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Looking at first Porsche purchase - 996 C4S - Is now a bad time?

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YOUR RESEARCHLooking at first Porsche purchase - 996 C4S - Is now a bad time?

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right deal

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I just bought my 03 C4S a few months ago because it was the right deal for a good car.

Looking at first Porsche purchase - 996 C4S - Is now a bad time?
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Check these numbers based

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Suggestion

Um No, Please check these numbers based on the link below.

Looking at first Porsche purchase - 996 C4S - Is now a bad time?
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Leading evidence: 'right deal' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'right deal' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check these numbers based' (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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Run wet sump

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Performed · outcome unconfirmed

Grand Am series they ran the wet sump with a 9 qt acusump.

Looking at first Porsche purchase - 996 C4S - Is now a bad time?

Use car, there will always be issues

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Performed · outcome unconfirmed

As with any used car, there will always be issues that will need to be addressed (and I am in the process of doing that now).

Looking at first Porsche purchase - 996 C4S - Is now a bad time?

right deal (for me)

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Suspected cause

I was actually hunting for a dirt cheap 996.1 so I could do dumb ricer **** to it, but this car came up on facebook and it was the right deal (for me)

Looking at first Porsche purchase - 996 C4S - Is now a bad time?

wide rear increases the drag coefficient

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Suspected cause

Yes the C4S is a bit heavier, and most likely the wide rear increases the drag coefficient.

Looking at first Porsche purchase - 996 C4S - Is now a bad time?
Frequently discussed actions (10)

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Check these numbers based

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Suggestion

Um No, Please check these numbers based on the link below.

Looking at first Porsche purchase - 996 C4S - Is now a bad time?

Repair cost

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Suggestion

Probably fewer (NA, non-GT) 996's survive today from original production than other 911 models given the long period of low valuation combined with the high repair cost for major engine damage.

Looking at first Porsche purchase - 996 C4S - Is now a bad time?

Replace c4)

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Suggestion

As for lap times I’ll look at the article but the only possible advantage is the AWD, in which case the narrow body C4 would of course surpass 4S (having the same handling advantage but lighter and more aerodynamic), however at that test time C4 was no longer offered (4S replaced C4).

Looking at first Porsche purchase - 996 C4S - Is now a bad time?

Replace freeking oil often

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Suggestion

There are other things you can do but IMHO the biggie is change your freeking oil often.

Looking at first Porsche purchase - 996 C4S - Is now a bad time?

Replace its has

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Suggestion

Make sure it has all its service records so you can see if the previous owners did the service they were supposed to, and how many oil changes its has.

Looking at first Porsche purchase - 996 C4S - Is now a bad time?

Replace oil at least 2x a year

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Suggestion

Bore Scoring - Change your oil at least 2X a year.

Looking at first Porsche purchase - 996 C4S - Is now a bad time?

Replace with either ims retro or ims solution

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Suggestion

Intermediate Shaft Bearing Failure - Replace with either IMS Retro or IMS Solution.

Looking at first Porsche purchase - 996 C4S - Is now a bad time?

Replace with new water pump

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Suggestion

Water Pump Fan Blade Shattering - Replace with new water pump.

Looking at first Porsche purchase - 996 C4S - Is now a bad time?

Replace with uaos

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Suggestion

AOS Failure - Replace with UAOS.

Looking at first Porsche purchase - 996 C4S - Is now a bad time?

Run away

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Suggestion

If there are no records, run away.

Looking at first Porsche purchase - 996 C4S - Is now a bad time?
Reported and suspected causes (3)

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right deal

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Reported cause

I just bought my 03 C4S a few months ago because it was the right deal for a good car.

Looking at first Porsche purchase - 996 C4S - Is now a bad time?

right deal (for me)

No successful repair reported for this finding.

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Identified cause
1
Suspected cause
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Discussions that suspect a cause
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0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

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Suspected cause

I was actually hunting for a dirt cheap 996.1 so I could do dumb ricer **** to it, but this car came up on facebook and it was the right deal (for me)

Looking at first Porsche purchase - 996 C4S - Is now a bad time?

wide rear increases the drag coefficient

No successful repair reported for this finding.

