Diary of a new 996C4S owner.
Discussion
Beanoir said:
Good work sir! Glad to see you back in the saddle!
Up at Colchester OPC BBQ Breakfast on Sunday morning if you fancy it in the new toy!
Hi Nick, I'm collecting next Saturday if all goes to plan, not tomorrow else I would definetly have come along.Up at Colchester OPC BBQ Breakfast on Sunday morning if you fancy it in the new toy!
Once I pick it up I'll arrange to shoot over the water catch up.
Edited by pete a on Friday 25th September 06:51
Nice one Pete.
A 996 C4S is on my radar in a year or so time. I'm sure it'll be a peach from 911V. Sad end to your GT3. Easy done though when covering big mileages abroad. I almost turned up the wrong way of a dual carriageway going to Lemans in my 964T one year. Only my mate Paul screaming "Wrong way!! Wrong WAAYYY!! was enough to alert me. Turned the wrong way onto a road in Switzerland in my camper van too. More helpful screams, this time from the wife. Tiredness is a bugger when driving abroad.
Enjoy the car. Please tell me it has PSE? The must have C4S option.
I'm really fancying a cab for my next 911. Given my uses, sunny weekend road use only, I can't see any downsides.
A 996 C4S is on my radar in a year or so time. I'm sure it'll be a peach from 911V. Sad end to your GT3. Easy done though when covering big mileages abroad. I almost turned up the wrong way of a dual carriageway going to Lemans in my 964T one year. Only my mate Paul screaming "Wrong way!! Wrong WAAYYY!! was enough to alert me. Turned the wrong way onto a road in Switzerland in my camper van too. More helpful screams, this time from the wife. Tiredness is a bugger when driving abroad.
Enjoy the car. Please tell me it has PSE? The must have C4S option.
I'm really fancying a cab for my next 911. Given my uses, sunny weekend road use only, I can't see any downsides.pete a said:
Arrived home from work tonight and went in the office at home to check a few emails and make some calls, quickly checked the classifieds and saw a Basalt Black on black leather 996 C4S due in at 911 Virgin, quick read of the advert, one phone call and a chat with Tom who was very helpful, knowledgeable and professional and deposit taken.
This totally goes against all my instincts normally to buy a car unseen, not even a photo, but a friend of mine has had many dealings with 911V and he has recommended them to me and I know they have a good reputation so I thought, hey why not you only live once.
So that's it, should be collecting the car next Saturday after it's had a full preparation to include a major service with plugs, brake fluid and clutch.
I'm sure it's going to be a big difference from the GT3 I had but it's good to try different things, plus it's almost a quarter of the price I got for the 3.
Pictures and 1st drive review to follow.
So you didn't fancy a £50k 964 c2 manual coupe in the end? ............;) This totally goes against all my instincts normally to buy a car unseen, not even a photo, but a friend of mine has had many dealings with 911V and he has recommended them to me and I know they have a good reputation so I thought, hey why not you only live once.
So that's it, should be collecting the car next Saturday after it's had a full preparation to include a major service with plugs, brake fluid and clutch.
I'm sure it's going to be a big difference from the GT3 I had but it's good to try different things, plus it's almost a quarter of the price I got for the 3.
Pictures and 1st drive review to follow.
marky911 said:
Please tell me it has PSE? The must have C4S option.
Hi Mark, no pse, but gundo hack happening prior to collection.bigunit00 said:
So you didn't fancy a £50k 964 c2 manual coupe in the end? ............;)
not in this life time, 50k for a 964 c2 
Fattrader said:
Brilliant Pete did not think you could stay away from Pork for too long. Car sounds great and looking forward to seeing the pics and the update of the diary 
Hi ArranThanks mate, I had to buy something before my wife left me for spending too much time searching the classified adverts on here
.Don't worry full update with pictures and review will be posted very soon after collection. Fingers crossed 911V are as good as you say they are as i've not even seen a picture of the car myself yet
though given my dealings with them thus far im very confident that I'm going to be a happy bunny
I hope you smiled when you saw the thread title
Well, I collected the car this morning from 911 Virgin and it was exactly as described by Tom, a really nice example of a C4S, it's actually difficult to believe it's 13 years old and travelled 75,000 miles it is in lovely condition.
My day started with a train to St Pancras followed by a tube ride on the Met line to Uxbridge where a car was waiting for me as arranged with 911V. After a short drive back to base and a welcome cup of coffee Tom greeted me and took me to see the car. Having not even seen a photo of it at this point I was delighted to see it was a fantastic example. The preparation and presentation work carried out was excellent and had a real attention to detail that really impressed, little things like while the wheels were off being refurbished the hubs had been painted matte grey and knowing I have a personalised plate on retention that can't be fitted until the new V5c arrives they went to the trouble of making up a second new set of number plates with my reg number and put them in the boot ready for when I need them.
The interior is in excellent condition with no noticeable wear to the seat bolsters,there is a small amount of patina around the cabin but for a 13 year old car it is great. I like the old school head unit instead of an old PCM unit as the old sat nav is not of much use and the Becker/Porsche head unit gives a nice retro feel to the cabin.
