Discussion
Having had a Lotus Exige S2 for about a year, I am looking at trading it in for a 996. Not knowing much about the car - could you gents give me the pros and cons of a Carrera 4 with about 30k on the clock? Help would be appreciated to cut out some of the agonising over which to go for.
Cheers.
Cheers.
agree with the above, if you want the famed 911 experience (and I guess you do by coming from the lotus fold) C2 all the way.
RWD is the way forward.
ill get shot by some of them on here for saying it but after driving a 4wd 911 ill never buy one, its just not what its all about, the GT3 and GT2 owners will tell you the same
for the full fat 911 experience it HAS to be RWD, non of this 4X4 crap, leave that to land rover.
RWD is the way forward.
ill get shot by some of them on here for saying it but after driving a 4wd 911 ill never buy one, its just not what its all about, the GT3 and GT2 owners will tell you the same
for the full fat 911 experience it HAS to be RWD, non of this 4X4 crap, leave that to land rover.
DucatiGary said:
agree with the above, if you want the famed 911 experience (and I guess you do by coming from the lotus fold) C2 all the way.
RWD is the way forward.
ill get shot by some of them on here for saying it but after driving a 4wd 911 ill never buy one, its just not what its all about, the GT3 and GT2 owners will tell you the same
for the full fat 911 experience it HAS to be RWD, non of this 4X4 crap, leave that to land rover.
RWD is the way forward.
ill get shot by some of them on here for saying it but after driving a 4wd 911 ill never buy one, its just not what its all about, the GT3 and GT2 owners will tell you the same
for the full fat 911 experience it HAS to be RWD, non of this 4X4 crap, leave that to land rover.
yes but landies can be soooooo much fun......
I agree with everything gary has said. Before I got mine I always lusted after a turbo. Having got used more and more to the C2 I really couldnt imagine having a 4wheel drive.
Suspect the C4 would feel odd and, dare I say it, quite lifeless after life with a lotus
aceparts_com said:
I was reading a Porsche post today; in an interview with Walter Rohl he was asked about his two favourite porkers - 911 2.7 rs and a 993TT were his answers. Clearly 4wd is not an issue with some 
Interesting, but did Herr Rohl not buy (& I thought still owned) with his own cash a 3.2 CS tho?....
To original poster, I think GT3 is where you need to head if its 996 flavor pork you are after, or indeed GT2 if you want boooooost.
Then again it all depends what Elise S2 you had, a boggo K serise is not particually swift nor focused, if it just a sporty car you are after a C2 may indeed suit you fine.
Edited by iguana on Monday 25th September 23:44
Geneve said:
However, depending on budget, GT3 should be the best choice. Or, pop into an OPC and check out the new Boxster S / Cayman S.
given you are moving from an Elise I would also recommend you try the new Boxster 3.4, soft top, 2 seater and more nimble than a 911 therefore slightly closer to the Lotus
Budget is going to be c. £40k. I'm not wedded to the C4 particularly but am looking for something as balanced as the exige in the corners - i.e. not too tail happy. Looks like a few test drives are in store for me.
Any thoughts on the 996 service schedule - with 30ish k on the clock, what sort of maintenance costs are in store - is it worth hunting for some extended warranty or are they pretty bullet proof at that milage. I am looking for something that'll need no more than regular servicing for the next 20k miles or so.
Any thoughts on the 996 service schedule - with 30ish k on the clock, what sort of maintenance costs are in store - is it worth hunting for some extended warranty or are they pretty bullet proof at that milage. I am looking for something that'll need no more than regular servicing for the next 20k miles or so.
Service schedule is every 12k - the big one's the 48k service.. so best to avoid if possible.
As for warranty - well enter the debate - some people say dont buy a 911 without one - others dont have one and say its fine.
If your buying privately - GET a 111 point check at a OPC - this will pick up anything that needs doing, and is critical.
Once that is done, you can choose to extend the warranty for 700 quid a year.
One of the main reasons I bought my car was it was covered under extended warranty - and while the only work it has needed wasnt covered - things like 'the fault that shall not be named', engine and gearbox issues, all of which are VERY expensive are covered.
As for warranty - well enter the debate - some people say dont buy a 911 without one - others dont have one and say its fine.
If your buying privately - GET a 111 point check at a OPC - this will pick up anything that needs doing, and is critical.
Once that is done, you can choose to extend the warranty for 700 quid a year.
One of the main reasons I bought my car was it was covered under extended warranty - and while the only work it has needed wasnt covered - things like 'the fault that shall not be named', engine and gearbox issues, all of which are VERY expensive are covered.
iguana said:
aceparts_com said:
I was reading a Porsche post today; in an interview with Walter Rohl he was asked about his two favourite porkers - 911 2.7 rs and a 993TT were his answers. Clearly 4wd is not an issue with some
Interesting, but did Herr Rohl not buy (& I thought still owned) with his own cash a 3.2 CS tho?....
Edited by iguana on Monday 25th September 23:44
I think W.R. does have a 3.2 Club Sport.
He has a soft spot for the earlier 'air-cooled' Porsches, but of course he's spoilt for choice and presumably can use whatever he wants as a company car from the current range.
I did read that he was getting a 997 GT3 because he reckoned it had such a fantatastic chassis and engine, yet was civilised enough to use every day.
