Discussion
id say yes, i think the C4S is the best looking of the 996 derivatives (barring the turbo/GT variants).
However - a couple of downsides, 1) the C4S is apparently the best model for resale of the 996 range meaning they carry a price premium disproportionately large to the difference between the usual C2 / C4. This is obviously good for eventual resale but bad for the buyer right now. 2) I was warned off the C4S by three OPC sales people on the basis that the ride is shockingly hard - i dont believe this for a second (its a sports car with in this case even lower than standard ride height and firmer shocks, the ride in my mind should be firm) but im guessing if you intend to use the car everyday and prefer not to feel the speedbumps and potholes ... . maybe they have a point 3) Given the right spec (the C4S gets a few options as standard that the standard cars dont) I dont think there is anything that the C2 / C4 standard cars would do much worse than the C4S, i think the appeal/performance gap is negligible.
I would probably have bought a C4S (im in the minority here in that i much prefer the feel and driving traits of the 4WD 996 to the 2WD) as i simply loved the looks of the wide bodied car, but i simply found a very good example of a C4 with the options i wanted before i found the right C4S - so i bought the C4.
I guess as always it depends what you want out of the car, but id have one in a flash.
R.
However - a couple of downsides, 1) the C4S is apparently the best model for resale of the 996 range meaning they carry a price premium disproportionately large to the difference between the usual C2 / C4. This is obviously good for eventual resale but bad for the buyer right now. 2) I was warned off the C4S by three OPC sales people on the basis that the ride is shockingly hard - i dont believe this for a second (its a sports car with in this case even lower than standard ride height and firmer shocks, the ride in my mind should be firm) but im guessing if you intend to use the car everyday and prefer not to feel the speedbumps and potholes ... . maybe they have a point 3) Given the right spec (the C4S gets a few options as standard that the standard cars dont) I dont think there is anything that the C2 / C4 standard cars would do much worse than the C4S, i think the appeal/performance gap is negligible.
I would probably have bought a C4S (im in the minority here in that i much prefer the feel and driving traits of the 4WD 996 to the 2WD) as i simply loved the looks of the wide bodied car, but i simply found a very good example of a C4 with the options i wanted before i found the right C4S - so i bought the C4.
I guess as always it depends what you want out of the car, but id have one in a flash.
R.
If you can stretch to an equivalent turbo you'd be well advised to get one of those instead, maybe even get one a couple of years older for similar money.
I tried both when I was looking and that C4S with its "nearly" turbo looks, turbo weight and transmission losses and of course the RMS etc woes really meant it was a no brainer. Plus it just didn't go that well either. The turbo doesn't suffer any of these problems.
SM
I tried both when I was looking and that C4S with its "nearly" turbo looks, turbo weight and transmission losses and of course the RMS etc woes really meant it was a no brainer. Plus it just didn't go that well either. The turbo doesn't suffer any of these problems.
SM
Obviously yes if you can stretch to a turbo - get that, goes without saying.
but ....
That i dont understand - i thought only the GT2 and GT3 had the GT1 based engine (and thus no RMS "woes" ?, although i think there has been an element of scaremongering with that anyway).
R.
but ....
supermono said:
of course the RMS etc woes
That i dont understand - i thought only the GT2 and GT3 had the GT1 based engine (and thus no RMS "woes" ?, although i think there has been an element of scaremongering with that anyway).
R.
M@verick said:
Obviously yes if you can stretch to a turbo - get that, goes without saying.
but ....
That i dont understand - i thought only the GT2 and GT3 had the GT1 based engine (and thus no RMS "woes" ?, although i think there has been an element of scaremongering with that anyway).
R.
but ....
supermono said:
of course the RMS etc woes
That i dont understand - i thought only the GT2 and GT3 had the GT1 based engine (and thus no RMS "woes" ?, although i think there has been an element of scaremongering with that anyway).
R.
The turbo uses the same gt1 block ... I reckon that's enough of a reason to get one over a (similarly priced) C4S , without even considering the other obvious advantages.