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Identified cause
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Discussions that suspect a cause
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0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

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Suspected cause

Yes the C4S is a bit heavier, and most likely the wide rear increases the drag coefficient.

Looking at first Porsche purchase - 996 C4S - Is now a bad time?
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63 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.

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POST 1 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Hello everyone. First time poster. Always been a car guy. Domestic in my younger years slowly transitioning to European in the last 4-5. Currently own an E60 M5. I spend more time on autotrader than I care to admit, and as such have watched the skyrocketing of Porsche values over the last 6 years. I'm now in the market for a 996 Carrera 4S, but even just in the last two years, I've seen them add $10-15k. On one hand, that's making me kick myself for not buying two years ago, but also it makes me worry I'm now buying at the top of the market. With lower mileage, good condition C4S now approaching $50k, what would you all suggest? Is this a bubble to wait out, or if I don't buy now, will these same cars be $60k in another year or two, in which case I'd really be kicking myself?

POST 2Original post

Start looking now and buy when you find one that checks out. There aren't any more manual NA cars being made so even though the prices could potentially dip down I don't see them returning to previous ones. I think last call was sometime towards the end of 2020.

POST 3Original post

Quotes source post: 17724503

This caught my eye: "lower mileage" - how low? Low mileage is not a merit when it comes to Porsches because that could mean two things which neither of them are good - a) either it's been sitting in the garage and been driven only occasionally which could cause fuel problems -> engine problems + wear on other parts for not being used or b) it has been driven only a short distances which is especially bad for Porsches which are meant to be driven. Short distances means a lot of cold starts and not properly warmed engine during the drive which is bad for the engine. What comes to the value in the future I think there will be two markets a) relatively cheap ones that don't have rebuild engine b) much more expensive ones (with rebuild engine) and considering that we are talking about 911s here those that are properly maintained will become more and more expensive. The low point in the price is history now and the prices will keep going up - it then depends on the a) and b) at which angle.

POST 4 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

I didn't necessarily say I wanted a low mileage car, heck I'd be thrilled with a 75k+ C4S but it seems all I ever see posted are sub 40k mile cars that end up getting listed for $48-52k.

POST 5Original post

Low miles seems attractive but as it's been mentioned it's not always ideal. My personal rule of thumb is that I'd like to see the car do about 4-5k miles a year. Not limited to but many of the issues you may read about are on cars that have not been driven much. Lots of miles + good service history > low miles, all day.

POST 6Original post

now is a bad time, but waiting will probably only get worse. I just bought my 03 C4S a few months ago because it was the right deal for a good car. I was actually hunting for a dirt cheap 996.1 so I could do dumb ricer **** to it, but this car came up on facebook and it was the right deal (for me) While I'm sure there will be more market dips, the value is just going to (on average) continue to increase. There is only one 911 so as other newer models continue to increase in value, the only one left for us poor folk is the 996. I would use this forum cautiously though, because apparently every 996 engine in existence is fighting against itself to stay assembled I would also keep an eye on the price increase thread, as well as the craigslist thread, because @GarrettSR5 is an absolute machine at finding deals. I would avoid autotrader/cars/etc and search hard on craigslist and facebook for better deals. if you don't mind a drive from canada it seems like you might be able to save 10-20% over a US car as well.

POST 7 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Quotes source post: 17724675

LOL. Yeah typically, I don't tend to find the best deals on Autotrader. I spend a lot of time on BringATrailer, but I often scratch my head at what cars seem to go for on there. Seems like every one sold must have gold plated exhaust or something. I think on average, Autotrader is actually cheaper.

POST 8Original post

Yeah I didn't bother mentioning BAT because I have no idea who the demographic is that throws away money on that site lol

POST 9 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Quotes source post: 17724882

It really is confounding. I tend to think of the typical BaT buyer as being say 45-58, owns their own business, literally trying to find places to spend their money.

POST 10Original post

Prices are not going to crash on 996's. The fried egg headlights are now cool. People who actually drive one realize it drives like a Porsche, and not a Mercedes. Also, Inflation in the economy in general is here to stay for a bit.

