Went for a ride in a 996 turbo today...
 

GT3 seats, Carbon ceramic brakes, coilovers, RUF tune. Fast, nicer finishing on the interior plastics, but the 986 Boxster is a more fun car to drive.

Not in the straightaways!!

Uncouple the front driveshaft and see if it changes things.

That's it's only advantage. And the turbo lag is more annoying than exciting most of the time.

The old saying goes, it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than drive a fast car slow.

I very much prefer the rwd car, I've driven a similarly set up Carrera, but it's still not as much fun as the Boxster on the street.

My 3.6 Boxster is much more fun in the twisties than my 996TT. But it's a whole different arrival in a turbo.

I think I disagree with you there Blue2000S.

My brother's 996TT is magnitudes more fun to drive than mine. It's faster, classier, and it's so fast it doesn't even matter if it's rear engined-AWD. I never experienced turbo lag because the first one kicks in at such low RPM, and the 3.6L engine makes up for the rest.

Don't get me wrong, I love my car, but 911 Turbos are godlike.

Love both. Each has it's application. Huge sucker for a black 996 turbo.

different cars......... different league

I remember seeing that car in the flesh for the first time at the NY auto show. It was a sight to behold. Back then I never thought that some day it could be had for less than I paid for my Boxster S. A guy I know bought one for $27K when the stock market crashed from a guy desperate need of cash.
But the car has far too much understeer after getting used to a nimble, lightweight, midengine rear wheel driver. Cutting power to the rear when it starts to slide, even a little bit, pretty much kills the whole experience. Ditto for the 996 C4. They say you won't find more understeer in any Porsche than those two.

I agree with 2000. A 996 Turbo is a very fat lady and a snoozefest. Give me a Boxster any day.
:cheers:

A guy my old run group has one....unbelievably quick.

He would dive past me into corners and walk away down the straights. Initially I could walk away on a short flowing non technical track but then add in a couple straights and I was done for. Not sure what it is like to drive but lap times are quick

I asked him how he was doing it and he said that he was into the psam on every corner of the track....yeah don't have that

He has now got a lot seat time , different turbos pushing 530hp and JRZ suspension. I think he has learned a lot but might be missing a lot from not having driven a less powerful/automated car. The thing doesn't spin either..

[QUOTE=blue2000s;332985]That's it's only advantage. And the turbo lag is more annoying than exciting most of the time.

Stock 996TT has very little Turbo lag, it comes on so quick in 1st gear that's very hard to shift near redline without bumping the rev limiter.

Oh it does! It changes everything! :eek:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/0351364152568.jpg

[QUOTE=BYprodriver;333234] That's not my experience. The engine is strong before boost, certainly stronger than the 986 even, but there is a very noticeable pause after heavy throttle movement before the real power comes on. Typical turbo behavior.

Disagree. Although it may be what Porsche wants you to think. They share about 25% of the same parts and today, it's conceivable that they could be cross-shopped. And to top it off, the Boxster is more engaging to drive.

It's because the thing is incredibly fast. No mystery. Fast doesn't make a better track car or a better street car.

Watching an awd 996 on a wet skidpad is a sad sight.

The Boxster is awesome, you can hold the steering wheel at a set angle and just spin around in a circle with the throttle. The 996 plows out of the circle over and over.

I think trying to compare an old Boxster 986 to a 996 Turbo is like trying to compare a stock 911 to a GT3. Wishful thinking at best. They are in completely different classes.

The gap has closed since the introduction of the 981 and the 991, but it's still there.

Again, don't get me wrong, I love our cars. But having driven the 996TT many times, there is no way that ours can compare.

If all that matters to someone is acceleration, I agree. If the driver is looking for more than one dimension, I don't agree. Considering them somehow uncomparable is silly. I can compare a duck to a bicycle if I want to.