[Shueb]

Hey all, just curious anyone done both as I'm pondering a change?

Also just came across this article which I found fascinating:
https://marqued.com/editorial/7bDFV0...-and-adversity

Thoughts from anyone who's owned both - ps I'm a OG manual owner.

[carchrism5]

Totally different cars. 996 will be more exciting in every aspect, simpler, more connected and more of an experience. M2 is more comfortable and practical. Cost to maintain will be notably higher on the 996 because of simple things like the fact the car has 14 control arms and there are basically engine out services plus Porsche tax on parts and with age you'll be replacing lots of things like those arms/bushings etc.

[///M TOWN]

^ Wise advice IMO

[Neusser]

Originally Posted by carchrism5

Totally different cars. 996 will be more exciting in every aspect, simpler, more connected and more of an experience. M2 is more comfortable and practical. Cost to maintain will be notably higher on the 996 because of simple things like the fact the car has 14 control arms and there are basically engine out services plus Porsche tax on parts and with age you'll be replacing lots of things like those arms/bushings etc.

The Turbo isn't really the driver's car in the Porsche lineup.

I'd stick with the M2. Something like a Cayman is a different story, if you can live with the image.

[carchrism5]

Originally Posted by Neusser

The Turbo isn't really the driver's car in the Porsche lineup.

I'd stick with the M2. Something like a Cayman is a different story, if you can live with the image.

While it is not the driver's car of the lineup it is still more of a driver's car than any M2. A well kept NA 996/7 are fantastic driver's cars that will bring a lot of enjoyment, but just remember they are slower than M2s but feel faster and they only weigh about 3,000 lbs

In a weird turn, my OG M2 has been replaced by a 991.1 as a daily, and I still have a 996.2 which I find more fun to drive, just a little less so on daily basis with traffic, two little kids and such.

[Neusser]

Originally Posted by carchrism5

While it is not the driver's car of the lineup it is still more of a driver's car than any M2. A well kept NA 996/7 are fantastic driver's cars that will bring a lot of enjoyment, but just remember they are slower than M2s but feel faster and they only weigh about 3,000 lbs

In a weird turn, my OG M2 has been replaced by a 991.1 as a daily, and I still have a 996.2 which I find more fun to drive, just a little less so on daily basis with traffic, two little kids and such.

To each his own. I have never driven a 911 that I really liked. Cayman is much better.

I'd probably never buy a Porsche anyways. Just not my bag (GT4 aside, perhaps).

[carchrism5]

Originally Posted by Neusser

To each his own. I have never driven a 911 that I really liked. Cayman is much better.

I'd probably never buy a Porsche anyways. Just not my bag (GT4 aside, perhaps).

Totally agree, to each his own, but the OP asked for advice about specific cars from people who have owned them. Given you don't like 911s or Porsches as a whole I'm not sure this was the right thread for you to begin with.

[Neusser]

Originally Posted by carchrism5

Totally agree, to each his own, but the OP asked for advice about specific cars from people who have owned them. Given you don't like 911s or Porsches as a whole I'm not sure this was the right thread for you to begin with.

Oh, I think it was.

[DocWong]

I have both! 2001 996 Turbo and my 2017 M2 F87. It's apples and oranges. The 996 is fast, but a GT car. Long and calm handling fast hi speed corners are awesome. The M2 excels in tighter cornering roads. And for me the perfect daily driver as I live in the mountains and "unfortunately" have to do twisty roads every day.

[Robin_NL]

Originally Posted by carchrism5

While it is not the driver's car of the lineup it is still more of a driver's car than any M2.

I highly doubt that. But what's the definition of 'a driver's car' anyway? Each to their own.

Cheers
Robin

[changster]

I'd go 996 Turbo if it's a manual. It is not 3000lbs like an earlier post said but about 3500 pounds.

The 996 turbo will feel smaller with a lower center of gravity. While Turbo's are the GT car of the lineup, they didn't become REALLY GT cars until the 991 generation. The engine in the 996TT is better than the N55. The M2 is a sports coupe not a sports car. The 996 TT is a sports car but kind of GT-ish. Hope that makes sense.

[carchrism5]

Originally Posted by Robin_NL

I highly doubt that. But what's the definition of 'a driver's car' anyway? Each to their own.

Cheers
Robin

Sure there is a bit of a personal feel and M2s are great, no doubt about that, but the electronic steering and all the other things insulating the car removes a bit of the feel. My definition of a driver's car is a car where the driver is most important part of the equation.

Originally Posted by changster

I'd go 996 Turbo if it's a manual. It is not 3000lbs like an earlier post said but about 3500 pounds.

