996 Turbo the best of the old and new. A great road jet Messerschmitt with the rock solid famous 'Mezger' engine. The awesome Le mans design an art form urban icon !
This was my daily in 2008. Same exact spec down to the quad tips. Easy to drive and maintain even in nyc. Burns a good amount of oil. Most fun I ever had in a car. Looking to get one again.
2004 C4S owner. IMS updated. 130K miles, white w/ black interior, manual, 997 short shifter and wheels, GT3 console delete and PSE. Loving every second of it... After all that and knowing I’m still under $27K is the cherry on top! #996 FTW! 🏁 As for Jayemm. Hands down has the best car content/ videos on TH-cam.
Nice! I just got a 2005 c4s this summer. I am coming from a 450hp turbo car and I dont miss the power. Once i get the exhaust and tune on the c4s it should be more than enough punch. After a point more power on the street does not really enhance the enjoyment for me. Nothing like the sound and feel of an NA!
Had a 996 40th anniversary, then got a turbo, sold it after a year to get back into another 40th. I missed the playfulness of the C2 and the sound. Plus I was constantly at risk of being a felon in the turbo. Will always love the 996tt, but will admire from a distance. 😃
Hey Jay, based on your review I'm going to assume that the turbo you drove wasn't up to par. I've owned mine for 7 years and I'm saying this based on owner experience. 1. There should be zero lag after 3000 RPM in a stock car. 2. The fact that you're even comparing this turbo to a C4S tells me there's something wrong, because I've driven/owned both and they're not even in the same league. 3. Those tailpipes may be an indicator that this turbo wasn't taken care of to the highest standards. 4. Next time, drive a well cared for example with an ecu tune + exhaust + coilovers and I can just about guarantee you'll be selling your Lotus 👍. PS... those standard Supple leather seats are adjustable up and down.
I think the zero lag starts a little north of 3000, but not much. Maybe 3500 or so, but in the clip he seems to stop what appears to be a third gear pull just above 120kph (noting the spoiler deployment), which just is barely getting started. A 2nd gear pull will have the uninitiated into the rev limiter before they can blink, and is absolutely brutal compared to a C4S. The thing easy to not understand is that the 996 turbo will keep pulling and pulling like a freight train all the way through 6th gear - something no C4S is ever going to be able to do. I would also agree that if his legs are pressed against the steering wheel he's almost certainly got room to bring the seats down a bit, unless he likes a somewhat unconventional driving position being somewhat close in with long legs.
with the 996TT .. and some affordable upgrades .. the boost can be tuned to come up much earlier ... mine pulls damn hard from 2,500rpm up to 5,500rpm. Hybrid billet turbos (1.35 Bar boost), Wagner intercoolers, Cobb ECU stage 2 tune, Kline exhaust with high flow CATS, 5 bar fuel regulator, KW Variant 3 Coilovers, Nitto NT01 245F/305R tires... more ... No debate now, it is a SUPERCAR... yet affordable. Such upgrades can't be done on a C4S.
I have a 2004 Turbo X50 (larger Gt2 turbos, intercoolers etc)....absolute beast and under-rated power wise etc. With just some high-flow cats i'm at 1.1 bar of boost and 500/500 hp/tq
I had a 2003 X50 with a similar setup. So much fun and power at that level. Then I upgraded a bunch and went for 700+ hp. Sometimes I wish I didn't, but it is a whole other world at that power level!
Another good review. Yep, owned one of these too 9 years ago - an X50 with 525bhp DMS map. It was pretty lively! Someone told me before I bought it to budget £3k to refresh the suspension if it’s not been done. They were right so budget that in. They are a daily driver though for me, not a weekend toy. Too easy to drive.
Great review thanks. Just One thing : if you already had a 996 C2 (or 4S) it s totally different concerning some points : - Metzger motor (GT1 signature / Le Mans) - turbo look - prices continue to seriously increase on this model I sold my 2002 Targa for this one : it was a good choice
I have owned my 996T for 6 yrs and it is a constant delight. Saying that I have spent some serious money modifying it. Larger turbos, ECU remap with DMS (the best!), Turbo S suspension, sports exhaust and bodykit. And short shift gear change (essential and a huge improvement over standard). It's producing around 580 BHP and over 600 lb /ft of torque. The lag is not noticeable above 3000 and I dont think there is much that can keep up with it on a country road. Oh, and the steering feel is wonderful, far nicer than any Porsche after the 997. Jay, if you want to review it I think you'd be surprised.
911 Driver or rather buy a £600 bearing and fixed. You can get a great condition C4S loaded with options for 25k while you need 35k to start to seriously look at semi decent spec turbos but need realistically 40k for and equivalent spec. Plus the turbo simply doesn’t sound as nice as a C4S with PSE and this is taste but the red strip on the back and the lack of massive vent holes in the side I think make it the prettier car too. If you are tracking the car and money doesn’t matter go for a turbo. But for the same money you can get a C4S hard top a Boxster S for top down fun and have 10k spare in your pocket, but that’s just my choice.
@@batking28 i reall think that the 996 c4s is the prettiest porsche for those reasons you highlighted lack of vents and the red stripe, i dont know what it is about it but i just love how they look.
@@batking28 No way. On the M96 Bores score, chain guides wear out, cranks wear out 80-100K, cylinders D-chunk and crack as well as IMS failures (which are quite rare)
@@EvoraGT430my old one was absolutely fine and I took it to 167,000 miles and had it dynod before I sold it and it was only down 3hp from factory. I maintained it well but would always drive it like a sports car should, taking it to 7300rpm every time I took it out. I owned it for 80,000 miles of the 167,000 and had no issues, maintained it myself so I could trust the work being done, I had to replace one starter motor, and some engine mounts, and one set of discs and pads, extremely reliable car given the age and internet scaremongering that goes on!
I owned a 2003 996 TT. My only mod was an ECU upgrade by GIAC. $2000 for an additional 85 hp so I was nominally pushing close to 500 HP. Screaming fast and so much fun.
More power certainly but still weighs a lot and has the terrible long gearing Porsche gave these 996’s so doesn’t feel quite as exciting even with a remap as something like a 360 Modena that screams to 8500rpm, the 996 turbo has a Rev limit much lower even than the C4S, which sound better as you can enjoy higher revs.
