Test drove a 997 C4S at the weekend....and tried Tesco 99RON
Discussion
Took a 30minute test drive in a 997 C4S at the weekend - more out of curiosity than anything else. I drive a 996TT now but used to have a 996 C4S which I loved so was interested in comparing.
I wont write pages but in short, I found the styling of the car a little dissapointing, apart from the extra width at the rear it looks identical to a C2, no rear reflector strip at the back (apparantly lots of people have commented on this) and while the 996C4S had a different front bumper, the 997 C4S looks to have the same front bumper as a C2, or if it doesn't its not that obvious.
I still havn't taken to the front end of the car, in anything other than black or grey it doesn't look right to me.
Very safe handling, there is some understeer there but its easily sorted & the car feels very solid on the road - all very much what I was expecting.
The interior trim & switchgear is much better quality than the 996, however its a little "fussy" with loads of buttons everywhere. For me a blend of 996 layout with 996 quality improvements would have been ideal.
Performance to be honest was the biggest dissapointment. I drive a 996 TT & wasn't expecting the C4S to feel as quick, but with 350ish bhp I wasn't expecting the gulf to be as wide as it was. In any gear the 996TT would have mullered the C4S. Perhaps the difference just feels more because of the TT's torque ?
I did a number of different performance tests & the car just felt fast rather than "holy sh1t" fast.
I was on a dual carridgeway & held the car at 75mph in 6th & floored it. Pretty much nothing happened except a gradual build up of speed (there were 3 people in the car so maybe weight ?)
All in all I was impressed but not blown away by the 997. It does everything probably a little too well for its own good to the extent its a little sterile.
Had I been blown away I would have ordered one, but nothing I experienced could tempt me out of my 996TT....guess I will just have to put up with it until my 997TT arrives....
On another topic I filled up with Tesco 99RON fuel at the weekend & then promptly burned off the whole tank in an effort to help the EC "learn" the new fuel.
Initial findings are excellent, the car seems to prefer this stuff to Optimax. Seems to run smoother at lower speeds & generally be happier on Tesco fuel.
Its just a pain the nearest Tesco is several miles away & there are 2 Shell garages on my route to work.
I will be able to comment more after a few tanks.
Rump.
I wont write pages but in short, I found the styling of the car a little dissapointing, apart from the extra width at the rear it looks identical to a C2, no rear reflector strip at the back (apparantly lots of people have commented on this) and while the 996C4S had a different front bumper, the 997 C4S looks to have the same front bumper as a C2, or if it doesn't its not that obvious.
I still havn't taken to the front end of the car, in anything other than black or grey it doesn't look right to me.
Very safe handling, there is some understeer there but its easily sorted & the car feels very solid on the road - all very much what I was expecting.
The interior trim & switchgear is much better quality than the 996, however its a little "fussy" with loads of buttons everywhere. For me a blend of 996 layout with 996 quality improvements would have been ideal.
Performance to be honest was the biggest dissapointment. I drive a 996 TT & wasn't expecting the C4S to feel as quick, but with 350ish bhp I wasn't expecting the gulf to be as wide as it was. In any gear the 996TT would have mullered the C4S. Perhaps the difference just feels more because of the TT's torque ?
I did a number of different performance tests & the car just felt fast rather than "holy sh1t" fast.
I was on a dual carridgeway & held the car at 75mph in 6th & floored it. Pretty much nothing happened except a gradual build up of speed (there were 3 people in the car so maybe weight ?)
All in all I was impressed but not blown away by the 997. It does everything probably a little too well for its own good to the extent its a little sterile.
Had I been blown away I would have ordered one, but nothing I experienced could tempt me out of my 996TT....guess I will just have to put up with it until my 997TT arrives....
On another topic I filled up with Tesco 99RON fuel at the weekend & then promptly burned off the whole tank in an effort to help the EC "learn" the new fuel.
Initial findings are excellent, the car seems to prefer this stuff to Optimax. Seems to run smoother at lower speeds & generally be happier on Tesco fuel.
Its just a pain the nearest Tesco is several miles away & there are 2 Shell garages on my route to work.
I will be able to comment more after a few tanks.
Rump.
Yes indeed - interior much higher quality than the 996 for sure, a little cluttered with all the buttons mind but higher quality trim, much better screwed together & the switchgear much better weighted, so no real complaints about the interior.
Perhaps the 75mph test was unfair, but I put it through its paces in all other gears through the gears & felt the same. Its certainly no slouch though & we were 3 up so thats gotta dent performance a little bit.
Oh forgot to add - it had a standard exhaust on it & sounded really good - much better than the TT.
Rump.
Perhaps the 75mph test was unfair, but I put it through its paces in all other gears through the gears & felt the same. Its certainly no slouch though & we were 3 up so thats gotta dent performance a little bit.
Oh forgot to add - it had a standard exhaust on it & sounded really good - much better than the TT.
Rump.
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