Time to say farewell to my Carrera 4S

The time has come to say farewell to my favorite of all the cars that I've ever owned. I've been toying with the idea of getting a newer car for well over a year. What really got me thinking about it was a thread here recently in which I detailed the amount that I'm spending on an annual basis to keep the C4S on the road. I keep telling myself that it's great to have a Porsche with no car payment, but when I look at how much I've been spending, it made more sense to me to put that money into something newer. Based on my budget, I considered three very different cars: A nicely equipped new 981 Cayman S, a bare bones new 991 C2 or a pre-owned 997.1 turbo or 997.2 C4S. After much consideration, I decided to go with the 997 turbo. It was a tough choice - each car I considered is very different. I just purchased a CPO 2008 997TT. Here are the basics: 342 - Heated Front Seats 450 - Ceramic Composite Brakes-PCCB 640 - Sport Chrono Package Turbo 810 - Floor Mats in Interior Color 9S - Macadamia Metallic CUJ - Fuse Box Cover in Leather CXD - Door Entry Grds Carbon Illumin P01 - Adaptive Sport Seats TG - Sand Beige Full Leather V5 - Cabriolet roof in Cocoa XCZ - Sport Shifter XMP - Lthr Sun Visors Lighted Mirror XPA - Thicker Steering Wheel-Leather XSB - Sport Seat Backs in Leather XSC - Porsche Crest in Headrest I'll miss my 996 C4S tremendously. I have enjoyed being a part of the community of 996 owners and I hope I can learn from and contribute to the 997 TT community in the same way. I pick up the new car on September 8th. Here are a few photos from the dealer lot:

Very nice Dennis, congrats! Nicely optioned and a great colour. What was the final deciding point to go with the 997 TT? Did you trade in the C4S or are you going to sell in privately?

Dennis, congrats on the turbo!!!! Enjoy her in good health, I'm sure you won't but don't be a stranger. I've learned quite a bit from your posts across multiple models (996 and 955TT maybe the 951 as well, idk if you have one or if I'm thinking of another person).

I traded the 996. It needed some work and I wasn't up for doing the repairs and trying to sell it. The decision on the 997 was a tough one. Once I drove it though, it wasn't that tough. Up at altitude where I live, forced induction makes a huge difference in performance. That coupled with loving 911s in general, was what made the difference.

Congrats on the new car Dennis. Your argument for the sale is definitely 100% understandable. I have lucked out (knock on wood) so far, and my total cost for the first calendar year of ownership was $1,000.00 (oil change, trans fluid change, all filters, diff fluid change, SAI pump). So far, it looks like 2nd year will be higher. Rear tires are now starting to show wear, the coolant tank+ oil fill pipe already added $250.00.

Mine was great for a long time. The last three years have seen an escalation in maintenance costs. Stuff just wears out. The mountains are really tough on cars too. The new TT is extensively covered in clear bra, which will help with road rash, and the CPO warranty will help with major repairs.

Very nice Dennis! Beautiful color. Don't be a stranger - you have a lot of knowledge and experience with the 996 that qualifies you to stay involved with the 996 board.

Man.... Don't be a stranger. Your posts have always been on my must read list. Congrats on the new ride.

You must be so happy to be trading up to a Turbo Dennis. Great choice for you, especially in the mtns. of Colorado. Can't wait to hear of your driving impressions once you get some seat time. You had a nice list of Porsche options to choose from. Congrats on your new purchase!

I consider the 996 crew to be "my boys"! I'm not going anywhere, just splitting my time between multiple boards now!

Great choice! Hope to see you and your car at a future PCA event. Possibly Oktoberfest? I am out of country Sept 4th. John '03 Targa

Congratulations Dennis! Looks like a great new ride, I'll keep an eye out for it, there have got to be even less Macadamia Turbo Convertibles than there are C4S's around!

WOW!!! That upgrade is gorgeous!!! Congrats!!

"tough choice".

Love the car and the color choice! That's part of the reasons I was drawn to my car was because of the somewhat unusual color. You're sure to not confuse which car is yours when walking out to a crowded parking lot. Congratulations!

Dennis, congratulations. You picked an amazing car. If I ever sell, I would buy the same car. I absolutely love the color that you picked. It is one of my favorites. I can not wait to hear about the driving experience.

Wow that color just kind of sucks you in! Very nice Dennis! Well done.

