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YOUR RESEARCHBuying first 911 - C4S - few questions
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porsche is smart enough
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I suspect Porsche is smart enough to avoid this mistake - but I haven't driven on with white faced gauges so I can't say for sure.
Leading evidence: 'porsche is smart enough' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'porsche is smart enough' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Test drive as many as your can' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Test drive as many as your can before buying, and determine what you like best.
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Hey guys. Buying a new to me 04 C4S. The only thing I’m not entirely thrilled with is the black gauge cluster. I really like the look of the white cluster. I’ve done a bit of research but can’t seem to find a solid answer? Can they be changed out? I know the odometer is the issue but can the replacement cluster be programmed to match actual mileage?
Additionally, in my search I ran across a lot of folks who didn’t want the sunroof and were nuts about the rear wiper? Why are those two options so important to some?
This was 1 second worth of research;
http://www.whitegauges.net/products/...02%252d05.html
Bald guys don't want the sunroof because of sunburn typically. Rear wiper because their eyesight is as poor as their hairline. Niche groups want niche things.
Some don't want the sunroof because they feel the very slight additional weight on the roof raises the center of gravity and negatively effects cornering. It's like arguing how many angels can sit on the head of pin.
The rear wiper is just a preference thing.
^^^ EH, AWD isn't always considered a "huge plus"... In fact, many people disable it by either removing the cardan shaft or removing the entire drive unit including axles... Personally, I like the AWD (I own a C4) but I wouldn't call it a "huge plus"... anyway, just my $.02...
I think the answers you get depend on the different kinds of owners of a C4S. They might be oriented to racing, or weekend fun driving, collect and take to cars meets, or daily driver, etc. so there will be different answers depending on owner preferences. Some of these "user profiles" probably don't create a lot of interest in the sunroof or rear wiper. My own preference leans towards daily driver, and I love that the C4S is a do-it-all rough and ready car. I can take it anywhere, anytime. The AWD with PSM makes it a really stable platform where you can really push it without loosing control or risking a crash. And of course it helps in inclement weather as well. Cabs aren't my preference, but cruising on a beautiful day is better with the roof open. I love the rear wiper and the roof connectors for a roof rack, because it just makes the car a really utilitarian vehicle in addition to an elegant but really hot vehicle. You know, take it skiing on Sunday and then to work on Monday. Others think of race on Sunday and commute on Monday. Funny I never hear people complain about the full leather or the 3rd oil cooler that comes with the C4S. Other users might really favor the wider track, wider tires, and sport suspension as helpers for racing.
I suspect Porsche is smart enough to avoid this mistake - but I haven't driven on with white faced gauges so I can't say for sure. But, I have driven a Dodge with white gauges and I can tell you that they are absolutely ATROCIOUS. There's a reason that car makers tend to make black gauges with red/orange numbers. It has to do with light wavelength and night vision. When driving the doge it was like staring into a flashlight when I looked at the gauges - then looking up at a dark road and not being able to see anything until my eyes have a moment to adjust. Even after turning the brightness to the lowest level I found myself putting a towel over the gauges to preserve my night vision. Granted, I was driving it in a pretty rural and dark area - but still it was just awful.
Anyway, something to consider when it comes to gauges.
As far as sunroofs and rear wipers it comes down to personal preference for the most part. I'm 6'2" and it was a little tight with a helmet but not terrible. You gain a little headroom without the sunroof I believe. I also think there are some other seat rail options available to lower the seat and get more head clearance. I prefer the slick look of a wiper-less Porsche, and found that I never found myself wishing I had a rear wiper.
To me AWD is a subjective benefit. In parts of the country where the seasons are a factor there is some advantage, IF you even drive your 911 in inclement weather in the first place.
AWD absolutely provides more safety in hard cornering and tight curves, but you sacrifice a noteworthy amount of nimbleness, and I would argue AWD is less fun.
Both times that I purchased 996s I considered C4S, and opted for a C2. I live in Southern Cal. Our two seasons are brown, and green. It hardly ever rains.
I love the C4S aesthetically, but the narrow body wins me over every time.
Really great answers everyone. Thanks. I can't really figure out what my desired intent for the car is. On one hand, I really like the concept of the daily driven, all weather, take it skiing, car for all lifestyles sort of nature of the AWD like 911Syncro said. But the 911 will be one of five vehicles, with two of the others being a Volvo XC90 and a Land Rover LR4. So the likelihood of me using it for those purposes is slim when I have two very capable SUVs at home. The other part of me wants to eliminate the AWD system, pull out as much weight as I can, sort of make my own 996 C2S, and experience what some folks call the true 911 nature of being RWD, light, and playful. I just can't decide. As far as sunroofs go, my car has the factory lowered seat option so headroom isn't a concern.
Test drive as many as your can before buying, and determine what you like best. Also unless the seller has well documented maintenance records and you trust the person, get a PPI before buying.
If you decide to go with a Carrera 2, try to find an early �99 with amber in each of the lights. These are the lightest of the 996s, they were hand built along side the final 993 production runs, and they still had the cable throttle. Forget about trying to find one without a sunroof. It�s a trivial weight difference, and I�m not even sure you�d ever find one.
Here�s my �99 (5/98 build date)
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