After checking the car over a quick look at the history file which has every invoice the car ever had it seems all immaculate in a ring-binder, a little detail but I like the thought someone took the care to do it, it reassures me they took time to look after the car as well.
Paid some money, taxed the car, took some pictures and it was time to drive home.
Another nice surprise awaited me here, the car had half a tank of petrol in it, I've bought cars for 3 times the value of this in the past and not had half a tank of fuel in them upon collection. It's worth pointing out that this was probably the cheapest car in their inventory and yet the service I received and the presentation of the car was second to none.
The drive home put a really wide grin on my face, what a great sports car this is. The ride is firm yet not bumpy or crashy, the steering is beautifully weighted, the engine pulls smoothly and the flat 6 sound is wonderful but not boomy or overpowering, also the gear change has a nice amount of feel and weight to it, it's a proper 911 experience.
Granted it's not as quick, loud or sharp as my GT3 was but in a way I like that. I could hear myself think,the clutch didn't kill my left leg when I hit some traffic on the M25 and i went over a speed bump without having to slow to 2mph and go at an angle. I've also got to say I like having no big spoiler on the back, after Subaru's, Evo's and a GT3 the back of this feels a bit more grown up.
When I factor in the small detail that this cost 25% of what I got for the GT3 it blows my mind, 90% of the fun for 25% of the price.
As for the elephant in the room, well the car has a 12 month warranty with 911 V which includes IMS and Bore scoring so
If they seem confident in the car so am I, If it goes bang thereafter well there you go, I'll send it to Hartech and get it rebuilt.
All in all a great day, a great car and a great Porsche Dealer.
Big thanks to Tom, Dan and Terry.
My day started with a train to St Pancras followed by a tube ride on the Met line to Uxbridge where a car was waiting for me as arranged with 911V. After a short drive back to base and a welcome cup of coffee Tom greeted me and took me to see the car. Having not even seen a photo of it at this point I was delighted to see it was a fantastic example. The preparation and presentation work carried out was excellent and had a real attention to detail that really impressed, little things like while the wheels were off being refurbished the hubs had been painted matte grey and knowing I have a personalised plate on retention that can't be fitted until the new V5c arrives they went to the trouble of making up a second new set of number plates with my reg number and put them in the boot ready for when I need them.
The interior is in excellent condition with no noticeable wear to the seat bolsters,there is a small amount of patina around the cabin but for a 13 year old car it is great. I like the old school head unit instead of an old PCM unit as the old sat nav is not of much use and the Becker/Porsche head unit gives a nice retro feel to the cabin.
After checking the car over a quick look at the history file which has every invoice the car ever had it seems all immaculate in a ring-binder, a little detail but I like the thought someone took the care to do it, it reassures me they took time to look after the car as well.
Paid some money, taxed the car, took some pictures and it was time to drive home.
Another nice surprise awaited me here, the car had half a tank of petrol in it, I've bought cars for 3 times the value of this in the past and not had half a tank of fuel in them upon collection. It's worth pointing out that this was probably the cheapest car in their inventory and yet the service I received and the presentation of the car was second to none.
The drive home put a really wide grin on my face, what a great sports car this is. The ride is firm yet not bumpy or crashy, the steering is beautifully weighted, the engine pulls smoothly and the flat 6 sound is wonderful but not boomy or overpowering, also the gear change has a nice amount of feel and weight to it, it's a proper 911 experience.
Granted it's not as quick, loud or sharp as my GT3 was but in a way I like that. I could hear myself think,the clutch didn't kill my left leg when I hit some traffic on the M25 and i went over a speed bump without having to slow to 2mph and go at an angle. I've also got to say I like having no big spoiler on the back, after Subaru's, Evo's and a GT3 the back of this feels a bit more grown up.
When I factor in the small detail that this cost 25% of what I got for the GT3 it blows my mind, 90% of the fun for 25% of the price.
As for the elephant in the room, well the car has a 12 month warranty with 911 V which includes IMS and Bore scoring so
If they seem confident in the car so am I, If it goes bang thereafter well there you go, I'll send it to Hartech and get it rebuilt.
All in all a great day, a great car and a great Porsche Dealer.
Big thanks to Tom, Dan and Terry.
Edited by Budflicker on Saturday 10th October 19:45
Innowaybored said:
That looks lovely - although I would say that !
Will you keep the old skool stereo?
Yes absolutely, I don't like a modern flashing lights head unit in an older car.Will you keep the old skool stereo?
This would look good but is lots of money for a radio.
http://www.porsche.com/uk/accessoriesandservice/cl...
Oh and just noticed that it only goes in to cars up until 1995.
Edited by Budflicker on Monday 12th October 08:34
Fattrader said:
fabulous - hopefully see you on anther road trip with it.
Looks a beautiful car...
Thanks, it's really good, surprised me actually how good.Looks a beautiful car...
Alpine South next year for me I think.
How's the Fezza? Will you still have it next road trip or is the 458 calling you?
Bluedot said:
Lovely looking car, congrats on the purchase.
I'm still in 'discussions' with better half regarding taking the plunge and getting one for weekend use
Do it before they go up any more, a really under appreciated car in my opinion. A proper 911 experience for less than a new Golf. I'm still in 'discussions' with better half regarding taking the plunge and getting one for weekend use
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