Opinons on 996 vs. F348?

Ok, I have to defend the 996. Yes, it's not the prettiest Porsche only because they muffed up the front end lights. Otherwise, it's pretty hard to dis the styling since it looks like every other "911" ever made. As for performance, well, given enough cash, it is a no brainer. There is a supercharger kit for the C2 and C4 that is killer. The Bilstein coilovers make the car a go-cart. You can easily get nearly 400 Hp with eaze and supercar handling for just over $10K plus or minus.

Without these changes, I'd have to agree that the car is just not as interesting as any 993 (especially the 3.6 TT which is kind of a precursor to the GT2 - rwd and turboed) or the 996 TT or GT cars.

 

The 996 'Turbo'/996 GT2 look the part!!! It is the Carrera overly rounded front and rear bumpers that do it in IMO

 

The 996 is a definitely a competent car, but seriously.... it had no curves unlike the 911s and 356s before it. Now the 997 has finally come up right.

993... thats a different matter all together... the best 911 ever designed in my eyes... I still have one!

 

Drive a 997. That is the ultimate Porsche. The level of refinement over the 996 is unbelievable. Going back to a 996, even the TT leaves you kind of wanting. Still, it's no Ferrari and one only has so many garage spaces. Oh, and it's priced a bit high and those fricken options can kill you, so get a low mileage one on the resale.

 

Something tells me you guys havent had 30 seconds in a GT2 996 model, especially modified!

My RUF GT2 on motons and so on gives me the same thrill and exhilirating driving experience as a 360 CS, 993TT , C2S also give you that raw soulful feel as Ferrari's do.. You guys are comparing softer p cars to a Ferrari which for the most part, has soul in almost all of them!

 

But, not everyone wants a modded car. We are mostly comparing the more readily available cars.

 

No one is denying the big HP of a TT p-car. The p-cars are great!! They just lack the "magical" sound and feel of an f-car. See my post (#8) on this very thread:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=136521901&postcount=8

True, we are comparing softer p-cars because they are being compared to a 348 (very close in price/performance) .

 

Ok even a 996 GT2 stck offers one of the most thrilling driving experiences ever, 996GT3 included, most people have not experienced them and therefore DO NOT KNOW hah.. I had some of the most vicious raw cars, and my GT2 feels like a straight up racecar! BTW its over 10 seconds faster than a 360CS on the Nordscheleife and a second faster then the new 997GT3/RS and 996 GT3 Cupcar, stock!

Nothing to take away from Ferrari's, i just feel taste is very subjective and everyons feel as well, they should drive them and make their own decision and judgement

 

The GT2 can't even be considered along side of the 348 though. I'm not trying to fight with you, so I hope you aren't taking me wrong. Just stating that the garden variety 996 is more comparable to the 348.

You know, I hear alot about Nordschliefe, but why does that have to be the measuring stick? It's bumpy, which doesn't suite the lower-to-the-ground ferrari.

 

Until you factor in service costs and the costs of a second car for the Ferrari because you can't drive them often........honestly, comparing the two is a flawed premise considering how they differ in usage.

 

I owned both cars at the same time 1999 996 and a 1992 348TB.

Iff, (if and only if) the 348 has been serviced, and all little details fixed, it was much more of an exhilirating car. Tubi makes it more so, tubi no cats....silly fun!

(Porsche is very capable though)

Important note is that clutches are expensive and easy to fry on a 348. Same driving no problems with clutch on 996.

In today's market they're $10-20,000 apart...if you can afford it buy what you like, don't buy basedon price.

just my humble 2 cents.

 

I never knew the 996 GT2 is that phenomenal. I should probably dig a bit more info about that car.

 

If anyone wants or prefers a p-car by all means don't let anyones opinion sway your decision. It seems silly to go on a f-car forum and ask:

"what should I buy guys?"

"an f-car or a non f-car?"

"the non f-car is faster cheaper and costs less to service!"

"so what should I buy???"

 

No ones fighting just my opinions.. I must appologize you are CORRECT about comparing a softer 996 to 348, but i saw Porsche was mentioned that in general lacking exotic feel, soul or w/e it is and had to throw it in there that there are TONS that offer the same amount.. Even with a NICE upgraded exhaust sure its not ferrari like, but has a very exotic resonance and tone while cruising, hey i love both was just trying to make people realize that not all of the Porsche's are like that, and i kind of got from the responses it was a general thing about them being soft!

BTW GT2 is slammed from the factory and has the inherent "bumpsteer" , not exactly favorable either

 

I have a 997GT3 incoming as well as my RUF GT2 which i have, i had to do TONS of work to my 996TT and convert it to rwd because i hated the feel coming from my 550 hp lightweight track e46 M3!

I absolutely love Ferrari's and 360CS is next on my list, maybe soon, and you can see its a repetetive type of car purchase i like, nimble/loud/agile/quick hah!

