During the opening I was just waiting for Jermey Clarkson's voice, " Now... this may look like a Volkswagen but Porsche ensures me that this is in fact the Porsche 996"
"A Volkswagen Beetle..." I had the exact same impression that I'm watching the intro for a Top Gear piece. Kudos to savagegeese for the quality of the content they produce! The best car reviews on TH-cam (together with ISSIMI and Throttle House)
@@TheKaisarwilhelm Yeah, right... Not dissing Savagegeese at all, he does great work, but this doesn't compare to what a thirty plus person professional film crew and insane budget, like what Top Gear has, can do. It's not even a fair comparison. It's like comparing a movie you shot in your backyard to the newest Avengers movie. Yeah, your film has character, but does it compare with the quality that professional equipment provides? Does it have exotic/interesting locations, perfect use of multiple angles and viewpoints, professional writing, professional editing, etc, that they have? Most would say no, not even close and the same is true of this. As I said earlier, it's really not a fair comparison.
I am just so happy and thankful you didn't whine about the headlights. I actually feel like I know more about this car now, which is not something I gained from most 996 videos. Great review.
They have seriously grown on me in the last 5 years. Maybe it’s the nostalgia of seeing them in the magazines at the time, but they definitely don’t look as bad as I remember. Ditto with the early boxster models before the refresh.
@@savagegeese I just wish you'd found an example without the aftermarket 997 looking tail lights or the aftermarket larger spoiler. My father has a Guards Red 2004 with the X50 power kit, all stock except wheels but they have Porsche Crest center caps.
@@Zestyclose-Big3127 In NFS:HP2 I preferred the looks and sound of the 360 Barc but I remember reluctantly trying out the 911 Turbo and it won more races for me.
My boss still drives once a week his Porsche Boxter from 1997. It's still *perfect* ....nothing...and I mean nothing has broken...from the AC or heating or mechanics and electronics. He services it about every 18 months.
@Savagegeese The part about the AWD system is incorrect. The AWD in the 996 Turbo is a very simple viscous coupling center diff. It is a completely mechanical process in how power is shifted to the front wheels. It takes no input from a computer or sensors. The front tires are actually slightly taller which heats up the viscous coupling fluid always slightly locking up the front and rear. Increase speed or increase rear slip at slower speeds, the viscous fluid heats up more, and locks up the center diff more.
Yep, this one I remember, saved the brand and made it accessible, exactly what you guys said. Good drive down memory lane here. Worth the risk. Thanks Savages.
@@DodgerBlueRobert _Ding, Ding, Ding! That's correct, Dodger!_ The full answer would be the Cayenne _and_ the Boxster, but the Cayenne might have done the job by itself, so our judges say 'Cayenne' is good enough. Well done, you still have the board...
Nice video I have owned 993’s, Ferrari 355, 6 series BMW, 535 BMW, Lotus and many others. 996 Turbo is my favourite - sports exhaust, air filter, up rated turbos and 580hp. Love it
I think it is just those first generation (pre facelift) 996s that people go after, however i don’t see how anyone could dislike either design. The rear 3/4 of this cAr is one of the sickest Porsches to date
In a way, lots of "enthusiasts" get it extremely wrong by saying the 993 is the last OG 911. The 996 is actually the last old school Porsche. Its the last car they designed from the ground up by the old 911 formula to be a sports car and not just as a sporty luxury GT Coupé. It matches lots of very tricked-out design and high-tech features with the simplicity and functionality of an older car. Its high-tech even by today's standards but without the stupid trend of modern sports cars of being overly digital and overall way too casual.
I own two Porsches. My Twin turbo is a daily driver. I don't care about the interior, I don't live in it, I drive the car. I did upgrades like a tune, bigger turbos, and coilovers the car keeps up and is faster than many modern cars. I have no trouble keeping up with Ferrari 458s. My cooling lines are all done and the engine is bumped up to a 3.8. Great car! My other Porsche is 3.6 race motor 1982 SC. It's a hot rod, and very fast, I drive it mostly on twisty mountain roads, and it's great fun. The cars are totally different. The aircooled car is so mechanical in every respect and has been highly modified. It handles great, lots of torque and revs to 7000 rpm the sound is amazing. Fun cars I drive them often with a group of friends that have fast cars.
The production quality of these videos is incredible. I feel like this is an automotive channel for adults. No bullshit clickbait, no screaming, no "I bought the cheapest car in the US garbage". I can't express how much I appreciate the work you do. I always feel like I'm in Gran Turismo menu when I watch your videos. Feels so relaxed and comfortable. It's amazing. Thank you,
If I may offer a biased opinion, I believe a 997.2 Carrera S (2009-2012) is probably the sweet spot in price, performance and reliability of all the modern 911s. It has a much higher quality interior in feel, looks and materials (and seats), is tighter and handles better than the more GT setup of the Turbo, and offers that analog experience this channel yearns for. With a simple Sharkwerks exhaust mod, it sounds better than a 996 Turbo, has close to 400 horses and while not as fast as the 996 Turbo it is has a more enjoyable NA high-revving character. I think a 997.2 S addresses all the negatives raised in this video for a similar price point. Higher miles ones (~80k) can be had for mid 40's - just make sure its manual! No catastrophic IMS or bore scoring issues and a more responsive and powerful DFI engine vs the 997.1 generation. I have one as a weekend toy and I feel its pretty much full depreciated and relatively financially safe.
@@jackholmes8105 This is why I consider you guys content creators and not just another car review channel. I truly appreciate the attention to detail in the cinematics, but also in the technical review!
I’m a bit of a gearhead and the 996 911 is one of my long time favourites. This is the first video of yours I’ve seen, and I was blown away by the quality and depth of knowledge shared. So... yeah, subscribed and looking forward to watching your content!
996tt was one of my dream cars at college age. I’ve now owned a 996t X50 as a weekend car for the last 6 years and it’s been an absolute dream. I’ve spent a decent amount of coin on a trans rebuild, coolant pinning and other maintenance.
The comment about being too scared it will explode on a car like this is completely unwarranted. The 996/997 Turbo is one of the most bullet proof cars ever built by Porsche. I own a 997 Turbo (essentially the same car) and in 8 years I’ve only had to service it. Nothing has gone wrong.
I have said it before and ill say it again. Savage has THE BEST production and editing quality of any TH-camr out there. Whenever i see your videos on my notifications i actually get excited. I hope you do this forever or as long as you enjoy it which the work you put into these works of art you seem to not just enjoy but is your passion. Keep up the great work!!
I had one for 3 years. Very very fast Only problem I had was a power steering pump that failed, other than that bullet proof. The more you push them hard the better they get. You can drive very fast down tight twisting roads and they dig in and pull through, I found the chassis very communicative. On high speed runs, over 230 klms/hour they feel planted due to the aerodynamics. Negative points Too subdued (it’s made also as a GT) I drove my friends 40th anniversary and preferred it, felt lighter and sharper with more revs. That said the Turbo left it for dead on any road..... Great great car that I miss.
Please keep calling it fried egg. It keeps the lower end 996 owners who are bastardizing these cars with stanceboi flare and Rock Auto, Uro, etc parts away from the turbos.
These are not considered fried egg cars. The 97-01 non-turbo 911s had the fried egg headlights. These are the updated turbo headlights for 2001+ and 2002 for non turbos.
