Buying a 996 C4S

[SluffMcDuff]

I'm a new member but have been lurking for a few months since I decided to buy my first Porsche, soaking up all the knowledge on this forum.

I want a 996 C4S and set myself a budget of £20k. Since I've been looking there hasn't been the perfect car come up.

There is one for sale at RSJ at the moment which is perfect bar the colour and it's a bit over my budget.

My questions are, am I likely to regret the colour, which I don't mind but don't love? And also if I buy from RSJ over my budget, is this likely to result in lower than average maintenance costs at least for the first year?

I know things will break, but if I can justify to myself lower initial maintenance (and not having to get a PPI carried out at RSJ) I may convince myself. I'll likely only have the car for one or two years so depreciation could be quite big at RSJ prices.

Thanks for any opinions

[IMI A]

Try and ignore colour. At your budget just by a car in the best condition possible. What colour do you want and what colour is RSJ car? You can't really go wrong with RSJ as their cars come with a solid warranty. One thing I would not buy a c4s without is an oem sports exhaust. They sound fantastic

Edited by IMI A on Wednesday 11th December 22:32

[SluffMcDuff]

Was ideally after Basalt Black or Atlas Grey, but I don't mind Arctic Silver which is the colour of this car.

Yes PSE is on my must have list, along with Litronic and PCM. I'm not fussed about the Nav personally, I'll never use it, but seems to make a difference at resale for a lot of people.

[IMI A]

I have basalt and its hard to keep in good condition let alone clean. If a similar car turns up in black or Atlas obviously go for it but I would not be put off a good car especially if it has all the options you want unless it is marmite colour like yellow, ruby red, macadamia all of which I like but many do not. Can't believe litronics were not standard on a c4s. Porsche do take the piss with options. £70k cars new without xenon lights and sat nav!

[thegoose]

A car without nav should be cheaper, so when you sell you can also price kit lower to attract a buyer. 996 PCM not much cop compared to anything current anyway.

The colour thing is personal - some people don't mind too much, but it sounds like it matters more to you. It does limit choice somewhat in the used market though - what you have to ask yourself is how you'll feel every time you see one in your preferred colour driving the other way, and whether any saving, or whatever other incentive there is to buy a 2nd choice, is worth it.

[Shewie]

Wouldn't worry about PCM it's shocking. When I bought my C4S I actually looked for one without. As for PSE and Litronics I'd definitely try and get them. PSE was a must have for me as I think it sounds awesome and looking back I would have regretted it if I'd got one without. As was said above, I can't believe Litronics weren't standard. Mine has the regular lights which was never a deal breaker but since my other car now has Xenons I'm wishing the Porsche had them as well

Nothing wrong with Arctic Silver by the way. Fastest colour in my opinion !! Also much easier to keep clean than Basalt.

[threespins]

I went to RSJ, not as good as their reputation suggests and I was not allowed a test drive.

[petop]

I bought a Artic Silver 996 C4S from RSJ last year. Dont worry about buying from them, they only go for good cars and have a good warranty after the sale. I had top mounts done for mine that went after about 4 months and were done for free. Apart from that nothing has gone wrong apart from wear and tear (new tyres and brakes all round etc). Yes RSJ dont always allow test drives, i never had one in fact i looked at it, put a deposit down then that night flew out abroad for over 2 months then picked it up on the day i flew back. I would buy again from them without hesitation. And yes, PSE is a must on a C4S.

[monthefish]

thegoose said:

The colour thing is personal - some people don't mind too much, but it sounds like it matters more to you. It does limit choice somewhat in the used market though - what you have to ask yourself is how you'll feel every time you see one in your preferred colour driving the other way, and whether any saving, or whatever other incentive there is to buy a 2nd choice, is worth it.

Yes.

Condition and colour are equally (very) important.

If you were buying a car as 'white goods' then it wouldn't matter so much, but it's a Porsche your buying. I wouldn't have loved mine as much as I did if it was in a different colour.

I say wait for the right one to come along.

[hopeydaze]

Arctic Silvers a good colour. I've had three. Usually looks clean and silver 'hides' the lights better than any other colour

[SluffMcDuff]

Thanks for all the replies. It's given me food for thought.

I could live with the silver, but if I'm going to spend well over my budget it has to be for the perfect car I've decided.

I'll keep looking, although I will admit it's embarrassing how many times per day I'm checking to see if anything new has come up for sale anywhere...!

[monthefish]

Embarrassing????
The search is the best bit!!!!