POST 11Original post

The nice examples on BAT bring a premium, but there's definitely run of the mill 996's that sell for "normal" prices. Generally though, it's a better place as a seller than a buyer. In regards to it being a bad time, it's never a bad time if current values align with what you're willing to pay. As noted, doubtful prices will go down, so while now may not be great, tomorrow will be no better. Could try waiting until the winter months (Dec/Jan), might get a slightly better deal since many are more worried about holiday expenses than a "fun car", but even that is only a guess.

POST 12Original post

I'd definitely skip BaT as a buyer and try some local avenues. I've seen cars for sale at local C&C. Some local shops might know of cars going up for sale or owners that have considered moving on.

POST 13Original post

Thoughts regarding many of the comments above. Have had mine (2002 C2) since 2002. I would buy it all over again. These cars are awesome to drive around town, on the track, in the snow and summer. But the key is that you understand that worst case scenario issues can develop with the car if the car hasn't been properly serviced and excercised. So make sure that the car you are looking at doesn't have any of the issues that we commonly discuss. Here are the big issues and easy solutions that can help prevent engine failure. 1. Intermediate Shaft Bearing Failure - Replace with either IMS Retro or IMS Solution. 2. Water Pump Fan Blade Shattering - Replace with new water pump. 3. Bore Scoring - Change your oil at least 2X a year. There are other things you can do but IMHO the biggie is change your freeking oil often. You show me a garage queen with 60k miles and I will show you a car that most likely had only 4 oil changes in 20 years. This is the main culprit of bore scoring which is then amplified by bad gas, low oil levels, bad fuel injectors, starting the car with bad oil and low oil levels in sub-zero weather. 4. AOS Failure - Replace with UAOS. There are other issues that are track related such as oil starvation/oil pressure stability and the need for more oil and water cooling, but these just like the 4 issues above are easily preventable with the right bolt-on parts. So all you gotta do is find a car you like and... 1. Make sure it has all its service records so you can see if the previous owners did the service they were supposed to, and how many oil changes its has. If there are no records, run away. 2. Have a Porsche shop that knows what it's doing perform a thorough PPI. This will tell you the condition of all the parts. If no PPI, then run. 3. Have the same shop perform a borescope from the spark plugs and from the bottom of the sump. This will tell you if you have bore scoring. If no borescope then run. So to your question of buying now or waiting; they are not making any more of these awesome analog driving machines. And demand has gone thru the roof as folks are realizing all of the aftermarket solutions that are available to prolong engine life. So supply and demand are in your favor. just do your homework, be patient and find the right one. Run very fast from any 996 that has had multiple owners, no service record history, and the owner is not willing to allow you to perform a Ppi and borescope. Focus on any 996 that has a complete service history, the owner has already performed oil tests and bore scopes, and is willing to let you perform them as well. If they just had the Ppi and borescope performed at a reputable Porsche Indy, then they should be willing to allow you to talk to the shop. This shows they get it and care about the car. Bottom line is that if I was going to sell my car, and it was in awesome shape, I would want to prove it. So I would hand you a stack of every service record from 2002, including a current set of pictures from the borescope. Then I would put you in touch with my Porsche shop to talk to them. All for the purpose of proving the value of the car. You will find the right one.

POST 14Original post

I would go on Jakes site for a bit and read about bore scoring and the other 30 something catastrophic causes of engine failures in M96 and then buy a turbo GOOD LUCK whatever you do.

POST 15Original post

Hah, still got problems with Mezgers as well. And it's costs money to fix them. You just got to do your homework on any 20 year old car to make sure it's been taken car of. Ferrari, Mercedes, BMW, Chevy, yadada. Unfortunately, most car owners don't spend the money they should in taking care of their car. Doesn't matter as much if the car is only 5 years old, but it does when it's 20. Good ones are out there for good prices. Get involved with your local PCA region and go to the events and let it be known that you are looking to buy a well cared for 996. Call up all the reputable Porsche Indy shops locally and let them know you are looking for a 996 and a shop, can they help. IMHO, the online auctions are convenient but expensive because you are flying blind.