Had a 2002 . 1. Had in it tune (very mild, an extra 50hp, not 200 or more like many do), exhaust, coilovers, sways, flywheel, clutch, gt2 aero, gt3rs cup rear wing, gt3 seats, harnesses, fire extinguisher. So mostly cosmetics and track safety stuff. 2. Loved it. Did HPDE. Learned about corner balance, alignment, sway bars, and double clutching/left foot breaking. 3. Sold it due to costs....and an inablility to really exploit it past 20% throttle. That is a key thing to note on a lot of cars perhaps.....key.------ 1. Brake costs..... (stock issue, just the P car tax) 2. Tire costs.... (stock, N spec tires are just taxed....) 3. The coolant leak fix - pinning and pipe kit, from Sharkwerks, with labor...about 5k total. (these cars and other gt1 based engine cars including the GT3's of the era had epoxied coolant lines that would leak, dumping coolant on the track to the delight...of the others on the track.....causign crashes in some cases)- you had to fix it to be safe for others if you ere ethical (and wanted to be allowed on the track again). Not sure if ever a fix required by NHTSA. (stock issue, not due to mods) 4. Before I could do that, had a boost leak. ....got quoted 18 hours to find and fix it. (not a mod issue, happened to stock cars) 5. Along the way got stranded at a track due to a slave cylinder/pentosin issue....well known issue. (not a mod issue, stock issue, fix is to put in a gt2 type of unit where this was not in place...make the clutch push harder but increases feel a lot....many hours to do this fix...affects most of these cars.....most just put a new one in because they don't get old about the gt2 mod......) 6. Oh, second gear died/broke and the rebuild took about 9k....apparently not uncommon. (to stock cars too...fork design issue, was told they "file" a little bit of material in the ford to prevent lack of tooth/cog overlap as supplied stock....) Anyway, about 2x a year one gets a 1500+ bill.....putting 10k/year or fewer miles on it. At some point, one needs to walk away if not super wealthy. This was over 8 years as owner 2. Moved to an 19 Subaru STI....same or better mechanical feel, and service is under 100 dollars q 6m at this point. Tires and brakes are cheaper. Leaving it stock....got a 7y warranty to 100k. Probably saving 10k/year. What you said is true in the RA review...and I actually enjoy this car "JUST AS MUCH" as the 996TT for a lot less - less attention too...which is nice. Note, am leaving the STI at stock power and only doing cosemetic stuff. These are great cars. And I miss it on one level but don't on another. And on the street....it was hard to use that car - it was too powerful. People need to look at realistic power. So many cars now are 400 or more HP and that is just NOT OK on the street. You find yourself bored actually or doing stuff that is not safe to others. 300 hp, what a mechanic once told me as the max for the street, really is the max for the street. In that context, the STI is just about perfect for the "real world we live in"...... And with less power comes more reliability and more safety... The country drive at 70 is the same 70....that part is hard to change. When you go on TH-cam and look at the car videos by petrolicious for example, the best videos/storeis are people in old, analog cars that are about 200 hp. Old 2002 orange BMWs made in the front lawn/garage by a kid.... Etc. Even Ferrari's, JDM rarities, and older Porsches. They are having fun. Loving the cars' organic side.....this is a thing we are losing...as you noted about the late 90's. The STI is perhaps the last "new" car in this mold. I recommend you do a series on this aspect of cars - usability and meshing with the human's needs and senses. Would be very popular...... One has to grow up into this less is more aspect...it is not for lack of being able to afford a new 500hp x....it is having had one and being frustrated by it. When do you use these cars off the track legally and have fun (the big power cars of late)? Your reviewers are great (but please don't have both of you in one car..social distancing...) - and am doing things to make my STI more classy but still under warranty and analog.....and am loving it. I worry about the future a bit in this domain. Will we lose "the car"...? Have we already done so. Will the car magazines finally understand that this is a crisis - and perhaps laud the STI and other human scale vehicles before it is too late. It is not about 0 to 60 for most of us. Before they themselves, the magazines and press, are just another version of PC magazine and CPU benchmark listing sites..... I voted with my wallet and got the STI. Another sort of fun car of this ilk is the just retired fiat 500 abarth. Stock....fun at 170 or so hp...nice sound. On a backroad it is hard to say the Abarth is less fun than a ferrari.....really. That is where we need to take things IMHO. Another 500hp super car is not really right...an EV with 1000hp equivalent that weights 2.5 tons is not what we really need either.....we need the miata....the sti....the abarth...and perhaps some new exiges... Less power and more fun. And ideally some really big returns to beauty. So great review, and thank you - just remember that these cars have a huge hidden repair bill everywhere.
LOL modifies product engineered by Porsche to an inch of its life, complains when it breaks. You can't make this up. Then extoles the awesomeness of a Subaru. Yes, Subaru, the winner of countless LeMans......oh wait.
@@Gorilla_Jones Um, I edited this to comment back. The car was modified to make it more reliable 90%....so your issue and comments are really off the mark fwiw. Have a nice day. Wins at Lemans don't mean you need to drive 140mph on your home streets.....right? And your need to say a negative about either me or the Subaru, sort of pathetic. Hey, did you own or do you own one or are you just talking.....
You have some valid arguments in terms of where the car market moves in general and that less is often more. I might - from the perspective of a german - add, that one might look at Porsche Turbo as a car for the Autobahn where u can appreciate a car which inspires confidence at 180 mph without breaking the law. Also: You seem to be the kind of person that would like the Alpine A110 or the Porsche Cayman GTS 4.0...
@@sidonronaldinho8713 I am. 100k USD versus 35k.....and with the new economic crater we just entered the lower operating costs will be a good thing....but sure, a gt4 cayman would be great. But, the STI is actually really quite amazing for what it is.....and no one looks at you as a rich guy with jealousy. In this country the 996TT got too much attention..... Photos at gas stations .... But you are right, a car is really meant for a place and my roads and that car were not a great match. Superb point.
rusty nunya I totally agree. The other reviewers give you too much subjective opinion, but Mark and the crew keep it technical and brutally honest, even for cars they like.
Cool video. In 2013 i was shopping used Turbo Porsches. I had a 996 C4S and wanted to upgrade to the 996 Turbo which was about $40k at the time. I test drove a 993 Turbo for $60k (they were dirt cheap back then) back to back with the 996 Turbo. I chose the 993 Turbo because it was smaller, lighter, faster, more nimble, and easier to work on. It worked out, in 6 years my 993 Turbo more than doubled in value and I traded it for a used 570s. The 996 Turbo is still $40-50k. The 996 Turbo is very reliable especially if you keep it stock. It understeers in the tight turns but a good set up sway bars will fix that. Corner weight and negative camber make a big difference in the handling
Another great review guys! Love how you put the car in a historical context and the relevance in today's modern technology! The underbody (carriage) talk is better than most car reviewers whole segments! Thanks again!
Great review and a great car. Had been a bucket list car for me and finally picked one up after selling my 40th Anniversary 996. I absolutely loved it for the looks and power. That said, you can only enjoy it if you can afford to drive like a felon constantly. I would double the speed limit on Randall Rd, without even thinking about it just about every time traffic allowed. At low speeds it’s just not engaging. On the other end when pushed really hard the electronics would kick back in and now you are in opposite lock (or trying to be) at a very high rate of speed and arguing with your car. Less than ideal and quite alarming. Finally, you touched on the other issue and that was the sound. I eventually sold it and planned on getting a 997 C2s, but after some test drives went with another 40th AE 996 and could not be happier. The 996 seats are garbage so I did install 997 GT3RS seats, along with some 996 GT3 suspension bits and Bilstein PSS10’s. The only other 911 variants I would want more than mine would be a 996 /997 GT3 and of course a Singer.
I'll never understand the sound stuff--more turbo thrust more gooder. You can have plenty of fun in this car at low speeds if you throw the wheel and engage maximum boost for sideways fun times. POLICE THAT MOOSTACHE
He actually answered it in a previous Q&A; Scott doesn't have much time on one hand and doesn't really want to go in the direction this channel goes, so they pretty much split. A shame really; while I agree that Tod adds more useful insights, Scott definitely had its own flair.
I have a 03 911 Turbo with 1/2 the mileage as your test car. Mine is silent as far as creaks/rattles in the interior. I agree the seats suck, mine has the optional sports seats and I think they're just as bad. I've upgraded to the Euro GT3 fixed buckets and they're great. The coolant line issue is overblown, much like the IMS is for the standard cars. I've had friends put over 100k miles on these with no issues at all other than typical maintenance. I'd drive mine across the country in a heartbeat
Wow this brings back memories... 996 Turbo was my first introduction into Porsche ownership. I had Porsche do an in-house upgrade on the exhaust and also installed the 996 GT2 intercoolers, also had the software tuned. It was an absolute beast of a car. The only issue I had in all the years I owned it (road/ track/ quarter mile driving) was a small linkage on the gear lever mechanism which broke, cost like $80 to replace. It was absolutely bullet proof. Only reason I upgraded was for the PDK gearbox on later models, otherwise I would probably still be driving it. Great buy even today as a first "super car"
What a fantastic review and channel. I love both of your approach to reviewing cars, you guys are two enthusiasts who respect each other’s point of view and communicate your thoughts to us the viewers amazingly. Thank you for that.