(Well, that, and picking it up)

[jakesmith]

IMI A said:

Try and ignore colour. At your budget just by a car in the best condition possible. What colour do you want and what colour is RSJ car? You can't really go wrong with RSJ as their cars come with a solid warranty. One thing I would not buy a c4s without is an oem sports exhaust. They sound fantastic

Edited by IMI A on Wednesday 11th December 22:32

I actually think the RSJ warranty is pretty poor, the main thing that put me off buying from them...

3 months full cover (as per Sales of Goods Act which they attempt to cap at 3000 miles)
Months 4,5,6 - engine & gearbox cover only, limited this time to 5000 miles
Months 7-12 - labour contribution only to engine and gearbox, so engine failure in month 7? Customer pays all parts costs.

RSJ are at the top end of pricing for the specialists, I'm sorry but if I'm spending £40k+ and it's top dollar for a 'minter', I expect to be looked after better than that if the worst happens

[IMI A]

jakesmith said:

IMI A said:

Try and ignore colour. At your budget just by a car in the best condition possible. What colour do you want and what colour is RSJ car? You can't really go wrong with RSJ as their cars come with a solid warranty. One thing I would not buy a c4s without is an oem sports exhaust. They sound fantastic

Edited by IMI A on Wednesday 11th December 22:32

I actually think the RSJ warranty is pretty poor, the main thing that put me off buying from them...

3 months full cover (as per Sales of Goods Act which they attempt to cap at 3000 miles)
Months 4,5,6 - engine & gearbox cover only, limited this time to 5000 miles
Months 7-12 - labour contribution only to engine and gearbox, so engine failure in month 7? Customer pays all parts costs.

RSJ are at the top end of pricing for the specialists, I'm sorry but if I'm spending £40k+ and it's top dollar for a 'minter', I expect to be looked after better than that if the worst happens

It seems better than no warranty at all. If you want the best go to OPC but no guarantees with them either from experience. If they don't like the look of your claim they are likely to decline a claim. These are used cars so one cannot expect to be in as safe a position as if buying new. You want total peace of mind - buy new.

[thegoose]

jakesmith said:

3 months full cover (as per Sales of Goods Act which they attempt to cap at 3000 miles)

Ah, the usual consumer myth again. There is NO requirement under the SOGA to provide any form of warranty whatsoever, any that you are provided with upon purchase of a car is additional cover over and above your SOGA rights.

[jakesmith]

thegoose said:

Ah, the usual consumer myth again. There is NO requirement under the SOGA to provide any form of warranty whatsoever, any that you are provided with upon purchase of a car is additional cover over and above your SOGA rights.

When you buy a used vehicle from a trader you are making a legally binding contract. You have legal rights against the trader under the Sale of Goods Act 1979

[Shurv]

£20k should get you a minter. Be patient, one will turn up. When I started looking, I found 3 at the same time, all with the spec I wanted,so it was nice to be able to choose the best of the 3. Mine was Arctic silver with all the spec I wanted from my essential list, and all but one from my desirable list. Mine hasn't got nav, I didn't want it, but had the Litronics which are great. Where are you in the UK, if not far I can bring mine over so you can get a feel of what a decent one looks like.

[Kenzle]

OP, do you have a maximum mileage in mind?

My C4S ticks most of the boxes you are looking for (black w black interior, PSE, manual, PCM) and also has the X51 power upgrade. It may be for sale in the new year. But it's done 98,000 miles...

PM me if you want further details.

[thegoose]

jakesmith said:

thegoose said:

Ah, the usual consumer myth again. There is NO requirement under the SOGA to provide any form of warranty whatsoever, any that you are provided with upon purchase of a car is additional cover over and above your SOGA rights.

When you buy a used vehicle from a trader you are making a legally binding contract. You have legal rights against the trader under the Sale of Goods Act 1979

Indeed, but you seem confused between the legal rights provided by the SOGA and a warranty, which, if offered or included by the dealer, is additional, and in no way obligatory or mandatory. Read what I wrote again and see if it makes sense now.

[DKL]

thegoose said:

Indeed, but you seem confused between the legal rights provided by the SOGA and a warranty, which, if offered or included by the dealer, is additional, and in no way obligatory or mandatory. Read what I wrote again and see if it makes sense now.

It seems to come down to "fit for purpose" and then over what time period each party has to to show it either was or wasn't.
Used cars are a grey area but I gather amount paid relative to market value has some baring. Buy it silly cheap and you won't win, buy at full market value or over and you (and the court) would expect it to last or be fixed.
Not a warranty as such but peace of mind.
Equally you'd hope a business would value their customers.
Makes you want to buy privately - at least you know where you are then. On your own!