Purchase of a C4S

As I previously explained, I pre-traded my 2002 996 coupe in February 2003. I was waiting for a 996 cab but decided to get a C4S instead. Here are my questions? 1) My dealer has a $90k list price C4s with nav and other things I do not really need. Will I lose all the money on these options? Is the nav worth the price? Should I have the dealer trade with another dealer for a car with less options, although most C4S I see are around $88k-$93K 2)What is the wholsale price you guys have been getting on 2002 C4S. I know that they are fairly strong, considering.(Is that because it is a newer car, and will it start to depreciate more quickly now that it has been out for a year) 3) What kind of price can I expect to negotiate? $1k off, $2koff, $5koff, I really have no idea as dealers seem to be fire selling all Porsches except C4S 4) Can this car be driven in the winter and do any of you do so? 5) What is a relatively cheap way to increase performance? 6) Does the nav add a lot of weight? 7) How is the performance vs C2coupe, C2 cab, I know it weighs about 220lbs more than the coupe and about the same as the cab Thanks ahead of time for answering my questions, I figure the "experts" (rennlist members)can help better than anyone

Hi, I have an answer for your question 5. You can loss your weight! Eat less -> less money -> less weight of yourself -> less weight of your car -> your car can run faster!

I have a Lapis Blue '02 C4S gray leather with Nav system, 6 CD player, Bose, rt & lft lumbar; got about $3k off list. I enjoy the nav system even though I didn't consider having it before the car arrived. I use it routinely around town and on road trips because I like the data it provides. I believe all these options will residualize, but if they don't, who cares? Are you buying the car to drive and enjoy, or to sell it? I have installed a short shifter, which I really enjoy. It's about a 35% shorter throw and has a real mechanical feel. I also have a Boxter, and when I switch between cars, it keeps each car's character unique. Why sweat the residuals at this price? Most everything you want comes standard on C4S. Far fewer C4Ss were produced than Turbos. I understand that fewer than 200 were brought to US in '02. I believe its unique standard equipment offerings and wide body style will make it one of the most desireable and affordable 996s in the future. Cut your best deal and enjoy the car with all its toys.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Mav: <strong>Hi, I have an answer for your question 5. You can loss your weight! Eat less -&gt; less money -&gt; less weight of yourself -&gt; less weight of your car -&gt; your car can run faster! </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica"><img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" /> -Lou

winter driving capabilities are good IF YOU GET DEDICATED SNOW TIRES! imo, nav system is grossly overpriced--on the other hand it is a fun toy-- the heck with resale. if mine had it i would have paid for it. weight change is minimal. for more performance--get a turbo! most of us appear to be satified with the c4s performance stock. as to price, i paid list for the 2nd car at my dealer. i still don't see any c4s sitting unsold--unlike all other models. in summary--buy it--you'll love it. i have 21k mi with no problems <img border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" title="" src="graemlins/bigok.gif" />

I recently ordered my C4S and am expecting delivery sometime next month. I ordered several options, bringing the total price of the car to $93,500. I was able to get $3,500 off the final price. I know I could have possibly gotten a better price at another dealer. The fact of the matter is that since I will be taking the car to this dealership for service, I felt that the price was fair enough for me to purchase where I did. Hope this helps.

I am getting $5k off list, is that decent? Hopw will resale be, better than a C2 cab?

#4 & #7) I drive my C4 all year 'round in downstate Illinois. It's why I bought the AWD version and it works very well. You should probably get snow tires, I did and I don't regret it. It's easier if you have them mounted on a second set of rims. If you're going to keep your stock 18" rims then I'd suggest buying used or 'take-offs' Porsche 17" rims (maybe a little better for snow, a LOT cheaper than 18" rims) from <a href="http://www.wheelenhancement.com/" target="_blank">http://www.wheelenhancement.com/</a> .

I bought a new C4S within the last few weeks. it was a car on the lot and had been sitting there for weeks. It had the right color but it had some options I didn't want (Nav, ruffled leather seats, small aluminum package) and was absent some I did want (sport seats). It came with the Xenons and Bose which I did want. The dealer couldn't get an allocation for me to order a car and was willing to deal on this one. I paid about 5K less than sticker, essentially getting the options that I would not of ordered for free. A friend ordered a car just like he wanted it and got about 3K off sticker. You should get lots off any car that is not exactly what you want!

Expect the options to depreciate significantly more than the car. Nav seems to be a popular item, though, and may hold its value better than some other options. OTOH, I consider the Nav useless, and if you don't want it, should be included free if they want you to buy the car, or get another car without it. Dunno about the resale value for my car. Edmunds quotes 64k wholesale, 70k retail for the base C4S. Heard some C4S discounted up to 7K. I paid MSRP, but that was last year. My suggestion: find the lowest price in your area, go to the nearest dealer, take the checkbook out, and offer to pay 2K less than the lowest price right there, right then. Should get you a good deal. Should run great in the winter due to AWD. Make sure to get snow wheels and tires. No choice in the matter if you want to use it in the winter, 'cuz the summer tires suck in the snow and the snow tires require a different wheel size. I garage the car in the winter since I expect to keep the car forever and don't want the saline slush. Cheap? Porsche? They don't go together. Anyway, unless you are already a seasoned track/race driver, you will hit the limits of your ability before you hit the C4S's limits. I'm planning on cheating a little and get DOT R compound tires, already have lighter wheels, and possibly a suspension upgrade, although I don't know if a suspension that is significantly stiffer and lower than the C4S suspension is usable as a street car for my taste. Nav weight? If it bothers you that much, get one without it. Performance-wise, it is DA-BEST!!!! (What did you expect me to say? I own one of these suckers <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> . OK, OK, honest opinion. C2 cab less stiff than coupe, C2 coupe a tad faster in a straight line, C4S a tad faster on the track). Resale vs cab? Who knows? Really. Anway, you either like the cab, or like the coupe. Get the one you like now, and deal with resale later. Forget these questions, man! Just go and get one. You know you want it!!!! . Here's a pic of mine at the track to get you going. <img src="http://members.rennlist.com/palting/173D5044sm.JPG" alt=" - " />

I have an '03 C4S with the navigation system, and I believe that it adds a lot to the enjoyment of driving. The improvement of this unit over the GPS that I have in my 01 Audi 2.7T is huge. It boots instantly, has easy and intuitive controls, and in my opinion, adds a measure of safety. My car stickered at about $89k and I got about $5k off. I have purchased several cars from this dealer, though, so I'm not sure a new customer would have been able to walk in and order a car to spec at this price (but the economy continues to worsen, so all bets are off). I think all of this obsessing about what is a tick faster than something else betrays the meaning of owning a Porsche. Who cares (or who can really discern) if the car goes zero to 60 in 5.0 or 5.1 seconds? And how often does anyone go flat out from a dead stop anyway? One drive in a C4S will convince most people that this is about as good as it gets when driving on public roads. If you are destined for the track, then maybe thoughts about whether a hundred pounds here or there are important... but I don't track the car, so most of that is irrelevant to me.

Thank you all so very much for your responses. I just picked up my new C4S and it is amazing. I can't wait to get those 2000 break-in miles complete. BTW I was worried about resale and questioning its value. I had my dealer friend make some calls and found out a 2002 C4S wholesales for $70k-$72k. A 2002 C2 cab wholesales for $64-$65. So now I will stop obsessing with all that nonsense and enjoy the car. I have really always preferred coupes and am glad I made this choice. -Lou