Edited by Koln-RS on Tuesday 26th September 09:08
If you are looking for a C4 then I can vouch for this one
www.pistonheads.com/sales/101107.htm
Recently had major service at OPC and covered by warranty until end of year which can easily be extended. It's not mine but belongs to a friend who is as manic about looking after his Porsche as I am
Yex
www.pistonheads.com/sales/101107.htm
Recently had major service at OPC and covered by warranty until end of year which can easily be extended. It's not mine but belongs to a friend who is as manic about looking after his Porsche as I am
Yex
edswales -
I very recently (picked it up last Saturday) had the same dilema, and found everyone told me to go with the "purists" C2. This was absolutely what i intended to do. However i drove both back to back (a couple of C2's and a couple of C4's) and frankly i prefered the C4 which surprised me.
Main reasons being -
a) despite the fact that ive read the stats, and am sure the C2 is point one of a second quicker etc the C4 felt much stronger, and much quicker on pick up to me (particularly from a roll), possibly its the fact that it can put the power down through all four wheels, i dont know. The previous owner of the C4 i bought had owned a C2 previously, and he said exactly the same thing without prompting.
b) I came to the 996 from an S2000, which frankly got tedious in the end - great fun if conditions were bone dry but anything else wasnt a confidence inspiring drive. Particularly so when the other half got in the car two days after id insured her on it, and came a cropper on a roundabout in damp conditions (the road not the girlfriend) - she spun and hit the central reservation, thankfully there was only a bumper replacement needed and no-one hurt but it could have been much worse. When buying the porker then, i considered that at some point the other half will probably end up driving the car, so id prefer the maximum stability i can get - thus four by four with PSM (standard ont he C4, so you dont have to find a second hand example and check its options for it). I realise the C2 has prodigious grip too, but i felt safer with the C4.
c) I prefer the feel of the C4, it will definitely come down to personal opinion so definitely take some extended test drives in both - its your car so your choice. Dont listen to the steadfast RWD only crew, i didnt find the C4 in the least bit "dead" feeling, and in fact i prefer it to corner "flat" and avoid the nose bob that seemed more inherent in the C2's (admittedly some would argue this is an inherent 911 handling trait, and therefore the C4 is less of a 911 - but like i say personal opinion). One could argue that if you wanted the truly seminal "proper" 911 youd be buying a 993 not a 996 anyway, so i dont see the C2 being the only proper 996 argument too fully myself anyway.
Whatever you choose im sure you will be pleased, im ecstatic with mine. (for ref - C4 Basalt Black '01). Like i say though its all down to what you prefer.
Happy hunting.
R.
ps - I still maintain that the quickest road drive ive ever had (including a 996 turbo, a tuscan speed 6, various modded M3's (all friends cars) plus anything ive ever owned) came in a colleagues modified Exige. The thing was brutal, and it wasnt the outright speed i.e. 0 -60, or top speed - just the massive point to point ability the thing had, it scared me witless - as did its driver who insisted on wearing nomex boots, and racing gloves whenever he drove it. Great Car.
I very recently (picked it up last Saturday) had the same dilema, and found everyone told me to go with the "purists" C2. This was absolutely what i intended to do. However i drove both back to back (a couple of C2's and a couple of C4's) and frankly i prefered the C4 which surprised me.
Main reasons being -
a) despite the fact that ive read the stats, and am sure the C2 is point one of a second quicker etc the C4 felt much stronger, and much quicker on pick up to me (particularly from a roll), possibly its the fact that it can put the power down through all four wheels, i dont know. The previous owner of the C4 i bought had owned a C2 previously, and he said exactly the same thing without prompting.
b) I came to the 996 from an S2000, which frankly got tedious in the end - great fun if conditions were bone dry but anything else wasnt a confidence inspiring drive. Particularly so when the other half got in the car two days after id insured her on it, and came a cropper on a roundabout in damp conditions (the road not the girlfriend) - she spun and hit the central reservation, thankfully there was only a bumper replacement needed and no-one hurt but it could have been much worse. When buying the porker then, i considered that at some point the other half will probably end up driving the car, so id prefer the maximum stability i can get - thus four by four with PSM (standard ont he C4, so you dont have to find a second hand example and check its options for it). I realise the C2 has prodigious grip too, but i felt safer with the C4.
c) I prefer the feel of the C4, it will definitely come down to personal opinion so definitely take some extended test drives in both - its your car so your choice. Dont listen to the steadfast RWD only crew, i didnt find the C4 in the least bit "dead" feeling, and in fact i prefer it to corner "flat" and avoid the nose bob that seemed more inherent in the C2's (admittedly some would argue this is an inherent 911 handling trait, and therefore the C4 is less of a 911 - but like i say personal opinion). One could argue that if you wanted the truly seminal "proper" 911 youd be buying a 993 not a 996 anyway, so i dont see the C2 being the only proper 996 argument too fully myself anyway.
Whatever you choose im sure you will be pleased, im ecstatic with mine. (for ref - C4 Basalt Black '01). Like i say though its all down to what you prefer.
Happy hunting.
R.
ps - I still maintain that the quickest road drive ive ever had (including a 996 turbo, a tuscan speed 6, various modded M3's (all friends cars) plus anything ive ever owned) came in a colleagues modified Exige. The thing was brutal, and it wasnt the outright speed i.e. 0 -60, or top speed - just the massive point to point ability the thing had, it scared me witless - as did its driver who insisted on wearing nomex boots, and racing gloves whenever he drove it. Great Car.
adam b said:
given you are moving from an Elise I would also recommend you try the new Boxster 3.4, soft top, 2 seater and more nimble than a 911 therefore slightly closer to the Lotus
I think thats the point here, he wants the next step up and not on par with a porsche badge on the bonnet.
cant ted seperate the boxster forum again? it was much more fun in here when they had their own forum.
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