996 C4S or 997 C2?

[Mankers]

For fast road driving I found my C4S quite capable and good fun, even dare I say it nimble at times.
On track it was another story, felt lardy, and not so tactile, brakes not so good either faaaaade!
Power wise (X51) was more than enough on road (I’m in a GT3 these days, which feels way too much for UK roads). I suspect non X51 would be good as well. I’m on a track day in one (C4S) next month so will report back, as it’s been a while.

FYI - bought my C4S with 30k miles, 2 owners, every option (PSE, X51, hard back colour coded sports seats, leather everything) from OPC for £23k back in 2011! I guess that picks you up a leggy snotter these days!

[ATM]

Mankers said:

For fast road driving I found my C4S quite capable and good fun, even dare I say it nimble at times.
On track it was another story, felt lardy, and not so tactile, brakes not so good either faaaaade!
Power wise (X51) was more than enough on road (I’m in a GT3 these days, which feels way too much for UK roads). I suspect non X51 would be good as well. I’m on a track day in one (C4S) next month so will report back, as it’s been a while.

FYI - bought my C4S with 30k miles, 2 owners, every option (PSE, X51, hard back colour coded sports seats, leather everything) from OPC for £23k back in 2011! I guess that picks you up a leggy snotter these days!

X51 virtually impossible to find these days on a 996 unless you're buying the anniversary model with the C4S style front bumper on a narrow bodied car.

[Mankers]

Interior shot, colour coded console and seat backs lifts the interior nicely…oh yea and maritime blue seat belts.
Body colour - polar silver

[ATM]

Mankers said:

Interior shot, colour coded console and seat backs lifts the interior nicely…oh yea and maritime blue seat belts.
Body colour - polar silver

Good colour - Polar

Only very slightly blue - if you ask me - but people like matching with blue bits and pieces.

[ATM]

I saw a silver 996 C4S today out in the wild. Looked very good. It was coming towards me so I had a good look at the front from head on. I found myself thinking damn that's a good looking car and maybe I want one. I had to remind myself I really really dont want 4wd. Maybe maybe one day I'll have one.

[anonymous-user]

Do all 997.1 C2s have PASM or was it option?

They all seem to have the damper icon button but some have a sports and sports plus button .

I’m confused any help clarifying would be great thank you.

[67Dino]

ATM said:

Most people who like the 996 will like the C4S with its wider haunches. But for me the whole 4wd thing defines the C4S. These cars have relatively low power compared to more modern machinery. And with modern sticky tyres you just don't need 4wd on a relatively low powered 911. Once you spend some time looking at a narrow body 996 you start to appreciate some of the smaller more subtle curves.

If it helps anyone, I’ve had both a 996 C2 and a 996 C4 and being entirely honest the main difference was that the C4 had a smaller space under the bonnet for luggage (due to some additional mechanicals there). No doubt the difference in handling is significant on the track, but in normal road use I personally found them pretty similar.

[ATM]

Slippydiff99 said:

Do all 997.1 C2s have PASM or was it option?

They all seem to have the damper icon button but some have a sports and sports plus button .

I’m confused any help clarifying would be great thank you.

PASM was standard on the C2S but you could opt for the sports chassis option which was a much lower setup with standard passive dampers. This might have come with LSD standard but not 100% sure. Having this option would mean no damper icon button.

Sports and Sports plus buttons relate to the Sport Chrono option which adds the useless little clock in the centre of the dash. I don't remember Sports plus on my C2S but this was 15 or 16 years ago now. I suspect Sports plus is gen 2 only.

[ATM]

67Dino said:

ATM said:

Most people who like the 996 will like the C4S with its wider haunches. But for me the whole 4wd thing defines the C4S. These cars have relatively low power compared to more modern machinery. And with modern sticky tyres you just don't need 4wd on a relatively low powered 911. Once you spend some time looking at a narrow body 996 you start to appreciate some of the smaller more subtle curves.

If it helps anyone, I’ve had both a 996 C2 and a 996 C4 and being entirely honest the main difference was that the C4 had a smaller space under the bonnet for luggage (due to some additional mechanicals there). No doubt the difference in handling is significant on the track, but in normal road use I personally found them pretty similar.

I've never driven a C4 so I'm one of those annoying Internet warriors who talk about something they have never tried. That aside I know with complete certainty that .... only joking.

Some people talk about the difference of having a bit of extra weight at the front. This I sort of understand as my 1998 996 - not the one above - was a daily driver for a while and I got to know it well. This was back in the days when people actually drove to work every day - imagine that. One day I loaded up the froot with a big tool chest, trolley track and axle stands. It definitely felt different.

There are a couple of C4S knocking about with the FWD removed. Apparently it's quite easy to do but the car will sit higher due to the lighter weight so you need to combine with a change of suspension. I'm curious why people would bother if the difference is so subtle. But then no one can ever understand why some people modify cars. Logic doesn't often come into it.

[anonymous-user]

ATM said:

Slippydiff99 said:

Do all 997.1 C2s have PASM or was it option?

They all seem to have the damper icon button but some have a sports and sports plus button .

