996 C4S advice
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Discussion

cardigankid

Original Poster:

8,879 posts

242 months

Saturday 23rd February 2013
quotequote all
I'm looking at a 2004 Carrera 4S in Arctic Silver with Metropole Blue interior with about 65k miles up.

Normally I wouldn't be terribly keen on the blue interior, but this seems to be a very dark blue. The steering wheel is also dark blue, but I would swear that the doors and the dash are black.

I am not colour blind. I don't have pictures, but even if I did, I'm not sure they would show the difference. I think that it would all look black.

Is this significant?

Any other key things worth looking out for?

Mankers

669 posts

199 months

Saturday 23rd February 2013
quotequote all
I have a C4S with Metropole blue interior. You are correct it is very dark blue, to the point where in some light it appears black. Door cards and dash are the same colour as rest of interior.

Had mine 2 years, its been through a clutch 2 x RMS seals, door membrane (all under warranty). Then both front rads, at different times. It had new tyres, brake discs etc when I purchased @ 33k miles. Just check the usual, get a PPI done as all the above can add up to a substantial bill. Rads are considered a consumable by some as the car seems to got through them periodically due to the crud that builds up in the front bumper causing corrosion. They handle pretty well on the road but you really notice the weight on track.

PSE is nice to have as are the hard backed sports seats and colour coded centre console to lift the interior. Mine also has the X51 power kit, but I would not put a big premium on it.

Couple of pics (sorry for poor quality, just nipped in the garage to take them smile)






Edited by Mankers on Saturday 23 February 18:23

cardigankid

Original Poster:

8,879 posts

242 months

Saturday 23rd February 2013
quotequote all
Thanks.

That looks really nice.

This has the PSE but not the sports seats as yours does, but I think I could live with that. I am surprised you don't rate the X51 pack (which this one doesn't have by the way ) as I would have expected extra punch. My past experience of the 3.6 engine is that it should have all the punch I need, plus the sound, which is the reason I am not looking at Turbos.

I would swear that the dash is black, but I have not seen it out in good light conditions yet so that may be the issue. The upholstery is a very dark blue, in good condition, very attractive overall.

I doubt if I would be tracking the car.

Would you trust the local OPC to do a check or is it worth having one of the specialists check it over?

Callughan

6,313 posts

222 months

Saturday 23rd February 2013
quotequote all
Some dealers may use the blue against you when it comes time to sell.

996 C4S lovely car enjoyed more than my 997 although technically inferior.

Condition and provenance main things.

If you do a search here you will find loads of info.

Tyres, pads/discs, geo, rads, exhaust mounts etc..all add up if not right.

Edited by Callughan on Saturday 23 February 21:08

Mankers

669 posts

199 months

Saturday 23rd February 2013
quotequote all
Re Check - I guess it depends on the OPC! I would imagine they would do the 111 point check for you. If you could get the car to a good indie would prob be a better option. Have you seen the service history or know who last serviced the car, could be worth giving them a call as well.

Re X51 - Does not feel like a huge amount of difference vs std car maybe a bit stronger at higher revs. On track it was noticably quicker than a std gen 1 996 C2 (3.4) but I would imagine a non X51 C4S would be quicker than the 996.1 anyway?

Re PSE, make sure you do the diode snip as the PSE goes quiet between 25-40mph which is a bit lame. once the snip is done its loud all the time (just remember to switch it every now and then cos it has a habit of getting stuck in loud mode)

Jibaro

210 posts

211 months

Saturday 23rd February 2013
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I spent over 6 months looking for a nice turbo, my ideal colour combo was seal grey with black leather. Found the perfect car before xmas and bought it smile Found the original invoice for the car in the paperwork, turns out mine is metropol blue as well! OK the stitching looks a bit blue, but the seats dont look very blue at all and the dash looks black. Need to order some scuff master gliptone dye because the doorcard by the handle is a bit scuffed, hopefully won't get sent a proper colour blue!

cardigankid

Original Poster:

8,879 posts

242 months

Sunday 24th February 2013
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Thanks. I thought I was going round the bend.

Rockster

1,515 posts

190 months

Sunday 24th February 2013
quotequote all
Callughan said:
Some dealers may use the blue against you when it comes time to sell.

996 C4S lovely car enjoyed more than my 997 although technically inferior.

Condition and provenance main things.

If you do a search here you will find loads of info.

Tyres, pads/discs, geo, rads, exhaust mounts etc..all add up if not right.

Edited by Callughan on Saturday 23 February 21:08
When it comes time to sell the seller points out the interior color and its rarity which means the is a one of a kind and worth a premium.

rimkah

1,057 posts

196 months

Sunday 24th February 2013
quotequote all
Rockster said:
Callughan said:
Some dealers may use the blue against you when it comes time to sell.

