Which 996?

I am currently a proud owner of a 964 C4 Cab. It has never been driven in the winter.I have another car for that. But it's getting too pricey to keep 2 cars. So, I was thinking of going to an EARLY 996 C4 coupe as a year-round car. So here are a few questions I can use some help with: 1. Where to find a detailed history of 996, including specs and differences between the production years. 2. Does anyone here use a 996 C4 coupe in the winter and how does it handle...(keep in mind I am in Canada) 3. Which models to stay away from. 4. Which options are strongly recommended I appreciate any input you might have on this. And don't tell 964guys about this. Thanks all, in advance!

I think cars.com has some yearly review and overview of MY changes. In a nutshell: 99-01 have 3.4L engine, 296/300hp 99 has basketball texture interior few likes 02-04 have 3.6L engine, 320hp 02-04 adds aero improvement, new turbo headlights, new fenders & front end. Painted bumperettes, glovebox, slide out (instead of pop out) cupholders, Bose option w 12 spkrs. For options, I'd get: heated seats, xenon, bose if 02+, 18" Stay away from 99-01 esp 99 if you could. Their prices have dropped the most though so they are most affordable.

03+ have digital radio systems with the MOST bus. This system severely limits your audio choices, and makes integrating an iPod impossible (at least today) except with an FM modulator. for my money the 2002 is the best of the lot.

Thanks a lot guys. I really appreciate the response. Just one thing is really strange. If someone posts a thread in a 964 forum asking for advice I am sure I would have had more than 2 responses out of 140 people who read the thread. So I will give the 996 guys the benefit of the doubt and decide that maybe I didn't word my plea for help properly. So let me try again: Guys, if you got an opinion about the car you own, why nor share it with someone who is thinking of getting one. Thats all.

I have a 2000 996 and love it!!! I have added some mods to my liking and use it every day (with a family of 4!). It is a very dependable and drivable everyday car (sans the gas mileage). Anyway, my opinion would be to get the most you can for your money and enjoy the hell out of what ever you choose!!! By the way, there have been at least a dozen posts here talking about the 996 as a winter car, etc...you search around and you should find more info and opinions... Good luck!

my brother in law has the C4 and loves it...also a friend of mine had the C2 and drove it in the winter of course with 4 winters and said it was great....good luck i am sure it will be great...where are you in canada? i am in montreal.

I spent 2 years trying to find the right car. This all started out looking first at Superformance Cobra's....go figure??? Then considering getting another Corvette like a used C5 or a new C6. OK but not exactly what the doctor ordered. Thought maybe even a Viper? Even considered a BMW Z4....snooze...Then I told myself maybe it was time to have my first P-Car. Thought the Boxster S would be the thing to have until some salesman insisted that I drive a 996. Well he was right, and I now have a 2002 C2, Bare bones, nothing fancy, Red, PSM, PSE, 18" Lt. Alloys, with P-Zero's. It's great! After driving many P-Cars, including the Boxster, Boxster S, 1999-2004 996's, I decided on the 2002 for the following reasons: 1. Price, PriCE, PRICE! 2. 320 hp. but more importantly, the increase in torque. I think the 2002 and up have a much better torque band then the earlier ones. Makes the car more enjoyable to drive. 3. I like the looks a little bit better then the earlier cars. Fenders, bumperettes, headlights etc. 4. I would not consider a 996 without at least a US M030 sport suspension. I bought mine with this and hope to change it soon to either a ROW 030 for ride height, or more then likely a racing suspension of some sort. The stock suspension on these cars SUCKS!!! The ROW030 and US030 suspensions at least make the car feel the way it ought to. The stock suspension is almost scary IMHO. 5. PSM is nice, but you could probably live without it. For winter driving I would think it would be a big plus, and you can always kind of turn it off if you wish. I think it probably helps on resale of the vehicle since I notice alot of non PSM cars are a little harder to sell then ones that have it. 6. It's nice to have a glove-box. 7. The drink holder is kind of ridiculous, but better then the earlier ones, and better then none at all. 8. The base radio and cd player is a joke, but I only turn it on when idling down my washboard dirt road from my house to the main road. Just get yourself a PSE, or any of the other awsome exhaust systems out there and forget about the radio. But when it is all said and done....no matter what year you get, color, options etc. You are going to love it! Tom L

I have had my '04 C2 for 8 months. I love it. If you can swing it get an '02 - '04, which has upgraded everything from previous.

