RS4 to 996C4S or 997?

[levron73]

I'm new to these forums,so if this is off topic or a daft question, please excuse!

Just traded my RS4 (B5) for an A6 Avant (1st Child on the way, small dog and a missus that likes to pack the world into the car!)I am going to keep the A6 as a family car but need to invest in something for myself!!! Canceled my Cayman as need to occasionally put child in back!

My thoughts are either a 996 C4S or push the boat out and go for a 997? I will probably finance with a £20-£25k deposit.

From the classifieds it seems that there is about £10-15k difference between the two.

I understand that the monthly cost would be lower on a 996C4S over 3 years but would OPC offer much better residuals on a new 997 v's 2nd hand 996C4S thus making the 997 difference in costs not that much i.e. tempting enough to sign on the line! Will the 997 be a better car to drive and to live with (10k miles per year)?

[jjr1]

I am not sure if this will be proved to be correct but I imagine 997 residuals will not be as strong as the 997S and for that very reason and if residuals are very important I would opt for the 996.

If it is which car is more fun I would get the 2wd any day

[mbutchers]

Finance aside, from personal experience, the 997 is far better than the C4S. I found the C4S to be 'heavy' feeling....not a very inspiring drive.... The 997 (especially the S with extra grunt) is a better car. All IMHO of course...
Coming from the Audi, have you tried / considered the new RS4 - it's a fantastic drive - much more accomplished than the old car...

[magic torch]

What about a 996 C2?

Very sprog friendly

[levron73]

I did think about the new RS4 but seemed a but issues was that it would need to be an Avant and their just not big enough. Then seemed a liitle crazy having a A6 and an RS4.

Sold my Boxster a few years ago and always promised myself a 911 - so it's an emotional purchase as well

[kayc]

I agree with mbutchers the c4s feels slow and heavy...a c2 drives better.However if the budget stretches to it get a 996tt at 50k+ is a bargain....imo of course...

[Adam B]

depreciation wise an older car is always going to be better, so a £40k 9964S will lose less than a £65k 997S

but the 997S is the better car (as you would expect), personally wouldn;t even consider the non-S 997

[shoestring7]

ok, so you did what we all did when you heard there was a sprog on the way; panicked and bought the biggest estate car you could find.

Reality is that you can get all the kit you REALLY need for a child in an Austin A30/Mini/Fiesta. My parents did, as did eveyone else until around 1995 it seems. Second, the baby is going to be in a rear facing car seat for at least 9 months. These are huge contraptions, and you'll not get one in the back of a 911. So unless your Mrs wants to curl up in the back herself you'll be using the A6 for all family trips for a while. Probably for ever. Third, you probably won't get a licence to take the baby out by yourself for quite a while anyway (although in this case a rear facing car seat will fit in the front of a 911 assuming the airbags can be disabled).

Also, thanks to the new arrival, you'll going to miss out on a good nights sleep for around 2 years, so the last thing you want to be is tooling around resentfully in a car you didn't really want in the first place.

So go back to your OPC and see what Caymen/Caymans(?)they have available right now and put your money down for it. Because you're worth it.

SS7

[leosayer]

shoestring7 said:

Words of experience

Shoestring is right. You've got a family car, use that for family duties and holidays etc. We've got an A4 Avant and a 911, my 16 month-old has been in the 911 just the once.

[mbutchers]

shoestring7 said:

Also, thanks to the new arrival, you'll going to miss out on a good nights sleep for around 2 years, so the last thing you want to be is tooling around resentfully in a car you didn't really want in the first place.

Or you could just kill yourself - now......!

[levron73]

Thanks for input - killing myself is not an obvious option! So will stick with the A6 dump the polo and look for a toy!

[magic torch]

I rarely find myself sans kids, anything without four seats would never get used.

When that kid comes along, your spare time is over. Personally I'd make sure the 'toy' can get you all in.

I really regret not getting the Porsche earlier. Just my thoughts