996 C4S lovely car enjoyed more than my 997 although technically inferior.

Condition and provenance main things.

If you do a search here you will find loads of info.

Tyres, pads/discs, geo, rads, exhaust mounts etc..all add up if not right.

Edited by Callughan on Saturday 23 February 21:08
When it comes time to sell the seller points out the interior color and its rarity which means the is a one of a kind and worth a premium.
laughlaugh

cardigankid

Original Poster:

8,879 posts

242 months

Tuesday 26th February 2013
quotequote all
Things are gathering pace.

I have sorted out the finance, and requested a report from an independent local to the car.

Meanwhile I have had a drive in the car. It is all blue by the way, just a very dark blue. I love it. It has terrific grunt, just what you would expect from a 911. Seems pretty well balanced, a planted kind of car, but very different to the Boxster I used to have, which was light and nimble by comparison. There is a bit of corrosion on the discs, and a rushing sound when you pull away. Even after a bit of braking there is corrosion on the discs. My guess is it needs new discs. Likewise the AC doesn't get terribly cool even on Lo. So I guess the condensers need done too. The Sports Exhaust is a bassy growly kind of thing, while I was expecting more of a howl, but still very pleasant.

Thanks for the comments so far. Chip in with any other help or views you think could be useful.

cardigankid

Original Poster:

8,879 posts

242 months

Monday 4th March 2013
quotequote all
Rockster said:
Callughan said:
Some dealers may use the blue against you when it comes time to sell.

996 C4S lovely car enjoyed more than my 997 although technically inferior.

Condition and provenance main things.

If you do a search here you will find loads of info.

Tyres, pads/discs, geo, rads, exhaust mounts etc..all add up if not right.

Edited by Callughan on Saturday 23 February 21:08
When it comes time to sell the seller points out the interior color and its rarity which means the is a one of a kind and worth a premium.
When it comes time to sell, it is a Jan '05, 54 plate, C4S with 6 speed manual, Sat Nav, PSE, 996 Sport Tech alloys, rear sensors, Bose CD sound system, basically immaculate, all of the above dealt with, or will be by the time the dealer and I are finished. If they don't like that they can go spin. Doesn't have Aerokit, though, not sure if that is an issue.

6C4GTS

5,186 posts

208 months

Monday 4th March 2013
quotequote all
Apart from the rear sensors that sounds nice.....good luck with the purchase.

cardigankid

Original Poster:

8,879 posts

242 months

Monday 4th March 2013
quotequote all
Oo..er! What is the problem with the rear sensors?

6C4GTS

5,186 posts

208 months

Monday 4th March 2013
quotequote all
cardigankid said:
Oo..er! What is the problem with the rear sensors?
Ugly......spoil an otherwise pleasant rear end.

cardigankid

Original Poster:

8,879 posts

242 months

Monday 4th March 2013
quotequote all
Know what you mean. One of the best rear ends ever. I compared it on this site with Sophie Dahl, and am prepared to do so again. With illustrations.

Edited by cardigankid on Monday 4th March 20:51

Shurv

1,024 posts

190 months

Tuesday 5th March 2013
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Go on then.Sophie Dahl.......

Dave Thornton

237 posts

179 months

Tuesday 5th March 2013
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Spec sounds very good. On paper it's a great purchase. What matters next is the history, the condition and the evidence of recent clutch, RMS etc.

rimkah

1,057 posts

196 months

Tuesday 5th March 2013
quotequote all
cardigankid said:
Rockster said:
Callughan said:
Some dealers may use the blue against you when it comes time to sell.

996 C4S lovely car enjoyed more than my 997 although technically inferior.

Condition and provenance main things.

If you do a search here you will find loads of info.

Tyres, pads/discs, geo, rads, exhaust mounts etc..all add up if not right.

Edited by Callughan on Saturday 23 February 21:08
When it comes time to sell the seller points out the interior color and its rarity which means the is a one of a kind and worth a premium.
When it comes time to sell, it is a Jan '05, 54 plate, C4S with 6 speed manual, Sat Nav, PSE, 996 Sport Tech alloys, rear sensors, Bose CD sound system, basically immaculate, all of the above dealt with, or will be by the time the dealer and I are finished. If they don't like that they can go spin. Doesn't have Aerokit, though, not sure if that is an issue.
Spin time will come;)

cardigankid

Original Poster:

8,879 posts

242 months

Monday 11th March 2013
quotequote all
It had better not!

110 point check shortly. Meanwhile, as promised...





Pretty front and a well-sculptured, powerful rear end. What more could you ask for?


Edited by cardigankid on Monday 11th March 19:57