I’m a fmr 997.2 owner and now a 991 GT3 owner. Drove a buds 2002 turbo a few weeks ago. Review is spot on. Porsches take time to experience and understand. M96 motors are to be avoided. A 997.2 S is the perfect compromise between nostalgia and reliability with an awesome driving experience. Hence the reason you can’t find them for sale.
One of these, a 996 Turbo in Basaltschwarz with a Luxor Beige interior and the X51 package, is what made me fall in love with 911s and sports cars in general.
I have owned 2 of these cars. They are excellent, just make sure you get a manual. Save some money to hussy up the interior. It's a great track weapon or daily driver.
Professional footage with artistry is ace. Technical commentary and knowhow is second to none. End result is sublime. Nothing else comes close when one wants to learn about cars on TH-cam.
I've just bought a cheap 4k TV 2 days ago. I wasn't totally impressed by it after seeing a few 4k videos and that was expected. This review however, made that TV look amazing to me and my family! Your content and 4k are a match made in heaven.
Thanks! I have the same car with the X50 package. Did a few things to tweak: 1. CEA ULTRA Shifter 2. RSS adjustable suspension to GT2 spec all around. 3. Ceika springs and shocks lowered 2" 4. 19" rims 5. Front (hard) and back (medium) stabilizer bars 6. KW hydrolic lift system 7. Pushed out Front wheels for a wider track 8. Rennsport pedals 9. Recaro SPGs 10. Half cage 11. Tune 12. Xpipe 13. SACHS II clutch Basically, dealt with all the issues.
Wow, guys. Beautiful car (it looks fucking fantastic in yellow!) and great cinematography! I own a 997 (first gen 3.6-- very basic car-- technologically basically a 996 with different bodywork). I feel like it's a perfect daily, do-everything car if you can afford the maintenance. Engine (totally different kettle of fish compared to the Mezger, I know) has been completely problem-free: it's mostly been a parade of little "this car is fifteen years old and has over a hundred thousand miles now" issues that have comprised most of the mx costs. Apart from one bit of very bad luck with a clutch grenading (slave cylinder actuator rod sheared off and dropped into the clutch, destroying the disc and marring the flywheel... oof), it's just been a matter of feeding the car a stead diet of expendable water pumps (they're a calendar item, if you want to avoid them shedding blades which then migrate to interesting places), fixing malfunctioning power windows, etc. At some point I'll probably need to replace all the rubber seals / trim bits. If you can live with the fact that you'll regularly be spending some money on really un-sexy, preventative maintenance, 996s and 997s are very lovable cars. They're quick enough that they don't feel slow, but slow enough that you can still lean on them a bit on public roads (as opposed to the newer cars where you either sit there bored out of your mind or drive fast enough that you'll go straight to jail if anyone witnesses what you're doing). They're soft and comfortable enough to drive to work everyday without hating yourself, but they don't really give up much ground in terms of handling to accomplish this. In fact, with the condition of most back-roads here in Southern Cal, the slightly softer suspensions really shine: they keep the tyres in contact with the ground where "sportier feeling" cars start to skitter across our shitty, uneven road surfaces. There's also the issue of general size and outward visibility. While the 911 in particular has done an above-average job retaining visibility despite modern safety regs, driving these older 911's reminds you how gigantic and unwieldy new cars feel when you're exercising them on narrow back-roads or in traffic. 996's and 997's feel positively tiny compared to the newer 911s: you actually have room to feel like you're driving a line through corners while staying in your lane. I also feel like I have much better situational awareness for normal, boring driving in traffic due to the acres of glass everywhere and excellent overall visibility. If people really aren't feeling the 90's plastic, weird-swoopy-shapes interior of the 996, the 997 takes those aesthetic concerns and obliterates them with a beautiful, simple, functional space. It still creaks a bit, but I think it's the 997 is the best interior they've ever put in a 911, and I find it hard to imagine a better one in any car, really: like the 996, it's got all the information you need, simply presented on un-complicated, minimally-styled, conventional gauges. The rest of the cabin just extends that philosophy everywhere: not over-styled or unnecessarily complicated, nice materials, no bullshit. It's perfect. I don't know-- maybe I'm biased: I remember loving the 997 when I first saw them as a kid / teenager. I wasn't particularly into cars at all, but I loved the looks and sound of the 997. Later on I ended up taking some driving courses (a basic safety course at first, but I enjoyed it a lot and wound up going back for more performance-oriented clinics) and found myself driving a 997 on a little autocross course. I just took to the car and adored it immediately: it took a few minutes to feel out the right amount of trail-breaking required to make the thing rotate through corners, but once you did, it was just sublime. I probably only spent fifteen or twenty minutes in that car, but I don't think I'd ever had such a rewarding, enjoyable drive. I knew I'd have to have one at some point. I've had my '06 Carrera for three years or so now, and I just love it. The other day, I went to roll the passenger window down and was assaulted by the horrific sounds of plastic gear teeth being sheared off as the window stuck half-way open. My heart sank as I realized I was probably about to spend another $700 replacing another invisible, expendable piece of plastic. But it's not the end of the world: I'll get it fixed, I'll hate myself for a few minutes, and then I'll go back to enjoying what is, at the end of the day, a near-perfect automobile.
One of my dream cars! Only concern is maintenance. Even when you can get it between $40k-$60k and are reliable, still a $180k MSRP car when you have to do maintenance on it.
I remember when these cars were cheap as a Camry. It’s understandable there’s less and less good examples and the generation that grew up adoring this model are now making more and more money.
What a great video. I know that most of the world has gone SUV crazy and most of the new vehicles introduced these days are SUVs, but it's cars and videos like this that speak to me. Here's hoping that cars like these stick around for years to come and keep the passion alive.
Beautiful production! My 996TT is my 4th 911, from 991.1GTS manual to 991.1TTS to 997.2TT manual to 996TT manual, in that order. Yes, wacky I know but the 996 is my favorite by far, it’s not even close. Both in looks and driving experience. I also never thought this was soft or less rigid feeling than the newer models and I’ve had them all on the track. 996TT stock suspension is soft but that’s easily rectified.
The external cooling lines they added to the engine tend to come apart after 20 years so all 996 Porsche 911's are springing major mater leaks right about... now.
@@papa_pt he's talking about the 996 Turbo coolant pipes coming out due to failure over time of the epoxy used to glue the sleeves of the pipes into the housings. It a known issue which has several potential fix. Hardly a catastrophic weakness or design flaw. The M96 996 engine though is another story and have given Porsche a black eye over their introduction to watercooling the street 911s.
I had a white 96 Carrera 4S turbo 993 .,In my opinion the most beautiful body style Porsche ever produced .So easy to sell too for more than I paid for it.
Love the photography of this video, the music at the beginning and, of course, I love the car. I bought my 996TT 2002 in 2008 and enjoy every moment with it! I do my own maintenance and did the welding of these infamous 8 pipes on the engine. Being a 20 years old car, it is very easy to found , on different forums (6speed. Renntech, rennlist) and youtube, help to fix everything on this car. The parts are also really easy to found and not too expensive. The repair manuals, parts cat can also be found on the net... I think I will keep it for a long time ;-)
996 is still a great car , haters are going to hate , true car enthusiasts appreciate it . Remember it’s the last of the smallish true sports car. Love it or hate it , it’s an iconic part of Porsche’s history
Honestly, people need to stay away from European performance cars unless they;re extremely rich. Just get a C5 or C6 Corvette. They're reliable, and easy and inexpensive to maintain. They're also just as fast and handle just as well.
Simon Coles most 20 year old performance car purchase are purely emotional. cars like the corvette just lack any emotional connection for a lot of people. Now a viper, I could get behind that,
Added one to my collection for 41k. The brighter colored 6speed cars always sell higher. Great cars. I dont buy cars to be the fastest, I buy them for how they individually feel.
I love your videos Mr. Goose. 20 minutes of bs free knowledge and TRUE car review, top-line cinematography, the transitions in the video, everything is top-tier and so well put together. Hats off to you for the quality of your videos and the care you put into them.
Descent review. I have a 996 Turbo S. If you get an all black interior it is very nice. Also, the Turbo S has bigger turbos and standard Carbon brakes. Light tune with no mods will make the same power as a 991 Turbo. And mine stick also. Cheers. Also, interestingly. 996 Turbo S has almost the exact specs as a 959. 959 also had water cooled heads.
