.:mike:.

Been wanting one for quite a while now, and have been lucky enough to be in the position to start seriously looking. Originally I intended to get a 993 c4s as IMO they are beautiful cars to look at and sound superb - just needed to experience it first hand.
Well, I saw a stunning looking C2 in white with split rim wheels and black centres - an absolutely spotlessly kept and beautiful car However, rose tinted as my vision was I just couldnt overlook the fact that it really did feel like an 'old' car and the acceleration and braking weren't comparable to even my wrx. I was sadly underwhelmed, maybe I need to try a couple more?
I then tried a boxster - yes I know what everyone will say - including myself, before I drove one. They really are great little cars - I liked it! But I've seen a 996 C4S - and that really fits the bill! There is also a 996 turbo just about affordable to buy, but 5 years older and I'm a little concerned about any epic bills it may throw up as its almost 9 years old now. Decisions, decisions.....
Sadly, the C4S I really liked has sold now - so I've no idea what to do - better wait for a nice clean C4S i suppose! Any views? I know there are some posters on here with 911's or previous expereince of them. Anyway, strange little tale over, the waiting game begins!

rickya

iTrader: (18)

IMO I would rather go for an older older 996 turbo than a five year newer 996C4S. The 996 engine was a bit fragile but the turbo & GT3 were pretty bullet proof from what I have read.

Hoppy

There are a few threads on 911s here, not least if you seach my profile last December-ish. Quite a long one about ownership.

For what it's worth, I turned down cars like an eight year old 996 C4 with 70k, which was going for sub-£20k as although most were in very fine fettle, I knew they would need major maintenance spending over the longer term, not to mention potential surprises.

I just couldn't make the sums add up, and TBH the car I drove wasn't that quick compared to my (modded) Scoob at all. But if you can stretch to a clean low-mileage Turbo, now that is a completely different thing altogether. Completely. And completely desirable.

Actually, it's wrong to talk about the 911 as just one car. Each generation is very different, the C4 and C2 cars are different, the Turbos are different, and the GT models are different again. Then the Cabs - it just goes on and on. The 911 is a very wide range of cars under one skin catering for a vast range of tastes and budgets. But it's fun to explore

rickya

iTrader: (18)

TBH I would rather get something like this. Much more of a modern car than a 996C2 C4

Porsche : Porsche Cayman S - New Alloys, New Tyres
£21k!!!

ScoobyDoo555

That's a lovely looking car
even for a c0ckster....

Dan

Spooky Mulder

The 993 C2 may not feel as quick as your WRX - but unless you WRX is nicely tuned the Pork should be faster.

My 993 C2 Varioram (slightly more power) felt much slower than my STI V when it was standard - however it produced pretty much the same numbers and over a 100mph the Pork accelerated faster than the STi V.

However it did not feel fast, much more of a brilliant GT car than a sports car. I drove from York to Cornwall in a single stint - quick and when I arrived I was just about a fresh as when I set off.

The non-turbo cars are relatively low cost to service and maintain - tyres can be a little pricey. They are not particularly expensive cars to own in my own experience.

I would personally take a normally aspirated, two wheel drive car over a turbo or 4wd - although the 996 C4S is a very quick car.

Handling is also far more stable than (mostly naive) comments about a wayward rear end. Typically they understeer when pushed on unless you are really committed.

Spooky

Andy M3

996 C4S is a great daily car, decent economy long service intervals nice all weather linear power delivery, superb looks – best VFM 996 IMO.

Hoppy

Yes. It's the sensible choice (if getting a Porsche is ever sensible). You can make a logical case for it.

But it's not exciting. 300bhp is just not enough fun-power. 450 from the Turbo is

rickya

iTrader: (18)

996 wet-sump engine reliability: enter your statistics here!

996 engine/transmission failures - action time

Not to say they all have above issues, but some do.

Andy M3

It's 320hp

C4S
0-100 km/h 5.1 seconds
0-160 km/h 11.6 seconds
0-200 km/h 19.2 seconds

Turbo
0-100 km/h 4.2 seconds
0-160 km/h 9.4 seconds
0-200 km/h 14.6 seconds

No it's not a turbo, but is a lot cheaper to buy/run and still pretty potent?

ScooByer Trade

Also i guess it could be tuned & fettled to produce similar figures as the turbo too with the money saved.

Hoppy

Those figures are night and day

The 996 I drove was a pre-face-lift with 310bhp I think. And yes it was reasonably cheap to buy and run, but not as cheap as my Scoob and that is a lot quicker. There was a guy in a 996 C2 I used to come across now and then. First time down a long slip road to the motoroway, running from 2nd to top, I nailed his *** in the Scoob. Next time he saw me coming and nicked a head start; it took a few seconds longer, but I still nailed his *** He'd have got me on top end, but that's only at 140-plus.

