996 C4s - Seriously underrated

[GT Two]

I have owned some wonderful Porsches, among them a 996TT running 500ish bhp, a 996GT2 running 650bhp, and more recently a 1300kg 964 track car with 300bhp.

When I owned the other 2 996's I always viewed the C4s as lower down the food chain and I thought I had bypassed it.

I picked one up from RSJ this week which was a top buying experience, I have known Joel for a long time, but have not bought from him for many years. He really does believe in customer service.

Over the last couple of years, since having a son the idea of additional seats has appealed more and more. So the pretty Porsche further down the food chain started to look more attractive as a daily driver. I should mention that previously I also really struggled with loving turbo cars, I mean the power is great but I never really gelled with them. It may be the lag, or the noise.

I expected the C4s to feel a bit lardy, not anywhere as sharp as my old GT2 and probably a bit underpowered but anyway it would serve a purpose until I can get into a 997 GTS or GT3/2.

I have been pleasantly surprised driving this car around over the last couple of days, its pointy, sharp and feels almost light?!? The power is great and being NA has a lovely immediate torque. The noise is lovely, not quite loud enough but a lovely pleasing tone.

I am so much happier than I thought I would be.

The only things I would love it to have would be Bluetooth and a PSE.

What a wonderful car!!!

Edited by GT Two on Friday 30th December 18:33

[g7jhp]

GT Two said:

I expected the C4s to feel a bit lardy, not anywhere as sharp as my old GT2 and probably a bit underpowered but anyway it would serve a purpose until I can get into a 997 GTS or GT3/2.

I have been pleasantly surprised driving this car around over the last couple of days, its pointy, sharp and feels almost light?!? The power is great and being NA has a lovely immediate torque. The noise is lovely, not quite loud enough but a lovely pleasing tone.

Interesting.

What have you been driving prior to the C4S (as a comparison)?

[GT Two]

g7jhp said:

GT Two said:

I expected the C4s to feel a bit lardy, not anywhere as sharp as my old GT2 and probably a bit underpowered but anyway it would serve a purpose until I can get into a 997 GTS or GT3/2.

I have been pleasantly surprised driving this car around over the last couple of days, its pointy, sharp and feels almost light?!? The power is great and being NA has a lovely immediate torque. The noise is lovely, not quite loud enough but a lovely pleasing tone.

Interesting.

What have you been driving prior to the C4S (as a comparison)?

Its a good point and is probably a factor in my thoughts - Cayenne Diesel.

I drove my old 964 briefly a week ago, as well as another 964 C2.

[Crimp a Length!]

My dad has just bought the C4S Cabriolet 996.
I agree with you great car, plenty quick enough planted and pointy.
I enjoy driving it nearly as much as the GT2, far better than the 993 C4S i owned a while ago.

[C4SHONEY]

Drive mine 40miles each day. So much grip in the wet. Just about to take it in for hifi upgrade with Bluetooth etc.

Sure a 997 is a great car, but when a mint 996 c4s is at your disposal no real need to think of an upgrade (....for now)

[6C4GTS]

Its a well kept secret.............welcome......shame about PSE....it really does add so much.

[Ikobo]

Having only owned mines for a couple of months, I hadn't had much time with it as work has been ridiculously busy. Now that i'm on 6 weeks holiday and i'm up in Scotland visiting the family, i've really had time to gel with it. It's been a blast to take it out on some nice little B roads, very, very grippy which has surprised me a fair bit. Now that it's been all detailed I find myself staring at it admiringly quite a lot too.

[Callughan]

Congrats Lee, have been saying its underrated for years. You join the club as I leave. Good car for most things apart from roll on's and autobahns;) I trust you got the car checked out lots of poorly maintained examples out there, oh you must get the PSE it made the car.

[GT Two]

Ikobo said:

Having only owned mines for a couple of months, I hadn't had much time with it as work has been ridiculously busy. Now that i'm on 6 weeks holiday and i'm up in Scotland visiting the family, i've really had time to gel with it. It's been a blast to take it out on some nice little B roads, very, very grippy which has surprised me a fair bit. Now that it's been all detailed I find myself staring at it admiringly quite a lot too.