One of my first new cars was a 1980 911SC. Drove it 37K miles in the first year. Rebuilt the trans on warranty. It was plagued with fuel pressure valve failure 3 times. Sold it. Lost almost $20K. Five years ago, I bought a 2003 996 Carrera2. Beautiful, not driven in rain, 37,000 miles. Had a knock I kept telling the dealer. Finally a Porsche rep put a scope into the cylinders. Yep, the 2 right rear were out of round. Ran perfectly though. The IMS bearings were fine and original. A new engine, (with the same weaknesses) would have been $35K. I paid $28,800 for the car. The common solution is bore out the block and insert Nico-sil cylinders. I replaced the pistons,rings,cylinders and a 3-row ceramic IMS bearing. Took 10 months at the dealer--$17,000 repair. These are not "bullet proof." Most people don't really drive them. It was my 3rd car--for driving fun, never tracked. If you drive them, repairs will be more than the cost of the cars. I put 45K miles on the 996, always ran great, but it started using a liter of oil in 600 miles. I bailed. Traded it for an Msport 428, 6sp manual. Beautiful driver's car--with no repairs and incredible economy. They allowed me $18K for the 996; 911s are a beautiful car for wealthy people, very poor value for the rest of us :(
I am a very, very proud owner of a 2001 Porsche 911 Turbo...and I can't be more in love with this car. Yes, its dated on the interior...but in many ways, its appropriate and a complete contradiction to the absolute beast of mechanical engineering this car represents. It just keeps pulling. There is no stop with this car. I agree with almost every comment in this video. I have the same criticisms, but also the same admiration. This is my second car (my daily being a 2020 Panamera 4 and I also have a 944 Turbo - another story). I love that the 996TT is not refined as the Pana and 997+ 911s...and it is a joy to drive! I paid $44K for the 996TT and probably put another $10K into some mods/upgrades/fixes. I have no regrets at all...just can't wait to get out and drive it again and again and again!
A nice constructive piece of advice: I wished the power numbers and original price were stated. I don't think someone should have to google those figures after watching a car review (same in some previous vehicles). Just something to keep in mind for your future reviews.
I’ve driven many cool cars as I’ve worked with them for many years, all brands. And I must say, the way these 996 911 turbos pulls you back in the seat and it just continues until, like they say in the vid, ludicrous speeds. It impressed me more than 458 italia, Stock Nissan GT-R (09), M3s etc. It’s awesome! I bet the newer 911 turbos are just mental 😄
This is a man's 911Turbo. Not too many nannies, and a TwinTurbo Mezger with MANUAL transmission. The engine itself it's worth the price of admission. You can get to insane power level for the street on stock internals because it is a GT1 motor detuned for the street. And the car can endure anything, any weather, any season. I know because I drove one for 10 years from -25 C to +42 C, rain or shine, deep snow or ice, daily commuting, grocery getter, long trip GT car, track monster.. you name it. For over 200,000 Km. Add a decent tune like the Upsolute, a nice set of OZ superlight wheels with Sport4S on them and a set of PSS10s and you will leave in the dust 95% of the current sport and supercars. If you can handle the beast, boys need no apply. The best bargain all weather daily supercar, bar none. Long live the Manuals ! Oh, and the value on these 996 Turbos keeps going up, btw.
I own one. They really aren't that expensive to own and maintain if you don't have to pay someone else to work on it. They are actually pretty easy to work on as well, despite the cramped engine compartment. But, they need constant minor attention (boost leak tests, inspecting check valves, other issues you get with a 20 year old car) so you need to be comfortable working on it yourself in order for it to be relatively affordable to own.
For 45k is it worth it?
I don’t think it’s arguable that it’s not, for 45k.
Absolutely! Great video, perfect way to start the day.
Honestly the 996 911 is a bargain for what it is 300/320hp 2900lbs and great quality for such an old car idk about the turbo though.
Spend a bit more for a 997. I dont like any of the aftermarket items on this car. The turbo thrust oe wheels are great.
would rather have a straight piped honda insight
During the opening I was just waiting for Jermey Clarkson's voice, " Now... this may look like a Volkswagen but Porsche ensures me that this is in fact the Porsche 996"
Except that his videography is superior to Top Gear in 2002...or today.
"A Volkswagen Beetle..."
I had the exact same impression that I'm watching the intro for a Top Gear piece. Kudos to savagegeese for the quality of the content they produce!
The best car reviews on TH-cam (together with ISSIMI and Throttle House)
Funny, I heard Clarkson's voice.
@@TheKaisarwilhelm Yeah, right... Not dissing Savagegeese at all, he does great work, but this doesn't compare to what a thirty plus person professional film crew and insane budget, like what Top Gear has, can do. It's not even a fair comparison. It's like comparing a movie you shot in your backyard to the newest Avengers movie. Yeah, your film has character, but does it compare with the quality that professional equipment provides? Does it have exotic/interesting locations, perfect use of multiple angles and viewpoints, professional writing, professional editing, etc, that they have? Most would say no, not even close and the same is true of this. As I said earlier, it's really not a fair comparison.
I read that in his voice too lol
“Better experience in the executive lounge at Spirit Airlines” - priceless! 🤣🤣🤣
It's got the 'comfort' seats, needs the hardback sports ones that are a bit better or the GT2/3 ones ideally.
I've sat on one of these and I was also shocked. It wasn't too much better than a C5 Z06. :(
Love spirit
That's not a high bar tbh
I am just so happy and thankful you didn't whine about the headlights. I actually feel like I know more about this car now, which is not something I gained from most 996 videos. Great review.
The headlight in the intro was a troll job
What's wrong with the headlights?
@@apocalypse487 The fan boys hate the shape.
They have seriously grown on me in the last 5 years. Maybe it’s the nostalgia of seeing them in the magazines at the time, but they definitely don’t look as bad as I remember. Ditto with the early boxster models before the refresh.
@@savagegeese I just wish you'd found an example without the aftermarket 997 looking tail lights or the aftermarket larger spoiler. My father has a Guards Red 2004 with the X50 power kit, all stock except wheels but they have Porsche Crest center caps.
Ah yes. The best handling car in the early Need for Speed games.
_Ferrari 360 enters the chat_ (if memory serves me, anyway)
In Need for Speed: Porsche, all 911's have a tendency to snap-oversteer when you let go off throttle at the limit. I love it.
@@Zestyclose-Big3127 In NFS:HP2 I preferred the looks and sound of the 360 Barc but I remember reluctantly trying out the 911 Turbo and it won more races for me.
I loved beating all the newer cars in a Countach 25th Anniversary in Most Wanted
Literally going to start a new career for the nth time just to race this car within the story.
45K turbo sports car, giant aftermarket brakes, $100 tires lol
GMAX RS are really good tires
What do you drive? You still live with your parents 😅
My boss still drives once a week his Porsche Boxter from 1997.
It's still *perfect* ....nothing...and I mean nothing has broken...from the AC or heating or mechanics and electronics.
He services it about every 18 months.
So he has driven it about 2-3 years worth in terms of KM. Something like 40tkm
Hardly drives it and keeps it Services. Why are you surprised?
These videos about older cars are my favourite you should do more!
That's not a in dash CD changer, that is a in dash CD holder.
So right. Would have been hilarious to put CD's in there and then try and figure out why you can't get to disc 2 through 5.
th-cam.com/video/ewzfspl_1y8/w-d-xo.html
Overengineered just like flip out Porsche cup holders
*In-dash CD lockbox
@@Mr1wd They should have talked to Saab about those flip-out cup holders... lol.
@@roycezaro1998 wouldn't want someone to steal your N'sync-No strings attached
My ultimate "I'm financially ok" supercar, someday 😊
To me, it was, "Live in a trailer park, but can barely afford it because I can do my own work" supercar... ;)
@@troyjollimore4100 lol! Same thats me too! I got my priorities right!
@Savagegeese The part about the AWD system is incorrect. The AWD in the 996 Turbo is a very simple viscous coupling center diff. It is a completely mechanical process in how power is shifted to the front wheels. It takes no input from a computer or sensors. The front tires are actually slightly taller which heats up the viscous coupling fluid always slightly locking up the front and rear. Increase speed or increase rear slip at slower speeds, the viscous fluid heats up more, and locks up the center diff more.
Yep, this one I remember, saved the brand and made it accessible, exactly what you guys said. Good drive down memory lane here. Worth the risk. Thanks Savages.
Ks Ss these were upward of $150k in ~y2k dollars. Accessible to dentists and exec smaybe.
