blackbenzz

I am looking at picking up a new car in the near future. I would really like a SL600 or SL55 but its not realistic for me right now. The 996TT prices have plummeted to around 60k for an 01 and the E55's can be had in the 50's now. Another car I'm considering is a kleemann s/c W208 CLK55. Both cars (E55 and 996TT) will be modded because I have a disease and just cant stop modding my cars (4 different sets of rims on my clk in the past year and lookin for a 5th!). I just want to get some opinions. Only problems I have with the 996TT are paying 60k for a 6 year old car, the 997TT was just released, and I dont want to get smoked by a 4 door sedan at a light (E55/E63). Only downsides I see in the E55 are it doesnt look THAT great and the stress that will be put on the engine by the s/c. Thanks for your input in advance.

sshu930

The 996 TT can easily be modifed to be extremely fast cars where modified E55's would have trouble with them. If you take the car to the track or twisties, I don't think the E55 would have much of a chance modified or not. If you need the room go for the E55 but if you don't get the 996 TT without question. People say to watch out for 03 E55, because they might have some reliability issues, you might wanna go for an 04 or 05.

Scott

_________________
03 M5

moose

If you are just looking to go from light to light, the E55 is much easier and to some extent a little more fun.

If you are looking for overall performance, get the Porsche. You will give up on the back seat usage and overall usability of the car but I think you would be quite suprised on the usability of the 996TT.

I very much miss my 993TT (daily driver) and would switch back in a heartbeat. You'd be suprised at just how well built the Porsche is.

That being said, I'd do a lot of research on the 996TT if you go that route. Some had rear Main Seal issues in the early years. Don't buy anything without a PPI!

Check out Rennlist.com for a good Porsche forum

Good luck!

cte430

I think you should start your 996 TT search at an '02. Some changes between the two (don't remember all the details). If you want to mod you can make the 996 insanely fast. If you don't need 4 doors you can mod the 996 to be insane in the straights and it goes without saying what it can do in the corners.

Musikmann

Wow, some nice choices there bb!

I had a couple of Porsches in the '70s ('72 911T and '76 911 Targa) and I loved them both, but neither were ANYTHING like the newer TTs from what I hear. Both of mine needed major $$ engine repair at about 80,000 miles.

In the "old days" poochies were completely hand-assembled, and it took a team about 9 days to make each one. I don't know about now, but they are probably built by robots in the same general area (Stuttgart) as Mercedes
are.

If you are going to buy either an E55 or a 996TT, you had better GET A CPO WARRANTY! That's the same advice I give to anyone buying an expensive pre-owned car.

Good luck,
M

Vic55

Apples and Oranges, I have both and drive one for about 3 days and then switch over. Usually by the third day I am craving the positive attributes of the other.

If I could only have one then its the E55. I live in Cali, tons of traffic, lots of stop lights and truly there is not many places where I can enjoy my TT. The E55 is power on demand and great from stop to stop and handles sufficiently for daily needs. I guess it all boils down to what you can tolerate in regards to comfort and driveability. Both of my rides are heavily modded but even in stock format I'd take the E55 but thats my scenario.

aintME

I couldn't agree more. Both cars are fast. I just sold my 996 recently. And, honestly, I miss it. I just was not driving the car enough to justify keeping it. I don't think you can go wrong with either car.

sshu930

I was in the market for a 996 TT a little while back and from my research this is what I found. The only difference between the 01 and 02 are interior cosmetic changes, like glovebox, controls, etc. The engine and mechanics did not change. The engine is different from the other 996's so there is not a RMS problem. The early 01's did have front bumper stops and solid spoke wheels, which look bad, IMO but it was changed later into it's production that year. I've heard several horror stories with CPO's, I think it's more important to have 1 or even 2 PPI's done by good mechanics. Good luck.

Scott

DFW01E55

Life is short, get the Porsche.
You've already enjoyed a decent MB, you can always switch back.

$6k in mods to the 911T will get you 100 hp. The same 6k on the E55 will get you 60 to 80.

It's a buyers market for 911T's. Be picky, get exactly what you want.

elbowyeish

porsche

blackbenzz

Thanks for all the responses. I've contacted a few of my friends with modded 996TT's to see how they like them. I remember Spero telling me he liked his modded E55 more than his 996TT. I dunno, I guess I'll look for a good price and whichever seems like a better deal I'll go with that. I'm not in a rush but of course the sooner the better! I am dropping my current car at the bodyshop on monday to get the new body kit put on and maybe get the c/f hood painted. Thanks again for all your responses.

Carl Lassiter

Go for the 996TT. I sold mine at the start of this year, and totally regret it. I just wanted something quick that nobody really knows is quick. If 4-doors is important then it's a no-brainer as the 55 is a great car but the handling and brakes of the P is in a different league.
I used mine as a daily driver and never had a problem while it is mucj h more practical/comfortable than you would think.
Also the wide body 996s- C4S/TT/GT2 -still look very modern and haven't dated like the regular 996.
To be honest though you can't go wrong. They're very different but alike in the sense you never really have to worry about what's next to you at a stop light. Go the CPO route though.

04E55 AMG

Both great cars and I had both modded! My 911TT was a 01 with EVO Stage 2 and my 04 E55 was Kleemann K2.

Since you are young, single and have no need for a back seat, PORSCHE all the way! My may reason for selling my E55 was that I missed having a sports car.

Looking forward to my first ever made in the USA car later this year

laj_e55

I'll give you my point of view. I recently traded in my 05 E55 for a
02 Turbo X50. 2 very different cars with different objectives. You need to ask yourself a few questions.
1) Is 4 doors needed? for me, no. just me and the wife.
2) mod factor- can mod both with ease
3) I like being able to zip around in the little porsche. we have lots of twisties in the hill country and its great fun to take the P car out.
4) MB luxury wins, very comfortable car.
the turbo has the GT 1 based engine which is rock solid, no rear main seal issues ( like my previous C4S, which had one).
your young, single? P car all the way. you will be back in a MB so don't worry. if you can pick these cars at your age your doing quite well.
prices for porsches are great, not much different look than the 997 turbo.
keep the car for a yr or 2 and you won't lose very much money.

TopGun32

I didn't know you had a P car.. ? Nice Bro!

Vic55

Thanks, here is a pic....