Very nice, slate grey?

[GT Two]

6C4GTS said:

Its a well kept secret.............welcome......shame about PSE....it really does add so much.

On the look out for a PSE!!!

[GT Two]

Callughan said:

Congrats Lee, have been saying its underrated for years. You join the club as I leave. Good car for most things apart from roll on's and autobahns;) I trust you got the car checked out lots of poorly maintained examples out there, oh you must get the PSE it made the car.

Thanks matey.

I never forget hearing your PSE.

Car came from RSJ and I know Joel is a perfectionist.

What are you moving to Cal?

[rimkah]

Even past buyers from RSJ say you should get inspection - have your read the threads about them Oh RSJ can get take off a PSE from one of their other cars

Edited by rimkah on Saturday 31st December 12:20

[GT Two]

rimkah said:

Even past buyers from RSJ say you should get inspection - have your read the threads about them

I didnt say it hadnt been inspected.

However I do trust Joel, he is a man of his word and I have been dealing with him for over 10 years.

I have seen people on the internet try to make claims, however any problems have always been rectified.

I would deal with him again as I know how stringent he in on buying stock.

[GT Two]

rimkah said:

Even past buyers from RSJ say you should get inspection - have your read the threads about them Oh RSJ can get take off a PSE from one of their other cars

Edited by rimkah on Saturday 31st December 12:20

Joel mentioned the PSE thing to me also when I asked him if he could get me one.

He said he wont do it anymore as its more trouble than it is worth, in his defence he maintained he has only ever done it to try and help a client.

Client comes along, I like this car but those wheels..... not a problem for me.

[tuscman]

I bought this C4S only a few weeks back and am well pleased with it. Arctic Silver Pearl with Savannah Leather and PSE. For me the PSE sounds glorious and is a must. I did not realize how special and well sorted these cars feel.
Went on my first Pistonheads South West drive 2 days ago and the handling on the very wet and dirty Minehead/Porlock roads was incredible.
The photo is taken at the Valley of the Rocks near Lynton and the colour hides the dirt well

[doneitnow]

GT Two said:

Joel mentioned the PSE thing to me also when I asked him if he could get me one.

He said he wont do it anymore as its more trouble than it is worth, in his defence he maintained he has only ever done it to try and help a client.

Client comes along, I like this car but those wheels..... not a problem for me.

+1 I can't see a problem with swapping wheels etc from one car to another if that is what a buyer wants, as long as it is not from a sold car obviously. When I was looking a few weeks back there were a couple of 997's at a dealers one looked lovely but had a aero kit with a big spoiler on it which I did not like, the dealer said if it was the deal breaker he would change with another he had for sale, is this a problem!!!

[Barry Ashcroft]

tuscman said:

I bought this C4S only a few weeks back and am well pleased with it. Arctic Silver Pearl with Savannah Leather and PSE. For me the PSE sounds glorious and is a must. I did not realize how special and well sorted these cars feel.
Went on my first Pistonheads South West drive 2 days ago and the handling on the very wet and dirty Minehead/Porlock roads was incredible.
The photo is taken at the Valley of the Rocks near Lynton and the colour hides the dirt well

Another Silver C4S in the southwest

Have you done the mod to your pse to stop it going quiet at low speeds? Makes a huge difference

[all2ofme]

That looks stunning. Very nice indeed, and a pleasant surprise to see a slightly different colour scheme for a change.

tuscman said:

I bought this C4S only a few weeks back and am well pleased with it. Arctic Silver Pearl with Savannah Leather and PSE.

[Callughan]

GT Two said:

Callughan said:

Congrats Lee, have been saying its underrated for years. You join the club as I leave. Good car for most things apart from roll on's and autobahns;) I trust you got the car checked out lots of poorly maintained examples out there, oh you must get the PSE it made the car.

Thanks matey.

I never forget hearing your PSE.

Car came from RSJ and I know Joel is a perfectionist.

What are you moving to Cal?

Check this out for PSE:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Porsche-Carrera-911-996-...

Not sure trying to move away from Porsche after almost 5 years, but keep being drawn back in

[Lordglenmorangie]

There are no bad Porsche's some are better than others