thinking of buying a 996 C4S ?

[jamal w]

I have a Exige at the mo I do a few track days but would like something with a back seat (baby on way) if you have one I would like to know what you think of it and has anyone done any track days in it?

[lightweight]

Great choice of upgrade if you have kids porsche child seats are great and v safe.
Re ocasional track days they are great fun Goodwood GRCC track day 1.29!(with aircon on full blast) but a good driver will go faster. it will never be a gt3 but then its not trying to be.
Real world quick and comfy.

[glenn mcmenamin]

Had one for a year, and tracked it extensively.

Poss the best alround 996 Porker to date IMHO.

Looks great, fantastic road handling, realistic fuel economy, and
pretty damned good on track too, with added benefit of PSM when you
get it wrong.


G.

[jamal w]

Thanks guys

Just need to find one now!

[Gulliver]

Without spoiling the fun here, this would not be my choice for someone who likes track days, but needs back seats.

Is the 996 4S not the slowest of all 996 (Except for the 996 4S Cabrio)?.

I really liked the shape myself and hesitated, but went for a 3.6l 996 with X51, LSD and Sport Chassis, as a 996 with a track day bias.

The clincher also if you need back seats (With a baby I understand), is that the C4S has a very small front booth with the front drivetrain, this has implications with usability of the car.

It is the better looking car no question though....

[andy74b]

Just bought a 2004 C4S Cab (the slowest 996!) for my wife. Picked it up Saturday and we are both really pleased with car. Much prefer the look of the wide body without the spoilers of the turbo. Car fully loaded(£82k list!), favourite toy is the switchable sports exhaust, although not tried it in quiet mode yet .

We bought car as replacement for a Boxster S which we are about to sell. Needed the rear seats for baby. The Porsche Prince seat fits in well with plenty of room for 18mth baby. Quinny Zap pram fits in front but not much else, use the other rear seat for bags.

Hope you find one soon.

Andy

[kayc]

For once i agree with gulliver,i reckon a standard 996c2 would be better on track than a 4s...and on the road to be fair...doesnt look as good though!

[Rob_T]

had a c4s a while back. a great road car, looks the part and a very good drive. never tracked it myself, but if glenn says its a good enough track day car, then treat that as gospel - he's a bit of a track day monster and knows a thing or two about these things...

[lightweight]

Gulliver said:

Without spoiling the fun here, this would not be my choice for someone who likes track days, but needs back seats. Is the 996 4S not the slowest of all 996 (Except for the 996 4S Cabrio)?. I really liked the shape myself and hesitated, but went for a 3.6l 996 with X51, LSD and Sport Chassis, as a 996 with a track day bias. The clincher also if you need back seats (With a baby I understand), is that the C4S has a very small front booth with the front drivetrain, this has implications with usability of the car. It is the better looking car no question though....

Sounds like you may have bought my old C2 Bassalt black? if so well done I loved it.
Re C4s and the original question it is a better real world proposition and not to shabby for the odd track day on faster circuts its fantastic especaly in the wet/damp on slow circuits it looses out a little due to weight/understear the reason people love them is that out of the box they are the fastest non turbo cross contry car in the 996 range add to that they have a great spec as standard buying 2nd hand most have exceptionaly high spec

re luggage space there is penty in fact a travel cot fits accross the base box if you have BOSE





>> Edited by lightweight on Monday 23 January 17:21

[Gulliver]

Doubt it was yours Lightweight, it was a 2004 model with X51, I bought it in Germany directly in December.

Psychologically, I liked the X51 pack, but yes, the 4S is so curvy, good enough to eat

[Carlt]

Do it - I have just had to sell mine back to the OPC I got it from :thumbdown:

It was / is a fantastic car and I would not hesitate to get another

[Hedgeman]

From personal experience my opinion is that 996's and baby seats are not a great combination. I would not put an 18 month old child in a porsche prince seat, period - the child is effectively "secured" by their abdomen in contact with the table section which fits across the seat. There is no harness, and to make matters worse the seat does not recline. The 996 has long rear seat belts and other models of seat will fit, but only at the expense of cramped legroom for the child or the front seat passenger's knees pressed up against the dash. Unless you can use the 996 as a plaything, 1-up with your child (in which case with the airbad deactivation module they can travel in the front), I would look elsewhere.

[jamal w]

Thanks for all the posts

996 C4S would be our 3rd car we have a M3 cab and a smart, so its just for track days and going out in something a bit special that we can all fit in !
I think its slower then our M3 but who cares, so is my Exige but only in a straight line!

They look & sound(sports exhaust) so good

Jamal