@@gm3353 No, accessible as in not a lot of hassle to drive, enjoy and use
The cost was still mad of course
What really saved the brand at the time was the Cayenne. Less so the 996.
@@DodgerBlueRobert
_Ding, Ding, Ding! That's correct, Dodger!_ The full answer would be the Cayenne _and_ the Boxster, but the Cayenne might have done the job by itself, so our judges say 'Cayenne' is good enough. Well done, you still have the board...
Nice video
I have owned 993’s, Ferrari 355, 6 series BMW, 535 BMW, Lotus and many others.
996 Turbo is my favourite - sports exhaust, air filter, up rated turbos and 580hp.
Love it
I think these aged well. I lowkey prefer this, looks wise, compared to the newer ones.
I think it is just those first generation (pre facelift) 996s that people go after, however i don’t see how anyone could dislike either design. The rear 3/4 of this cAr is one of the sickest Porsches to date
傅诚信 lowkey but you tell the entire internet. 👍🏾 you speak ghetto
@@g496r500t unless he's spamming 992 turbo videos, I would say making a restrained comment on a video for the car he's referring to is fairly low key
The Turbo S in particular has aged beautifully imo.
@@g496r500t you understood his comment wrong. better luck next time.
I replayed that intro again and again.. Mr Geese your edit game has mad skills
The mad lad has done it again.
I believe his name is Mr. Goose.
Add Jeremy Clarkson voice.
Is it he who does the editing though?
@@gregorymarsh9504 He made a video talking about doing his edits in a computer recommendation video.
Wait...Spirit Airlines doesn't have an executive lounge...
I see what you did there.
a junk still a junk.... it a car that nobody since people just want 911 gt1 not this shit...
@@campkira Now do it again. Just in a better understandable type of english.
@Robert Blackford I think he was having a stroke.
@@EluciaDeLuteIma hahaha...choke...hahaha
In a way, lots of "enthusiasts" get it extremely wrong by saying the 993 is the last OG 911. The 996 is actually the last old school Porsche.
Its the last car they designed from the ground up by the old 911 formula to be a sports car and not just as a sporty luxury GT Coupé. It matches lots of very tricked-out design and high-tech features with the simplicity and functionality of an older car. Its high-tech even by today's standards but without the stupid trend of modern sports cars of being overly digital and overall way too casual.
I would say the 997 is the last generation of the OG 911s IMO
@@adamzeng6343 997.1 is basically a facelifted 996.2, with the addition of faulty camshafts.
I absolutely love this channel. So much great info. Very knowledgeable reviewers. Amazing camera work. Keep up the greatness guys! 👍🏽
Is that Amg Gt PFP your real car
I own two Porsches. My Twin turbo is a daily driver. I don't care about the interior, I don't live in it, I drive the car. I did upgrades like a tune, bigger turbos, and coilovers the car keeps up and is faster than many modern cars. I have no trouble keeping up with Ferrari 458s. My cooling lines are all done and the engine is bumped up to a 3.8. Great car! My other Porsche is 3.6 race motor 1982 SC. It's a hot rod, and very fast, I drive it mostly on twisty mountain roads, and it's great fun. The cars are totally different. The aircooled car is so mechanical in every respect and has been highly modified. It handles great, lots of torque and revs to 7000 rpm the sound is amazing. Fun cars I drive them often with a group of friends that have fast cars.
The production quality of these videos is incredible. I feel like this is an automotive channel for adults. No bullshit clickbait, no screaming, no "I bought the cheapest car in the US garbage". I can't express how much I appreciate the work you do. I always feel like I'm in Gran Turismo menu when I watch your videos. Feels so relaxed and comfortable. It's amazing. Thank you,
If I may offer a biased opinion, I believe a 997.2 Carrera S (2009-2012) is probably the sweet spot in price, performance and reliability of all the modern 911s. It has a much higher quality interior in feel, looks and materials (and seats), is tighter and handles better than the more GT setup of the Turbo, and offers that analog experience this channel yearns for. With a simple Sharkwerks exhaust mod, it sounds better than a 996 Turbo, has close to 400 horses and while not as fast as the 996 Turbo it is has a more enjoyable NA high-revving character. I think a 997.2 S addresses all the negatives raised in this video for a similar price point. Higher miles ones (~80k) can be had for mid 40's - just make sure its manual! No catastrophic IMS or bore scoring issues and a more responsive and powerful DFI engine vs the 997.1 generation. I have one as a weekend toy and I feel its pretty much full depreciated and relatively financially safe.
Yep that's what I drive for all those reasons
Holy Cr@p that intro dude! Thank you for putting in so much effort into these!
Jason D it was a total PIA to film but i think it turned out.
@@jackholmes8105 This is why I consider you guys content creators and not just another car review channel. I truly appreciate the attention to detail in the cinematics, but also in the technical review!
I’m a bit of a gearhead and the 996 911 is one of my long time favourites. This is the first video of yours I’ve seen, and I was blown away by the quality and depth of knowledge shared. So... yeah, subscribed and looking forward to watching your content!
996tt was one of my dream cars at college age. I’ve now owned a 996t X50 as a weekend car for the last 6 years and it’s been an absolute dream. I’ve spent a decent amount of coin on a trans rebuild, coolant pinning and other maintenance.
got mine with that done, thank goodness. So important to do but dang is that a pricey service!!
The comment about being too scared it will explode on a car like this is completely unwarranted. The 996/997 Turbo is one of the most bullet proof cars ever built by Porsche. I own a 997 Turbo (essentially the same car) and in 8 years I’ve only had to service it. Nothing has gone wrong.
The quality of the video on the car a the beginning is just incredible. It is art. Congratulations on the professionalisms of your work
I have said it before and ill say it again. Savage has THE BEST production and editing quality of any TH-camr out there. Whenever i see your videos on my notifications i actually get excited. I hope you do this forever or as long as you enjoy it which the work you put into these works of art you seem to not just enjoy but is your passion. Keep up the great work!!
996 and 997.1 turbos are still two of the best bang for your buck sports cars
The sexual tension between Savagegeese and Jack is... astounding.
Agreed. People jokingly pine for turbowski, but Jack has way more value add.
Really enjoy Jacks opinions and the ideas and banter they play off of each other.
Tensión? They stay fucking.
@@dabigchina turbowski and Jack would be magical.
It's FAAAAABULOUS!
Your production quality is second to none. Great Drone footage and photography. It’s obvious you take pride in your reviews.
This Channel and Everyday Driver are by FAR, the best car reviewers on youtube!
I had one for 3 years.
Very very fast
Only problem I had was a power steering pump that failed, other than that bullet proof.
The more you push them hard the better they get. You can drive very fast down tight twisting roads and they dig in and pull through, I found the chassis very communicative.
On high speed runs, over 230 klms/hour they feel planted due to the aerodynamics.
Negative points
Too subdued (it’s made also as a GT)
I drove my friends 40th anniversary and preferred it, felt lighter and sharper with more revs. That said the Turbo left it for dead on any road.....
Great great car that I miss.
Fried egg car is connected to the road, .makes a great 3rd car. Totally agree.
Please keep calling it fried egg. It keeps the lower end 996 owners who are bastardizing these cars with stanceboi flare and Rock Auto, Uro, etc parts away from the turbos.
These are not considered fried egg cars. The 97-01 non-turbo 911s had the fried egg headlights. These are the updated turbo headlights for 2001+ and 2002 for non turbos.
@@RDubbayah god dam I hate that car culture.... Just as bad as donk..........
Had a 2002 .
1. Had in it tune (very mild, an extra 50hp, not 200 or more like many do), exhaust, coilovers, sways, flywheel, clutch, gt2 aero, gt3rs cup rear wing, gt3 seats, harnesses, fire extinguisher. So mostly cosmetics and track safety stuff.