Paul8342 Is it normal to feel less g-force when doing some hard acceleration..? I’ve test driven one that’s on sale & was a bit disappointed with the performance because a turbocharged engine should be able to opt out some g-force sensation.. Not a huge power difference compared to the naturally aspirated 996 Carrera.. Probably 20% to 30% more power on the 996 Turbo.. Is that even a normal thing to be honest..?
But they don’t Rev as high and sound like a hoover, also still heavy with long gearing. Was a complete let down when I tried a few 996 turbos. They don’t Rev high enough or sound nice, and the taller gearing makes it less fun at slower speeds as 1st gear effectively feels like 2nd.
Nikasil carbide bore, true dry sump, proper oil feed in IMS bearing, proper cooling, and a close deck engine block, it’s one of the most reliable water cooled Porsche. The only issue is that it’s not as engaging as a GT series and a Cayman platform. Compared to 996 and 997 GT3s, still a grand touring car. But who cares, nice to have it as a daily driver.
@2:42 it looks like there is a bubble in the tire sidewall...drive safe! That's a high risk for blowout, should be taken care of immediately before any more driving!
Owned a C4S 996 , currently own a 996 Turbo, the performance is a different league to the C4S, the turbo are still pretty good value for money, considering price of air cooled 911’s, such as the 993, which I have also owned and in my opinion isn’t as good , why people buy the 993 just because it’s air cooled is madness , 993 tiptronic for the price of manual 996 Turbo is madness. It’s all about the drive for me and the 996 Turbo is an excellent allrounder. Just be careful when buying these cars, they were a lot cheaper a few years ago, this allowed more people to be able to buy them , however they are complex cars and most couldn’t afford to run them, they can be costly to run, so buy wisely.
I’ve test driven both 996 Turbo & the naturally aspirated 996 Carrera.. And to my surprise, I don’t really feel that much difference in terms of power.. Probably has 20% to 30% more power on the 996 Turbo.. Is that even a normal thing to be honest..?
Rendezvous Rezz well 20% to 30% is quite a jump in horse power, my 996 had K24 turbos and upgraded inter coolers, think it was running an extra 60-80 hp 😳 so around 500 bhp in total, both are great cars to drive to be honest 👍
brent powell But is it normal to feel less g-force when doing some hard acceleration..? I’ve test driven one that’s on sale & was a bit disappointed with the performance because a turbocharged engine should be able to opt out some g-force sensation.. Not a huge power difference compared to the naturally aspirated 996 Carrera.. By right, a standard factory 996 Turbo with 420bhp should produce a sufficient amount of torque & g-force especially when accelerating hard.. I could barely feel a g-force & not even a single fraction of it.. Probably the turbos had some complications..🤷🏻♂️
Rendezvous Rezz yes that doesn’t sound right at all , you can get the 996 turbo at reasonable prices however, because they are reasonable priced , people have bought them but can’t afford to maintain them correctly , so be careful, I would make sure you get a good warranty. One problem are the 2 turbo actuators that control boost from each turbo , they can often be seized and therefore not set up probably , effecting performance. Basically a well looked after properly set up 996 Turbo will felel significantly quicker than a 996 C4S , having owned both. Hope this helps 👍
Definitely a great car like you say. However, I made a video about the prices and depreciation/appreciation curve of the turbo and some of the cars are just overvalued. Buyers need to look exceptionally well to find a solid car which is not overpriced.
One of the few people talking about 996s who effectively understands the difference between the legendary "Mezger" engine and the M96 lemon in the Carreras. Bravo
5 years ago when I sold my 996 turbo for pennies, all these “car experts” roundly slated it as being terrible and unable hold a candle to the magnificent 997 turbo. Me thinks many have since stocked up on cheap 996 turbos and are looking to offload them for big profits, thanks to the slew of recent videos like this
I have a 2002 911 TURBO MANUAL that I have for 7 years and I would recommend one to anyone ...I know you say that others would have it around the track but this would be the case with all the 911s prior to this one
Christian Is it normal to feel less g-force when doing some hard acceleration..? I’ve test driven one that’s on sale & was a bit disappointed with the performance because a turbocharged engine should be able to opt out some g-force sensation.. Not a huge power difference compared to the naturally aspirated 996 Carrera.. Probably 20% to 30% more power on the 996 Turbo.. Is that even a normal thing to be honest..?
the 911 is not just discreet and very understated as supercars go, it is also far more practical and a definite daily driver too, which one cannot say for most Ferraris or any Lambo.
I live in a medium size town in France and a guy as a turbo from 2016. When he parcks in town nobody what so ever look the car as a super performance car.
@@ovtez Yep, I like the fact that it's ubiquitous but you get the performance. Porsches are so common. Mind you, I popped out for an hour today and only saw one 911 (991 Targa) so not that common!
No ims issues due to metzger engine great performance definitely worth the extra money but the C4s is still a great motor as long as all the issue have been sorted
I paid 27 for a 2002 about 7 years ago with 25000 miles . Took it to my friend Rob at DMS for a remap to 520 BHP . Following that bigger turbos etc and hey presto 600 BHP .... Drove it aall over Europe many times trouble free. A very underated car in my opinion.
Seriously considering one of these. I'm also looking at a 991.1 Carrera S and a 991.2 Carrera S, but this has some old school cool, to my mind, and is still ridiculously quick. Plus it won't lose anywhere near as much as the other two over the next few years. 9912 prices particularly are a bit bonkers at the moment.
I love the c4s, but they're not very fast by today's standards, slower than something like a golf r. So it's worth paying more, and getting the turbo imo, to get the power to match the looks.
