Porsche itch won't go away....time for a C4S!?
Discussion
steve singh said:
If you don't desire the speed of the turbo and prefer the rawness of the 996 C4S - then buy a C4S as...
1) It will be cheaper to buy - leaving you a 'slush fund'
2) It will be cheaper to run (outside of engine failure)
3) It's the car you want!
Engine exploding worry?
1) Purchase from someone who gives you a decent warranty (e.g. RSJ, SCOM)
or
2) Put an OPC warranty on it (noting the 90 day rule and restrictive T&Cs re what you can and can't do)
or
3) Put a Hartech warranty on it
or
4) Run it and take the risk - keeping a slush fund of C£5k for a rebuild if it so requires
No?
Spot on this^1) It will be cheaper to buy - leaving you a 'slush fund'
2) It will be cheaper to run (outside of engine failure)
3) It's the car you want!
Engine exploding worry?
1) Purchase from someone who gives you a decent warranty (e.g. RSJ, SCOM)
or
2) Put an OPC warranty on it (noting the 90 day rule and restrictive T&Cs re what you can and can't do)
or
3) Put a Hartech warranty on it
or
4) Run it and take the risk - keeping a slush fund of C£5k for a rebuild if it so requires
No?
Buying a Turbo on the basis that it might be cheaper to run overall doesn't make a lot of sense. As above there are plenty of ways to protect yourself against the well known engine issues without spending a fortune. Only buy the Turbo if you prefer the Turbo and it seems like you don't. The C4S is a great looking 911 and if bought wisely should turn out to be pretty cost effective for this level of performance. Same is true of the Turbo, but at a slightly higher price point like for like age/condition.
I have a C4S and had it now for 7 days. I to saw Turbos for around the same price as what i bought the C4S for but knew they would be a little ropey or may need future work doing on them. The temptation was there for me to go a look at them but lets be honest, if it sounds too good to be true then.......
Is the C4S fast enough for run of the mill UK roads, then yes it is. Is a Turbo faster, of course it is but lets be honest. Could i do, and this is the crux of the thing, in my capability the same in a C4S as a Turbo then yes. Would i move on to a Turbo later on, then yes but i would look at a 997.
If you can afford it, want it and will get a smile on your face every time you turn over that flat 6 with PSE then go for the C4S.
Use the advice on here, go for a good dealer or put a slush fund together. I did the dealer option and i honestly dont get in it worrying if it will go bang.
Is the C4S fast enough for run of the mill UK roads, then yes it is. Is a Turbo faster, of course it is but lets be honest. Could i do, and this is the crux of the thing, in my capability the same in a C4S as a Turbo then yes. Would i move on to a Turbo later on, then yes but i would look at a 997.
If you can afford it, want it and will get a smile on your face every time you turn over that flat 6 with PSE then go for the C4S.
Use the advice on here, go for a good dealer or put a slush fund together. I did the dealer option and i honestly dont get in it worrying if it will go bang.
petop said:
I have a C4S and had it now for 7 days. I to saw Turbos for around the same price as what i bought the C4S for but knew they would be a little ropey or may need future work doing on them. The temptation was there for me to go a look at them but lets be honest, if it sounds too good to be true then.......
Is the C4S fast enough for run of the mill UK roads, then yes it is. Is a Turbo faster, of course it is but lets be honest. Could i do, and this is the crux of the thing, in my capability the same in a C4S as a Turbo then yes. Would i move on to a Turbo later on, then yes but i would look at a 997.
If you can afford it, want it and will get a smile on your face every time you turn over that flat 6 with PSE then go for the C4S.
Use the advice on here, go for a good dealer or put a slush fund together. I did the dealer option and i honestly dont get in it worrying if it will go bang.
had mine a month,and i love turbo'd cars and wouldve loved a 996turbo.but i couldnt stretch to a good one,and tbh i didnt pay alot for the c4s.oddly the car is better than i expected.pokey enough even though im used to a 400bhp escort cosworth,but more importantly feel so smooth and grippy on the road.i may go turbo one day but im happy where i am.and tbh if something happen to it i will wait till i can fix it.best choice i made buying it,and shouldve done it years ago.Is the C4S fast enough for run of the mill UK roads, then yes it is. Is a Turbo faster, of course it is but lets be honest. Could i do, and this is the crux of the thing, in my capability the same in a C4S as a Turbo then yes. Would i move on to a Turbo later on, then yes but i would look at a 997.
