Looking to buy 996 Carrera 4
Discussion
Guys and Gals,
I have around 31K to spend and I'm looking for a Carrera 4. Maybe a 2001 Y, with as lower mileage as possible. Looking for Silver as I'll put around 12-15K a year on it. It will be an everydayer! Hurrah! I'm scared witless by all your stories of RMS woe and engine failures and 'will go-won't go' crank meaurements........
Are 996's really that much trouble?
Had a Boxster 2.7 untill recently that had a new clutch and RMS done before i got it and I put 15K on in 9 months as an everyday car and it was just brilliant.
Any advice on what to look for?
Anyone else with a C4? What are they like to live with?
I've only driven one so far, but it handled brilliantly. Great turn in, wonderfully balanced. Fantastic grip.
Your thoughts are welcome!
I have around 31K to spend and I'm looking for a Carrera 4. Maybe a 2001 Y, with as lower mileage as possible. Looking for Silver as I'll put around 12-15K a year on it. It will be an everydayer! Hurrah! I'm scared witless by all your stories of RMS woe and engine failures and 'will go-won't go' crank meaurements........
Are 996's really that much trouble?
Had a Boxster 2.7 untill recently that had a new clutch and RMS done before i got it and I put 15K on in 9 months as an everyday car and it was just brilliant.
Any advice on what to look for?
Anyone else with a C4? What are they like to live with?
I've only driven one so far, but it handled brilliantly. Great turn in, wonderfully balanced. Fantastic grip.
Your thoughts are welcome!
I've gone from a 2.7 Boxster (which didn't have a drop of an RMS leak in 20,000 miles from new) to a 996 C4 (again, completely dry). The differecnce in performance is VERY noticeable and the 996 is, IMO, more involving to drive. I personally like the 'planted' feel of the C4 but would be the first to admit a C2 feels a bit lighter and more responsive at the front. Then again, in the weather we get the C4 is perhaps a bit more reassuring (although the limits of both a C2 and a C4 are far above mine!).
My C4 is a tip, I wanted a manual but, in the end, bought on condition rather than spec/ mileage (advice I'd recommend). I also made sure I got a warranty (albeit not a Porsche one and it is having some work on the aircon under warranty so it seems to be a decent policy). Tips (allegedly) have fewer RMS issues so I felt the combination of a tip and a 2 year warranty would allow me to drive without fear, but RMS is a massively overblown issue anyway (search for it here or on renntech and you'll find out more than you ever wanted to know!).
I appreciate what you are saying about mileage but really do buy on condition primarily (I looked at many that had half the miles of mine but were very rough in comparison). Also, if you are prepared to buy privately you could work to a lower budget of, say, £27K and put the rest in the bank - sort of a self-warranty scheme and if you don't need it you get to earn interest.
If you want any more advice feel free to email me - or if you're near Lincoln you'd be welcome to pop over and see my silver C4. I do also know of one for sale (not mine but basically the same) that I could give you details on.
Good luck and get test driving!
My C4 is a tip, I wanted a manual but, in the end, bought on condition rather than spec/ mileage (advice I'd recommend). I also made sure I got a warranty (albeit not a Porsche one and it is having some work on the aircon under warranty so it seems to be a decent policy). Tips (allegedly) have fewer RMS issues so I felt the combination of a tip and a 2 year warranty would allow me to drive without fear, but RMS is a massively overblown issue anyway (search for it here or on renntech and you'll find out more than you ever wanted to know!).
I appreciate what you are saying about mileage but really do buy on condition primarily (I looked at many that had half the miles of mine but were very rough in comparison). Also, if you are prepared to buy privately you could work to a lower budget of, say, £27K and put the rest in the bank - sort of a self-warranty scheme and if you don't need it you get to earn interest.
If you want any more advice feel free to email me - or if you're near Lincoln you'd be welcome to pop over and see my silver C4. I do also know of one for sale (not mine but basically the same) that I could give you details on.
Good luck and get test driving!
Thanks! Yeah details of the one you know of would be great! Was looking for manual also, but will bear in mind what you've said, there seems to be more tiptronics for sales as well, which means potentially more choice. The RMS issue really does seem to get a bit blurred between myth and reality. Glad your enjoying yours. I have a 1984 3.2 carrera that is just having a re-built g'box done, then I'm selling it and will be good to go. Been offered almost 8 from the dealer I bougt it from, when the work's done so happy days are just round the corner. The difference between that and the C4 handling couldnt be starker. Don't know what you thought when you first got in, but the C4 felt liek it could have weighed about 4 tons it felt so planted on the road......
I've got a C4. Its a manual 3.6. What's it like to live with? Brilliant. Its incredible in the dry but in a class of its own in the wet.
Don't believe the RMS hype and don't believe that Gaytronics are any more/less likely to be affected.
If you are going to put on around 15k a year, I would avoid paying a premium for a low mileage one. I bought mine with 16k, last year, but we only do around 5k a year in it.
Good luck with the search, you will love the car.
Don't believe the RMS hype and don't believe that Gaytronics are any more/less likely to be affected.
If you are going to put on around 15k a year, I would avoid paying a premium for a low mileage one. I bought mine with 16k, last year, but we only do around 5k a year in it.
Good luck with the search, you will love the car.
Bought my C4 Cab Tip at the beginning of March, and have been very happy with it. Haven't managed to get it sideways yet, but maybe I'm just not trying hard enough 
It is without doubt the most fantastic car I have ever owned, and should keep me grinning for many months. (At least until service time
) Yes the Auto can be a bit of a pain at times, but I am a lazy git, and the wife has to drive it, so Tip it was.
It is without doubt the most fantastic car I have ever owned, and should keep me grinning for many months. (At least until service time
) Yes the Auto can be a bit of a pain at times, but I am a lazy git, and the wife has to drive it, so Tip it was. 
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