It can be misleading driving these cars on crap, rough British roads. Take a manual 996 turbo to an alpine mountain pass and they come alive, an absolute beast or drop into fourth gear at 100mph on de-restricted German autobahn and watch it head toward 200mph. Wasted tootling around British B roads or city centre commuting. 👍
It's the same in the USA. A 996TT is wasted here. My family are southern Germans, Schwaben I miss Germany. last car I had in Germany was my gfs BMW 318i. at the time I thought God was as sarcastic as me and laughing at my predicament. 😂😂
Doubt it'll ever happen that I have the funds to be able to buy a 911 (my dream car since childhood) but I always thought the 996 4S would be the one I'd go for......right until you mentioned the turbo engine is a stronger unit.....ah I'll decide when I win the lottery 😂
@John S Hi John, had I the ability to have 2 cars then the 911 would always have been the other car for me. That was the case until the Caymen arrived on the market and I've said to my mates that it is the only car that would get me out of the 911. It's just as quick, has practicalilty and IMO just as attractive as the 911. I like other cars in the sector except Ferrari's but none do it for me like a Porsche.
@John S A thing that really impressed me about the Cayman is the two boot spaces it has which makes it immensely practical for the type of car it is. I used to work on classic sports cars, mainly MG's, Triumph's and E Type Jaguar's so that's my area of knowledge and passion....any classics. My 4 car garage would have an MGA 1600 mk1 roadster, M5 V10, 911 996 C4S and a VW Bay Camper. Never know what's round the corner, dreams are possible 😂, all the best, enjoy your Cayman.....I'm not jealous....honest 👍🏻
@John S 😂 I wouldn't know where to start nowadays with all the sensors and electrical gubbins in modern cars....my Cayman would end up looking like a full size airfix kit by the time I'd finished!! I'd work on the MG and the VeeDub cos they're easy, I've taken plenty of MGA's to bits so know them inside out and tbh there's nothing hard about a Veedub so I'd work on that too. I'd farm the other 2 out due to lack of knowledge and the fact they're performance cars and you don't want to be getting that wrong and putting other lives at risk for the sake of a few quid. I'm going to have to have a test drive though. Enjoy confusing people with your multi boot'd Porsche 👍😂
@John S I think driving around them is preferable to hitting them 😂. There's plenty of driving roads around where I live, I'm about 45 mins from the Buttertubs Pass.....that's legendary even in a regular car, plus you have the Tan Hill pub at the end of it....a perfect afternoon out.
Even EVO finally admitted (after making it ECOTY) that the car is a little dull, in that it just eats miles at any speed almost unflappably. However, you can tune them up a LOT.
Had a genuine Turbo S manual cabriolet in Dark olive at one point. Even at 6 years old it needed the front radiators and aircon rads replacing, fitting an aftermarket front intake mesh kit to stop debris collecting and rotting the rads out is an absolute must on any water cooled Porsche of this era. The Turbo heatshields on the exhausts rot out and rattle with age and are an absolute pig to change..if the original exhaust is still fitted. On these the active rear struts on the rear spoiler can fail too...that wasn't a cheap fix either....the degraded and cracked cooling expansion vessel in the engine bay was also an unexpected failure....as was the petrol tank sender unit.. especially for the amount the car cost at the time. Mine looked great on its Gt3 wheels and it's stopping power was immense with it carbon ceramics. As a point to point A to B car with a dash of practicality that's a docile as a puppy in everyday duty.. and a rottweiler when the foot is planted to the floor it was fantastic. They are fantastic... but even at a relatively young age they were needy beasts.. a full comprehensive history is vital when looking for one and a slightly higher milage well maintained example is probably a better bet than a low milage garage queen.
byronmills I agree with you. I have a 997 TT, and enjoy working on it myself. It gets all the big jobs it needs and the little ones too that may be omitted by an owner who just took it to the OPC or specialist for a service. These turbos and all the bolt heads, pipework etc are very exposed to the elements. I only run mine in the summer, but salty roads will cause a lot of expensive corrosion. I’ve heard stories about turbos falling off on unloved cars! A wonderful super car which I will never sell. Sports car, unlike the 992, which is a GT now.
its possibly the first (and only) 911 Porsche i have loved really loved, the Turbo AND the twin/single rear wings on the GT3 as well. would be a hard decision on which to buy because if i had too i would get a 360 Ferrari, i love the Ferrari much much more than the Porsche and so u would chose with your heart if u really love cars
I owned a C4S and now a Turbo. Your comment that they don't feel any different is completely inaccurate. The Turbo feels more refined, more powerful, and different in most ways than the C4S. The Turbo also doe not like to be driven slowly, like in stop & go traffic, it will jerk and fart. At speed it is incomparable. A C4S is a great car, the Turbo is much better and sells better than the C4S.
I noticed a Panasonic Lumix with a hot shoe mic attached to the rear view mirror, in your Volvo review. Would you mind sharing the camera and mic models? I'm in the market for a G7/G8, and it's hard to come about actual information that isn't tainted by marketing.
The problem with these is that they were good bargains at £20k but even without the grenading engines of the non turbo models you still could have some huge bills for other stuff. Now they are are £40k plus you have lost £20k to pay for these huge bills. It's just a waste of money now. Both ways
There’s a fix for the IMS that lots of people opt for, and it’s a great deal. A Porsche 911, almost indefinitely undervalued, for what is a rather insignificant problem.
So Jay, you mentioned the 987 Cayman. I had an ‘05 987 Boxster S in Speed Yellow. I regret selling it, and am curious about the 996 Turbo. Would you recommend this as a logical step up? I do realize I’m going backwards in interior finishes and exterior styling (in some people’s eyes). Thanks.
After owning a 996TT for 2.5 yrs, done 60K km, you must have driven a dud 996TT because there is very little to no turbo lag with the parallel turbos always working. "once it comes on boost"... again, no idea - the 996TT is always on boost if you put your right foot to the floor at any rpm over about 2000rpm (you can change the display in front of you to always show the boost), hence the "mid-range shove to spare" observation you made. "even in 6th gear at 2000rpm, the car has plenty of pull in it"... yes, because of the turbo's are on boost. Try the 6th gear test again with your C4S next to a Turbo, and ask yourself why the Turbo is faster (hint, the turbos are working).
