Glad I’m not the only person who adores the 996

2004 C4S owner. IMS updated. 130K miles, white w/ black interior, manual, 997 short shifter and wheels, GT3 console delete and PSE. Loving every second of it... After all that and knowing I’m still under $27K is the cherry on top! #996 FTW! 🏁 As for Jayemm. Hands down has the best car content/ videos on KZfaq.

996 Turbo the best of the old and new. A great road jet Messerschmitt with the rock solid famous 'Mezger' engine. The awesome Le mans design an art form urban icon !

This was my daily in 2008. Same exact spec down to the quad tips. Easy to drive and maintain even in nyc. Burns a good amount of oil. Most fun I ever had in a car. Looking to get one again.

Hey Jay, based on your review I'm going to assume that the turbo you drove wasn't up to par. I've owned mine for 7 years and I'm saying this based on owner experience. 1. There should be zero lag after 3000 RPM in a stock car. 2. The fact that you're even comparing this turbo to a C4S tells me there's something wrong, because I've driven/owned both and they're not even in the same league. 3. Those tailpipes may be an indicator that this turbo wasn't taken care of to the highest standards. 4. Next time, drive a well cared for example with an ecu tune + exhaust + coilovers and I can just about guarantee you'll be selling your Lotus 👍. PS... those standard Supple leather seats are adjustable up and down.

Had a 996 40th anniversary, then got a turbo, sold it after a year to get back into another 40th. I missed the playfulness of the C2 and the sound. Plus I was constantly at risk of being a felon in the turbo. Will always love the 996tt, but will admire from a distance. 😃

996 Turbo is most wanted 911 as youngtimer... LOVE THE CAR

I have a 2004 Turbo X50 (larger Gt2 turbos, intercoolers etc)....absolute beast and under-rated power wise etc. With just some high-flow cats i'm at 1.1 bar of boost and 500/500 hp/tq

I drove one of these on a track day, they are so fast... Preferred it to the f430 i drove on the same day

Owned a C4S 996 , currently own a 996 Turbo, the performance is a different league to the C4S, the turbo are still pretty good value for money, considering price of air cooled 911’s, such as the 993, which I have also owned and in my opinion isn’t as good , why people buy the 993 just because it’s air cooled is madness , 993 tiptronic for the price of manual 996 Turbo is madness. It’s all about the drive for me and the 996 Turbo is an excellent allrounder. Just be careful when buying these cars, they were a lot cheaper a few years ago, this allowed more people to be able to buy them , however they are complex cars and most couldn’t afford to run them, they can be costly to run, so buy wisely.

I have a 4’S’ and share ownership of a Turbo with my Dad - I’d definitely sell the 4’S’ first - the power delivery of the Turbo is hard to ignore.

Used to drive a 996 turbo. What an incredible car!

Another good review. Yep, owned one of these too 9 years ago - an X50 with 525bhp DMS map. It was pretty lively! Someone told me before I bought it to budget £3k to refresh the suspension if it’s not been done. They were right so budget that in. They are a daily driver though for me, not a weekend toy. Too easy to drive.

The Turbo is a different league ! 👍 Great car 👍

I have owned my 996T for 6 yrs and it is a constant delight. Saying that I have spent some serious money modifying it. Larger turbos, ECU remap with DMS (the best!), Turbo S suspension, sports exhaust and bodykit. And short shift gear change (essential and a huge improvement over standard). It's producing around 580 BHP and over 600 lb /ft of torque. The lag is not noticeable above 3000 and I dont think there is much that can keep up with it on a country road. Oh, and the steering feel is wonderful, far nicer than any Porsche after the 997. Jay, if you want to review it I think you'd be surprised.

Great review thanks. Just One thing : if you already had a 996 C2 (or 4S) it s totally different concerning some points : - Metzger motor (GT1 signature / Le Mans) - turbo look - prices continue to seriously increase on this model I sold my 2002 Targa for this one : it was a good choice

A simple remap on the 996 Turbo changes this car into a MONSTER!

Oh yes, this is exactly what I want to see in my subscription feed when I open my phone!