POST 16Original post

Now is not a good time to buy, in general, but that excludes the possibility that you could still get a good deal if you try hard enough. Even in overpriced markets, you could find a deal. Buying a convertible in the winter, or if the stock market corrects could go in your favor. That said, if $40-$50k is your budget, I would not exclude a 997 or even a 991 for that price. It might be a stretch price wise, and the mileage might be a little higher, but since you are coming from an E60 M5 (I had one of those too), the 991 would be an easy transition. The only downside to the 991 is that there could still be plenty of depreciation left there - I don�t know for sure - but just generally speaking, all regular (common) 911s that age and accumulate mileage have depreciated ever since I can remember over the last 3 decades. The trade-off is that a newer 991 might not need much in terms of repairs. Many owners of newer Porsches spend pennies compared to keeping an antique Porsche in tip-top shape. I had an 8 yr-old Boxster S for 3 years that needed 2 items: a fuel pump ($600) and a door micro switch ($400), but that was it, aside from fluid changes.

POST 17Original post

OK, no expert here, but I am in the process of wrapping up the purchase my first Porsche, a 996 C4 and thought I would add my fairly uneducated 2 cents. I had been looking and thought I wanted a C4S (I like the AWD, the bigger *** end and the bumpers), but when I saw the C4 and the C4S side by side, the differences were not all the dramatic (I think the C4S is only an inch wider then the C4). That opened my purchase aperture a little wider and that helped my to find a C4 Convertible that I liked. As with any used car, there will always be issues that will need to be addressed (and I am in the process of doing that now). If you are lucky, you will be able to catch them during the your purchase (through a good test drive, record reviews, PPI, etc). Some of those issues will be immediate and necessary maintenance/repairs, some may be cosmetic and some for comfort (like a decent sound system). But I am learning that we all go through this and if you do it right, you will enjoy the purchase experience and then enjoy your new car. As for the current market and a bubble, sure, there could be a "little" truth to that. But from the little research I have done, depending on the year/series of Porsche, a dip in prices would be somewhat short lived and values should continue to climb in the coming year. Maybe at a slower pace than the 1+ past year, but still going up. If the 911 market did collapse, it would be due to other pressures in the world and I am confident that if that would occur you would be worrying about much more than your cars value. There are cars out there, you just have to keep your eye out. Some may be at a little dealership in a hole in the wall area (where those types of cars aren't selling well) and some may be held by a private party, by someone that wants to keep the brand alive and introduce new blood into the fold. Keep your eyes and ears open, attend events, car cruises, coffee and cars, etc. In my recent experience, there are cars out there commanding a lot of money and sellers are getting their price. Hey, it's America. On the flip side however, there are still cars out there that are available for a reasonable price. It just takes work, word of mouth, help from friends and some luck. I guess I just got lucky (at least I hope I did, the smoke hasn't cleared just yet !). Good luck to you !

POST 18 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Thanks for all the positive comments everyone. To make a point clear, I am no novice to the M96. I've read all about these cars for the last 12 months I've been toying with the idea so I'm already familiar with IMS, bore scoring, water pump blades etc. I really do like the Turbo as well and feel the performance would be more in line with my previous history of Z06s, M3's, M5's etc, but I just can't get over the lack of sound. I've literally tried to find good sounding Turbos and can't lol. The NA flat six is what I want. Especially the sound with an open air intake. Regarding Mike's comments about the 991, most I've looked at are way outside of my 35-45k budget and they've become far too big and techy for what I want out of a 911. The 997 for me, has strayed about as far from the analog, small, light 911 as I am willing to accept. One thing that is a sticking point for me though, is these sort of pristine, well maintained C4S are almost reaching into the money of a 997 Carrera S, thereby eliminating IMS concerns, bore scoring etc so I'm not really sure which way to go. At the end of the day, the perfect car for me would be a 996 C4S with 70k+ miles for mid to high 30's or low 40's, but I'm just not seeing those.