This car has plenty of turbo lag, it isn't always there above 2k rpm, nor would I expect it to be. It responds better off boost than many other cars I have driven but it isn't a perfect turbo engine. I'll be driving another 911 turbo soon with luck so we will see how that compares
@@JayEmmOnCars Respectfully, you don't understand how the 996TT engine boost works... you only get full boost when you are at full throttle... and if you are, the engine should be producing full boost (0.7-0.9) all the rpm from above approx 2500. If the engine is not producing full boost from this rpm, or the boost at full throttle varies, then either you are lifting slightly or you have a boost leak. These cars have near zero lag and the acceleration should be near linear through the rpm. For example, my 996TT could do 40km/h to 120km/h in 2nd gear in approx 4 seconds (2000rpm to redline) with no lag. So if you claim that the car performs better "off-boost", then you can only be talking about driving at the rpm from 1000-2500 or at less than full throttle. But to be honest, I think you are confusing turbo lag with lack of cubic capacity, and judging it against far newer, larger, and more advanced engines with far more HP.
@@AndrewClelland it just has lag, no shame in it - nothing like the Alpine which I drove before it (which was comical) but it is still there. Like I said I'll be doing another 911 turbo soon and keep an eye out for that as I'll be paying extra attention to the cars behaviour
Andrew Clelland Is it normal to feel less g-force when doing some hard acceleration..? I’ve test driven one that’s on sale & was a bit disappointed with the performance because a turbocharged engine should be able to opt out some g-force sensation.. Not a huge power difference compared to the naturally aspirated 996 Carrera.. Probably 20% to 30% more power on the 996 Turbo.. Is that even a normal thing to be honest..?
@@Rendezvous512 like I mentioned above, a simple test is to compare what I could achieve - 2nd gear 2000rpm and floor it to redline. No NA 911 will come close, and there you should definitely feel the g-force punch. Some say the turbo does feel similar to the NA engines below 2000rpm, but with almost 200Nm more torque (peak torque is available from 2700 to 4700rpm) compared to the NA versions that only peak at approx 4600rpm, there is a difference. If you want another point of how different the NA and TT cars should drive, the turbo produces the same peak torque of the NA (approx 370Nm) at only 1500rpm. Sure, you won't get g-force punch at that rpm, but what car will? The power delivery though is sublime.
There are supercars and there is the Porsche 911. To me they are their own breed. If I had budget for a sportscar the 911 would be on top of my list. Supercars only break down and are fragile. Not a fan of these headlights though. Performance wise I wouldn't mind if it was not the fastest car around.
Glad I’m not the only person who adores the 996
I’ve not long one, they’re great cars
Yep, I too love the 996 model.
My C4S will be in my will. And I plan to buy a turbo as soon as possible
boxterd
They are so underrated,yet flaship in 2000's and fast over 90% of cars today.
996 Turbo the best of the old and new.
A great road jet Messerschmitt with the rock solid famous 'Mezger' engine.
The awesome Le mans design an art form urban icon !
This was my daily in 2008. Same exact spec down to the quad tips. Easy to drive and maintain even in nyc. Burns a good amount of oil. Most fun I ever had in a car. Looking to get one again.
2004 C4S owner. IMS updated. 130K miles, white w/ black interior, manual, 997 short shifter and wheels, GT3 console delete and PSE. Loving every second of it... After all that and knowing I’m still under $27K is the cherry on top! #996 FTW! 🏁
As for Jayemm. Hands down has the best car content/ videos on TH-cam.
Nice! I just got a 2005 c4s this summer. I am coming from a 450hp turbo car and I dont miss the power. Once i get the exhaust and tune on the c4s it should be more than enough punch. After a point more power on the street does not really enhance the enjoyment for me. Nothing like the sound and feel of an NA!
996 Turbo is most wanted 911 as youngtimer... LOVE THE CAR
Had a 996 40th anniversary, then got a turbo, sold it after a year to get back into another 40th. I missed the playfulness of the C2 and the sound. Plus I was constantly at risk of being a felon in the turbo. Will always love the 996tt, but will admire from a distance. 😃
I've got a 996 c4s/x51 (same powerkit as the 40AE) and the rev-ability and sharp response I actually prefer to the Turbo
Hey Jay, based on your review I'm going to assume that the turbo you drove wasn't up to par. I've owned mine for 7 years and I'm saying this based on owner experience. 1. There should be zero lag after 3000 RPM in a stock car. 2. The fact that you're even comparing this turbo to a C4S tells me there's something wrong, because I've driven/owned both and they're not even in the same league. 3. Those tailpipes may be an indicator that this turbo wasn't taken care of to the highest standards. 4. Next time, drive a well cared for example with an ecu tune + exhaust + coilovers and I can just about guarantee you'll be selling your Lotus 👍. PS... those standard Supple leather seats are adjustable up and down.
Nice comment. I am 100% agree with you!
Nice comment. I am 100% agree with you!
which metricsq engine he just talked about?
I think the zero lag starts a little north of 3000, but not much. Maybe 3500 or so, but in the clip he seems to stop what appears to be a third gear pull just above 120kph (noting the spoiler deployment), which just is barely getting started. A 2nd gear pull will have the uninitiated into the rev limiter before they can blink, and is absolutely brutal compared to a C4S. The thing easy to not understand is that the 996 turbo will keep pulling and pulling like a freight train all the way through 6th gear - something no C4S is ever going to be able to do. I would also agree that if his legs are pressed against the steering wheel he's almost certainly got room to bring the seats down a bit, unless he likes a somewhat unconventional driving position being somewhat close in with long legs.
with the 996TT .. and some affordable upgrades .. the boost can be tuned to come up much earlier ... mine pulls damn hard from 2,500rpm up to 5,500rpm. Hybrid billet turbos (1.35 Bar boost), Wagner intercoolers, Cobb ECU stage 2 tune, Kline exhaust with high flow CATS, 5 bar fuel regulator, KW Variant 3 Coilovers, Nitto NT01 245F/305R tires... more ... No debate now, it is a SUPERCAR... yet affordable. Such upgrades can't be done on a C4S.
Used to drive a 996 turbo. What an incredible car!
I have a 2004 Turbo X50 (larger Gt2 turbos, intercoolers etc)....absolute beast and under-rated power wise etc. With just some high-flow cats i'm at 1.1 bar of boost and 500/500 hp/tq
I had a 2003 X50 with a similar setup. So much fun and power at that level. Then I upgraded a bunch and went for 700+ hp. Sometimes I wish I didn't, but it is a whole other world at that power level!