Jay, I have to say your channel is in my top three KZfaq motoring channels! Great video! Keep them coming sir!

If you want a 996 c4s and you include the engine failure cost then it's better value to buy the turbo

@2:42 it looks like there is a bubble in the tire sidewall...drive safe! That's a high risk for blowout, should be taken care of immediately before any more driving!

I loved my 731 awhp 996 turbo. Seriously the best car I've ever owned. I will get another some day.

Nikasil carbide bore, true dry sump, proper oil feed in IMS bearing, proper cooling, and a close deck engine block, it’s one of the most reliable water cooled Porsche. The only issue is that it’s not as engaging as a GT series and a Cayman platform. Compared to 996 and 997 GT3s, still a grand touring car. But who cares, nice to have it as a daily driver.

Still Putting around In My 99 C2 Cab. Thanks for Posting, Great Content.

Definitely a great car like you say. However, I made a video about the prices and depreciation/appreciation curve of the turbo and some of the cars are just overvalued. Buyers need to look exceptionally well to find a solid car which is not overpriced.

My dad had a 996 c4s with sport exhaust. Amazing car and sound!!

Top marks Jay... now give us a 997 Turbo review for comparison's sake - would love to hear your thoughts. Bonus points if it's modified. ;)

As a 996TT owner making 600 horsepower...the ability to tune this old thing to keep up with 991 Turbos is my case

Would love a 911 turbo! I’d have a Porsche if I could afford one as my daily . Would settle for these lesser model 911 c4 or c2

Nice and informative - a guy that knows his stuff

I owned a 2003 996 TT. My only mod was an ECU upgrade by GIAC. $2000 for an additional 85 hp so I was nominally pushing close to 500 HP. Screaming fast and so much fun.

Pure gold Jay, pure gold :-)

If you want 996 turbo buy it now before the boat floated away.........

Check out the bubble on that back passenger tyre. Blow out waiting to happen. 1.32 seconds

Great vid. Clear and concise, thanks... I brought a 997 TT and love it.

One of the few people talking about 996s who effectively understands the difference between the legendary "Mezger" engine and the M96 lemon in the Carreras. Bravo

It can be misleading driving these cars on crap, rough British roads. Take a manual 996 turbo to an alpine mountain pass and they come alive, an absolute beast or drop into fourth gear at 100mph on de-restricted German autobahn and watch it head toward 200mph. Wasted tootling around British B roads or city centre commuting. 👍

Porsche is amazing i worked for Porsche from 2006 to 2013 and the only time a Porsche 911 came on a rollback is because its a track car !

5 years ago when I sold my 996 turbo for pennies, all these “car experts” roundly slated it as being terrible and unable hold a candle to the magnificent 997 turbo. Me thinks many have since stocked up on cheap 996 turbos and are looking to offload them for big profits, thanks to the slew of recent videos like this

I'm about to watch the modded video after this, but what stuck out to me on this video is that you basically don't smile once. That says all your need to know. I'd argue that for the Turbo the AWD and the rest is an asset if you aren't particularly gifted, but on an n/a 996 I'd rather have RWD than the extra weight and complication of a front driveline. And I say all of this as an owner of a 2004 X50 car. But you're right about this. It's a C4S with the better motor. I said it out loud right before you did in the video. Though I'd argue it's also better looking.

I have a 2002 911 TURBO MANUAL that I have for 7 years and I would recommend one to anyone ...I know you say that others would have it around the track but this would be the case with all the 911s prior to this one

I absolutely love my 996 C4S......considering picking one of these up too

The lack of room is likely down to your clear love of pies 👍🏼

Mine needed coilovers, sway bars, and power upgrades to be really good. Love my 01 car.

I paid 27 for a 2002 about 7 years ago with 25000 miles . Took it to my friend Rob at DMS for a remap to 520 BHP . Following that bigger turbos etc and hey presto 600 BHP .... Drove it aall over Europe many times trouble free. A very underated car in my opinion.

I currently own a e92 m3 But have a horn for a 996 c4s. Turbo is another level.