348 is cool but did nothing for me, i would go 355 to be perfectly honest, but again they arent exactly cars i would DD but that is me!

BTW here's some info.. also just got my latest sport-auto with a gt3 rs supertest.

nordschleife
gt3 rs (997) 7.48 min
gt3 rs (996) 7.47 min

hockenheim
gt3 rs (997) 1.11.1 min
gt3 rs (996) 1.11.8 min
gt3 (997) 1.11.7 min

the 997 rs was on m pilot sport cups.

the article states that despite more impressive numbers- hp, etc - it doesn,t translate into markedly improved performance.
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You get the feeling that someone has way too much time and money? ↑↑↑

I have talked with some GT3 owners who claim that the car is the ultimate street Porsche and described its characteristics. Nothing they said convinced me that I would appreciate the car except as a better Porsche. I watched a GT2 and F360 go at it on a surface street near my house and it was truly interesting. The GT3 was faster, but I was watching the F360 more because I'm a Ferrari guy.

I have learned that a TT is way easier to drive than the GT cars because of the softer suspension and AWD. Generally, I turn off the PSM so I can play with the car more in turns. I appreciate Porsches; they just aren't a soul stirring as Ferraris to this Italian boy.

 

LOL i wish i had too much time, i havent driven my car in well over a month, or had time to myself

I agree i mean Ferrari's have SOUL, sound and they are just artwork in my eyes. BUT a few previous owners loved it but said quality issues were less then par, which i havent experienced yet and this was in the 360 Modenas.. I was just putting the info out there for you guys, and wanted to let it be known that if you guys drove some of the GT cars you would realize Porsche has some soul of its own.

Now lets not get into Lambo, i wanted a Gallardo but realized i was buying it for the sound, i hated the Gallardo and Murci to death, Ferrari/Porsche it is

 

Agreed, it's hard to warm up to those cars. I especially do not like the styling "gap" of the lower front ends. It looks like the designers ran out of talent in the front below the below line - wasted opportunity to do something exciting it looks to me. Around here, I find that baby lambo drivers are poseurs and big lambo drivers are egoists. Not like us purist Ferrari/Porsche drivers, eh?

 

Yeah we ruuule!!! There are no better car enthusiasts than us!!! There are none as humble either .

 

Agreed about the Purist's, although i think the 997 GT3, 996 GT2 and Carrera GT are some of the most beautiful cars ever made, that's me.. Meanwhile i think almost every Ferrari is gorgeous, hey you love some you hate some right? Im sure if i showe dyou a pic of my RUF GT2 you would absolutely love it

 

Post up!! The GT2 rocks!

 

If you're a car enthusiast and don't get a Ferrari at some point... it's kind of like being a Cubs fan and never going to Wrigley.

I'm sure I'll get kicked off Rennlist for posting this, but the 996 just isn't a pretty car, inside or out. The ones I've driven were competent but not as exciting as the 993 or earlier cars.

The 348 isn't my favorite Ferrari, but it spanks the 996 any way I can imagine. Prices are in the tank, so there's not much downside. Buy a nice, lower mileage, late model car (GTB or GTS), drive it for a year, and if you don't like it then sell it.

If you end up wanting a Porsche after the 348, save up and get a 993 or 997. Skip the 996.

My two lira...

 

Thanks for the replys.
I'm still catching up having been off-line for a few days.
Looks like some great comments here!

 

Here are some pics, i think my interior and exterior are gorgeous, i love GT2's well, and Ferrari's/Porsche's, well and almost every performance/super/exotic/supercar you know why? Because im a "Car Enthusiast" as a whole.. BTW i recommend the started of the thread to drive both and make a decision, only way, peoples own opinions will only go so far , goodluck!

Martin
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Thanks guys.
I realize it's hard to gather a direction from posting but at least it eases the tension while I look to get a ride/drive in a 348.

For clarification, I'm fairly experienced on the track and have enjoyed driving every thing from an MX5 to most recently a 500+hp Mustang Cobra with IRS.

I have a daily driver (truck) so thats a non issue.

My first thought was to get a 02+ 996 and add some GT3 components to improve the looks and handling.
It seems the logic choice - modern car, rear drive (ha, ha 4wd is for trucks good one) semi-exotic, track worthy, least hassel once completed.

Now the emotional choice - a Ferrari . . . maybe emotions but I have always favored cars that are rear drive, love to rev, neutral handling, and have good looks. The hard part to reason is that I'd be choosing a 15 year old car over a refined 5 year old car that isn't exactly a pig on the track or the street. I still have questions regarding the 348 reliability and if it delivers any kind of modern feel given it's age.

Still you guys and this site certainly prove that it's still a viable and sought after driver's car that I had all but overlooked.

A final wrinkle in the decision is that I continue to read about 996 engine failures. I can handle the rear main seal leaking but the if the potential for major engine problems exist it takes the reliability advantage away from the p-cars.