I’m confused any help clarifying would be great thank you.

PASM was standard on the C2S but you could opt for the sports chassis option which was a much lower setup with standard passive dampers. This might have come with LSD standard but not 100% sure. Having this option would mean no damper icon button.

Sports and Sports plus buttons relate to the Sport Chrono option which adds the useless little clock in the centre of the dash. I don't remember Sports plus on my C2S but this was 15 or 16 years ago now. I suspect Sports plus is gen 2 only.

That’s brilliant thank you. I’ve put a deposit down on a lovely 997.1 C2s just waiting for an inspection. I’m not bothered by the chrono so fingers crossed. I could not believe how well a 2005 car could still look.

[ATM]

Slippydiff99 said:

That’s brilliant thank you. I’ve put a deposit down on a lovely 997.1 C2s just waiting for an inspection. I’m not bothered by the chrono so fingers crossed. I could not believe how well a 2005 car could still look.

Link?

[anonymous-user]

ATM said:

Link?

I just found a great car on Auto Trader:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203163...

Strong price but the car looks good

I’ve just realised that it has the clock which explains my confusion. I think I understand it now, thank you!

Edited by Slippydiff99 on Sunday 27th March 11:47

Edited by Slippydiff99 on Sunday 27th March 11:52

[ATM]

Slippydiff99 said:

ATM said:

Link?

I just found a great car on Auto Trader:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203163...

Strong price but the car looks good

So this looks the same as mine. Spoiler button, Damper icon button and then the Sport button. No Sport plus.

Autotrader said:

This car comes with
Park Distance Control
Xenon Lighting System
Electric and Heated Door Mirrors
Carrera S 19'' Alloy Wheels
Electrically Adjustable Comfort Seats
Crested Centre Caps
PASM Electronic Damper Control
Drivers Memory Seat
PCM with DVD Navigation
Sport Chrono Package
Bose Surround Sound System
Porsche Crested Front Seats
Heated Seats

I think the first 6 or 7 are standard. They missed off the multi function wheel which was an option.

Do you get any warranty with the purchase?

[anonymous-user]

Yes but I’m waiting for the inspection to negotiate. I doubt it would cover the cost of a full rebuild though.

I’ll plan to get the IMS bearing done and fit a low temp thermostat. I’m going into this with my eyes open about bore scoring issues later, I’m fine with that risk as the cat is great.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks for the collective advice. I've bought one (actually not the one I posted, I found a slightly lower mileage one at Sytner Ascot). It's an arctic silver 997.1 C2S coupe, no sunroof with crab claws, my ideal spec. I got a full inspection which revealed a few minor things that they have agreed to fix in the price and reassuringly the cam deviation data suggests that the IMS bearing is fine and no signs of bore scoring (I know that is not a guarantee BTW).

I can't believe I'm finally getting a 911, I've wanted one of these for ages!

[ATM]

Slippydiff99 said:

Thanks for the collective advice. I've bought one (actually not the one I posted, I found a slightly lower mileage one at Sytner Ascot). It's an arctic silver 997.1 C2S coupe, no sunroof with crab claws, my ideal spec. I got a full inspection which revealed a few minor things that they have agreed to fix in the price and reassuringly the cam deviation data suggests that the IMS bearing is fine and no signs of bore scoring (I know that is not a guarantee BTW).

I can't believe I'm finally getting a 911, I've wanted one of these for ages!

Link?

[anonymous-user]

ATM said:

Slippydiff99 said:

Thanks for the collective advice. I've bought one (actually not the one I posted, I found a slightly lower mileage one at Sytner Ascot). It's an arctic silver 997.1 C2S coupe, no sunroof with crab claws, my ideal spec. I got a full inspection which revealed a few minor things that they have agreed to fix in the price and reassuringly the cam deviation data suggests that the IMS bearing is fine and no signs of bore scoring (I know that is not a guarantee BTW).

I can't believe I'm finally getting a 911, I've wanted one of these for ages!

Link?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202092315174?atmobcid=soc4

It’s having tyres, discs and pads, a small scuff on one wheel arch done.
I’ll get done new ac buttons but apart from that the interior is pristine.

[RiccardoG]

Well done! Lovely car, I hope you'll enjoy it lots. Seems a decent deal as well.

Try to see whether they put some Michelin tyres on it as these are always a good option.

[67Dino]

Looks great, welcome to the 911 club! Wish you many happy miles in it.

[celica88]

Mankers said:

For fast road driving I found my C4S quite capable and good fun, even dare I say it nimble at times.
On track it was another story, felt lardy, and not so tactile, brakes not so good either faaaaade!
Power wise (X51) was more than enough on road (I’m in a GT3 these days, which feels way too much for UK roads). I suspect non X51 would be good as well. I’m on a track day in one (C4S) next month so will report back, as it’s been a while.

FYI - bought my C4S with 30k miles, 2 owners, every option (PSE, X51, hard back colour coded sports seats, leather everything) from OPC for £23k back in 2011! I guess that picks you up a leggy snotter these days!

Oh my days. Interesting on the pricing back in 2011