I drove a 997 Turbo a few years ago,it was good but not £45,000 good as they were valued around at the time.

Pay the little extra and buy the 997 Turbo. It's far superior as doesn't have 'those' looks!

This is like Jeremy Clarkson before he went mad 😆. Great review of the 996 Turbo.

the 911 is not just discreet and very understated as supercars go, it is also far more practical and a definite daily driver too, which one cannot say for most Ferraris or any Lambo.

Great car and a champion when properly set up to max performance!!!

Damnnit Jay...I wish you lived closer. We would have some good fun with the 12C and 550. Hope you're having a good week. I enjoyed this review.

I live in a medium size town in France and a guy as a turbo from 2016. When he parcks in town nobody what so ever look the car as a super performance car.

I owned a C4S and now a Turbo. Your comment that they don't feel any different is completely inaccurate. The Turbo feels more refined, more powerful, and different in most ways than the C4S. The Turbo also doe not like to be driven slowly, like in stop & go traffic, it will jerk and fart. At speed it is incomparable. A C4S is a great car, the Turbo is much better and sells better than the C4S.

I love the c4s, but they're not very fast by today's standards, slower than something like a golf r. So it's worth paying more, and getting the turbo imo, to get the power to match the looks.

Great review, thanks and keep them coming!

Lag occurs off boost when you downshift and such. You are referring to spool up.

I use one as my everyday car. As docile as you like. Much better than my C4s

Doubt it'll ever happen that I have the funds to be able to buy a 911 (my dream car since childhood) but I always thought the 996 4S would be the one I'd go for......right until you mentioned the turbo engine is a stronger unit.....ah I'll decide when I win the lottery 😂

Nice intro! lol I totally love my 996tt and I made a video of the 5 most hated features and what I did to address each ;)

Bought one on 12/13. Test drove the c4 and the 02 911 turbo. Bought the turbo.

Comparing a 996 turbo to a 996 C4S, is just, as you would say, "poppycock". I think you're a little biased towards your c4s

Great video. I have the C4s in the 997 and i could not agree more with your comments.

Turbo dark blue on an X reg 996 for three years then Exige 2010 S2 six months then V6 exige similar. All been christ. Greeeeaaaattttttt

Shame, was always a dream of mine - they did always say dont meet your hero's ! When i make it, i'll get a gt3 !

No ims issues due to metzger engine great performance definitely worth the extra money but the C4s is still a great motor as long as all the issue have been sorted

Best bang for buck!!!!!still a super car

Seriously considering one of these. I'm also looking at a 991.1 Carrera S and a 991.2 Carrera S, but this has some old school cool, to my mind, and is still ridiculously quick. Plus it won't lose anywhere near as much as the other two over the next few years. 9912 prices particularly are a bit bonkers at the moment.

One of the best youtubers of the moment 👍

Had a genuine Turbo S manual cabriolet in Dark olive at one point. Even at 6 years old it needed the front radiators and aircon rads replacing, fitting an aftermarket front intake mesh kit to stop debris collecting and rotting the rads out is an absolute must on any water cooled Porsche of this era. The Turbo heatshields on the exhausts rot out and rattle with age and are an absolute pig to change..if the original exhaust is still fitted. On these the active rear struts on the rear spoiler can fail too...that wasn't a cheap fix either....the degraded and cracked cooling expansion vessel in the engine bay was also an unexpected failure....as was the petrol tank sender unit.. especially for the amount the car cost at the time. Mine looked great on its Gt3 wheels and it's stopping power was immense with it carbon ceramics. As a point to point A to B car with a dash of practicality that's a docile as a puppy in everyday duty.. and a rottweiler when the foot is planted to the floor it was fantastic. They are fantastic... but even at a relatively young age they were needy beasts.. a full comprehensive history is vital when looking for one and a slightly higher milage well maintained example is probably a better bet than a low milage garage queen.

i would still love to hear your thoughts on the 987 Cayman S in full! my offer stands if your ever in Devon give me a shout

Need for speed hot pursuit 2 memories 😭😭

You drove a 996TT at regular speed with the fat guy seats. This car is Night a day different from a c4s. This car is a monster. It handles great and there are not many cars even today that can beat this car in a straight line. What a terrible review.