Another good review. Yep, owned one of these too 9 years ago - an X50 with 525bhp DMS map. It was pretty lively! Someone told me before I bought it to budget £3k to refresh the suspension if it’s not been done. They were right so budget that in. They are a daily driver though for me, not a weekend toy. Too easy to drive.
I drove one of these on a track day, they are so fast... Preferred it to the f430 i drove on the same day
Great review thanks.
Just One thing : if you already had a 996 C2 (or 4S) it s totally different concerning some points :
- Metzger motor (GT1 signature / Le Mans)
- turbo look
- prices continue to seriously increase on this model
I sold my 2002 Targa for this one : it was a good choice
Mezger = 911 996 turbo. Metzer = autocross champ.
I have owned my 996T for 6 yrs and it is a constant delight. Saying that I have spent some serious money modifying it. Larger turbos, ECU remap with DMS (the best!), Turbo S suspension, sports exhaust and bodykit. And short shift gear change (essential and a huge improvement over standard). It's producing around 580 BHP and over 600 lb /ft of torque. The lag is not noticeable above 3000 and I dont think there is much that can keep up with it on a country road. Oh, and the steering feel is wonderful, far nicer than any Porsche after the 997. Jay, if you want to review it I think you'd be surprised.
Would love to - drop me an email on talk@jayemm.com
If you want a 996 c4s and you include the engine failure cost then it's better value to buy the turbo
911 Driver or rather buy a £600 bearing and fixed. You can get a great condition C4S loaded with options for 25k while you need 35k to start to seriously look at semi decent spec turbos but need realistically 40k for and equivalent spec. Plus the turbo simply doesn’t sound as nice as a C4S with PSE and this is taste but the red strip on the back and the lack of massive vent holes in the side I think make it the prettier car too. If you are tracking the car and money doesn’t matter go for a turbo. But for the same money you can get a C4S hard top a Boxster S for top down fun and have 10k spare in your pocket, but that’s just my choice.
@@batking28 i reall think that the 996 c4s is the prettiest porsche for those reasons you highlighted lack of vents and the red stripe, i dont know what it is about it but i just love how they look.
@@batking28 No way. On the M96 Bores score, chain guides wear out, cranks wear out 80-100K, cylinders D-chunk and crack as well as IMS failures (which are quite rare)
C4S with R51 engine build. More fun but way more money than a turbo.
@@EvoraGT430my old one was absolutely fine and I took it to 167,000 miles and had it dynod before I sold it and it was only down 3hp from factory.
I maintained it well but would always drive it like a sports car should, taking it to 7300rpm every time I took it out. I owned it for 80,000 miles of the 167,000 and had no issues, maintained it myself so I could trust the work being done, I had to replace one starter motor, and some engine mounts, and one set of discs and pads, extremely reliable car given the age and internet scaremongering that goes on!
I owned a 2003 996 TT. My only mod was an ECU upgrade by GIAC. $2000 for an additional 85 hp so I was nominally pushing close to 500 HP. Screaming fast and so much fun.
A simple remap on the 996 Turbo changes this car into a MONSTER!
More power certainly but still weighs a lot and has the terrible long gearing Porsche gave these 996’s so doesn’t feel quite as exciting even with a remap as something like a 360 Modena that screams to 8500rpm, the 996 turbo has a Rev limit much lower even than the C4S, which sound better as you can enjoy higher revs.
The Turbo is a different league !
👍
Great car 👍
I have a 4’S’ and share ownership of a Turbo with my Dad - I’d definitely sell the 4’S’ first - the power delivery of the Turbo is hard to ignore.
They are SO easy to tune as well. I worked at a Porsche shop for awhile the average was 600hp 996turbos. Many had 700+HP... Amazing cars.
Paul8342 Is it normal to feel less g-force when doing some hard acceleration..? I’ve test driven one that’s on sale & was a bit disappointed with the performance because a turbocharged engine should be able to opt out some g-force sensation.. Not a huge power difference compared to the naturally aspirated 996 Carrera.. Probably 20% to 30% more power on the 996 Turbo.. Is that even a normal thing to be honest..?
At such increase in power doesn’t such demand and added stress on the engine shorten the life of the car?
But they don’t Rev as high and sound like a hoover, also still heavy with long gearing. Was a complete let down when I tried a few 996 turbos. They don’t Rev high enough or sound nice, and the taller gearing makes it less fun at slower speeds as 1st gear effectively feels like 2nd.
Still Putting around In My 99 C2 Cab. Thanks for Posting, Great Content.
Nikasil carbide bore, true dry sump, proper oil feed in IMS bearing, proper cooling, and a close deck engine block, it’s one of the most reliable water cooled Porsche. The only issue is that it’s not as engaging as a GT series and a Cayman platform. Compared to 996 and 997 GT3s, still a grand touring car. But who cares, nice to have it as a daily driver.
Jay, I have to say your channel is in my top three TH-cam motoring channels! Great video! Keep them coming sir!
Thanks!
I loved my 731 awhp 996 turbo. Seriously the best car I've ever owned. I will get another some day.
My dad had a 996 c4s with sport exhaust. Amazing car and sound!!
Oh yes, this is exactly what I want to see in my subscription feed when I open my phone!
@2:42 it looks like there is a bubble in the tire sidewall...drive safe! That's a high risk for blowout, should be taken care of immediately before any more driving!
Oh wow that’s not good. Have to replace the tire, in a vehicle like this probably all
Owned a C4S 996 , currently own a 996 Turbo, the performance is a different league to the C4S, the turbo are still pretty good value for money, considering price of air cooled 911’s, such as the 993, which I have also owned and in my opinion isn’t as good , why people buy the 993 just because it’s air cooled is madness , 993 tiptronic for the price of manual 996 Turbo is madness.
It’s all about the drive for me and the 996 Turbo is an excellent allrounder.
Just be careful when buying these cars, they were a lot cheaper a few years ago, this allowed more people to be able to buy them , however they are complex cars and most couldn’t afford to run them, they can be costly to run, so buy wisely.
brent powell Turbos retain value better, that to me is the real selling point. Same with most gt3s.