2. Loved it. Did HPDE. Learned about corner balance, alignment, sway bars, and double clutching/left foot breaking.
3. Sold it due to costs....and an inablility to really exploit it past 20% throttle. That is a key thing to note on a lot of cars perhaps.....key.------
1. Brake costs..... (stock issue, just the P car tax)
2. Tire costs.... (stock, N spec tires are just taxed....)
3. The coolant leak fix - pinning and pipe kit, from Sharkwerks, with labor...about 5k total. (these cars and other gt1 based engine cars including the GT3's of the era had epoxied coolant lines that would leak, dumping coolant on the track to the delight...of the others on the track.....causign crashes in some cases)- you had to fix it to be safe for others if you ere ethical (and wanted to be allowed on the track again). Not sure if ever a fix required by NHTSA. (stock issue, not due to mods)
4. Before I could do that, had a boost leak. ....got quoted 18 hours to find and fix it. (not a mod issue, happened to stock cars)
5. Along the way got stranded at a track due to a slave cylinder/pentosin issue....well known issue. (not a mod issue, stock issue, fix is to put in a gt2 type of unit where this was not in place...make the clutch push harder but increases feel a lot....many hours to do this fix...affects most of these cars.....most just put a new one in because they don't get old about the gt2 mod......)
6. Oh, second gear died/broke and the rebuild took about 9k....apparently not uncommon. (to stock cars too...fork design issue, was told they "file" a little bit of material in the ford to prevent lack of tooth/cog overlap as supplied stock....)
Anyway, about 2x a year one gets a 1500+ bill.....putting 10k/year or fewer miles on it. At some point, one needs to walk away if not super wealthy. This was over 8 years as owner 2.
Moved to an 19 Subaru STI....same or better mechanical feel, and service is under 100 dollars q 6m at this point. Tires and brakes are cheaper. Leaving it stock....got a 7y warranty to 100k. Probably saving 10k/year. What you said is true in the RA review...and I actually enjoy this car "JUST AS MUCH" as the 996TT for a lot less - less attention too...which is nice. Note, am leaving the STI at stock power and only doing cosemetic stuff.
These are great cars. And I miss it on one level but don't on another.
And on the street....it was hard to use that car - it was too powerful. People need to look at realistic power. So many cars now are 400 or more HP and that is just NOT OK on the street. You find yourself bored actually or doing stuff that is not safe to others. 300 hp, what a mechanic once told me as the max for the street, really is the max for the street. In that context, the STI is just about perfect for the "real world we live in"...... And with less power comes more reliability and more safety... The country drive at 70 is the same 70....that part is hard to change.
When you go on TH-cam and look at the car videos by petrolicious for example, the best videos/storeis are people in old, analog cars that are about 200 hp. Old 2002 orange BMWs made in the front lawn/garage by a kid.... Etc. Even Ferrari's, JDM rarities, and older Porsches. They are having fun. Loving the cars' organic side.....this is a thing we are losing...as you noted about the late 90's. The STI is perhaps the last "new" car in this mold. I recommend you do a series on this aspect of cars - usability and meshing with the human's needs and senses. Would be very popular...... One has to grow up into this less is more aspect...it is not for lack of being able to afford a new 500hp x....it is having had one and being frustrated by it. When do you use these cars off the track legally and have fun (the big power cars of late)?
Your reviewers are great (but please don't have both of you in one car..social distancing...) - and am doing things to make my STI more classy but still under warranty and analog.....and am loving it. I worry about the future a bit in this domain. Will we lose "the car"...? Have we already done so. Will the car magazines finally understand that this is a crisis - and perhaps laud the STI and other human scale vehicles before it is too late. It is not about 0 to 60 for most of us. Before they themselves, the magazines and press, are just another version of PC magazine and CPU benchmark listing sites..... I voted with my wallet and got the STI.
Another sort of fun car of this ilk is the just retired fiat 500 abarth. Stock....fun at 170 or so hp...nice sound. On a backroad it is hard to say the Abarth is less fun than a ferrari.....really. That is where we need to take things IMHO. Another 500hp super car is not really right...an EV with 1000hp equivalent that weights 2.5 tons is not what we really need either.....we need the miata....the sti....the abarth...and perhaps some new exiges... Less power and more fun. And ideally some really big returns to beauty.
So great review, and thank you - just remember that these cars have a huge hidden repair bill everywhere.
LOL modifies product engineered by Porsche to an inch of its life, complains when it breaks. You can't make this up. Then extoles the awesomeness of a Subaru. Yes, Subaru, the winner of countless LeMans......oh wait.
@@Gorilla_Jones Um, I edited this to comment back. The car was modified to make it more reliable 90%....so your issue and comments are really off the mark fwiw. Have a nice day. Wins at Lemans don't mean you need to drive 140mph on your home streets.....right? And your need to say a negative about either me or the Subaru, sort of pathetic.
Hey, did you own or do you own one or are you just talking.....
You have some valid arguments in terms of where the car market moves in general and that less is often more.
I might - from the perspective of a german - add, that one might look at Porsche Turbo as a car for the Autobahn where u can appreciate a car which inspires confidence at 180 mph without breaking the law.
Also: You seem to be the kind of person that would like the Alpine A110 or the Porsche Cayman GTS 4.0...
@@sidonronaldinho8713 I am. 100k USD versus 35k.....and with the new economic crater we just entered the lower operating costs will be a good thing....but sure, a gt4 cayman would be great. But, the STI is actually really quite amazing for what it is.....and no one looks at you as a rich guy with jealousy. In this country the 996TT got too much attention..... Photos at gas stations .... But you are right, a car is really meant for a place and my roads and that car were not a great match. Superb point.
Best car reviews on the net
rusty nunya is there another place you get car reviews? Maybe in person? 😂
Demuro......
David M Doug doesn’t go in depth as savagegeese
rusty nunya I totally agree. The other reviewers give you too much subjective opinion, but Mark and the crew keep it technical and brutally honest, even for cars they like.
Cool video. In 2013 i was shopping used Turbo Porsches. I had a 996 C4S and wanted to upgrade to the 996 Turbo which was about $40k at the time. I test drove a 993 Turbo for $60k (they were dirt cheap back then) back to back with the 996 Turbo. I chose the 993 Turbo because it was smaller, lighter, faster, more nimble, and easier to work on. It worked out, in 6 years my 993 Turbo more than doubled in value and I traded it for a used 570s. The 996 Turbo is still $40-50k. The 996 Turbo is very reliable especially if you keep it stock. It understeers in the tight turns but a good set up sway bars will fix that. Corner weight and negative camber make a big difference in the handling
love the car, love the review from this channel as always - and must say how I'm enjoying Jack developing as a car reviewer on this channel. kudos.
Another great review guys! Love how you put the car in a historical context and the relevance in today's modern technology! The underbody (carriage) talk is better than most car reviewers whole segments! Thanks again!
Great review and a great car. Had been a bucket list car for me and finally picked one up after selling my 40th Anniversary 996. I absolutely loved it for the looks and power. That said, you can only enjoy it if you can afford to drive like a felon constantly. I would double the speed limit on Randall Rd, without even thinking about it just about every time traffic allowed. At low speeds it’s just not engaging. On the other end when pushed really hard the electronics would kick back in and now you are in opposite lock (or trying to be) at a very high rate of speed and arguing with your car. Less than ideal and quite alarming. Finally, you touched on the other issue and that was the sound. I eventually sold it and planned on getting a 997 C2s, but after some test drives went with another 40th AE 996 and could not be happier. The 996 seats are garbage so I did install 997 GT3RS seats, along with some 996 GT3 suspension bits and Bilstein PSS10’s. The only other 911 variants I would want more than mine would be a 996 /997 GT3 and of course a Singer.
I got a 996 C4S for that reason - nicer engine sound and more involving drive whilst not having to go at ridiculous speeds.
I'll never understand the sound stuff--more turbo thrust more gooder. You can have plenty of fun in this car at low speeds if you throw the wheel and engage maximum boost for sideways fun times. POLICE THAT MOOSTACHE
I fixed that with a titanium exhaust. So much better after that- agreed that the OEM exhaust is terrible.
You do a 911 without Scott, the 911 guy...
Admit it, he's dead isn't he?
hes a gt3 guy only
He's too busy out doing blow and banging skanks (aks Supercar Blondie) to film with Scott anymore.
Savage and Turbowski had a falling out after Turbowski beat him in a go cart race and now Turbowski is in Savage's deep freezer in his cellar.
Scott is sponsored by Hewlett Packard and thus is contractually disallowed to appear in the newer SG videos
He actually answered it in a previous Q&A; Scott doesn't have much time on one hand and doesn't really want to go in the direction this channel goes, so they pretty much split. A shame really; while I agree that Tod adds more useful insights, Scott definitely had its own flair.
