Picked up C4 and loving it!! Couple comments and questions

So, picked up the new (for me) 2001 C4 on Friday and left straight for Montreal for the weekend. Long drive, no complaints...! All I can say is wow, I just love it. My prior car was an Audi S4 tt which was chipped and very fast. However, the linear acceleration of c4 is just incredible, I will not miss the turbo lag. At higher speeds, the c4 really shows its stuff. Early Saturday morning, I took the car to Mirabel airport which has a 2-3 mile flat, straight and empty strip and got the car up there, its just on rails. Later, we went up into the mountains, and that was even more fun. Couple questions, there are a few more smells with this car than the s4. Is it normal to smell an almost sweet smell after driving the car for a while. I know what a roasting Porsche clutch smells like too after this weekend. Got stuck on one of the very steep hills in Montreal and a car pulled up very close behind me. The e-brake was not enough... Finally, the forum the last couple weeks has scared the hell out of me, really making me worry that I made a bad decision with this car. However, after putting almost 1,000 miles on the car in three days, I still have the same engine and everything seems to still be working, touch wood. I correctly went with a car that had some of the original warranty along with 2 more years extended. Further, people have told me that the cost of ownership of a Porsche is what kills you. However, after looking around, the parts, upgrades etc.. are actually cheaper than the S4. By way of example, the x51 upgrade package can be purchased for $5,500 (not MSRP). That same level of upgrade for an s4 would cost $12-16K, before install. Now, its off to find a decent driving school and track time! Thanks

Congrats, the cars run hot if thats what your smelling. You'll continue to get lots of enjoyment out of it. Since it sounds like you did NOT buy it from a Ford dealer I wouldn't worry about anything Where in Canada can I get the X51 for that price? Cheers

Carbon_00: Sorry, I live in the New York, just drove up for the weekend. The X-51 price was in US dollars from this place: http://www.pap-parts.com/store/depar....asp?dept=1000 Thanks

Have fun and don't worry about all the horror stories on this forum. In the grand scheme of things and numbers odds are low that you will have to replace your engine 17 times!!! I would look into a reputable extended warranty if you plan on keeping it and driving it hard for a few years. Congrats to you!

Congratulations on the new car. As others have already said - don't worry too much. I think if you go to any of these types of forums you will see similar horror stories. Let's face it - people with problems like to complain. People with no problems just drive their cars and keep quiet. The sweet smell *might* be leaking coolant - I think some of the early ones had this problem. Check the coolant level to see if it has gone down. Barry

Sound like a great car. I too currently drive a 2001 S4, which is leased and is due back next month. I have been waiting to purchase my first P-car since i first began driving. If you don't mind my asking, what did you pay? I am in CT and have been searching the New York websites. I was curious as to whether you drove any of the 00-01 C2's, or an 02 for comparison. I am thinking about holding out for an 02 C2. If you or anyone else has experience, is the real world performance that great. More horse/tourque, but more weight. I will be using as a daily driver, and will probably put approx 20,000 miles a year. The older car will have already depreciated a bit more. I realize that a newer car will have more warranty left. By the way, Anyone want a 2001 S4, silver, six speed. Any thoughts greatly appreciated Thanks

Ford dealer????? Explain?

congrats and enjoy! Some smells are good, but just to be safe check for drips...