If I was that guy in my posh Porsche, I would seriously hate me But it wouldn't have happened in a Turbo, no way, plus with all that power/torque to spare you can really enjoy playing with it in a way that you can't with most NA cars. If you're going to get a supercar, then you don't want some chavved up Scoob (which is what mine is, after all ) showing you the way. Might as well get a Cayman and at least look pretty while you're being spanked.

.:mike:.

Amusing post there Hoppy! Yeah - I guess it's what the car is for really. The 993 never appealed because of outright performance figures - more the sound and the look of the thing. To be fair - I didn't say that the one I drove at the weekend was a pre varioram tiptronic and therefore maybe not entirely representative of the sort of 993 I wanted. But, my impreza did feel quicker, brakes better etc - however, that wasn't the reason for the desire for a 993 in the first place.

The 996 C4S vs turbo is potentially quite an interesting one - My budget only just allows cheaper 996 turbo's, but for the same money much newer and cleaner C4S's - the only reason I hesitate is I need to research the potential for unsustainable running costs on the turbo, not fuel and insurance (which would actually be LESS than my scooby) more repairs. As spooky (and others) have said - running an NA is reliable and not all that expensive

.:mike:.

And yes that cayman looks good - but at that price?? Where's the catch!? Sometimes things that look too good to be true....

Spooky Mulder

GT3 (less power but a lot less lard!)

0-100km/h 4.2 seconds
0-160km/h 9.3 seconds

zip106

Those times don't mean much in the real world though.
You need to look into the in gear times and see the real difference.

dpb

Does anyone really buy a porsche to stand traffic light grand-prix with every blitzzed up rice-rocket

obviously they do , judging from the above

i assumed the idea was to go road corners better

Hoppy

I don't think there is a catch with the Cayman, but it's not an iconic 911 which has a lot to do with residuals, and it's tainted with the Boxster image of being a bit of a girl's Porsche.

Personally, I think they look absolutely beautiful and although I've never driven one I fancy the mid-engined layout makes them an even better drive than a 911. They just have 150bhp missing, which kind of ruins the whole game and makes them more of an upmarket MR2.

zip106

No, not all of us.

Jamescsti

I think if you really wanted a 911 but bought a Cayman instead you would regret it everytime you saw a 911 on the road

mr flipsone

iTrader: (1)

too slow... get a gt3

Coffin Dodger

Maybe it's the new alloys and tyres bit that has me suspicious. Why were they replaced? Stolen / recovered minus the wheels or crashed with wheel damage?

mr flipsone

iTrader: (1)

or likes personalizing his car?...think its called modding?

sandycam

iTrader: (1)

nope not much in it running cost wise. Very little difference in running it petrol wise (my c2 was prob 5mpg better on average, c4s would be closer due to weight and drivetrain losses, both could get more than 30mpg which is better than any of my last 3 sub's!) Brakes, tyres suspension on c4s are the same as a turbo, only difference is the spark plug change on turbo is dearer but only by £200ish, if i remember right, and its only every 3 years, so compared to depreciation etc the difference in running costs is negligible imho

Deep Singh

C4s is slow and heavy. Looks nice, but is not the drivers choice. Depends whats most important to you. When I buy a car for 2/3/4 x the price of a rice rocket I don't want my **** spanked at the lights, I need to know I've got the muscle to back up the looks.

I'm far too mature to sprint race at the lights though, so I'm talking hypothetically........

Fabioso

Haha, yeah we all believe you here.......

Allan

iTrader: (1)

An interesting dilemma Mike, and a similar one that I'd hope to be in at some time.

My theoretical choice would be a 993 C4S, however I too would be concerned about the drive, and that it would be at least 11 years old. However, when I start to consider the alternatives, Cayman, 996, I always come back to the 993. I’m not bothered about outright speed, or getting beaten at the lights, it’s the lure of owing a motoring masterpiece.

When I start seriously looking, I'm really hoping the 993 doesn't disappoint. Having said all that Vantage prices are coming down nicely...................

Spooky Mulder

Having owned a 993 C2 I have to say it was brilliant - but it did not turn out to be my dream 911. After an Sti V it was just too dull. It was a fabulous GT car. The GT3 on the other hand absolutely is my dream 911 - responsive, fast, edgy, revs like a maniac, grips like a two dollar *****, fabulous

I think a 911 C4S would be an even duller version of the C2, looks good with the widebody, but even more grip per bhp, duller handling, more weight and even more understeer for no advantage. 996 C4S is a pretty quick car. But again has all the disadvantages. A 996 C2 facelift is probably cheaper and much quicker.

billythekid

Save another £10k and get a 997 C2S, much better interior, better engine and not many rice rockets will be blowing you into the weeds unless they have some very serious mods.

Deep Singh

Now thats an idea. 997C2s is gorgeous, a real evolution of the looks of the 993 with 20th century technology