POST 19Original post

Autotrader/Craigslist has the cheapest prices, but BaT gets all the unicorns. At this point you're paying a "Classic 911" premium for any 3-pedal 996 Coupe either way. Especially a 4S. My advice after 20-years of this madness is to strike ASAP no matter what happens to markets overall, as the Classic 911 market seems to never retreat. Most you can hope for is prices to stall, and even that's a crapshoot with no upside

POST 20Original post

Quotes source post: 17725256

I didn't mention this part, but its very important. I lost out on probably 5 cars because people had cash in hand and were willing to fly out next day. So you need to determine your level of dedication to getting a deal vs paying a little extra for something close by. With regards to PPI, remember as you're gearing up to spend $2,000 to have your sump dropped and your bores scoped that there are probably 5 other buyers ready to buy without that due diligence.

POST 22Original post

Quotes source post: 17724503

How badly do you want the wide body experience? If wide body isn't a "must have", I would suggest you test drive both a C4S and a C2 in the same configuration to get a feel for which you prefer. There is a 281 lb weight increase for the C4S/6sp/coupe versus a C2/6sp/coupe 996.2 (and a 339 lb increase vs a 996.1 C2/6sp/coupe). There is also a pretty significant driving difference between awd and 2wd. It's really best to try both and see which speaks to you. You should be able to get into a nice C2 for $25kish in today's market versus the C4s for $50ish. Not sure what the future valuations will be for either one -- the C4S is sexy as hell, so it should do well from that perspective, but the C2's offer the purest driving experience (in my opinion) which I think will come to have increasing value in an increasingly educated market. The bonus is that well-chosen C2's remain a screaming bargain, even in today's heated market.

POST 23 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Quotes source post: 17725383

I definitely haven't failed to notice the value of the standard C2. And am also aware of the weight difference. In all honesty, the weight of the C2 is a huge appeal to me. It's almost unheard of to see a street car under 3,000lbs these days. But I love the wide body, turbo wheels, and standard PSM of the C4S. I think I really could enjoy a C2, but ultimately feel like I would end up wishing I had went for the C4S. I've always found myself drawn to the more "special" models of vehicles, and in the past, whenever I've tried to settle for the "standard" I always regretted it, and in some cases, ended up selling and just buying the more unique one.

POST 24Original post

Quotes source post: 17725230

997S with its 3.8l has the worst combo of biggest bore and longest stroke of all the M96/M97 when it comes to risk of bore scoring. Personally/Food for thought, I would go for a 996 turbo since a NA flat six can't compete with the sound of the NA V10 anyway and the way a turbo rides that wave of torque is imho a very good addition to the M5 as they couldn't be more different cars (mind you, I haven't driven either myself...)

POST 25Original post

Quotes source post: 17725428

Absolutely go with what moves you -- no point in buying a car and feeling like you "settled". But if you can, drive both to be sure you know what moves you most. C2's are commonly available with PSM (mine has it). You can't go wrong either way.

POST 26Original post

Quotes source post: 17725428

A very little known known fact is the MKII (2002-2004) C2 Coupe is much rarer than the C4S. Also the 4S is quite a bit slower. Present popular “widebody” fad notwithstanding, these numerical facts will eventually bear out in pricing. So you may very well regret the 4S more.

POST 27 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Quotes source post: 17725444

You say that regarding the sound, but I'm actually one of the few people that the V10 sound actually doesn't do much for. I mainly bought the M5 just because the absurdity of a NA 500hp V10 in a four door sedan will never be seen again. Still think the flat six howl sounds better. And 996 Turbos are almost, if not already, gone from my price range. I could buy a higher mileage one perhaps, and honestly wouldn't be that bothered by that based on the Mezger. I'm not sure I want a 125k mile M96 do I? I'm get sick to the stomach when I recall seeing them for $35k on Autotrader four years ago...

