Newbie needs advice! C4S?!?!

Hi, been in the market for a 911 for a while...and ended up buying a used 2005.5 Audi S4 (from my local porsche dealer) about a year ago, but now considering stepping up to a 2005 C4S. A couple questions: 1) Anything specific to the 996 C4S I should look out for? 2) The car is still under factory warranty and will also be CPO -- assume this would cover the known RMS / other issues? 3) How do you think the 2005 C4S's will hold up, depreciation wise from here? I believe these cars originally stickered at $90k+, so buying "slightly" used (22k miles) for $25-$30k less seems reasonable (thoughts appreciated!) 4) Any "must have" options on this car? 5) For the same price I could buy a 2005 997 Carrera base with less miles....thoughts or comparisons between the two? 6) Anybody else have an S4 that could give me the "daily driving" comparison? Thanks in advance and I've been lurking so if I pull the trigger I'll be sure to post pics and not incur the wrath of several members!!!! Cheers, MDF (SFBay area)

Did they make an 05 C4S? Or is that a 997?... they might have I'm not sure. 1) Not really. 2) Yes it will cover RMS. 3) Buying used will ALWAYS help with depreciation as the big hit has already been taken. 4) Heated seats 5) I would not buy a base 997 over a 996 C4S. If you could swing a 997 'S' than go for it 6) I drive 110 miles a day into NYC, all year round. Get snow tires and you're good to go... zero issues Rob

Hi, I own a 2003 C4S daily driver. I can't answer all of your questions, but: 1) No, I don't think there's anything specific to the C4S. 2) Yes, the CPO covers RMS. I had mine fixed two years ago under CPO and have had no problems since. 3) 996's have a fairly steep depreciation curve. You can check used car prices on Edmunds or in "Excellence" to confirm this. Of course, buying a used car alleviates the pain somewhat. 4) C4S's come pretty well loaded. I wish mine had the PSE but otherwise I'm don't miss anything. 5) C2 vs. C4S: that subject's been covered pretty well in other posts. Personally, I chose the C4S for the Turbo parts, the full leather interior, the wide body, and the all-weather confidence. 6) C4S vs. S4: these are very different cars. Obviously the Audi has a real back seat and a real trunk. That's a big bonus. But it's no Porsche.

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Rob, . in 2005, the C4, C4S and Turbo were still produced as a 996. The 2005 997 production was C2 and C2S only.

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Gotcha, thanks.

a 2005 C4S is still a 996, just like a 2005 Turbo is still a 996. I have an 02 C4S and an 05 Audi S4. Both great cars. I use the S4 as a daily and the C4S as a weekend car. I put about 20k miles a year on the S4 and about 5k on the C4S. My C4S has 55k miles, is out of warranty and I've had zero problems, probably hte most reliable car I've ever owned. Either car could be a daily driver. I choose not to drive the C4S saily because it attracks a lot of attention and I don't want dings and dents from parking lots. I also play ice hockey (I'm a goalie) and only the S4 can fits my equipment, pads and sticks.

I've had 2 (soon to be 3) Audi S4s and have really liked them (an '01, '05 and an '08). The '08 is on order and expected end of November. My '04 C4S is..um, how shall I say this - NOT my daily driver. Some on the board (quiet Tim) would say not even my weekly driver. I've 'racked up' 800 miles/year, so that argument obviously doesn't hold up. Really, the cars are so different - I sold my '05 S4 to buy the Porsche because I really wanted a real sports car at the time. The C4S is one of the prettiest cars Porsche has ever made IMO. The Audi is a fast, competent, neat sport sedan. I'm counting the days til mine arrives.

Thanks everyone! Some responses: Racecar: I grew up in Cleveland. 12 years on the ice, but retired now for a while, but keep putting those pads on! Phil G: OK on the "non-daily" status, but 800 miles / year? to quote a great movie..."SMALLS YOUR KILLING ME!!!!" One last question -- my dealer is telling me that there were only about 100 2005 C4S's produced -- it's a "rare" car, but to me it's basically the same car as the 2002-2004's, so there is likely not too much "scarcity" value in the car, correct? Thanks again for all the great guidance and posts. I can already tell I'm going to like it here....

mdf, I'm 37 and still playing goal. I'll retire when they take my skates from me (or I forget where I put them). You have to get back on the ice, its now or never. C4S is not rare, they did make only a few in 2005 (because the 997 came out) & 2002 (production started in late 2002), but they produced a lot in 2003 and 2004. Not rare, but certainly not as common as a base 996.

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MDF - I like you already! Anyone that can give Phil some **** for not driving his C4S is A-OK in my book! For the last year an a half I've been on Phil's *** for ... oh wait .... let me rephrase that.... I've been riding Phil.... oh crap, that doesn't sound good either.... I have been trying to get Phil to drive his car more than he does, so keep up the good work!

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I'm getting excited, Tim.

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Phil, you're almost as sick as I am!

Pickup an '07 RS4 and forget about these cars with the engine in the wrong place. I kid, I kid! Having a couple of previous gen S-cars and plenty of seat time in my dad's B6 S4 cab, I would say the Audi will continue to be your daily driver. I'm somewhere closer to Phil G. than RaceCarDriver on mileage for the Porsche. I almost never "daily drove" my Porsche when I had to go into the office, maybe once a month at most. ---EDIT--- I just reread your post and it sounds like you are trading in the Audi, so disregard what I wrote below and stick with the C4S if you need awd ---EDIT--- Regarding depreciation, you are better off with the 997, also seeing as how you already have an AWD sports sedan, I would consider the base 997 more seriously since you don't really have a need for awd, unless you just prefer the handling characteristics of awd in all your cars. I went through a similar decision process some 4 years ago (wow, it's been that long...) when I made my Porsche purchase. I was (still am) a diehard quattrohead planning to pickup another Audi sports sedan and one of my friends asked me the question, "what do you need another AWD sedan for?" I couldn't come up with a reason so I started looking at Porsches. I was told at the time that the C2 will be quicker in base acceleration due to weight and the fact that Porsches hookup extremely well in the rear due to the weight bias. I was also told a track generalization that the C2 will be quicker in the first few laps, afterwhich a C4 will overtake it due to heat management in relation to tire wear. It's been so long I don't remember who even told me these things, but they made enough of an impression that I bought a C2.