The 996 turbo will feel smaller with a lower center of gravity. While Turbo's are the GT car of the lineup, they didn't become REALLY GT cars until the 991 generation. The engine in the 996TT is better than the N55. The M2 is a sports coupe not a sports car. The 996 TT is a sports car but kind of GT-ish. Hope that makes sense.

Originally Posted by carchrism5

. A well kept NA 996/7 are fantastic driver's cars that will bring a lot of enjoyment, but just remember they are slower than M2s but feel faster and they only weigh about 3,000 lbs

An NA 996 is about 3,000lbs is what the post said

[Robin_NL]

Originally Posted by carchrism5

Sure there is a bit of a personal feel and M2s are great, no doubt about that, but the electronic steering and all the other things insulating the car removes a bit of the feel. My definition of a driver's car is a car where the driver is most important part of the equation.

996 wasn't the best 911 iteration, we all know that don't we? 996 Turbo has awd, and when not manual it has Tiptronic....talking about removing a bit of the feel....so for me hands down M2 sorry.

Cheers
Robin

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by carchrism5

Sure there is a bit of a personal feel and M2s are great, no doubt about that, but the electronic steering and all the other things insulating the car removes a bit of the feel. My definition of a driver's car is a car where the driver is most important part of the equation.

I'll say that 100% the M2 is actually more FUN than a 996 turbo, and to miss that is to miss the point of the M2 entirely.

With Porsche, increased capability comes with a side order of sterility, which I can do without.

[Dozer324]

No experience with a 996 turbo, but a 996 C4S, which is about the same car minus the turbo. Such an awesome car, but like others have said, the M2 is definitely more fun to drive day to day. A 996 turbo/c4s being 4wd rear engine brings a wonderful driving experience, but nowhere near as playful. To be honest I'd probably go 996 C4S over turbo, just because the NA mezger engine is by far the greatest sounding engine there is.

[Van1]

Originally Posted by Dozer324

No experience with a 996 turbo, but a 996 C4S, which is about the same car minus the turbo. Such an awesome car, but like others have said, the M2 is definitely more fun to drive day to day. A 996 turbo/c4s being 4wd rear engine brings a wonderful driving experience, but nowhere near as playful. To be honest I'd probably go 996 C4S over turbo, just because the NA mezger engine is by far the greatest sounding engine there is.

The Turbo, GT2, and GT3 are the only 996s to have a Mezger engine.

[yoboi]

Originally Posted by Shueb

Hey all, just curious anyone done both as I'm pondering a change?

Also just came across this article which I found fascinating:
https://marqued.com/editorial/7bDFV0...-and-adversity

Thoughts from anyone who's owned both - ps I'm a OG manual owner.

I owned a 996 Turbo for a while; it's a very soft car, definitely a grand tourer. More under-braked than the blue brake OG M2. Didn't really care for it. Get a 996 GT2 or GT3 for something better than your M2. Unfortunately, they are far more expensive.

[Dozer324]

Originally Posted by Van1

The Turbo, GT2, and GT3 are the only 996s to have a Mezger engine.

I didn't realize this till just recently while doing research on maintenance and reliability of the 996. Unfortunate they didnt use mezger engines in all the 911 models as they seem to be more reliable than the m96/m97 engines.

[Van1]

It’s a fun exercise to compare the 996TT and the M2 as they both have roughly the same power output (M2C) and performance. The thing to keep in mind is that the entry price today for a 996TT is almost double or more for what an M2 fetches. I owned a 996TT from 2014-2018 and I’d say that is about where they bottomed out price wise. Mine was a little higher mileage car that I bought for the mid $30k’s and traded in the mid $30k’s. Lower mileage examples were going for the $40k’s at the time. Now, mid to higher mileage 996TTs are going for upper $60k to lower $70k’s with low miles well above that. I see the price gap between the 996TT and M2 only growing and never shrinking. Given the price difference I can’t see cross shopping the M2 with a 996TT.

[Dozer324]

Originally Posted by Van1

It’s a fun exercise to compare the 996TT and the M2 as they both have roughly the same power output (M2C) and performance. The thing to keep in mind is that the entry price today for a 996TT is almost double or more for what an M2 fetches. I owned a 996TT from 2014-2018 and I’d say that is about where they bottomed out price wise. Mine was a little higher mileage car that I bought for the mid $30k’s and traded in the mid $30k’s. Lower mileage examples were going for the $40k’s at the time. Now, mid to higher mileage 996TTs are going for upper $60k to lower $70k’s with low miles well above that. I see the price gap between the 996TT and M2 only growing and never shrinking. Given the price difference I can’t see cross shopping the M2 with a 996TT.

I definitely agree that someone looking for a m2 shouldn’t cross shop a 996 and any other 911 is in a different price category. Aside from cost for what you get, the 996 will be far more expensive in maintenance as well. The upside to a 911 is it will hold value better.