Big '05 Turbo S market report

Friend of mine just bought a lovely 2005 996 Turbo S from a dealership. Grand car, lots of carbon, Nav, aftermarket HRE wheels, 10K miles, leather everywhere, 444HP rated, PSM, Ceramics, lots of options like you would expect in a Turbo S purchase.

I took it for a drive as he had mentioned a suspension noise from the rear he wanted me to diagnose.

Dang car feels H E A V Y. Not particularly fast either. Its set at stock boost (.8 - .9) but I wanted to be wowed for him 'ya know. I have had a hand in many performance upgraded 996TT's so I may be immune to the stock HP thrill. This car seems so heavy and just seems set to cruise.

We spoke about starting in on some mods before he dropped me off. Fun very pretty car, just needs a little zing I think.

The great prices on these cars lead him down this path (however he did not get this one cheap @ $85K). Lots of car for the money though. I have read about some great buys on these turbo cars as of late.

 

We've got a Guards Red one at my work for $79k, but I know they'd take a bit less.
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Cool pic. I luv red.

You know I see 993 Turbo S versions for as high as $150K... I guess these two 996TTS are a real deal in the light of that!

 

True, but I'd rather have the 993 Turbo S. I was talking to the owner of a 993TT, and he was surprised at how cheap the 996 Turbos are. He couldn't believe that the 993s were still bringing in more money than the 996s.

 

993 Turbo S's are big $ because of limited quantity. Not because they are monsters.
If you want a 996 monster, skip the 996 Turbo S and get a GT2. Wicked.

 

as low as 150k you mean. most are upwards and the 993tts is a different animal all together. tons of 996tt and tt's were built all over the world with not tons of appeal and I had a tts cab. My 993 TTS is a raw turbo lot's of fun to drive.

the 993's hold value because they are the last air cooled porsche's.

 

To see where the prices are these days "Sloan Cars" in CT always have some nice 993 Turbo S examples listed. The GT2 is a handful in both the 993 and 996 versions.
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Interesting - so the 996 Turbo is now approaching about the same price range as a 996 GT3?

 

Turbo S yes. No way a standard TT.

The S is a stand alone wide body that holds value due to smaller production numbers and it's stigma. Was my 996 Turbo S Cab better than a regular X50 Turbo same year probably not but it cost a whole bunch less. My Turbo S ordered to my specs cost me 20k less than a standard TT ordered with all the additions the S adds. Carbon Brakes alone on my 996 were like 12k or something of an add for the standard TT.

The 993 TT S's are just way different. Most selling for 170-185k which is still above their original MSRP from 1997. That's just because they are fricken cool. My TT S 993 is one fun car to drive and they still look pretty damn sick. They were just a lot of car for 1997 with 0-60's under 4 seconds.

 

++ on the 993 TT s. I decided to start waiting for one of these to replace my 993 Targa someday when they finally "come down in price". Still driving that Targa - for some strange reason.

BTW, have been looking at a 2004 996 GT3 (3,500 miles) for upper 70K range - is this about market value there (and for a Turbo S as well?)

 

My experience is with Turbo S cabs. They tend to hold value more than Coupes. I think the GT3's will be cheaper because people tend to track them. GT3's are more fun to drive. The different RPM's make them so much fun. for coupes I'd feel out the market and find the best GT3 I could.

I haven't looked at 996 market in a while so don't know a ton. I loved my 05' Turbo S and with a GT600 package the thing was a rocket. By far the fastest car I've ever owned.

I would say that the TTS 993's will continue to hold the resale value championship for Porsche for a very long time. Except the obvious 356's and 550's. Last I had heard there was less than 100 worldwide out of the original 189 produced. So either suck it up now and have fun or stick with the targa

 

Please tell me what stigma you are refering to.
I continue to look at the 996TT, same with X50, and when the economy turns around: GT2.
Not really looking at the S package 996 turbos. Am I missing something ?

 

996TTs can be had for 50k. X50 package adds about 10k. Gt3s have stayed about 70k even as the economy turns.
If I was in the 996GT3 market I would seriously consider a GT2 for about 20k more. These are and will be considered to be the 993TTS of their day. Even more so. The cars were simply amazing. I'll help you find one. Consider it; My Duty.

 

Most Porsche people know that the "S" is significant. Most non-Porsche people don't. The 996TT X50 just means the larger Turbo's. I would say more than 50% of 996TT's made have it. The "S" has minor changes to add to it's allure only. Stigma might not be the correct word but even my girlfriend will see a 911 of any kind and if it's not an "S" she'll just say "well just another 911"

I like cars that are smaller production with (as limited as Porsche can be ) limited production numbers. Just less likely to run into someone with your car. That's all. Go to a PCA event and see how many 996TT's there are and then try to find a "S" model. It's just not the same.

Stick with the GT3 it's just more fun. Cost saving or not. Slower or not

 

I disagree a little about the 996 GT2. Not about being a great car but I do feel there really is only about 50 people in the United States that are qualified to drive a GT2. I don't think they will hold there value at all. The 997 GT2's have high value right now but when they came out the 996's lost HUGE amounts of value. The same will be said when the 997 replacement happens. The 993 Twin Turbo "S" on the other hand can't be replaced. Air Cooled and faster than sh*t for a 1997 car. There will be no replacement for that beauty. Call me biased because I love mine but that's the way I feel about them.

 

There were only 1000 996 GT2s built worldwide. A majority in Europe have already been totaled. They are starting to leave the US and going to Europe as we tend to drive them lightly and infrequently. They appreciate, and apparently drive, the car more than a typical US owner. 996GT2 and 3 prices will continue to fall slightly as the premiums for the 997 GT2 and 3's disappear which were holding the 6's values up. IMO. They will level out at some point soon as they become "rediscovered".
Huge difference in performance between the 996TT and Gt2.
Not so much between the 993TT and TTS. TTS much more rare and coveted I agree. Road and Track clocks a standard 993TT at 3.9 to 60mph.
I just feel the 996 GT2 is totally under-appreciated now but will share equal status to the 993TTS down the road.

 

Not disagreeing they are a good car. Be careful if you get one. 450hp and rear wheel drive is the reason they are getting totalled.
Could be under appreciated but the 996's just lost some appeal I believe when the 997's came out and that's why they dropped so quickly in pricing.