I’ve test driven both 996 Turbo & the naturally aspirated 996 Carrera.. And to my surprise, I don’t really feel that much difference in terms of power.. Probably has 20% to 30% more power on the 996 Turbo.. Is that even a normal thing to be honest..?
Rendezvous Rezz well 20% to 30% is quite a jump in horse power, my 996 had K24 turbos and upgraded inter coolers, think it was running an extra 60-80 hp 😳 so around 500 bhp in total, both are great cars to drive to be honest 👍
brent powell But is it normal to feel less g-force when doing some hard acceleration..? I’ve test driven one that’s on sale & was a bit disappointed with the performance because a turbocharged engine should be able to opt out some g-force sensation.. Not a huge power difference compared to the naturally aspirated 996 Carrera.. By right, a standard factory 996 Turbo with 420bhp should produce a sufficient amount of torque & g-force especially when accelerating hard.. I could barely feel a g-force & not even a single fraction of it.. Probably the turbos had some complications..🤷🏻♂️
Rendezvous Rezz yes that doesn’t sound right at all , you can get the 996 turbo at reasonable prices however, because they are reasonable priced , people have bought them but can’t afford to maintain them correctly , so be careful, I would make sure you get a good warranty.
One problem are the 2 turbo actuators that control boost from each turbo , they can often be seized and therefore not set up probably , effecting performance.
Basically a well looked after properly set up 996 Turbo will felel significantly quicker than a 996 C4S , having owned both.
Hope this helps 👍
Check out the bubble on that back passenger tyre. Blow out waiting to happen. 1.32 seconds
Noticed that in the edit and have mentioned it to the owner
I am so happy I wasn't the only one who noticed that
@@j.a.citadel3258 Me too, I commented at 2:42, thank god it was noticed.
Would love a 911 turbo! I’d have a Porsche if I could afford one as my daily . Would settle for these lesser model 911 c4 or c2
Definitely a great car like you say. However, I made a video about the prices and depreciation/appreciation curve of the turbo and some of the cars are just overvalued. Buyers need to look exceptionally well to find a solid car which is not overpriced.
yeah the 4S offers better value for money
these prices are crazy
^^ this guy is undervalued
@@defyingodds Haha, thanks Jimmy.
One of the few people talking about 996s who effectively understands the difference between the legendary "Mezger" engine and the M96 lemon in the Carreras. Bravo
Top marks Jay... now give us a 997 Turbo review for comparison's sake - would love to hear your thoughts. Bonus points if it's modified. ;)
Unmodified please :)
5 years ago when I sold my 996 turbo for pennies, all these “car experts” roundly slated it as being terrible and unable hold a candle to the magnificent 997 turbo. Me thinks many have since stocked up on cheap 996 turbos and are looking to offload them for big profits, thanks to the slew of recent videos like this
Mine needed coilovers, sway bars, and power upgrades to be really good. Love my 01 car.
Nice and informative - a guy that knows his stuff
As a 996TT owner making 600 horsepower...the ability to tune this old thing to keep up with 991 Turbos is my case
Great vid. Clear and concise, thanks... I brought a 997 TT and love it.
I currently own a e92 m3 But have a horn for a 996 c4s. Turbo is another level.
Did you get the C4S?
Pure gold Jay, pure gold :-)
I have a 2002 911 TURBO MANUAL that I have for 7 years and I would recommend one to anyone ...I know you say that others would have it around the track but this would be the case with all the 911s prior to this one
Christian Is it normal to feel less g-force when doing some hard acceleration..? I’ve test driven one that’s on sale & was a bit disappointed with the performance because a turbocharged engine should be able to opt out some g-force sensation.. Not a huge power difference compared to the naturally aspirated 996 Carrera.. Probably 20% to 30% more power on the 996 Turbo.. Is that even a normal thing to be honest..?
I drove a 997 Turbo a few years ago,it was good but not £45,000 good as they were valued around at the time.
I absolutely love my 996 C4S......considering picking one of these up too
If you want 996 turbo buy it now before the boat floated away.........
I need 2 more years to be financially able to buy the C4S, my dream car. Hope the prices don’t skyrocket
Bought one on 12/13. Test drove the c4 and the 02 911 turbo. Bought the turbo.
Great car and a champion when properly set up to max performance!!!
Lag occurs off boost when you downshift and such. You are referring to spool up.
the 911 is not just discreet and very understated as supercars go, it is also far more practical and a definite daily driver too, which one cannot say for most Ferraris or any Lambo.
I live in a medium size town in France and a guy as a turbo from 2016. When he parcks in town nobody what so ever look the car as a super performance car.
This is good or not. For me it is...
@@ovtez Yep, I like the fact that it's ubiquitous but you get the performance. Porsches are so common. Mind you, I popped out for an hour today and only saw one 911 (991 Targa) so not that common!
Porsche is amazing i worked for Porsche from 2006 to 2013 and the only time a Porsche 911 came on a rollback is because its a track car !
The lack of room is likely down to your clear love of pies 👍🏼
Pies are brilliant, but in this case not the issue - it's the large steering wheel with no adjustment and fairly high seats
lmfao thanks for the laugh
No ims issues due to metzger engine great performance definitely worth the extra money but the C4s is still a great motor as long as all the issue have been sorted
The gap between a turbo and a C4S is huge.
Turbo sounds like a rece car. C4S sounds like a sports car.
Turbo dark blue on an X reg 996 for three years then Exige 2010 S2 six months then V6 exige similar. All been christ. Greeeeaaaattttttt
I use one as my everyday car. As docile as you like. Much better than my C4s
I paid 27 for a 2002 about 7 years ago with 25000 miles .
Took it to my friend Rob at DMS for a remap to 520 BHP .
Following that bigger turbos etc and hey presto 600 BHP ....
Drove it aall over Europe many times trouble free.
A very underated car in my opinion.
Pay the little extra and buy the 997 Turbo. It's far superior as doesn't have 'those' looks!
Seriously considering one of these. I'm also looking at a 991.1 Carrera S and a 991.2 Carrera S, but this has some old school cool, to my mind, and is still ridiculously quick. Plus it won't lose anywhere near as much as the other two over the next few years. 9912 prices particularly are a bit bonkers at the moment.
Best bang for buck!!!!!still a super car
Great review, thanks and keep them coming!
