my brain would blow a 50 amp fuse if I had to come up with a one-occurence us$25-30K in serious breakdown repair costs to keep the car on the road. _More_ than that? I think my feelings would do a 180 and I'd just trade the worthless POS in for something else. Smiley


    --
    2007 997 Turbo

    Jan 8, 2009 11:12:03 AM

    easy_rider911
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    Reply to: Gadgetguy

    Re: 997 C4S or older Turbo- Need advice

    @Gadgetguy: I think your annual running costs will be only marginally higher with a 997TT than what you may have had before.

    Main items: service every 2 years, tyres, brake pads, battery, warranty extension (beyond 4 yrs), tax, breakdown recovery, engine oil top ups. These are all the same or only slightly higher with a 997TT.

    Items that would be noticeably higher: fuel (the 997TT is more thirsty), car insurance premium.

    If you can afford the extra cost for a 997TT, I am sure it will deliver much greater enjoyment in spades.


    --
    997S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm/LSD, PSE, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen collection: I love this car!!!

    Jan 8, 2009 4:51:54 PM

    MMD
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    MMD
    Loc: usa
    Posts: 9652, Gallery
    Registered on: Dec 16, 2004
    Reply to: easy_rider911

    Re: 997 C4S or older Turbo- Need advice

    easy_rider911:

    @Gadgetguy: I think your annual running costs will be only marginally higher with a 997TT than what you may have had before.


    Yes..., oops..., e_r has the better answer. When I think of costly failure I think of the TT engine. AFAIK, and I hope I'm wrong,  a replacement Turbo engine is us$45K whereas a NA engine is more like us$25K. Thinking like that makes you wonder which other TT parts might be in that same universe of pricing.

    OTOH, if you get a used Turbo with the "bullet-proof, race-built" GT1 engine,  chances are those engines will be in much better shape (fewer potential problems) than a NA engine with the same mileage.


    --
    2007 997 Turbo

    Jan 8, 2009 5:48:46 PM

    STRADALE
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    STRADALE
    Loc: NY , United States
    Posts: 11075, Gallery
    Registered on: Mar 9, 2005
    Reply to: Gadgetguy

    Re: 997 C4S or older Turbo- Need advice

    Gadgetguy:

    Six months ago I sold my Cayman S so I could save for a 911.  In a couple of months I will be ready.

    I have been looking at 2007 Carrera 4S models, with a focus on low miles and some basic configuration.

    Recently I have been watching some 2004 and 5 Turbo models which can be had for the same money, (less than 80K) and the ones I have been watching have less than 10K miles.

    My question centers around the 2004/5 Turbo's. 

    How reliable are they?  What problems am I likely to find and compared to the normally aspirated models, how expensive will it be to maintain if I assume both cars were in excellent condition when I purchase them?

    Thanks for any advice you can give.  This is an expensive purchase I have been waiting on for a very long time now, and I want to do it right.

    Much has changed from when you decided  "Six Months ago". Meaning changed in your favor which means you could probably take a step up a level without the amount of $ needed to do so 6 months ago.  I've owned a 996 Turbo, 997 S Cab & now a 997 Turbo Cab so re: those 3 cars IMHO go w/ a used 997 Turbo. The price now is an great opportunity. In terms of performance there's no comparison & there's many other tangible & in-tangible benefits in doing so.  Good luck!   


    --

    08 PORSCHE Turbo Cabriolet, 06 Ferrari F430,  04 Durango HEMI,  04 Harley FLHTCSE,  93 Harley FLSTN


    Jan 9, 2009 1:42:00 PM

    Italo
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    Italo
    Loc: UK , United Kingdom
    Posts: 1055, Gallery
    Registered on: Jan 29, 2007
    Reply to: easy_rider911

    Re: 997 C4S or older Turbo- Need advice

    Easy, I think it's more exensive to service a TT compared to an N/A 997. Smiley

    --
    There's only one car, there's only one Porsche

    Jan 9, 2009 2:59:46 PM

    easy_rider911
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    Reply to: Italo

    Re: 997 C4S or older Turbo- Need advice

    @Italo: That's what I wrote about the items in that list - it's "the same or only slightly higher with a 997TT". Which is true - I checked the fixed price service menu.
    --
    997S GT Silver/Cocoa, -20mm/LSD, PSE, SportDesign rims, Zuffenhausen collection: I love this car!!!
     
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