C4 - Good candidate for 1st Porsche?

Well, I've come across another candidate as I shop the vast interwebs for my first Porsche. The latest hits most of my checklist, having IMS, RMS and new clutch completed within the last 7k miles. 4 previous owners but, Clean Carfax. A good amounts of service history/records. The car is a female owned (a good thing in my experience), 2001 Coupe, Arctic Silver over black, 6-speed with 62k on the clock. Asking price is 20k It is located within driving distance to me, so transport is not necessary. The car looks like it has the makings of a fairly solid weekend driver. This car happens to be an AWD C4. I do not live in an area that gets much inclimate weather, so I'm not certain if AWD is a positive or negative. So far, everything I've looked at has been RWD. I'd appreciate any input as to the upside and downside to a C4. Thanks, as always folks!

I bought my 47,000 mile 01 C4 a year ago. IMO condition and history on a 996 a far more important than C2 vs C4. Both handle superbly. Some feel the C2 is more capable, or fun, handler but with a street car not a factor I would consider one way or the other. The only disadvantage for me was that the C4 uses a different front strut setup than the C2. The Koni brand I prefer is not available for the C4. Male vs female owner would not be a factor for me but how the car was driven and maintained would be. I have known amazingly good as well as amazingly incompetent drivers of all persuasions.

The AWD system in the 911 is setup to improve track performance and lap times (and based on all of the tests I've seen, it does just that). The winter weather handling/capability is not really the focus but I'd imagine it doesn't hurt. There are some die hard enthusiasts that will say RWD is significantly better, but I really don't think you'll be unhappy with either option. I took my C4S to the track for the first time a few months ago and I loved it. I don't have a good reference point to compare - but in some of my previous non-911 RWD cars I've found myself spun out facing the wrong way- but I haven't even come close in the 911. The AWD system adds slightly more weight (about 130lb if I remember correctly) and uses up a bit of your frunk space for the front differential - but (at least with the C4S, and I'd imagine C4s) some of that is regained by using an un-inflated spare with battery powered compressor. You can fairly easily convert a C4 to a C2 if you ever decide to.

If its a clean car I would not worry about C2/C4 differences. FYI, If you get it and don't like it as a C4 you can easily convert it into a C2.

I would definitely drive both a c2 and C4 back to back before buying a C4. Regardless of specs or reviews, they def feel very different. I�ve driven both quite a bit (I own a C4s and have access to a c2 anytime I want) and def plan on converting my C4s to rwd at some point. Of course the conversion is pretty simple, so if you like to wrench you could always convert a C4 upon purchase if you wind up feeling the same as me.

So I contacted the shop that did the RMS, IMS and clutch on the car last year. I asked which IMS replacement he used. He said original Porsche parts. He does not use aftermarket. Isn't replacing a factory bearing with another OEM bearing pointless? The shop that did the work is not a "Porsche only" shop. Wouldn't most shops go with the a LN retrofit kit or the solution? So now I question if the IMS replacment that was done is actually reliable.

So plan on replacing it at some point and factor in the cost. Hard to imagine a knowledgeable shop would put a Porsche replacement bearing in. I contacted three shops prior to purchasing my C-4 and discussed having this same work done. All recommended LN. In fact all three refused to install anything else.

Porsche doesn't make or offer a replacement IMS BEARING! I highly doubt they actually replaced the IMS (which is what Porsche does offer - including the bearing) seeing as the engine would need to be totally torn down to do so...

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The guy was nice enough. He said he doesn't use aftermarket parts, only genuine 'German" Porsche parts. The owner is being very helpful, supplying all of her service records, but now when I dig a little deeper, I'm not liking what I hear from the service guy.

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Yeah, he seems like he's trying to impress you with his knowledge...but his ignorance is showing!

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if this is your first porsche, litteraly go kick some tires. Search a bunch on this site. All these cars have 'issues' when you look deep into them. Mine is a 15 year old summer only toy. Winters are spent wrenching on all the little 'issues'. For me, that's almost as much fun.😎

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Yes, She does have the invoice for the IMS bearing and install, but it just reads "Engine Bearing Upgrade kit"

If you could get it for less then it would be a great deal considering the service that was done on the car. Pictures? Personally, I wouldn't worry over the C4 vs. C2 thing, but I've always preferred the driving characteristic of a RWD car over AWD.

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Depending on what information the seller can get on the bearing replacement, a PPI will be in order, at that point if nothing else is an issue, I'll try to factor the cost of doing an IMS that I know is the correct solution.

"un-inflated spare with battery powered compressor." Wait. What? [Goes to look in the frunk.] I never thought about it or checked before, but yes. I have a compressor under the spare! So as not to thread hijack, I have a C4 (and a compressor but no owner's manual) and love it.

Just budget for an IMS replacement asap, and buy it as long as the rest is up to par. Don't worry about the AWD, on the street it drives like any other car. If you do decide you do not like the AWD it is not difficult to remove and you will end up with a wide body RWD 911, this is what I have. Good luck.