I love the c4s, but they're not very fast by today's standards, slower than something like a golf r. So it's worth paying more, and getting the turbo imo, to get the power to match the looks.
Damnnit Jay...I wish you lived closer. We would have some good fun with the 12C and 550. Hope you're having a good week. I enjoyed this review.
They've always got some nice motors been worked on at John Ashley
Great video. I have the C4s in the 997 and i could not agree more with your comments.
It can be misleading driving these cars on crap, rough British roads. Take a manual 996 turbo to an alpine mountain pass and they come alive, an absolute beast or drop into fourth gear at 100mph on de-restricted German autobahn and watch it head toward 200mph. Wasted tootling around British B roads or city centre commuting. 👍
It's the same in the USA. A 996TT is wasted here. My family are southern Germans, Schwaben I miss Germany. last car I had in Germany was my gfs BMW 318i. at the time I thought God was as sarcastic as me and laughing at my predicament. 😂😂
Doubt it'll ever happen that I have the funds to be able to buy a 911 (my dream car since childhood) but I always thought the 996 4S would be the one I'd go for......right until you mentioned the turbo engine is a stronger unit.....ah I'll decide when I win the lottery 😂
@John S Hi John, had I the ability to have 2 cars then the 911 would always have been the other car for me. That was the case until the Caymen arrived on the market and I've said to my mates that it is the only car that would get me out of the 911. It's just as quick, has practicalilty and IMO just as attractive as the 911. I like other cars in the sector except Ferrari's but none do it for me like a Porsche.
@John S A thing that really impressed me about the Cayman is the two boot spaces it has which makes it immensely practical for the type of car it is.
I used to work on classic sports cars, mainly MG's, Triumph's and E Type Jaguar's so that's my area of knowledge and passion....any classics. My 4 car garage would have an MGA 1600 mk1 roadster, M5 V10, 911 996 C4S and a VW Bay Camper. Never know what's round the corner, dreams are possible 😂, all the best, enjoy your Cayman.....I'm not jealous....honest 👍🏻
@John S 😂 I wouldn't know where to start nowadays with all the sensors and electrical gubbins in modern cars....my Cayman would end up looking like a full size airfix kit by the time I'd finished!!
I'd work on the MG and the VeeDub cos they're easy, I've taken plenty of MGA's to bits so know them inside out and tbh there's nothing hard about a Veedub so I'd work on that too.
I'd farm the other 2 out due to lack of knowledge and the fact they're performance cars and you don't want to be getting that wrong and putting other lives at risk for the sake of a few quid.
I'm going to have to have a test drive though. Enjoy confusing people with your multi boot'd Porsche 👍😂
@John S I think driving around them is preferable to hitting them 😂. There's plenty of driving roads around where I live, I'm about 45 mins from the Buttertubs Pass.....that's legendary even in a regular car, plus you have the Tan Hill pub at the end of it....a perfect afternoon out.
i would still love to hear your thoughts on the 987 Cayman S in full! my offer stands if your ever in Devon give me a shout
Will definitely take you up on it if I am in the area
Please take his offer! I want to see this too
Have I got your email Jordan? Drop me a line as I may have a plan
Serious car serious review 👍
Even EVO finally admitted (after making it ECOTY) that the car is a little dull, in that it just eats miles at any speed almost unflappably. However, you can tune them up a LOT.
AS. ALLWAYS. A. SUPER. REVIEW. TO. HELP US. UNDERSTAND. TNKS. AND. BLESSED. BE SIR
Lol, at 11:35 it sounded quite similar to a stock mk4 supra
Nice intro! lol I totally love my 996tt and I made a video of the 5 most hated features and what I did to address each ;)
997 turbo .1 vs .2 or stock versus mod'd... Please
I think we all remember the Top Gear bit explaining the 'differences' between the 911 range...
One of the best youtubers of the moment 👍
Had a genuine Turbo S manual cabriolet in Dark olive at one point. Even at 6 years old it needed the front radiators and aircon rads replacing, fitting an aftermarket front intake mesh kit to stop debris collecting and rotting the rads out is an absolute must on any water cooled Porsche of this era. The Turbo heatshields on the exhausts rot out and rattle with age and are an absolute pig to change..if the original exhaust is still fitted. On these the active rear struts on the rear spoiler can fail too...that wasn't a cheap fix either....the degraded and cracked cooling expansion vessel in the engine bay was also an unexpected failure....as was the petrol tank sender unit.. especially for the amount the car cost at the time. Mine looked great on its Gt3 wheels and it's stopping power was immense with it carbon ceramics. As a point to point A to B car with a dash of practicality that's a docile as a puppy in everyday duty.. and a rottweiler when the foot is planted to the floor it was fantastic.
They are fantastic... but even at a relatively young age they were needy beasts.. a full comprehensive history is vital when looking for one and a slightly higher milage well maintained example is probably a better bet than a low milage garage queen.
byronmills I agree with you. I have a 997 TT, and enjoy working on it myself. It gets all the big jobs it needs and the little ones too that may be omitted by an owner who just took it to the OPC or specialist for a service. These turbos and all the bolt heads, pipework etc are very exposed to the elements. I only run mine in the summer, but salty roads will cause a lot of expensive corrosion. I’ve heard stories about turbos falling off on unloved cars! A wonderful super car which I will never sell. Sports car, unlike the 992, which is a GT now.
its possibly the first (and only) 911 Porsche i have loved really loved, the Turbo AND the twin/single rear wings on the GT3 as well. would be a hard decision on which to buy because if i had too i would get a 360 Ferrari, i love the Ferrari much much more than the Porsche and so u would chose with your heart if u really love cars
My step sister has a 996 Turbo S Cabriolet. Manual with ceramic brakes. It’s her daily driver as it should be.
That is a bizarre combo of a 911
JayEmm on Cars it is an odd combo but I’m glad the original owner did it. If you absolutely must have a cabriolet you may as well do it properly.