If you can afford it, want it and will get a smile on your face every time you turn over that flat 6 with PSE then go for the C4S.
Use the advice on here, go for a good dealer or put a slush fund together. I did the dealer option and i honestly dont get in it worrying if it will go bang.
Love this colour
but mileage huge!!
RPM, are they any good?
Missed out on the Lapis Blue cab, seen a nice black cab, but then looking at other end of price range, under 20 grand for this, surely somethings amiss!?
http://www.rpmtechnik.co.uk/sales/stock-list/996-c...
but mileage huge!!
RPM, are they any good?
Missed out on the Lapis Blue cab, seen a nice black cab, but then looking at other end of price range, under 20 grand for this, surely somethings amiss!?
http://www.rpmtechnik.co.uk/sales/stock-list/996-c...
dank said:
Love this colour
but mileage huge!!
RPM, are they any good?
Missed out on the Lapis Blue cab, seen a nice black cab, but then looking at other end of price range, under 20 grand for this, surely somethings amiss!?
http://www.rpmtechnik.co.uk/sales/stock-list/996-c...
I've not personally heard of RPN - but that car looks lush !!!but mileage huge!!
RPM, are they any good?
Missed out on the Lapis Blue cab, seen a nice black cab, but then looking at other end of price range, under 20 grand for this, surely somethings amiss!?
http://www.rpmtechnik.co.uk/sales/stock-list/996-c...
Not to muddy the water - have you thought about a 997 or say n M3 ?
Long term lurker here, but have experience of this so I thought i would chip in my tuppence.
I have also always wanted a 911 and bought my 996 C4S two years ago. I have loved every minute of it since. Running costs have been reasonable, insurance was not crazy, first service was not that much (free in fact from Portiacraft, but I had some minor additional work done) and, touches every piece of wood I can see, it has run beautifully ever since.
Like you, I agonised over the decision for a very long time. When I was looking, base model 996 C2 and C4 were around £22k, there was then a premium on top of that for the C4S and the turbo was way out of my financial league so was not in consideration. You could not buy a 997 for less than £30k unless it had very serious problems.
Eventually, my view was that every hour I had that I could have gone driving in my 'new' Porsche but I had not gone because I had not bought one yet was a wasted hour. So I just went into the dealier (Portiacraft in Mill Hill), who had been very helpful throughout the process (as had others like 911V, just than Portiacraft had more stock in my price range on the day) knowing the amount I had in the bank and vowed not to leave until I had gone through with it. I had been on physical pain the week before trying to work out whether to save around £2k and avoid a C4S, but as soon as I stood behind the one I wanted, I knew I had to have it. (I still think the C4S is a deadly pretty car).
Frankly speaking, once you have got this far, its a purely emotional decision to go for it. You can rationalise it all you want with a warranties and insurance policies, but I don't think you will ever get the cast iron guarantee you want and instead, you just have to be prepared for the (hopefully) small chance that something will go wrong. You are looking at decent cars from decent dealers and even if a none warranty part blows, they will usually try and help find a deal as they want your repeat business. This is not to side-track into a debate over which dealers are good or which are bad, just to say that the level of risk you are taking is already heavily mitigated by buying from a reputable dealer rather than a private sale. If you really want peace of mind, get a further independant inspection done (plenty are recommended elsewhere here).
If I had the same budget today to buy, I would get a turbo. For the simple reason that I feel the turbo is better (whether it is or not is another matter, but I know I would feel it) and I can't stand the idea of buying the C4S and wondering if I should have bought the turbo. You have to be satisfied with what you have.
After that, there is one last piece of preparation you need to do before you hand over your cash, which is to accept the point blank reality that 14 days after your purchase you will see a better car come up for sale at a price that is cheaper. Thats the only guarantee I can give you.
Otherwise, just go for it....
