Choosing a C4S, should it be based on a CPO?

I�m looking at two C4S's both of which are somewhat similar. They are both selling for the same price. One is an �03 with 40K miles and 7 months left on the CPO. The other is an �02 with 33K and has a full 2yr/100K CPO on it. Both have had the RMS done under warranty. All service has been performed by the dealer on both . My question: Should I choose the one with the better warranty, even though it�s an �02? Should that be a big factor? It�s not going to be a DD. The only problem with '02 is that it's far away and I'm just looking at the dealer pictures (first time I see it would be if I bought it). The other one I've seen in person. Thanks in advance for your assistance. Eric

hi....i don't think there is any notable difference between an '02 and '03. I think I'd go for the '02. 2 years of CPO is a great piece of mind, especially if you end up using it. Are they optioned similarly? Are they the same color? Which do you 'love' more? GUTE LUK j p.s...i bought an '02 c4s CPO sight unseen last year. had it shipped from florida to ny. Was a helluva deal, and i had a friend go take a look before i pulled the trigger. While I did attempt to get an independant ppi, i was unable to do so. With that, i have not had any notable issues, and have put 12k issueless miles on her....it's an amazing car.

Jon, Thanks. They're optioned almost the same. Same color, although the one further away has the seat backs, seat belts and center armrest in the exterior color. Other than that, they are basically the same. Eric

2003+ were MOST equiped... Newer the Better...

I've heard that about '03+, but this '02 has everything I think I need because it has the Advanced Technic Package (Bose, 6 CD & Xenon). Other than that, I'm not too picky. So you think 1 yr newer with 6K more miles and 7 months on the CPO outweighs 1 year older, but 6K less miles and a full 2 year CPO? I'm just trying to get as many opinions on this as I can.

you goota list all teh Options on here on each car, for us to give youa true honest opinion...

Here are the main ones: '02: (less miles - full 2yr CPO) Sport Seats Painted To Match Alum/Lthr Shifter/Brake Handle Seat Belts - exterior color Porsche Crest in Headrest Rear Ctr Cons Painted Extr Clr Advanced Technic Package Wheel Caps with Colored Crest Sport Seats w/Full Leather Int Heated Front Seats Package '03 (6K more miles - 7 months left on CPO) Headlights, Bi-Xenon High-Intensity Discharge Porsche Crest in headrest Bose Digital Audio System Seats, Leather Sport Bucket

go with teh 02...

i agree....the '02. Those options are major bucks...a few grand extra easily. And the painted center console is just gorgeous and in my opinion, really sets it apart from others on the interior. What color are we talkin' about? Also, if you plan on keeping the car for a significant period of time, the extra CPO Is huge. Any pix you can post at all? have you tried to negotiate the prices at all? you might be able to knock a bit more off of an '02 as well. j

No real diff between the '02 and the '03 C4S. 7K miles is nothing. Most options don't count for much in the used car market, and both these cars seem to have the ones that do matter. So........both cars are essentially the same except for warranty. No brainer. Go with the '02.

It's going to be my first P-car and I plan on keeping it for a while. It's a "loud" color, something that when you see it you either love it or hate it. The wife won't let me get black because she says that every time I drive it I'd bring it home and wash it (she's probably right!) I haven't negotiated price yet. I've e-mailed the dealer a couple of times this week and spoke with the today. They seemed really nice, responsive, and any searches I've done on RL have only yielded positive comments about the dealership. From the few C4S's that I've been a bit serious about, I've seen approximately a $3K decrease from the asking price to what a P-car dealer/other dealer would accept.

Buy mine! 2004 white C4S - FULLY LOADED (more options than the above). Original sticker $100k (still have it). Nearly 2 yrs. on Porsche CPO warranty. No accidents - miticulously maintained - all maintenance records with same dealer. PM me if interested!!!

the only loud color i can think of is speed yellow? Don't be bashful...we love them all here. haha. j

Ms.Greta, Love the color and the car, but the price is a bit out of my range at this time. J, Yup - you got it. And I also agree with you about the Odyssey being fast. My wife has an '05 Touring and it can cruise smoothly. Eric

The 2002 car if it checks out!

i would go for the CPO '02. CPO > '03

Based on everyones comments, I'm thinking that a road trip is going to be in my future.

Tough choice to make. Have you driven either car yet? Sounds like you are ready to choose.GL.

Quotes source posts: 5166211, 5166475

The '02 does have more options, but they're all the minor cosmetic items. I'd gladly trade some of those sillier options (painted crest in wheel caps, alum brake lever, exterior color seat belts) for Litronics. I'm not sure I'd give up the heated seats, though.

All C4S's have advance technic package, at least in '02....i think....and that package included Bi-Xenon lights. I LOVE them...lights up the entire area.... have someone go take a look at it for you before you decide to make a trip. How far away is it from you? j

The '02 does have the Xenons in the Advanced Technic Package. The car is about 800 miles away and I'm in the process of finding someone to look at it.

I bought my 02 C4S from a dealer last May with full CPO and did it sight unseen Never did that before but the car was over 1000 miles away. I don't regret it one bit. The one you're looking at has much more equipment than mine (mine only has heated seats with crest, rear wiper, Lapis Blue paint, painted wheel crests and some really nice Bumperplugs painted parts (aluminum look gauge surrounds, painted center console and rear bumperettes, bumperplugs). Mine did not come with the Advanced Technic pack, so that wasn't standard on the 02 C4S as mentioned above as a possiblity. Mine did have brand new tires on it (which is worth a solid $1200+) and the CPO warranty sealed the deal. If you're looking at the Speed Yellow C4S in FL with the painted sport seats, yellow belts, etc. that thing looks AWESOME. If you can get the right price and car passes a PPI, don't look back... I had my PPI done just after it was delivered to me as piece of mind - car checked out 100%.

