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.
Agree with all your comments on the 997. I drove a 997S a while back and was similarilly under whelmed. Good car but no 996TT.
Does it take a tank load for the EC to learn a new fuel ? Expect it would be more near real time than that – but this maybe wishful thinking. Certainly explains the almost imperceptible low speed power plateauing I have had with Tesco 99 RON fuel.
C
Does it take a tank load for the EC to learn a new fuel ? Expect it would be more near real time than that – but this maybe wishful thinking. Certainly explains the almost imperceptible low speed power plateauing I have had with Tesco 99 RON fuel.
C
Don't know about all the tests you did, but I think you are being unfair on the 997 with your 75mph in 6th' test. 75mph must be below 3000rpm in a 997. Your turbo has monster torque from very low down, with almost all of it's 413 lb ft available from 2700 rpm up, whereas most NA cars wont have that profile. The 997s max torque of 290 peaks at 4600, so I bet it is probably sub 200 at under 3000 rpm - effectively half the turbos, so it should be no great surprise that it feels slow in comparison. I reckon that no non-turbo car will be in the same league to be honest. Wring the 997's neck however and its a different story.
Paul
Paul
Just my 10p worth
I dont really think you are giving these cars a chance,its like saying i drive a GT3 and took a c2 out for a drive and i was a little dissapointed.
The turbo has nearly 70bhp more than the 997's and also has a blower so your never really going to get the shove up the arse in the c2 that you have in the turbo.
Also have many miles had these cars covered?
All my previous porsches felt slow until they had done at least 3to4k
Never mind what porsche say the c4 is always going to be slower than the c2 because of the extra weight.
Imho the 997 in terms of interior blows the cheap feel of the 996 away and maybe
given enough time with a 997 with similar power outputs as your own cars you both might change your opinions.
I dont really think you are giving these cars a chance,its like saying i drive a GT3 and took a c2 out for a drive and i was a little dissapointed.
The turbo has nearly 70bhp more than the 997's and also has a blower so your never really going to get the shove up the arse in the c2 that you have in the turbo.
Also have many miles had these cars covered?
All my previous porsches felt slow until they had done at least 3to4k
Never mind what porsche say the c4 is always going to be slower than the c2 because of the extra weight.
Imho the 997 in terms of interior blows the cheap feel of the 996 away and maybe
given enough time with a 997 with similar power outputs as your own cars you both might change your opinions.
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.
Might as well add my 2 pennies worth.
I have a C2S with sports exhaust and I've owned or driven most of the cars mentioned above. My 997 feels ballistic and althought the pwer delivery is different to the 996TT I honestly think I'd be quicker in the 997. Even compared to the Gallardo I had before, I think the 997 subjectively feels as fast - I don't work for the Porsche press department either!
I think the 997 cabin is a huge improvement over the 996 and all the controls feel better made and built to last - you can see the signs of penny pinching in the boot (not so nicely lined or fitted as previous models) but I really think it's an amazing car to just get in and drive with total confidence - maybe it just suits me better than the others! Each to their own though - certainly looking forward to my 997 turbo though.
I have a C2S with sports exhaust and I've owned or driven most of the cars mentioned above. My 997 feels ballistic and althought the pwer delivery is different to the 996TT I honestly think I'd be quicker in the 997. Even compared to the Gallardo I had before, I think the 997 subjectively feels as fast - I don't work for the Porsche press department either!
I think the 997 cabin is a huge improvement over the 996 and all the controls feel better made and built to last - you can see the signs of penny pinching in the boot (not so nicely lined or fitted as previous models) but I really think it's an amazing car to just get in and drive with total confidence - maybe it just suits me better than the others! Each to their own though - certainly looking forward to my 997 turbo though.
also drove the new C4S yesterday and also felt underwhelmed.extremely competent but uninspiring and for the life of me I just can't get used to the 997 interior,it feels cheap.I drove the same route afterwards in my 993 turbo and felt a much bigger part of the experience.These were great country roads and while I was able to build up a real rhythm with the 993,the 997 drive was totally detatched.Just my opinion.Great car,just not for me.
The TT might be quicker than the 997 or the TT may just feel quicker due to the delivery of the turbo, turbo'd cars always give you that kick of torque which make them feel faster than there N/A counterparts especially when you first put pedal to the metal. N/A engines don't have that kick and offer a more linear shove, but oftern are just as effective as pushing you along without the drama of a turbo.
>> Edited by bumcrack on Tuesday 8th November 22:13
>> Edited by bumcrack on Tuesday 8th November 22:13
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