00-01 C2 or 02 C2

Help. My goal of attaining my first porsche is in the near future. I want to keep my price at or below 50K. I do drive alot, approx 20,000 miles/year. I am going to go and drive them soon, but was looking for some advice/insight from this list. Is the real world performance that much different between the 01-02 cars? Is it only noticeable back to back? This will be a daily driver, and i have no plans to track the car. I trying to only look at certified cars. I realize the " on paper " differences, horsepower, tourque, weight, etc. Flat six website lists the performance numbers which are 1-2 tenths of a second different. My question is, from a driving standpoint, should i spend the extra money on the 02 car, or be just as happy driving my 00-01 car saving a few bucks. If i get the 00-01 car, i would have more freedom to upgrade earlier down the road. Any help would be great. Thanks, Jeff

Put it this way, my 00 C2 3.4l is only .5 to 1 second slower on the autocross track than my friens 04 c2 w 3.6l engine. My friend is #1 in our class! I would just get the best car you can find in way of maint records and low milage no matter what the year! Robert

I've had both a '99 (which is the same as an '01) and an '02. The '02 is about 80% different even though they look very much the same. Engine, tranny, body work, etc., etc. If at all possible, take a long test drive in both. I found the difference was not subtle!

From the sales '02 brochure: ...headlight system derived from the 911 Turbo. More discreet is the careful reshaping of the front and rear fenders, bumpers and air dam. The result is 25% less lift in the front and 40% less lift at the rear for improved high speed stability.... Reinforcements to the body structure have resulted in a 25% increase in torsional rigidity for crisper response and enhanced agility. The standard 17" wheels weigh almost eight pounds less than the previous design, while the optional 18" wheels are lighter by over 24 pounds. The front air ducts have been reshaped to increase the flow of cooling air to the radiators by 15%" You also get 20 more HP, a glove box, better cup holders and a glass rear window in the cab. I test drove a number of cars and spent a few $$ more for an '02. You could definitely tell the difference when you drive them back to back.

Thanks for the insight. I am going to drive an 01 and an 02 this weekend. By the way, Robert, I love the look of the 5 spoke wheels. I have admired your car from that small picture. Do you have any other shots you could share. If i go with an 01 earlier, i would update the whheels, and probably throw snows on whatever it comes with. What did that cost you to upgrade? Thanks, Jeff

42 empress, the average person will never be able to tell the diff between 25% more rigidity and less lift yada yada yada...My 00 will keep up with any 02 or newer. I admit to liking the 02's headlights but as for cup holders, give me a break. My friend with the 04 drove my car up the mountains and said it felt stiffer than his 04 because of my H&R set up. I bought the wheels and tires from wheelenhancement and they were taken off an 04 who came in to get bling wheels. They had 80 miles on the and I saved 800 dollars as opposed to new. My car performs better with these over the heavy 19's the previous owner had on there. I will take some more photos for you when it stops raining here!! I would go with the newest car you can afford. If the 01 has less miles and no maint issues and is perfect in and out I would take that over an 02 w/ more miles and a list of stops at the dealer anytime.. Robert