I have also always wanted a 911 and bought my 996 C4S two years ago. I have loved every minute of it since. Running costs have been reasonable, insurance was not crazy, first service was not that much (free in fact from Portiacraft, but I had some minor additional work done) and, touches every piece of wood I can see, it has run beautifully ever since.
Like you, I agonised over the decision for a very long time. When I was looking, base model 996 C2 and C4 were around £22k, there was then a premium on top of that for the C4S and the turbo was way out of my financial league so was not in consideration. You could not buy a 997 for less than £30k unless it had very serious problems.
Eventually, my view was that every hour I had that I could have gone driving in my 'new' Porsche but I had not gone because I had not bought one yet was a wasted hour. So I just went into the dealier (Portiacraft in Mill Hill), who had been very helpful throughout the process (as had others like 911V, just than Portiacraft had more stock in my price range on the day) knowing the amount I had in the bank and vowed not to leave until I had gone through with it. I had been on physical pain the week before trying to work out whether to save around £2k and avoid a C4S, but as soon as I stood behind the one I wanted, I knew I had to have it. (I still think the C4S is a deadly pretty car).
Frankly speaking, once you have got this far, its a purely emotional decision to go for it. You can rationalise it all you want with a warranties and insurance policies, but I don't think you will ever get the cast iron guarantee you want and instead, you just have to be prepared for the (hopefully) small chance that something will go wrong. You are looking at decent cars from decent dealers and even if a none warranty part blows, they will usually try and help find a deal as they want your repeat business. This is not to side-track into a debate over which dealers are good or which are bad, just to say that the level of risk you are taking is already heavily mitigated by buying from a reputable dealer rather than a private sale. If you really want peace of mind, get a further independant inspection done (plenty are recommended elsewhere here).
If I had the same budget today to buy, I would get a turbo. For the simple reason that I feel the turbo is better (whether it is or not is another matter, but I know I would feel it) and I can't stand the idea of buying the C4S and wondering if I should have bought the turbo. You have to be satisfied with what you have.
After that, there is one last piece of preparation you need to do before you hand over your cash, which is to accept the point blank reality that 14 days after your purchase you will see a better car come up for sale at a price that is cheaper. Thats the only guarantee I can give you.
Otherwise, just go for it....
dank said:
Love this colour
but mileage huge!!
RPM, are they any good?
Missed out on the Lapis Blue cab, seen a nice black cab, but then looking at other end of price range, under 20 grand for this, surely somethings amiss!?
http://www.rpmtechnik.co.uk/sales/stock-list/996-c...
Something amiss? This isn't cheap for a 90k miler, especially in blue!but mileage huge!!
RPM, are they any good?
Missed out on the Lapis Blue cab, seen a nice black cab, but then looking at other end of price range, under 20 grand for this, surely somethings amiss!?
http://www.rpmtechnik.co.uk/sales/stock-list/996-c...
I'm also working out which 996 to go for.
Does the C4S drive as well as a C2 or do you lose some of the steering feel?
I've heard the C4S can suffer with transmission noise, is this true?
And finally, the Targa seems quite appealing but I've heard they can rattle badly and the roof mechanism can be expensive to replace?
Thanks in advance.
Does the C4S drive as well as a C2 or do you lose some of the steering feel?
I've heard the C4S can suffer with transmission noise, is this true?
And finally, the Targa seems quite appealing but I've heard they can rattle badly and the roof mechanism can be expensive to replace?
Thanks in advance.
river_rat said:
dank said:
Love this colour
but mileage huge!!
RPM, are they any good?
Missed out on the Lapis Blue cab, seen a nice black cab, but then looking at other end of price range, under 20 grand for this, surely somethings amiss!?
http://www.rpmtechnik.co.uk/sales/stock-list/996-c...
Something amiss? This isn't cheap for a 90k miler, especially in blue!but mileage huge!!
RPM, are they any good?
Missed out on the Lapis Blue cab, seen a nice black cab, but then looking at other end of price range, under 20 grand for this, surely somethings amiss!?
http://www.rpmtechnik.co.uk/sales/stock-list/996-c...
seems like lots of buyers looking for good C4S's !