Quotes source posts: 5167159, 5167584

If that's the case, put me down for the '02 as well...

Uber...just start a new thread and ask for someone to take a gander...we love doing this stuff. I think I know what car you are eyeing. I'm thinking Blue Grass....I sent Steven here a link to that car a few weeks ago, as he is replacing his after his wreck. I don't think he was interested as he was looking for a cab...but I thought it was a bargain. Those yellow seat backs are SUPER HOT. Sport seats are gorgeous. I'm thinking that car was very close to 100k new.....expensive aesthetic options on that beauty. Is my guess right? j

You got it. I'm hoping I can get it $3K below asking (considering how the market is going) and then also get new rear pads (CPO said they were at 50%) and maybe a set of rear tires, although that might be asking too much. I sent a PM to Arena993 who's in the area. I found him because of another recent thread about a PPI in Louisville.

you will never get it if you don't ask...ask away...that car has been sitting for a bit i think. Start low....they only thing they can do is say no. I was under the impression that to be a cpo...the tire treads must be at least 80 percent, and if they aren't, new rubber must be installed...same for brake pads, give or take. Best of luck....if you can knock off what you want and get some goodies...you've scored a fantastic purchase. The car is stunning looking, and that's coming from someone who doesn't like flashy colors. The matching parts are really nice. You must be reading this stuff and thinking....geez...how the heck do these guys know all this? Small world...huh? Where in Putnam are you? I'm in Rockland. j

I know that you guys know your stuff. I've been lurking and occasionally posting for the past couple of months. I'm at the point now where I know exactly what I want. I've done a ton of homework, gotten the "Ultimate Buyer's Guide" book, I pretty much know all the questions to ask. Regarding the tires, according to the Porsche CPO check list, if they are <4mm then they need to be replaced, the fronts are at 7mm and the rear at 6mm. Since the car has been sitting, those numbers may have dropped by a bit which gives me something to stand on. I'm over in Patterson. I sort of work close to you (across the river) in Croton-on-Hudson. I'm going to start a new thread right now about getting someone to take a look. Eric

Eric...you have definitely armed youself with all the right stuff. I live in New City and have my office in Suffern. When my bro-in-law had his boat..we would go to Croton on Hudson and tie up a load of boats together and participate in beverage intake. No matter what you get, you'll love to hang out with our 'group' on our mountain fun runs. We try to do 2 every year....spring and fall runs....maybe 3 if we can get enough time. They are a blast, and you get to put people's faces to their names here. Last run we had over 50 cars show up. Always a blast. Good luck with everything. If you can get someone from here to drive the car, that would be a great plus. When you get whatever car you get, you will simply LOVE it. I ditched all of my other cars when I got this one...it's fantastic in the snow. J

Simple choice, two years of coverage versus 7 months. I see that as 1 year, 5 months of less worry about something major breaking. When you buy from the dealer you know you have no problems with the CPO warranty. It sounds like the other is a transfer. Just remember it has to be from a private party. Make sure you verify that it does in fact have a transferable Porsche warranty. Get the VIN and have a Porsche dealer run it.

The '03 would be a private sale and I confirmed with the dealer and with Porsche USA that the warranty (only 7 months) transfers with the car.

take your time negotiating, be ready to walk if you don't get the price you want. It's 100% a buyer's market and there is abundant supply of Pcars right now. I purchased a Volvo on behalf of my folks recently from a dealer in FL. At the very last minute as they were going to sign on the dotted line I noticed a substantial 'dealer fee'. I asked them what my folks were getting for this. They gave me some BS and answer and I told them forget it. They said there was nothing they could do about this fee. I said "too bad, have a nice day". Walked right out with my folks. The next day they called waving the dealer fee. This is the time you can get the best deal possible, depending on how bad your seller is looking to unload. Our economy is in the crapper, luxury purchases are getting hurt.

Agreed that it's a buyers market but I need to take a few things into consideration: -I probably need to negotiate in new rear brake pads and new rear tires. -The car had it's 30K, including RMS & new clutch done at the dealer in order to make it a CPO. I have a copy of the invoice for it. -But on the other hand, the car has been there for a while and it's a buyer's market. I'll definitely keep an eye out for those little extras. Thanks

definitely negotiate that into it, brakes and tires aren't exactly 'optional equipment'. This is why a PPI makes so much sense in terms of negotiation. They find things wrong and you have a good argument for a lower price. p.s. Hmmm RMS.... That could be one the first of a few RMS jobs. A new seal doesn't always fix the problem. Another reason to bid lower on the price. I think Warranty Direct stoped covering 996's because they had to do so many of these jobs. 30K mile service is basically a DIY, the only thing that the average person with some ramps and a Craftsman toolbox from Sears couldn't do is flushing the brakes lines every couple of years, well unless you had one of those $30 power bleeders, then you could flush your own brakes too.

I just grabbed a power bleeder....can't wait to use it. For that car...shoot for 45k...see what happens. j

Interesting, I was thinking $46 with new rears pads and new rear tires. It's going in for a quick PPI tomorrow at a local shop recommended by a fellow RL'er. So hopefully by this time tomorrow I may have my first P-car.

I bought an 02 CPO 2 yrs over an 03 with a little warranty remaining 3 months ago, more warranty = more peace of mind for me, I want to know there's enough time for anything that might crop up to get fixed and if need be fixed again. thats me though.