Forced induction is the only choice in high altitudes IMO. Congrats and one of my fav colors on the 997. You will probably get used to the power really fast and then you won't have the IXX to keep your life exciting, what will you do next? Your life will get boring really fast. lol

Thanks everybody. It's a strange feeling... I'm excited about the new 997 TT but already missing my 996 C4S and all the 996 crew!

Thanks for sharing your exact concerns and how you came to that decision. You made a great choice, with a fantastic looking ride. Enjoy.

any chance the color is called ESPRESSO something?

Macadamia Brown Metallic

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thanks. asking because this was a VERY popular color when I was shopping for a MINI (and also a scooter).

Very nice! Highly optioned (lots of leather!), performance features (sport seats, sport shifter, sports chrono, PCCB!), low miles, one owner, unusual color... Definitely jealous! If it was the Colorado Springs dealer it looked like it was a great price as well! I'm sure you'll enjoy it for many miles and years to come.

Beautiful ride Dennis. While I'm new here, I have found your posts to be very insightful and helpful as I'm getting to know my 996. Enjoy the 997 Turbo...it's a beauty.

Congrats. Few cars can pull off a brown color. I dare not start totaling up the maintenance on the 4s due to the duty cycle. How many miles were on your 4s? I'm at a 150K+ right now

Congrats!!!! What an upgrade!!!!!

Looks like your C4S beat you near to death on maint costs .... and it STILL it needed work ! Yikes. I have 2x the miles and less than a third of the maint costs on mine. At least now you have a CPO.

I was just shy of 140k miles. I had addressed all the major issues, but I still had a few things to deal with: - I needed new tires - I had some interior leather that needed replacement or repair - My front bumper and hood were really chipped up and had some road rash, so I needed a re-spray - I was having a problem with the microswitches in the passenger's side door handle - I just began to receive error messages saying "ABS system failure" and "PSM failure" under hard braking - I'm sure there are a few other issues that I'm forgetting I just wasn't up for it. Something newer and turbocharged sounded better. I still think the 996 was a great car and I would recommend one to somebody.

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x2. Off the top, Mini, Mercedes, Range Rover.

Congrats on the turbo! Enjoy that power!

nice...thats an upgrade in the right direction! love the 997 turbos. love the 996 turbos too!

Congrats, Dennis! I love the TT cab and that gorgeous unique color. Looks like I missed the opportunity to pay you a visit to see the 996- now I'll need to stop by and drool over your 997.

Congratulations, Dennis! That is a beautiful car. Can't wait to hear your driving impression.

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Come on out! I can find some nice mountain roads for us to drive the Porsches with the tops down!

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That ABS failure and PSM message is directly tried to the tires. Even if they're not all the way worn, I got those messages until I replaced the tires. I chased other causes before because the tires weren't down to the wear bars. Chased the steering wheel angle sensor, ABS module, MAF, you name it. Just an FYI.

It wasn't anything I have ever experienced before. The tires currently on the car don't need to be replaced - they are pretty new. My snows need to be replaced. It only gives an error message during hard braking, and then it resets when I start that car again. In any case, it was the last straw for me.

Well done sir. I'm going to try to do the same move next year. Looking forward on your experiences with the new car. Enjoy in good health.

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Ahh, no wonder I haven't seen it since I put new Michelin's on in June! I was looking at some of the other threads and reasons. Thanks! Dennis - great looking turbo. It has me thinking!

Congrats! Nice looking Turbo.

What a great choice - beautiful car....you'll be missed here.

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Yeah, I couldn't figure it out It only happened when I initiated a turn and only on certain turns. But the message would come on after the turn, not during. Only one of the tires was giving up some traction out of the four. So I replaced all of them and no more error. It was baffling.

Awesome choice Dennis! Love the color

Great looking TT. Enjoy! This option made me laugh: CUJ - Fuse Box Cover in Leather it's most likely the last option I would ever, and I mean ever pick. Too funny.

I thought that one was pretty silly too. Nobody will ever see that except for me and maybe a mechanic! I do like the seat backs in leather though. The illuminated carbon fiber door sill guards look cool, but that's one that I'd probably skip on the options check list if I purchased this car new.

Looks like a sweet car Dennis. Congrats and enjoy. I'm thinking an 08 TT might be the replacement for my 4S (when it's time). In your research, did you find the 997 turbo to have any major service issues or common problems?