At least here in the states turbo S cabs are surprisingly common
could any one tell me should i get a tiptronic or must be manual 996 turbo？thanks！
10 000 times manual :
1/ for sensations
2/ better value if one day you want to sell it
I owned a C4S and now a Turbo. Your comment that they don't feel any different is completely inaccurate. The Turbo feels more refined, more powerful, and different in most ways than the C4S. The Turbo also doe not like to be driven slowly, like in stop & go traffic, it will jerk and fart. At speed it is incomparable. A C4S is a great car, the Turbo is much better and sells better than the C4S.
This is like Jeremy Clarkson before he went mad 😆. Great review of the 996 Turbo.
I noticed a Panasonic Lumix with a hot shoe mic attached to the rear view mirror, in your Volvo review. Would you mind sharing the camera and mic models? I'm in the market for a G7/G8, and it's hard to come about actual information that isn't tainted by marketing.
Panasonic GH5
@@JayEmmOnCars Thanks! Those things are mighty pricey for an amateur, but if I find myself well with the G7, the next step will surely be a GH5.
Please continue hating on the 996 lads, tou are doing us real enthusiasts a favor and keeping the 996 affordable
The problem with these is that they were good bargains at £20k but even without the grenading engines of the non turbo models you still could have some huge bills for other stuff. Now they are are £40k plus you have lost £20k to pay for these huge bills.
It's just a waste of money now. Both ways
Yeah I would much rather a 10 year old R35 GTR over a 996T. They are going for crack money these days....
There’s a fix for the IMS that lots of people opt for, and it’s a great deal. A Porsche 911, almost indefinitely undervalued, for what is a rather insignificant problem.
Gavin R for a reason...
Maybe off topic, but the bulge on the rear left tyre wall is making me nervous!! 1:34 Thanks for the review!
Excellemt insights...thank you
Gosh you have been busy !
Yep
So Jay, you mentioned the 987 Cayman. I had an ‘05 987 Boxster S in Speed Yellow. I regret selling it, and am curious about the 996 Turbo. Would you recommend this as a logical step up? I do realize I’m going backwards in interior finishes and exterior styling (in some people’s eyes). Thanks.
No, I'd go for either a 997 or a 981 personally.
thanks Jay, Great review.
After owning a 996TT for 2.5 yrs, done 60K km, you must have driven a dud 996TT because there is very little to no turbo lag with the parallel turbos always working. "once it comes on boost"... again, no idea - the 996TT is always on boost if you put your right foot to the floor at any rpm over about 2000rpm (you can change the display in front of you to always show the boost), hence the "mid-range shove to spare" observation you made. "even in 6th gear at 2000rpm, the car has plenty of pull in it"... yes, because of the turbo's are on boost. Try the 6th gear test again with your C4S next to a Turbo, and ask yourself why the Turbo is faster (hint, the turbos are working).
This car has plenty of turbo lag, it isn't always there above 2k rpm, nor would I expect it to be. It responds better off boost than many other cars I have driven but it isn't a perfect turbo engine.
I'll be driving another 911 turbo soon with luck so we will see how that compares
@@JayEmmOnCars Respectfully, you don't understand how the 996TT engine boost works... you only get full boost when you are at full throttle... and if you are, the engine should be producing full boost (0.7-0.9) all the rpm from above approx 2500. If the engine is not producing full boost from this rpm, or the boost at full throttle varies, then either you are lifting slightly or you have a boost leak. These cars have near zero lag and the acceleration should be near linear through the rpm. For example, my 996TT could do 40km/h to 120km/h in 2nd gear in approx 4 seconds (2000rpm to redline) with no lag. So if you claim that the car performs better "off-boost", then you can only be talking about driving at the rpm from 1000-2500 or at less than full throttle. But to be honest, I think you are confusing turbo lag with lack of cubic capacity, and judging it against far newer, larger, and more advanced engines with far more HP.
@@AndrewClelland it just has lag, no shame in it - nothing like the Alpine which I drove before it (which was comical) but it is still there.
Like I said I'll be doing another 911 turbo soon and keep an eye out for that as I'll be paying extra attention to the cars behaviour
Andrew Clelland Is it normal to feel less g-force when doing some hard acceleration..? I’ve test driven one that’s on sale & was a bit disappointed with the performance because a turbocharged engine should be able to opt out some g-force sensation.. Not a huge power difference compared to the naturally aspirated 996 Carrera.. Probably 20% to 30% more power on the 996 Turbo.. Is that even a normal thing to be honest..?
@@Rendezvous512 like I mentioned above, a simple test is to compare what I could achieve - 2nd gear 2000rpm and floor it to redline. No NA 911 will come close, and there you should definitely feel the g-force punch. Some say the turbo does feel similar to the NA engines below 2000rpm, but with almost 200Nm more torque (peak torque is available from 2700 to 4700rpm) compared to the NA versions that only peak at approx 4600rpm, there is a difference. If you want another point of how different the NA and TT cars should drive, the turbo produces the same peak torque of the NA (approx 370Nm) at only 1500rpm. Sure, you won't get g-force punch at that rpm, but what car will? The power delivery though is sublime.
Need for speed hot pursuit 2 memories 😭😭
Yes.
4:33 for sound
That right rear tyre seams a bit dangerous 😮
There are supercars and there is the Porsche 911. To me they are their own breed. If I had budget for a sportscar the 911 would be on top of my list. Supercars only break down and are fragile. Not a fan of these headlights though. Performance wise I wouldn't mind if it was not the fastest car around.
I don't understand the high-driving-position comment, I sit quite low in my '99 C2. Did you adjust the seat height? How tall are you?
It's the steering wheel which is the issue, too big and no rake adjustment
Excellent review.
Thankyou
Would you possibly be interested in reviewing a 996 gt3 rs given your fondness for the 996 and on the back of this review?
Absolutely
@@JayEmmOnCars best way to contact you directly?
@@mrscrewloose7939 talk@jayemm.com
Great video!
how long ago was a turbo available for 17K GBP? in the states the cheapest you can find is maybe 38-39K with high miles
I've see low mileage ones in the 70's
Comparing a 996 turbo to a 996 C4S, is just, as you would say, "poppycock".
I think you're a little biased towards your c4s
4s has so much more character than just a faster engine
Great review
Absolutely worth it.
The real issue for most is finding a place to let it run. Its up to illegal speeds really quick.
Track it
With 30mph limits all over the UK that's a problem for any car!