The problem with these is that they were good bargains at £20k but even without the grenading engines of the non turbo models you still could have some huge bills for other stuff. Now they are are £40k plus you have lost £20k to pay for these huge bills. It's just a waste of money now. Both ways

Even EVO finally admitted (after making it ECOTY) that the car is a little dull, in that it just eats miles at any speed almost unflappably. However, you can tune them up a LOT.

bizarre review, youv'e been blinded by owning a c4s and have asked the wrong question?, of course the turbo is worth the premium over a c4s because its a whole different ball game in performance which justify's the premium, once you learn how the ratios work and how the car likes too spool up then you realise the car is in another league, the real question should of been is a c4s worth its current premium over a standard c2 or c4 - and the answer is clearly no, jumped up owners seem to think their c4s is worth a mad premium over a standard car - granted it is worth a premium over a standard car but certainly not the current one, its not really any faster and its only real advantage is the fact that it carries turbo brakes, it doesn't even have a proper turbo body unlike the previous 993c4s, add in the engine woes and the reality is the c4s is way overpriced today, i have been lucky enough to own a few standard cars in the past and have ran a turbo for a few years, if budget allows then a turbo is the way to go, all the 996 cars - c2 or c4 c4s or turbo are nice cars, but if a nice standard car is 15k and a nice turbo is 35-40k how can a c4s be worth 25k?? , only one sits awkward on low value for money and that is the c4s.

997 turbo .1 vs .2 or stock versus mod'd... Please

AS. ALLWAYS. A. SUPER. REVIEW. TO. HELP US. UNDERSTAND. TNKS. AND. BLESSED. BE SIR

They've always got some nice motors been worked on at John Ashley

Excellemt insights...thank you

could any one tell me should i get a tiptronic or must be manual 996 turbo？thanks！

Absolutely worth it. The real issue for most is finding a place to let it run. Its up to illegal speeds really quick.

This guy is off. He thinks a boxster or a cayman will take a turbo on a track. Those are way,way,way down on power. It's also not "The 911 I used to own" Why your old 911 didn't have the mergzer engine. You failed to mention that and the IMS failures with all non Turbo and GT cars.

Please continue hating on the 996 lads, tou are doing us real enthusiasts a favor and keeping the 996 affordable

After owning a 996TT for 2.5 yrs, done 60K km, you must have driven a dud 996TT because there is very little to no turbo lag with the parallel turbos always working. "once it comes on boost"... again, no idea - the 996TT is always on boost if you put your right foot to the floor at any rpm over about 2000rpm (you can change the display in front of you to always show the boost), hence the "mid-range shove to spare" observation you made. "even in 6th gear at 2000rpm, the car has plenty of pull in it"... yes, because of the turbo's are on boost. Try the 6th gear test again with your C4S next to a Turbo, and ask yourself why the Turbo is faster (hint, the turbos are working).

I think we all remember the Top Gear bit explaining the 'differences' between the 911 range...

thanks Jay, Great review.

Gosh you have been busy !

Yes.

Great vid

its possibly the first (and only) 911 Porsche i have loved really loved, the Turbo AND the twin/single rear wings on the GT3 as well. would be a hard decision on which to buy because if i had too i would get a 360 Ferrari, i love the Ferrari much much more than the Porsche and so u would chose with your heart if u really love cars

My step sister has a 996 Turbo S Cabriolet. Manual with ceramic brakes. It’s her daily driver as it should be.

MeeeeeeezzzzzzzGer!!!!!

There are supercars and there is the Porsche 911. To me they are their own breed. If I had budget for a sportscar the 911 would be on top of my list. Supercars only break down and are fragile. Not a fan of these headlights though. Performance wise I wouldn't mind if it was not the fastest car around.

4:33 for sound

how long ago was a turbo available for 17K GBP? in the states the cheapest you can find is maybe 38-39K with high miles

Merger turbo yo!

Great review

Great video!

Excellent review.