[quote =ballcock] M@verick said:
Obviously yes if you can stretch to a turbo - get that, goes without saying.
but ....
supermono said:
of course the RMS etc woes
That i dont understand - i thought only the GT2 and GT3 had the GT1 based engine (and thus no RMS "woes" ?, although i think there has been an element of scaremongering with that anyway).
R.
The turbo uses the same gt1 block ... I reckon that's enough of a reason to get one over a (similarly priced) C4S , without even considering the other obvious advantages.
[/quote]
Ahh ok. The RMS comment makes a little more sense then. Altho i dont think that this should be the sole reason for buying a Turbo/GT for- for sure though id rather have a turbo - i just couldnt stretch to one currently. I plan to get into a turbo in the next couple of years but they will need to come down to under 50K (in fact closer to 45 being realistic) before i jumped at one.
R.
Obviously yes if you can stretch to a turbo - get that, goes without saying.
but ....
supermono said:
of course the RMS etc woes
That i dont understand - i thought only the GT2 and GT3 had the GT1 based engine (and thus no RMS "woes" ?, although i think there has been an element of scaremongering with that anyway).
R.
The turbo uses the same gt1 block ... I reckon that's enough of a reason to get one over a (similarly priced) C4S , without even considering the other obvious advantages.
[/quote]
Ahh ok. The RMS comment makes a little more sense then. Altho i dont think that this should be the sole reason for buying a Turbo/GT for- for sure though id rather have a turbo - i just couldnt stretch to one currently. I plan to get into a turbo in the next couple of years but they will need to come down to under 50K (in fact closer to 45 being realistic) before i jumped at one.
R.
futie said:
OK everyone, lets hear some opinions:
996 c4s - yes/no ?
The more subjective, the better!
marc
996 c4s - yes/no ?
The more subjective, the better!
marc
Small boot - get a c2s!
That's my contribution, sorry.
However, reading the arguments for / against, I note (mainly from following these forums) that the Turbos can come with some pretty big running cost bills. Bills that make me glad I spent my £50k on a new car. Might be worth investigating that point a little more (ie. stretch yourself to get it, and you don't want to find more large numbers to keep it going. You'll end up hating the car).
I'm looking at a cheap c4s, so turbo prices are way above me; can't afford at the moment. I guess I can rule out GT3/turbo for the moment, then. But the real question is whether I should be looking at a C2/4 with a few more toys and perhaps slightly newer. For me, I just love the wide body looks, but not sure if that is steering me towards a slower, less entertaining car. Problem is that at the moment *anything* is fantastic compared to my current daily drive!!
Thanks for the advice tho - will keep you informed & post pics if/when it arrives
Thanks for the advice tho - will keep you informed & post pics if/when it arrives
futie said:
Cheapest 996 turbo on AT (if you ignore private, tip & lhd) is £44K. Quite a bargain, but everyone has to have their price limit and it's over mine 
(cheapest turbo is £38K btw, if you want a lhd tip)
(cheapest turbo is £38K btw, if you want a lhd tip)
Futie - ! How you doing my old mate. Go on dump the M5 and go for the pork. You know it makes sence.
Looking foward to the free
one day ! still got the M5? not fallen apart yet?
Whateve 996 you get you will love it. Im on my 3rd porker now, but the first a 996 targa still is one of the sweetest moments of my driving life.
Edited by superlightr on Thursday 5th October 10:12
Edited by superlightr on Thursday 5th October 10:14
I'm in a similar position. I have read the discussions surrounding 2 wheel drive v's 4 wheel drive and have driven both but am still drawn to the wide body shape of the C4S.
My budget is between £45 - £50k for either a C4S or a TT, my only reservation is the difference in running costs between the two?
Does any one have any views? I was a little nervous when I saw it was £4k for a clutch replacement on a TT, or is this way off?
I will be using the car every day ~ 10k miles per year, what costs would / should I expect for a C4S or TT?
My budget is between £45 - £50k for either a C4S or a TT, my only reservation is the difference in running costs between the two?
Does any one have any views? I was a little nervous when I saw it was £4k for a clutch replacement on a TT, or is this way off?
I will be using the car every day ~ 10k miles per year, what costs would / should I expect for a C4S or TT?
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