Newbie thinking of getting Porsche. Have Questions.

Hello everyone. I will be in the market for a new vehicle here soon. I am one of these **** retentive people who research everything. The Porsche is one of the cars I am considering and TBH the one I will most likely get because of reliability. I really want a Lotus Esprit V8, but I cannot fix anything and they are very unreliable. To clarify, I will be buying Used. Probably 99, but maybe 00. I am thinking of the C4S with Aero Kit. How reliable is the Porsche. It will be my daily driver. I have a P/U that I hate, but I use once or twice a month. Is there a big difference between the C2 and C4?

996 C4S started in '02 993 C4S was made in late '90s You'll get different opinion but personally I would avoid the first year 996s. Reliable yes but what's your yearly mileage? I drove a 996 C4S and 996 C2 (both 2002) back to back today and they are very different. See my thread "Ordering my 996 C2 or C4S today" for my comments.

Jim- you lucky puppy-getting a C4S and I'm not : (. I guess I have to drool for the next 1-2 years to get either a C2S(if even if produced) or the TT(I'm dreaming). I think if you plan to get a first year model it's not a bad deal in itself. Most if not all problems were fixed under warranty and there are plenty good deals on them. Granted the other models do have PSM which for most part heard it's a great option but what you get in a '99 is regular mechanical traction control(don't know if that is an option or not) and mechanical throttle control(not by the wire EGAS). I have the first year model and these are all the problems that occurred and fixed for your info in case you decide to get a '99- airbag lite goes on/oil leak(seals replaced)/center console hinge breakage/coolant level lite flashes(replaced with new reservoir). Other I've heard is the check engine lite which I heard something with the gas cap and all. Other then that it's been running fine. Regards. Mike

Like Jim said C4S did not come out until this year. If you want a used C4 with an aerokit that is possible even in a 99. The 99's had a number of little problems that likely have been fixed (under warranty) by the previous owner. I wouldn't be afraid of a 99 (I know I have one) but like any automobile builder Porsche improves cars every year. I'd buy the newest you can afford with the features you most want. Loren (99 996) mit Aerokit

[quote]Originally posted by 996FLT6: <strong>Jim- you lucky puppy-getting a C4S and I'm not : (. I guess I have to drool for the next 1-2 years to get either a C2S(if even if produced) or the TT(I'm dreaming). </strong><hr></blockquote> Lucky or stupid? The car is so much money. I've never spent this much on a car before and I feel weird if not uncomfortable. But that's not stopping me either! I oscillate between common sense with frugality and a "life is short death is long, enjoy the ride" mentality. Loren, I love the rocker panels and GT fins near the rear bumper. They're n/a on '02 but I guess an aftermarket can be found.

Jim, Sorry no GT fins on my car... the rest is factory aerokit. Loren (99 996)

AI, The Porsche is an excellent choice for a used car. I have no personal experience since my C4S is only 6 weeks old, but I know several people who have everyday use and have held on to their Porsches for many, many years. A word of caution on used Porsches. Porsches are more expensive to maintain than the average car. Not because they need a lot of maintenance, but when they do, it can cause some wincing. So, make sure that the used Porsche you are buying has up to date and documented maintenance. A well maintained Porsche is a beaut, a poorly maintained one is a pain in the.... There have been significant improvements to the Porsche line since the company's near collapse in the early 90's. Get the most recent one you can afford. Unfortunately, the C4S you seem to be interested in is new for 2002. Based on demand, I don't know if you can get a used one for cheap. On the other hand, the Porsche used car market has been a buyer's market of late. There are excellent buys out there. Get the best basic Porsche you can find, and leave out the aerokits and whatnot for later. This might give you a better opportunity to get a later model year. I'm sure a self confessed **** retentive can find a '99 or '00 or even a '01 Porsche with good records at an excellent price. Good luck, and happy hunting. Part of the fun is in the looking, checking and test driving all those Porsche's!!

EXAMPLE: I've driven my '98 Boxster--drove off dealer's lot 10/4/97-- daily for 4.5 years and driven it very hard. Only recenly at 62,000 miles is it needing repairs: a/c motor, brake pads and rotors from my abuse, microswitch to lower windows when top is lowered, and a few things over the years but nothing else major. It's been a great way to get around.

BTW, whats a P/U?

This is my thirs 996. I had an early production MY99 and put about 30000 miles on it. I had a few minor problems when I first had the car but other than that it was a great car. There are several low mile cars out there so look around alot to find the right car. <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" /> <img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" />

P/U - Pick-Up (Truck) I plan on using it as a daily driver so I'll put on about 12K a year. I'll use the P/U when I need to haul things, but I really hate trucks. I Usually buy one, or two year old cars so someone else absorbs the depreciation. Cars I have considered. Viper - Engine with Wheels. Vette - Mid life crisis sports car. NSX - It's a Honda Porsche - AWD, Not the fastest but respectable, Hopefully fairly reliable. Esprit - I love this car, but the closest shop is 3 hours away, and RELIABILITY. I cannot justify spending that much $ on a car that needs so much maintenance. Thanks for the input.

So what is the average yearly maintenance on the 996?