POST 28Original post

My C4S sounds like the car you were looking for. 62k miles, 2 owners, RMS/IMS/clutch all done within last 10k miles. found on FB marketplace with 3 blurry pictures and an awful description for $35k. I wouldn't say it's my first preference in color but I think an interesting combination trumps more boring options. I had to rent a car and drive 6hrs to Tennessee, but I've been extremely happy. I think this was the 3rd C4S I called about and finally was the first one in line

POST 29Original post

I have never heard someone say they prefer the sound of the M96 over the GT1 derived Mezger but to each their own that actually made me laugh. many great exhaust choices too.

POST 30Original post

I just drove a Turbo with a Speedtek exhaust and it sounded absolutely superb. If it's in budget, Turbo wins every time.

POST 31Original post

Quotes source post: 17725902

The Mezgers are on another level altogether, not even comparable with any Carrera, any generation. And IMO all the DFI GT�s also pale by comparison.

POST 33Original post

There are 4s models out there for less than you are seeing. I would know. . . https://rennlist.com/forums/market/1240017 Still for sale. Had many tire kickers. No buyers. $38k.

POST 34Original post

You want to talk sound, watch a Formula E race. Funniest damn thing I ever listened too. Second funniest thing I ever saw/heard was an electric street car piping in fake exhaust sounds. Is it cool to drive around cars that sound like slot cars?

POST 35Original post

Quotes source post: 17725428

Don't forget you also get turbo brakes as well as a 3rd radiator if I'm not mistaken. Get what you want. If it's true that their are more C4S cars than C2s, you will be able to find one.

POST 36Original post

Quotes source post: 17726439

There are more 4S cars than MKII C2. But there are more MKI C2 than 4S. This is because MY1999 alone was manufactured for three years, in addition to 2000-2001; making five total years of MKI C2 production. There were only three years of MKII C2 production (2002-2004) versus four years for 4S (2002-2005). it just boils down to how many years each model was produced. None of the standard models are “rare”. That said there are specifically optioned “variants” within each model range that are considered rare due to low production numbers, such as the astronomically rare no-sunroof 996 cars in the United States (Option Code #652). And certain special order paint colors or Paint To Sample (PTS) cars can certainly be considered rare as well. PCA’s Rennbow committee has determined five ”Unicorn Colors” for Type 996 and these are indeed very rare cars: https://www.pca.org/news/unicorn-col...86-996-edition

POST 37Original post

Quotes source post: 17726471

There is some great data on production numbers here -> http://howtoporsche.com/911-series/9...r-and-version/ There is some nice graphing of that data here -> https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...nd-dicing.html I had never looked at production numbers before seeing the data above. They made fewer per year than I would have guessed, but still adds up to 175,000 996's in total given the 8 or 9 year production run.

POST 38Original post

Quotes source post: 17726930

Very interesting. 7.5K GT's made which is WAY MUCH more than I would have expected . And only about 15K Turbo Coupes . So there are literally only twice as many Turbo Coupes as there are GT's . That is astonishing. At least to me, as the GT cult always harps on how astronomically few GT's and "hundreds of thousands of Turbo's bro" there are. Apparently not the case at all. Now when you factor that about half the Coupes are Tiptronics, there are literally the same exact number (in thousands) of 996 Manual Turbo Coupes as there are 996 GT's on planet earth. This is nothing short of mind blowing: the 996 Manual Turbo Coupe is exactly as rare as the 996 GT2/3. Blow mind blowing mind blowingly blown.

POST 39Original post

About prices - any possibilities with importing from the "homeland" ? -> https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/s...rder=ASCENDING

POST 40Original post

Quotes source post: 17726993

For purest form (C2 coupe) of the narrow body 996's, there are a total of 46,317 in total -- 31,688 Mk1's and 14,629 Mk2's. Not tiny numbers, but not huge either. Probably fewer (NA, non-GT) 996's survive today from original production than other 911 models given the long period of low valuation combined with the high repair cost for major engine damage. For the 993, there were a total of 42,293 C2 coupes ( http://howtoporsche.com/911-series/9...r-and-version/ ) versus 46,317 for 996. For total production of all types, 993 is 77,096, so less than half of the 175k 996 total.