I have a 03 911 Turbo with 1/2 the mileage as your test car. Mine is silent as far as creaks/rattles in the interior. I agree the seats suck, mine has the optional sports seats and I think they're just as bad. I've upgraded to the Euro GT3 fixed buckets and they're great. The coolant line issue is overblown, much like the IMS is for the standard cars. I've had friends put over 100k miles on these with no issues at all other than typical maintenance. I'd drive mine across the country in a heartbeat
Wow this brings back memories... 996 Turbo was my first introduction into Porsche ownership. I had Porsche do an in-house upgrade on the exhaust and also installed the 996 GT2 intercoolers, also had the software tuned. It was an absolute beast of a car. The only issue I had in all the years I owned it (road/ track/ quarter mile driving) was a small linkage on the gear lever mechanism which broke, cost like $80 to replace. It was absolutely bullet proof. Only reason I upgraded was for the PDK gearbox on later models, otherwise I would probably still be driving it. Great buy even today as a first "super car"
996 Turbo might be the highest performance/$ ratio available. Easy power upgrades, stupid fast stock, reliable
What a fantastic review and channel. I love both of your approach to reviewing cars, you guys are two enthusiasts who respect each other’s point of view and communicate your thoughts to us the viewers amazingly. Thank you for that.
I’m a fmr 997.2 owner and now a 991 GT3 owner. Drove a buds 2002 turbo a few weeks ago. Review is spot on. Porsches take time to experience and understand. M96 motors are to be avoided. A 997.2 S is the perfect compromise between nostalgia and reliability with an awesome driving experience. Hence the reason you can’t find them for sale.
Bro your videos are so on point..I am looking at a new daily and literally was pondering a 996 911 turbo thank you!!!!
The 996 Turbo is my hopefully my attainable dream car in 5-10 years. Hopefully they don't go up too much. Amazing car.
Throw in a pair of Recaro seats and paint the outline of the Beatles Yellow Submarine on the rear deck and you're good.
One of these, a 996 Turbo in Basaltschwarz with a Luxor Beige interior and the X51 package, is what made me fall in love with 911s and sports cars in general.
I have owned 2 of these cars. They are excellent, just make sure you get a manual. Save some money to hussy up the interior. It's a great track weapon or daily driver.
Professional footage with artistry is ace. Technical commentary and knowhow is second to none.
End result is sublime. Nothing else comes close when one wants to learn about cars on TH-cam.
I'm one minute in and holy cow, the intro is amazing and very much movie level quality.
William Brouillette Welcome to the SavageGeese family.
I've just bought a cheap 4k TV 2 days ago. I wasn't totally impressed by it after seeing a few 4k videos and that was expected. This review however, made that TV look amazing to me and my family! Your content and 4k are a match made in heaven.
Trusting a porsche turbo owner with *general tires?*
Pass.
Thanks!
I have the same car with the X50 package. Did a few things to tweak:
1. CEA ULTRA Shifter
2. RSS adjustable suspension to GT2 spec all around.
3. Ceika springs and shocks lowered 2"
4. 19" rims
5. Front (hard) and back (medium) stabilizer bars
6. KW hydrolic lift system
7. Pushed out Front wheels for a wider track
8. Rennsport pedals
9. Recaro SPGs
10. Half cage
11. Tune
12. Xpipe
13. SACHS II clutch
Basically, dealt with all the issues.
Good for you.
Wow, guys. Beautiful car (it looks fucking fantastic in yellow!) and great cinematography!
I own a 997 (first gen 3.6-- very basic car-- technologically basically a 996 with different bodywork). I feel like it's a perfect daily, do-everything car if you can afford the maintenance. Engine (totally different kettle of fish compared to the Mezger, I know) has been completely problem-free: it's mostly been a parade of little "this car is fifteen years old and has over a hundred thousand miles now" issues that have comprised most of the mx costs. Apart from one bit of very bad luck with a clutch grenading (slave cylinder actuator rod sheared off and dropped into the clutch, destroying the disc and marring the flywheel... oof), it's just been a matter of feeding the car a stead diet of expendable water pumps (they're a calendar item, if you want to avoid them shedding blades which then migrate to interesting places), fixing malfunctioning power windows, etc. At some point I'll probably need to replace all the rubber seals / trim bits.
If you can live with the fact that you'll regularly be spending some money on really un-sexy, preventative maintenance, 996s and 997s are very lovable cars. They're quick enough that they don't feel slow, but slow enough that you can still lean on them a bit on public roads (as opposed to the newer cars where you either sit there bored out of your mind or drive fast enough that you'll go straight to jail if anyone witnesses what you're doing). They're soft and comfortable enough to drive to work everyday without hating yourself, but they don't really give up much ground in terms of handling to accomplish this. In fact, with the condition of most back-roads here in Southern Cal, the slightly softer suspensions really shine: they keep the tyres in contact with the ground where "sportier feeling" cars start to skitter across our shitty, uneven road surfaces.
There's also the issue of general size and outward visibility. While the 911 in particular has done an above-average job retaining visibility despite modern safety regs, driving these older 911's reminds you how gigantic and unwieldy new cars feel when you're exercising them on narrow back-roads or in traffic. 996's and 997's feel positively tiny compared to the newer 911s: you actually have room to feel like you're driving a line through corners while staying in your lane. I also feel like I have much better situational awareness for normal, boring driving in traffic due to the acres of glass everywhere and excellent overall visibility.
If people really aren't feeling the 90's plastic, weird-swoopy-shapes interior of the 996, the 997 takes those aesthetic concerns and obliterates them with a beautiful, simple, functional space. It still creaks a bit, but I think it's the 997 is the best interior they've ever put in a 911, and I find it hard to imagine a better one in any car, really: like the 996, it's got all the information you need, simply presented on un-complicated, minimally-styled, conventional gauges. The rest of the cabin just extends that philosophy everywhere: not over-styled or unnecessarily complicated, nice materials, no bullshit. It's perfect.
I don't know-- maybe I'm biased: I remember loving the 997 when I first saw them as a kid / teenager. I wasn't particularly into cars at all, but I loved the looks and sound of the 997. Later on I ended up taking some driving courses (a basic safety course at first, but I enjoyed it a lot and wound up going back for more performance-oriented clinics) and found myself driving a 997 on a little autocross course. I just took to the car and adored it immediately: it took a few minutes to feel out the right amount of trail-breaking required to make the thing rotate through corners, but once you did, it was just sublime. I probably only spent fifteen or twenty minutes in that car, but I don't think I'd ever had such a rewarding, enjoyable drive. I knew I'd have to have one at some point. I've had my '06 Carrera for three years or so now, and I just love it. The other day, I went to roll the passenger window down and was assaulted by the horrific sounds of plastic gear teeth being sheared off as the window stuck half-way open. My heart sank as I realized I was probably about to spend another $700 replacing another invisible, expendable piece of plastic. But it's not the end of the world: I'll get it fixed, I'll hate myself for a few minutes, and then I'll go back to enjoying what is, at the end of the day, a near-perfect automobile.
Long time watcher, really enjoy seeing you both present. I think it adds an interesting dynamic.
One of my dream cars! Only concern is maintenance. Even when you can get it between $40k-$60k and are reliable, still a $180k MSRP car when you have to do maintenance on it.
Still daily driving my 996.2. It has been a fantastic car! Great video, some of the best reviews on YT.
Ik this comment is old... but can you tell me the gas mileage you get?
Finally!!! My all time favourite!!! The Porsche 911 (996) Turbo, I love you so much!!!😍
Editing/filming + car is what SG has talked about and worked towards. Veeerry nice!
I like the cinematic beginning. Very good and this is the direction you should go with the whole video
The whole 996 series is underrated. Great cars, sadly the prices went north.
I remember when these cars were cheap as a Camry. It’s understandable there’s less and less good examples and the generation that grew up adoring this model are now making more and more money.
My 996 doesn’t squeak. Interior is clean and uncomplicated. No complaints.
A pure sports car beast. Love it.
What a great video. I know that most of the world has gone SUV crazy and most of the new vehicles introduced these days are SUVs, but it's cars and videos like this that speak to me. Here's hoping that cars like these stick around for years to come and keep the passion alive.
Damn I can feel that torque and im just watching. cant imagine what its really like when ur in the car
Beautiful production! My 996TT is my 4th 911, from 991.1GTS manual to 991.1TTS to 997.2TT manual to 996TT manual, in that order. Yes, wacky I know but the 996 is my favorite by far, it’s not even close. Both in looks and driving experience. I also never thought this was soft or less rigid feeling than the newer models and I’ve had them all on the track. 996TT stock suspension is soft but that’s easily rectified.