Like any used Porsche, it has issues that need to be addressed. Some of them are the same issues we see in the 996. These include things like the water pump, ignition coils, etc. There are some problems that are unique to the turbo also. Occasionally you hear stories about turbos needing to be replaced. There are plastic coolant pipes that need to be upgraded to stainless steel pipes - this is seen as a weak point in the engine of the 997.1 turbo (I thought I got away from this issue when I sold the Cayenne!). Overall though, the Metzger engine is considered very reliable. The 997.1 turbo is the last of the turbos to use this engine as the 997.2 design is totally different. I think it will be reliable, and the CPO warranty doesn't hurt!

Awesome 997! Congrats but I bet you still miss the unique qualities of the C4S. They really are great too, just not as fast!

Thanks KrazyK. I will definitely miss the C4S. I think it's a great looking car and it was a pleasure to drive every day.

A Unique car deserves a unique color. Great Choice. Congrats and enjoy in good health.

Beautiful car Dennis but boy I thought you were a lifer - an inspiration to me many times about loving the 996. Please do let us know how you like it though!

damn! That was fast! Congrats on the new car! Didn't know you sold the Cayenne too. When did that happen? Enjoy in good health, Dennis! I have to attend one of the PBC meets just to see your car in person. Cheers, -K

Thanks! It all happened over the course of the last week. I've been looking around at 997s and considering buying something else for about a year. Initially, we were going to keep the Cayenne as a third vehicle. After discussing it, my wife and I decided that we really don't need three cars for two people. So, I traded them both in!

Congratulations! The new Turbo looks fantastic. I think you went with the right car: not that my opinion matters. I hope it treats you as well as your old 996! You've been a wealth of information for the board. I truly hope you stick around. -Eric

Congrats Dennis.

Thanks!

Congrats on the new toy...just want to take this opportunity to say thank you for all your support and help on this forum!

Well, I officially said goodbye today. I dropped off the 996 C4S at the dealer and drove away in my new 997 TT. It was bittersweet. As I was moving the stuff from my glovebox to the new car, two of the Porsche mechanics came up and started looking at the C4S and talking to me about the car. They couldn't believe the mileage on the car because it still looks so good. I was happy that they recognized the work that I've put into that car to keep it looking good, but it only made it harder to drive away. I actually drove that car as my daily driver longer than any car I've ever owned. I don't have more photos of the 997 yet because it started raining right after delivery. Nice first day in a cabriolet! I only drove about 150 miles today, so I won't post first any significant observations on the new car for a while. It's obviously much faster than my 996 was and more refined inside, but it sure doesn't sound as good as the C4S did with the Fister mufflers. The clutch is very different, as well as the factory sport shifter. I almost stalled the car starting out from a stop a few times today. It seems to want more gas to get things moving than the C4S did. I'll try to post more photos this week if the weather cooperates.

Congrats Dennis

Here are a couple of photos of the new vehicle in my driveway after a nice hand wash:

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Your new TT looks great! What a fantastic color. Love the Mac Nut. I felt the same way about giving up my 996 daily driver. The 997 is an awesome car, but the 996 was my first Porsche and as you now know, they are totally different experiences. Funny you mention the exhaust on your TT is not as good as the Fister exhaust on your 996. I have been exploring options for mine since it did not come with PSE. No doubt I will go the Fister D route again. Enjoy the honeymoon period!

I was going to say something smartass but damn that car looks good, I can't even be sarcastic.

Nice to have your new Porsche under you Dennis. What a great upgrade that will make your daily commute something very special. Best of luck with your new Porsche, hope you are good about ticket prevention, you'll need it.

Yummy! Looks very nice, Dennis!

i don't like the head lights...LOL! congrads to u & thanx for all the info & help in the past- m

now I'm going to Starbuckinghams & have a chocolate cocoa!

I know... the headlights are so boring! It's like a old VW Beetle...