POST 41Original post

I haven't read all of the answers here but....I owned two and I always bought the cheapest one available with some miles/km on it (The miles/km almost guarantee the block and IMS is OK). It's easy, there is always(probably still) someone who is in the IMS fear hole and just wants to get rid of it. EXPECT to spend 5-6k€ to get it sorted (cooling system and oiling system and etc..in that order), but after all that you have a solid car and you know it very well. Prices will maybe stall but not go down, the dinosaur era of cars is limited and that will guarantee it's value. If ICE cars would be banned all togheter I would detail every inch of mine and then put it in the living room as art. I would always go for a c4 vs a c4s...c4s looks dated and c4/c2 looks timeless. My opinion.

POST 42Original post

Quotes source post: 17725505

Um No, Please check these numbers based on the link below. 2001 C2 6543 2002 C2 6249 2003 C2 4987 2004 C2 3393 not counting 1963 40th coupes Total 21,172 2001 C4S 15 2002 C4S 4802 2003 C4S 7388 2004 C4S 4365 Total 16,570 And as far as slower that's very debatable based on many road reports when they were new. And no I have never regretted my purchase, especially every time I walk away and look at that rear end. The C4S will hold it's value. http://howtoporsche.com/911-series/9...r-and-version/

POST 43Original post

Quotes source post: 17727900

More AWD and Cabs produced than I ever thought. This explains why there are so many for sale online. Also didn't know that there were a boatload more MK1s produced than MK2s which also explains why so many more MK1s are listed for sale than MK2s. Data also shows the limited number of C2 Coupes for both MK1 and MK2. Hint, hint...

POST 44Original post

Quotes source post: 17728311

Folks i never said there were more 4S than C2. I said there were far more 4S than MKII C2, which is a fact.

POST 45Original post

They're appreciating - a well maintained C4S should only go up in value moving forward. I watched the market for months before I bought mine 5-6 years ago and kept tabs on it since. You've never been able to purchase C4S for 16k that's in good shape. Low 20s, maybe, but that's without IMS bearing replacement and higher mileage. When I first started my search I read someone say something to the effect of "The C4S is a 30k car". I've found that to be very true - if you buy one for less than 30k you're going to spend the difference very quickly. That was 5 years ago. Now, I'd suspect "The C4S is a 35k car" or maybe even 40k car to be true.

POST 46Original post

Quotes source post: 17728723

The �floor� for 4S looks to be $40K+ now. Anything less is a CL steal or a dog.

POST 47Original post

Quotes source post: 17728695

Never said you said, and never will! You are a walking Porsche encyclopedia on the facts! Keep them coming. 😁 What I am surprised about is the relative limited supply of MK2 C2s. Could that be the sweet spot today in C2s? Hint, Hint...

POST 48Original post

Quotes source post: 17728749

Yeah the MKII C2 manual coupe is actually a fairly rare car. In XAA it’s downright unicorn rare. These will become a phenomenon on the future Classic 911 market, so IF you can snag one it’s a great one to hold. I had the exact same Speed Yellow MKII XAA sold out from under me two years in a row. I’m hoping third year is the charm..

POST 49Original post

Quotes source post: 17725505

Not exactly accurate, depending on how "slow" is defined. Yes the C4S is a bit heavier, and most likely the wide rear increases the drag coefficient. So it might be slower off-the-line or at lower speeds. But in factory testing on the Nurburgring (high speed) the C4S was faster than all other 996 variants (except Turbo and GTs). This testing is described in this article from Excellence Magazine (look on page 81). It doesn't mention the Anniversary Edition (because it wasn't released yet) and I have a feeling that one may be faster than the C4S. Excellence: S Stands for Schnell https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...l#post14125769

POST 50Original post

Quotes source posts: 17728855, 14125769

Fast or slow as in 0-60 & top speed. As for lap times I’ll look at the article but the only possible advantage is the AWD, in which case the narrow body C4 would of course surpass 4S (having the same handling advantage but lighter and more aerodynamic), however at that test time C4 was no longer offered (4S replaced C4).

POST 51Original post

Quotes source post: 17728868

Those are only guesses, read the article. - it says clearly the C4S was faster than the C4! - the C4 was produced in 2002 through 2004 along side the C4S... look at the production numbers!