Here's a link to a web site for info on P-cars over the model years: flat-6 As others have said, go for the 2002 and up. Significant improvements in engine, tranny, suspension, chassis, interior, etc. Unless you're in Europe, 2002 marks the year that C4 is no longer available, and the C4S is the only NA AWD 911. As far as options go, the C4S already comes standard with a host of things that would be otherwise be optional. I consider most of these options a "must have". These are: Sport suspension, bigger red brakes, bigger tires, 18" wheels. It also comes standard with full leather. It also has the turbo front and wider tread giving it a different look.

I'll go the other way, and not just because I have an '01. The '02 and up cars are slightly better than the '01's and down, but mainly for the stiffer chassis. As far as the extra 20hp and different headlights, glovebox, etc., who cares? The performance difference between the "two" 996's is negligible (unless you're looking for tenths of a second on the track), especially considering how cheap you can find a '99-'01 car nowadays. I still today would not think twice about going for my '01. Oh no! Boxster headlights! Give me a break.

I have had my '00 for nearly 6 years and no major problems to report, it is a very reliable car. I would not hesitate to get a '99-01 car, there is nothing wrong with the 3.4. I would try to find a car with full leather interior, it's a lot nicer.

I'm really happy with my '01 C2. I definitely recommend some sort of suspension upgrade -- I have H&R springs, but from what I hear most anything seems better than stock. I think the newer model C4S front grille looks really good, but that's really minor. After all you can't see the front of the car when you're driving! Beyond that, it's probably about finding the right car in the right shape. Good luck!

Thanks, guys. Your opinions are really helping. Here's what I've done: Looked at: 1. 2000 Millenium Edition Carrera 4 Coupe. Nicely equiped but tiptronic. 42K km, $65K CDN. 2. 2002 C4S. Sport Exhaust, Full leather, CD changer. 37K km, $85K CDN. Also it was hit RF corner. This is what I learned so far: 02 C4S is a killer looking car. That rear end alone make me hard. But if further research will prove the above prices to be right for my region, than I don't think I can afford to pay a $20K premium for an extra 20hp, wider rear end, front bumper, glove box, cup holder, etc... There's a lot one can do with TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS. I'll keep you posted. But please, keep it comming. You can't emagine how much your advices are helping. P.S. Are any of you guys driving a tiptronic? Can you have fun driving it all year round? Or is it boring after a while?

I didn't know there was a millenium edition C4. I thought all millenium editions were C2?

Hello fellow Canadian I have a 2001C2 with PSM, PSE and GT kit (includes M030 suspension). I don't drive my car in the winter, so can't comment on useability. If you're planning driving tours with your car, check the trunk size difference between C2 and C4. This is season #5 for the car and I can't be happier. As an FYI, significant track day experience with good instructors helps a great deal in making 300hp faster than 320HP!!! I recommend a visit to Pfaff Porsche.....sales person (Jamie Taylor) gave us excellent advice on which model with which options would suit our purposes...they have a good selection of pre-owned cars....sure do like the look of the C4S, but no need for me to make the move to a newer car. Good luck Good luck

All millennium editions are C4. The extra horsepower on the MY02+s is negated by the extra weight, the torque and the stiffer chassis is nice, but lighter is better. Also the 3.6ls have an annoying variocam plus surge at around 3500 rpms where the 3.4l is much more linear. I also believe, and this is purely subjective, that the turbo style headlights on the narrow body 3.6l are fugly and will look out of place in the evolution of the 911. Yea, I have an '01 that I couldn't be happier with it. I wouldn't pay the extra money for the 3.6l 996 or even a base 997.