I know that a couple of you have asked for my initial thoughts on 996 vs. 997. I have only had the car for a little over a week, but I'll give you my initial impressions. I know that the topic of 996 vs. 997 has been extensively covered on this forum and others, so it's pretty likely that I won't be reporting anything that hasn't been said before. Additionally, I'm comparing a normally aspirated coupe to a turbocharged cabriolet. Many of the differences that I'm experiencing are probably due more to those two things combined with the fact that I'm driving a car with 32K miles on the clock as opposed to 140K miles. Given that background, here are my impressions and thoughts after a nice PCA Fall Foliage drive yesterday down to Colorado Springs: - The 997 feels bigger and heavier than the 996. That's not necessarily a bad thing all the time. It feels very stable and very smooth when cruising on the highway, it just feels bigger. I haven't compared the stats for each vehicle in terms of size, but I would imagine they are pretty close. I think the new 997 cabriolet is probably a few hundred pounds heavier than my C4S. - The PASM system in the 997 TT really makes a noticeable difference in ride quality. The 997 in "normal" mode is very smooth and rides very well. Again, this is very noticeable on the highway. In "sport" mode, the suspension becomes much stiffer, and I'd say more stiff than the stock suspension in my 996 C4S. Overall, the 997 feels more stable and more "glued to the road" in cornering. I'm not sure if this is due to the suspension, the AWD system or a combination of these things. - I can feel the difference in rigidity between the 996 C4S and the 997 TT, especially when doing things like going over railroad tracks. I imagine that this is a coupe vs. cabriolet issue. It's not that the 997 TT is bad in this regard, but it is definitely not as stiff as the coupe. - Many people say that the interior of the 997 is a big upgrade over the 996. I wouldn't call it a big upgrade, but it does definitely feel more upscale. I had full leather inteiror in my 996, like the 997. However, the 997 full leather package has more visible stitching and it looks more like leather. The 996 had a few places that were leather but didn't look like it. The 997 interior is very quiet too. With the top up, I think the 997 cabriolet interior is actually quieter than my 996 coupe. The one major improvement, in my opinion, is the seats in the 997. My new vehicle has the adaptive sport seats option, and it's fantastic. I think it is the most comfortable automotive seat that I've ever experienced. - I'm still getting used to the turbocharged engine. I don't like the sound as much as my 996 with Fister mufflers, but it does have some appealing things about it. With the top down, it makes a very noticeable burble with a few pops when declerating or changing gears. I like that. I can't wait to get an "improved" exhaust on the 997. - I'm not sure why, but the clutch action is very different in the 997 than it was in my 996. The clutch in the 997 seems to be on or off... with very little room to feather or slip the clutch. As a result, it seems to take a little more gas to get the 997 moving. I'm getting used to it. - The fuel economy in the 997 TT is much worse than my 996 C4S. I don't know if this will be the case long term or not. I'm guessing that I'm putting my right foot into it a little bit more as I become addicted to the torque of the turbocharged engine. To sum things up, I'm really enjoying my new car. The things that I liked about my 996 are generally the same things that I like about my 997. It feels familiar. It feels like a Porsche. It has been a very nice change. I used to say that I wasn't going to buy a 997 when I sold my 996, and that I would wait for a 991 instead. I think that the 997 that I bought is so different from my 996 because it's a turbo and it's a cabriolet. I'm not sure I would have purchased a 997 C4S or not - it's hard to say. I think the 996 and the 997 are both fantastic cars and we are lucky to have the opportunity to experience them.

I know the exhaust on the newer TT's is quite, but can you hear much turbo spool up/noise, etc?

The turbo noise isn't noticeable at all until you get to about 4,000 RPM. There's lots of "intake" noise and lots of mechanical noise before that. It doesn't sound bad, but it doesn't really sound good either.

I'll have to say again that I really like that color!

Thanks again. It's an interesting color. It has lots of metal flake in it and it really shows in direct sunlight. It almost reminds me of the finish that you see on boats sometimes. I had two people approach me unsolicited today and ask me about the color. I haven't ever owned a car that brought comments like this. My 996 would occasionally get a comment, but I think I've had more comments on this car in a week than I did in the previous year. I would imagine it is a "love it or hate it" kind of color, but so far my experience has been positive.

Although not a turbo, I recently moved to a 997 from a 996. I agree with Dennis' comments and will add this. I love my new car. The interior is a huge upgrade (although my aftermarket Pioneer system and speakers kicks the *** out of the Bose system in the 997). However, the 996 is a great car. I always felt like I drove the 996. The 997 drives me...with PSM and the refinements, the 997 has a more robotic feel to it. I am glad I bought my new PCar, but miss a lot about the 996. Maybe it's just first love. But...if I were to have moved to a Turbo like Dennis, well that would be a different story.

Spot on Gentlemen. I appreciate the observations.

And one more observation... This thing is friggin' low! I'm scraping go the ground in lots places that I didn't with my 996 C4S.

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It wouldn't be different. You'd still miss your 996.