Your thoughts on your 996s

Hi Total 911 is running a big feature on the 996 Carrera and Carrera 4, and we'd like to have a number of comments from owners. Just two or three sentences each, saying what you like/dislike about the cars, buying advice, or whatever you think other people would like to hear. The only thing I ask is that you add your real name to the end of your comments, so if you'd rather email them, I'm on [email removed] Thanks Phil

Hi Phil. Ive a 996 c4s arctic silver cab with all the extras. I like the fantastic looks, the last of the imho genuine Porsche Interiors, and I like the fact that it feels and looks very much like a 993 except for the water cooled engine of course regards Michael Brown

2002 C4 Cab Like: Great cross continent cruiser, worried about reliability for no reason as it never let me down (apart from alternator crapping out once), autobahn speed where deristricted car has phenomenal road holding abilities, Sports exhaust Dislike: standard exhaust/engine tone, PCM2, not much else.

996 thoughts Hi Phil Had lots of Porsches over the years, 928,s 944, 3.2 carrera(4 of), 964, and 993 (2 of) and then a 996, I dont know what all the stuff is the mags print, I thought compared with the air coolled stuff, it was and is a superb car, its only crime was a water cooled engine, and Porsche had no choice. Quicker, quiter blindingly fast over the air cooled cars, a modern car. Carried on and have the 996turbo now, you just do not need any more in the real world. Stuart Grey

My '99 C2 Tiptronic is my first Porsche and everything I expected from the car. I use it daily and it is exciting when I want it to be and unexpectedly, strangely relaxing to drive when you are not pushing on. I've had it for 2 years and much as I yearn for something else someday (a 993 or 2.7RS as per this month's Total 911) I still sneak a peek after I park the car. Min Chew

996 could have got the spelling right in my response, but in a hurry just had time to check it now doh!!!!!!!

Thanks for all your replies and emails - just the ticket! Cheers

Hi Phil I have a 996 C2 and it is a true thoroughbred, a car you can play with all day at a track and drive it home afterwards. Tony Brown

I have a 996 C2 and love everything about it. I am enthusiastic about driving 'quickly' and riding fast motorcycles and the 996 requires a similar degree of driver attention and input to be driven quickly as a sports bike does. As above thread I think that the 996 is a true evolution of the 911 family and is significantly improved over the 993 - engine cooling mode is only relevant to our non adopting "in the good old days" elders. Best summary of the 996 is that whilst it can deliver the demands and reflect the skill of the practiced driver it also flatters the driving of all. Dropping down to second for a swift overtake is intoxicating. John Harrison

New to Porsche i have had my 996 C2 for around 7 months now and have spent a lot of the time upgrading the car. The handes far better than anything i have ever driven, only gripe is the ride can be a bit bumpy. The car gets looks where ever it goes, i am always getting comments on how nice it looks, then again its cleaned every week without fail. I travel to work some mornings and its around the time parents are taking their kids to school, it's great to see the kids stop and point the car out to their parents...rock on Porsche!!

Thanks everyone. We've got enough now. Look out for the full feature in Total 911 issue 56 Cheers Phil