Porsche 996 Turbo vs 997 Turbo

What’s in a number? A car by any other number should drive as sweet, right? For someone not au fait with cars, it’s a common enough occurrence: ‘how much difference can a number really make’? Well, tons, honestly. Today, I’m going to help you choose the car that’s right for you when the only difference in the name is a number, and what a pair of cars they are: the Porsche 996 Turbo, and the 997 Turbo.

When the Porsche 996 hit back in 1997, it was a revelation in Porsche design: no more Beetle-style air-cooled engine so derided by devotees of other marques, and a more or less complete redesign, different from any 911 that came before. It shared many characteristics with the Boxster, which upset some, but that has its advantages, as you’ll read on. It still looked the part, it sounded the part, and it had the stats to back it up. When the Turbo was introduced, things got even better, with this machine going from zero to sixty in just over four seconds thanks to twin turbochargers. Twin turbochargers enhance engine power by compressing air before it enters the cylinders. Working in tandem, twin turbochargers force more air into the engine, allowing for better combustion of fuel than a single turbo machine. If you plumped for the X50 package, thirty more horses were shoved under the hood, bringing the 996 Turbo up to 450bhp.

All this power comes with a downside: the 996 is, shall we say, notorious for mechanical failures – before you stop reading let me explain something. It’s true that the 996 could suffer from a catastrophic failure known as the intermediate shaft, but those who tar the 996 Turbo with the same brush are misinformed. The engine in the 996 Turbo was actually not affected by this problem, which is a rare occurrence for the 996 models.  What all this misinformation means, however, is that you can pick up a 996 Turbo dirt cheap. It’s true. Search around, and you’ll find these cars going for as little as $30,000, with most selling for around 40K, For a Porsche! While purists may sneer, you’ll be laughing all the way to the bank, and you’ll be getting there in a well-maintained, fast, awesome car.

Related: How to Sell Your Used Porsche

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By comparison, the Porsche 997 received widespread acclaim as one of the greatest 911’s ever made. It’s a few years younger than the 996, with Turbo models clocking in at anywhere from 9-3 years old now. The body looked was a more classical 911 shape, and under the hood the top speed is improved, as you’d imagine, with its official top speed coming in at 198mph, making it a serious challenger for the Ferrari F430 and Lamborghini Gallardo. The acceleration is markedly better than the 996 too, with a zero to sixty time of just 3.3 seconds.

The reputation – ah, the reputation, that double-edged sword. Unlike the 996, the 997 never suffered a credibility problem, instead, it’s had praise heaped on it. If you want to never have to explain your choice in Porsches, then the 997 is the one for you. That prospect comes with a heavy, and literal, price. For that credibility, the 997 will set you back $20,000-30,000 more than the 996, with prices for an early model coming in at around $70,000.

The beautiful body and improved performance of the 997, or the superb value of the 996? It’s a hard choice to make. Myself, I’ll take the 996 Turbo any day. If you want rock solid performance at a low price, it has it all. But if you believe that happiness means never having to explain your purchase, set your heart on the 997 Turbo.

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