996 or 997 (need advice from the experts)

[LENELSA]

Hey guys,
So I've been researching 911's for the last few months and am getting ready to make a decision.
I have a close friend selling a 2003 996 w/ x51 package (this car is MINT w/10K miles)
If there was a 997 available (say 2005) with about 51K miles at the same price as the 996 w/x51, which car would you pick????

I apologize..... This will be my 1st Porsche and I'm just doing my homework.

[augr]

I'd go with the 997. The x51 package is nothing but a few mods you can easily do better wth aftermarket parts for reasonable. You can find 997's with low miles for dirt cheap these days. Keep looking for a deal. They're out there. Also do yourself a favor and stay away from the tiptronic and stick with a ....errr....stick. Much more fun to drive a stick in a porsche!

[Pacific996]

Buying new you get low mileage and any option you want.

[earlyapex]

The 997 is an overall better car than the 996. The interior is better. The shifter is better. The suspension is improved. The M96/97 motor still had issues with leaks that were lumped under the RMS issue. This did not go away until Porsche did a complete engine redesign with the current direct injection motor.

The X51 Power Kit is NOT a few mods. The X51 M96 motors have extensive modifications that you cannot cheaply replicate. I had a 04-40th Anniversary 996 that came with the X51 option as standard equipment. This is a great motor!

I would buy the car that excites you the most when you look at it and when you drive it. I would buy the one with the best maintenance history. A low milage car is not necessarily a healthy care. Cars need to be driven.

[Wayne 962]

Here's a blurb on the X51 package offered for the early 2006 997:

The Club Coupe is the first in the current generation of Porsche 911 sports cars to be equipped with the X51 Powerkit. This feature increases output of the 3.8-liter, flat-six cylinder Carrera S engine from 355 to 381 horsepower and peak torque from 295 to 306 ft. lbs., making it the most powerful non-turbocharged engine yet offered in a Porsche 911 production car for North America. Distinguished by its carbon fiber air cleaner housing, the X51 Powerkit boosts performance through a series of engine enhancements including a larger throttle body, optimized intake airflow, cylinder heads and exhaust manifold modifications, changes in the control unit, and the inclusion of a sport exhaust system. The result produces a 0 to 60 mph time of a quick 4.4 seconds and a top track speed of an impressive 186 mph.

I don't think that the 996 X51 package had as much "go fast stuff" as the later 997 X51 package. The 3.6 with the X51 increases output from about 320 to about 345, if I recall correctly.

-Wayne

[Wayne 962]

Found a post from Loren on the Internet regarding the 996 X51 package, which was compiled from a Tech Bulletin:

X51 Power Kit
(from the tech bulletin describing installation)

"A parts set -"Carrera Powerkit"- is available to retrofit the standard engine with an increased performance of 254 kW (345 HP). The following parts in the engine are replaced, exchanged or modified to achieve this increased performance:
- new intake manifold with modified cross-section (material: sand cast aluminum );
- new intake pipe supports adapted to the form of the intake manifold;
- new exhaust manifolds with larger cross-section and optimized flow behavior;
- new cylinder heads with optimized, CNC-milled inlet ducts;
- new camshafts with larger valve stroke on the inlet side and modified inlet and outlet timing;
- inlet valve springs adapted to the enlarged valve stroke;
- modified partition box in the oil pan;
- modified maps for the DME control module.

The following steps are also taken on the vehicle:
- new underside panel in the transmission area;
- additional radiator in connection with modified front spoiler, except on the 911 Carrera 4S (996).

The higher-performance engine is also available as an option when ordering a new vehicles - 911 Carrera / 911 Carrera 4 /911 Carrera 4S /911 Targa - under Exclusive Option X51."

[Wayne 962]

But to answer your question, I would probably take the similarly priced 997 over the 996...

-Wayne

[Garrett]

They look quite different... I'd think looks alone would steer you one way or another.

[LENELSA]

to me. the x51 package on the 03 996 is quite impressive.
So if I can get my hands on an 03 996 w/ x51 with 10,000 miles on it for $38K........

or an 05 997 that has 61,000 miles on it for the same price.