POST 52Original post

Quotes source posts: 17728855, 14125769

Yup as suspected: Excellence article admitted “no lap times were given for the base Carrera 4” around the Ring by Porsche. So Porsche withheld that one result for very obvious reasons. And we already knew the 4S is 3MPH slower top speed, and 0.1-sec slower 0-60, than the outgoing C4. So, the 4S was faster than every variant but the only one it replaced. The C4. Which it is actually slower than; including, and probably especially, around the Ring.

POST 53Original post

A couple of notes. Going fast around the ring isn't purely about weight and horsepower. The C4S and C4 both have the AWD but there are other factors. The brakes on the C4S are from the Turbo, so you can hold your speed longer before having to brake going into a corner. Also, the C4S comes with a sport suspension standard. So it's possible that the C4S was still faster than a C4 coupe. Also, collectibility in cars isn't just about rarity. For example, there were more 69 Camaros than 68 or 67 Camaros made and the rarest of the 69 Camaros are six-cylinder-powered convertibles. However; now one is breaking the bank to buy 6 cylinder convertible 69 Camaros. Also, the 69 Camaros are worth more than a similar 67 or 68 model.

POST 54Original post

Quotes source post: 17728695

Ok, I am generally confused. The numbers I quoted from the website were for MKII C2 coupes and C4S coupes. The numbers were much higher for the MKII C2 coupes, 21,172 vs C4S 16,570. If you add the 1963 40th's that would be 23,135, which is 6,565 more MKII C2's than C4S's. So how is that not right? Am I just missing something or what! The 4S also has a wider track with wider tires. Look at the new 992 GT3's they are wider than the 991 GT3's. Porsche claims this is one of the reasons it's faster around the track. It doesn't take much to make a difference.

POST 55Original post

Quotes source post: 17725428

I�m enjoying reading about your thought process.

POST 56Original post

As others mentioned the C4S benefits from the AWD, bigger brakes, sport suspension + MASSIVE tires. Yes it's heavier but it also proved itself to be faster around a track. Porsche know what they're doing when it comes to making cars for the track - there is logic to their decisions.

POST 57Original post

???? I think you would be very hard pressed to convince any professional racing mechanic that any wet sump Porsche was made “for the track”

POST 58Original post

Quotes source post: 17730222

There are a couple of people on here that track their 4S's quite regularly, they look like they are having a lot of fun. I plan on doing just that this next track season in 2022, wet sump and all.

POST 59Original post

Quotes source post: 17731285

Anyone seriously tracking a wet sump Carrera should seriously read this thread and consider pre-ordering: https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...ispreloading=1

POST 60Original post

Quotes source post: 17730475

Don't forget the importance of Grand Am series where they successfully raced our "wet sump" engines for a couple of years. It was from this series that a better AOS was developed and the Deep Sump. Obviously we are all well aware that there was no innovation put towards our wet sump engines beyond those bolt-on parts until the last few years, when the revolutionary UAOS was developed, followed shortly by the UIDS and a more powerful Oil Cooling system. Most 911 owners will never need a dry sump nor a more durable wet sump because they will never track their cars. But it is good to know we can. Lastly, let me ask you a question since you are an encyclopedia of Porsche info, how many cars did Porsche race throughout history that were wet sumps?

POST 61Original post

Quotes source post: 17731537

Porsche raced no wet sump motor on modern racing compound tires. They could not have, at least not successfully. Indeed every wet sump Porsche owners manual explicitly states this. Im only parroting Porsche’s engineers. If you race factory stock water-cooled Carreras then literally and figuratively more power to you!

POST 62Original post

Quotes source post: 17731577

I get you. Grand Am series they ran the wet sump with a 9 qt acusump. TPC Racing.

POST 63Original post

But we all know that the majority of Porsche owners are not going to professionally race their cars, and most won't even DE their cars ever, regardless if they have a dry sump or wet sump. So most don't know nor even care about the particulars of the argument. But there is no denying that there is a very small subset that does.

This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.