Buying another 996 - C4S or TT this time?

I've been a member of this forum for a few years, having owned a silver 996 X50 a couple of years back (even came to a RR day in it which was organised by the club). I had to sell the car back then as I was moving home and getting married and all that Jazz. Well I am now looking to buy back in, as prices have dropped off quite a bit (have just seen the car I sold 2 years ago has sold again for £10k+ less than I sold it for!!). I am torn between the C4S and the Turbo. Having owned a turbo I know a bit about the problems, mine spent a long time at the OPC having warranty work, but when it was running it was awesome, however I would be willing to 'compromise' on the performance to buy something a little newer and hopefully more reliable in a C4S. Has to be a C4S or a turbo as I am not a fan of skinny porsches, like the wide rear end. Budget is £25k, although I don't have to spend it all and I can go higher (to £30k) for the right vehicle. With the C4S I would want the PSE, but not bothered by Bose or PCM as I though the PCM I had in the Turbo was below par compared to an aftermarket setup, so I would look to fit something aftermarket as I did in the Turbo. There aren't really any other options I am immediately aware of that are a 'must have' on the C4S - thoughts? If you have rear parking sensors, do these rely on having factory navigation/stereo? On the Turbo, I think the standard car has pretty much everything anyway! I would (like most) prefer to buy something which has done most of its depreciation, again hopefully the C4S and Turbo will hold values better than the other 996s. Given where prices are now, which model do you guys think is the best value for money, not just on purcase price, but running costs and ultimately on retained value?

Turbos have got to be great value at the moment. It seems crazy that asking prices for C4Ss have started to match those of similar age/mileage Turbos, and for that matter highish mileage early 997s! I prefer the more 'cooking' 996s but if I was to upgrade it'd have to be a Turbo for me - despite the probable higher running costs - but I wouldn't look at one for less than £30k. Below that I'd be wary of mileage and/or history. Derpreciation on C4S and Turbos won't be as bad as for other 996s but I can't see them actually holding their value as there's so many about. Have fun searching.

Cheers. TT has the obvious advantage of an extra 100bhp and (arguably) better looks than the C4s (although that is always going to be personal choice). C4S is cheaper to buym to insure, to run and to service / maintain. Other than saving money there is little reason to choose a C4S other than possible improved reliability? Other than the obvious, the basic car underneath is pretty similar isn't it? Same suspension & brakes, same 4 wheel drive system, interior is the same and the options are largely the same? The C4S is just missing some turbos, a few extra pipes and cooling bits and pieces, a spoiler and some big air scoops on the side? So it basically looks like it comes down to cost, not just acquisition cost, but running costs and (ultimately) retained value. For my ~£25k I could get a 2002/3 (possibly an 04 model) C4S coupe, with ~50k miles (with the 04 being attractive due to the two year service intervals) from a dealer like portiacraft (so serviced and with some form of warranty) who has these three: £25k 2002 Seal Grey & Black C4S manual coupe with 58k miles (crested hardback seats, alu pack, xenons and sun roof) http://www.portiacraft.com/cardetail.asp?make=02_Porsche_996&id=1558 £25k 2002 C4S tiptroinc coupe with 57k miles (PCM, Bose, Parkassist, xenons,heated elec seats, sunroof) http://www.portiacraft.com/cardetail.asp?make=02_Porsche_996&id=1545 £26k 2003 (but 2004 model) Midnight Blue & Black C4S manual coupe with 56k miles (PCM, Bose, Xenons, Sunroof, parkassist, heated memory seats) http://www.portiacraft.com/cardetail.asp?make=04_Porsche_996&id=1572 Same money will buy something slighly newer on the private market, or a similar age/spec with an OPC warranty. Have seen quite a few £25k turbos about, but usually higher miles and mainly private sales or non Porsche specialist dealers and so come with no warranty at all, or a third party warranty if you are lucky. So would have to budget a few K a year for those, for servicing and the inevitable maintenance bills. Or spend £30k+ to get something from a specialist dealer with a worthy warranty. Ideally I am looking for something in Seal Grey, Black, Silver (that order), but has to have Black leather interior. Options wise, PSE on the C4S, not bothered by Bose or PCM as I will put in a decent head unit (no offence to the purists!)

BOOOOOOOST IS THE WAY FORWARD!! GO for a TT this time!! U'll luv it!!

Turbo. Running costs wouldn't be much different. Turbo has heat shields etc but c4s has rms/ims potential bills. Many other parts are the same and I found that insurance was actually cheaper for the turbo.

turbo. don't understand the question.. :lol:

Drive both. You'll buy the Turbo. Job done. :thumb:

I would probably say the turbo would be more reliable engine-wise, as the block doesn't suffer from IMS issues like the C4S one does? Although from what I've read some turbos have lots of 'niggles' that mean they are rarely running 100% for long. Hmmm, horses for courses I guess... I wouldn't let this influence you - it's the same engine in a 2003 (or even 2002) car as a 2004, and personally I would still get at least the oil changed every year, I don't think I could go 2 years without servicing a car, just wouldn't feel right to me!

I just had so many problems with my last Turbo (all under warranty), that I am not sure I want to go that path again (or can afford to, as if I bought a turbo then it wouldn't have a warranty this time). Your point about them not being 100% for long mimics my own experience (and I am frequently seeing people asking for help with Turbos on here). I am just worried about buying a turbo without a warranty. A friend of mine had a 997 C2S and now has a 997 Turbo and says he actually prefered driving the C2S! Just said it was an 'easier' drive.

My turbo ran great all the time i owned it. The GT1 block is pretty bomb proof. The cars and any faults they may have are well known & I certainly don't think a C4S is any different in that regard. I imagine running costs to be virtually the same as the consumables are very similar (brakes, shocks etc) but the C4S does have the potential RMS issue and is actually slower than a cooking C2. The turbo has the wide body look, 100 bhp more and costs are similar. If by easier your friend means less scary then fine, you pays your money and you takes your choices :thumb:

What problems did you have with the turbo?

Had a similar dilemma prior to buying my C4S Agreed Turbo is the more awesome car, but I thought I'd be very frustrated at not being able to use anywhere near all the performance on UK roads, and I'm not a keen track day participant either (time restrictions, high risk of something catastrophic happening to the car) I think it's a better looking car personally as well, although the 4WD isn't really necessary in a car with 320bhp

Sounds more like a cojones issue to me

To be honest, they weren't really major problems with the car, more with the OPC who did the warranty work. It needed a new seal/gasket on one bank of the engine, ended up taking about 6-8 weeks as they ordered the wrong part, then fitted it wrong, then did something else stupid, meant the engine was in and out at least twice. It then had a fault with the alarm unit, which meant the alarm kept going off, had to get it taken away on a trailer and put in a secure compound over the weekend until I could get it to a dealer to get it fixed (again on warranty).

C4S sounds much better, esp with the PSE, the wide reflector at the back looks cool, and its a purer shape without the air intakes on the rear arches. On the other hand, the turbo goes very fast indeed, and has hollow- spoke wheels so has the edge on handling. The engine is more robust. I found my C4S more than quick enough 95% of the time. It really depends how important mega performance is to you, especially on today's congested roads...