Love this car. Happy owner for 7 years.
I continue to be in awe of the quality of both videography and analysis this channel provides.
I enjoyed hearing Turbowski's opinion on fast Porsche models, I hope he's in this one.
Edit: One day he shall return
I think he got fired. Hasn't been present lately. At all....
From what Jack and Mark have said, he's just really busy with his personal life and he's got a 9-5 job.
@Mahmood Y.H he also kinda a "Debbie downer." Makes fun of EVERY single car that comes in.
Turbowski added 0 value to this channel.
@Mahmood Y.H a most fitting swansong, one could say
4:48 thank you for providing us with the weight distribution. Please continue to do so for future car videos. We appreciate it.
The external cooling lines they added to the engine tend to come apart after 20 years so all 996 Porsche 911's are springing major mater leaks right about... now.
same on Mezger engines?
@@papa_pt th-cam.com/video/9XIvDEDloTY/w-d-xo.html
@@flgfish hahaha tbf his cars are not the finest examples of the breed
Austin certainly not. But it was the first thing that came to mind relating to the cooling lines on 996.
@@papa_pt he's talking about the 996 Turbo coolant pipes coming out due to failure over time of the epoxy used to glue the sleeves of the pipes into the housings. It a known issue which has several potential fix. Hardly a catastrophic weakness or design flaw. The M96 996 engine though is another story and have given Porsche a black eye over their introduction to watercooling the street 911s.
I had a white 96 Carrera 4S turbo 993 .,In my opinion the most beautiful body style Porsche ever produced .So easy to sell too for more than I paid for it.
Love the photography of this video, the music at the beginning and, of course, I love the car. I bought my 996TT 2002 in 2008 and enjoy every moment with it! I do my own maintenance and did the welding of these infamous 8 pipes on the engine. Being a 20 years old car, it is very easy to found , on different forums (6speed. Renntech, rennlist) and youtube, help to fix everything on this car. The parts are also really easy to found and not too expensive. The repair manuals, parts cat can also be found on the net... I think I will keep it for a long time ;-)
Absolutely. Even bone stock these are very special, very fast cars that can be daily driven without too much issue.
As somebody who grew up playing NFS porsche i now need one in my life, time to make more money :D
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996 is still a great car , haters are going to hate , true car enthusiasts appreciate it . Remember it’s the last of the smallish true sports car. Love it or hate it , it’s an iconic part of Porsche’s history
Honestly, people need to stay away from European performance cars unless they;re extremely rich. Just get a C5 or C6 Corvette. They're reliable, and easy and inexpensive to maintain. They're also just as fast and handle just as well.
Yea, for 45k I'd personally be looking at a viper or zo6.
@@wigletron2846 saw a mint C6 Zo6 for 35k...might have to jump on it.
Simon Coles most 20 year old performance car purchase are purely emotional. cars like the corvette just lack any emotional connection for a lot of people. Now a viper, I could get behind that,
@@ervin7178 I'd also be looking at a lotus Elise, but then you have the maintenance costs close to a Porsche
Wigletron Doesn’t Lotus use a Toyota V6 powerplant though?
Added one to my collection for 41k. The brighter colored 6speed cars always sell higher. Great cars. I dont buy cars to be the fastest, I buy them for how they individually feel.
Would have this over the 997, 991 or 992 any day of the week even if they were priced exactly the same.
I love your videos Mr. Goose. 20 minutes of bs free knowledge and TRUE car review, top-line cinematography, the transitions in the video, everything is top-tier and so well put together. Hats off to you for the quality of your videos and the care you put into them.
Why do I still brace myself for turbowski's sarcasm? Hahaha
I don't miss that at all. Haha
Turbowski is a legend.
Non biased, no BS, pure honesty, respect!
I need one of these in my life ❤️.
Descent review. I have a 996 Turbo S. If you get an all black interior it is very nice. Also, the Turbo S has bigger turbos and standard Carbon brakes. Light tune with no mods will make the same power as a 991 Turbo. And mine stick also. Cheers. Also, interestingly. 996 Turbo S has almost the exact specs as a 959. 959 also had water cooled heads.
Beautifully filmed.
After watching your AMG 53 video...yes,it is worth the risk (despite potential challenges).
Always been my dream car .When I was a kid my cousin got a 911 as a wedding gift. British Racing green, And I have been lusting ever since...
One of my first new cars was a 1980 911SC. Drove it 37K miles in the first year. Rebuilt the trans on warranty. It was plagued with fuel pressure valve failure 3 times. Sold it. Lost almost $20K. Five years ago, I bought a 2003 996 Carrera2. Beautiful, not driven in rain, 37,000 miles. Had a knock I kept telling the dealer. Finally a Porsche rep put a scope into the cylinders. Yep, the 2 right rear were out of round. Ran perfectly though. The IMS bearings were fine and original. A new engine, (with the same weaknesses) would have been $35K. I paid $28,800 for the car. The common solution is bore out the block and insert Nico-sil cylinders. I replaced the pistons,rings,cylinders and a 3-row ceramic IMS bearing. Took 10 months at the dealer--$17,000 repair. These are not "bullet proof." Most people don't really drive them. It was my 3rd car--for driving fun, never tracked. If you drive them, repairs will be more than the cost of the cars. I put 45K miles on the 996, always ran great, but it started using a liter of oil in 600 miles. I bailed. Traded it for an Msport 428, 6sp manual. Beautiful driver's car--with no repairs and incredible economy. They allowed me $18K for the 996; 911s are a beautiful car for wealthy people, very poor value for the rest of us :(
Mark: the "Door Panel" contingent sincerely thanks you.
I am a very, very proud owner of a 2001 Porsche 911 Turbo...and I can't be more in love with this car. Yes, its dated on the interior...but in many ways, its appropriate and a complete contradiction to the absolute beast of mechanical engineering this car represents. It just keeps pulling. There is no stop with this car. I agree with almost every comment in this video. I have the same criticisms, but also the same admiration. This is my second car (my daily being a 2020 Panamera 4 and I also have a 944 Turbo - another story). I love that the 996TT is not refined as the Pana and 997+ 911s...and it is a joy to drive! I paid $44K for the 996TT and probably put another $10K into some mods/upgrades/fixes. I have no regrets at all...just can't wait to get out and drive it again and again and again!
Are you guys still doing a GT3 review?
Yes
Mark and Jack, you guys are a great tag-term. Good balance. Enjoy the honesty.
The aftermarket taillights definitely don't do this car justice.
A nice constructive piece of advice: I wished the power numbers and original price were stated. I don't think someone should have to google those figures after watching a car review (same in some previous vehicles). Just something to keep in mind for your future reviews.
Thank you daddy goose
I’ve driven many cool cars as I’ve worked with them for many years, all brands. And I must say, the way these 996 911 turbos pulls you back in the seat and it just continues until, like they say in the vid, ludicrous speeds. It impressed me more than 458 italia, Stock Nissan GT-R (09), M3s etc. It’s awesome! I bet the newer 911 turbos are just mental 😄
The exterior is timeless. The interior.... not so much.
This is a man's 911Turbo. Not too many nannies, and a TwinTurbo Mezger with MANUAL transmission. The engine itself it's worth the price of admission. You can get to insane power level for the street on stock internals because it is a GT1 motor detuned for the street. And the car can endure anything, any weather, any season. I know because I drove one for 10 years from -25 C to +42 C, rain or shine, deep snow or ice, daily commuting, grocery getter, long trip GT car, track monster.. you name it. For over 200,000 Km. Add a decent tune like the Upsolute, a nice set of OZ superlight wheels with Sport4S on them and a set of PSS10s and you will leave in the dust 95% of the current sport and supercars. If you can handle the beast, boys need no apply. The best bargain all weather daily supercar, bar none. Long live the Manuals ! Oh, and the value on these 996 Turbos keeps going up, btw.
It's an amazing car and still impresses. It's also very complicated and expensive to maintain. I'm glad I don't own one.
I own one. They really aren't that expensive to own and maintain if you don't have to pay someone else to work on it. They are actually pretty easy to work on as well, despite the cramped engine compartment. But, they need constant minor attention (boost leak tests, inspecting check valves, other issues you get with a 20 year old car) so you need to be comfortable working on it yourself in order for it to be relatively affordable to own.