Seen a nice black cab, but 28 grand, seems a lot....
might have to settle for a coupe, 'settle' !!! ha ha
Or may for the Turbo, guess it's a case of wainting and seeing what poops up in the classifies, JZM, Paragon, 911V and RSJ all seem to be low on stock of all turbo's and C4S's of 996 type!
whats going on, someone buying them all and hording them!!!
Seen a nice black cab, but 28 grand, seems a lot....
might have to settle for a coupe, 'settle' !!! ha ha
Or may for the Turbo, guess it's a case of wainting and seeing what poops up in the classifies, JZM, Paragon, 911V and RSJ all seem to be low on stock of all turbo's and C4S's of 996 type!
whats going on, someone buying them all and hording them!!!
Automental said:
I'm also working out which 996 to go for.
Does the C4S drive as well as a C2 or do you lose some of the steering feel?
I've heard the C4S can suffer with transmission noise, is this true?
And finally, the Targa seems quite appealing but I've heard they can rattle badly and the roof mechanism can be expensive to replace?
Thanks in advance.
I drove a number of C2 and C4 when comparing against a C4S. I thought the differences in handling were minimal. Certainly for usual road use and nothing in the steering feel (all 3 were excellent). If anything, I felt the C4 and C4S felt more 'planted' through corners, and much less keen to drift. So it kinda depends what you want.Does the C4S drive as well as a C2 or do you lose some of the steering feel?
I've heard the C4S can suffer with transmission noise, is this true?
And finally, the Targa seems quite appealing but I've heard they can rattle badly and the roof mechanism can be expensive to replace?
Thanks in advance.
No issue with transmission noise that I have noticed in my C4S. I have not heard that complaint before.
I also looked at a 996 Targa. I was unimpressed with the mechanism, although I was told it's usually a case of replacing the fuse rather than the whole mechanism.
For those considering the purchase you might want to think about tip vs. manual.
Drive both to make your mind up - but note that the gear change in a manual is very notchy when cold (I know people who have had to move off in 2nd gear as they cannot engage first on a freezing day where the car has been left outside all night or who go straight from 1st to 3rd as they can't get it into 2nd)...
Once the manual box oil warms up it's fine...
Drive both to make your mind up - but note that the gear change in a manual is very notchy when cold (I know people who have had to move off in 2nd gear as they cannot engage first on a freezing day where the car has been left outside all night or who go straight from 1st to 3rd as they can't get it into 2nd)...
Once the manual box oil warms up it's fine...
Automental said:
I'm also working out which 996 to go for.
Does the C4S drive as well as a C2 or do you lose some of the steering feel?
I've heard the C4S can suffer with transmission noise, is this true?
I drive both and the C2 certainly feels lighter and more pointy at the front. But you might prefer the C4S, make up your own mind. My C2 has M030, so the C4S is quieter and less crashy over bumps. Does the C4S drive as well as a C2 or do you lose some of the steering feel?
I've heard the C4S can suffer with transmission noise, is this true?
Never noticed any transmission noise on the C4S. Any decent C4S will have PSE in any case. :-)
steve singh said:
For those considering the purchase you might want to think about tip vs. manual.
Drive both to make your mind up - but note that the gear change in a manual is very notchy when cold (I know people who have had to move off in 2nd gear as they cannot engage first on a freezing day where the car has been left outside all night or who go straight from 1st to 3rd as they can't get it into 2nd)...
Once the manual box oil warms up it's fine...
Unless you have driven a Tip before then look at them and have a go before making a descision. A lot on here will say "manual only". I think a lot of the convertibles were Tips anyway. Ideally i would of got manual but a number of reasons went against this mainly i would have no clutch changes coming my way on a 50K+ car that i have bought and also the other half next year will drive it more when im abroad on contract work. Its not PDK and you shouldnt expect the same performance but if you actually put it in M and set that as your default position you can get a good drive from it. I dont get transmission noise from it so maybe the examples that you hear about are poorly maintained ones. The only noise you should hear is the PSE which is paramount to get.Drive both to make your mind up - but note that the gear change in a manual is very notchy when cold (I know people who have had to move off in 2nd gear as they cannot engage first on a freezing day where the car has been left outside all night or who go straight from 1st to 3rd as they can't get it into 2nd)...
Once the manual box oil warms up it's fine...
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