Cabs-negatives

Have a 2003 C4S, which is the best P car I have ever owned. Lately, have been building lust for a C4S cab. Having never owned one, what are the negatives? Less rear visibility is one negative. What else, especially in a fairly cold winter place like DC. Is the cabin colder and noisier than a coupe? Appreciate your comments.

If you are going to drive a sports car it should be a cab unless you are racing. I have been doing so since 1963.

The cabin is noisier. I have never driven through the winter thinking, "wow it's freezing in here I should have bought a coupe".

+1 on the noise. Also, they do have technical problems from time to time (cab motor, the little plastic hook that anchors the cab at the front, etc...) Still, I am happy with the trade off.

Oh, forgot to add, how is the wind turbulence when windows are up? Can't be messing up my hair.

OK, cabin noise isn't much more than my coupe when the top is up. Rear visibility is extremely good... no issues there. Wind turbulence is non-existant with the wind deflector and windows up. I have 55k miles on my 04 cab zero issues with the top. I live in NYC and drive it all year, just buy a set of snow tires. And if you really want to you can put the hard top on... although I did not last year and it was fine.

Go for the Cab if you plan to drive the car mainly on the street. Although the closest track to DC, Summit Point allows 996 Cabs, more and more clubs seem to disallow them without a roll-bar. I owned several non P-car convertibles before the 996 and have never had such a good isolating soft-top. No wind issues with wind deflector and windows up and hard-top has a great rear-window; storage can be an issue but mounting is easy (2 people required). I've a MY2000 with 37k miles and no issue with the soft-top at all. There's only very little compromise with the 996/997 Cab compared to the Coupe but so much more fun! Body is a little less stiff and Cab has slightly more weight. However, even on the track I see that the driver makes much more difference than the body style of the car. Equal drivers with equal set-up cars (Cab and Coupe) are equal fast (at least the difference is negligible).

Make sure yours comes with a windscreen otherwise you will mess up your hair a bit. Oh, and I've had zero issues with my cab top.

I drive a 996 C4 Cab 12 months of the year in the DC area. Other than a very expensive fix for the cab top closing mechanism (for a very cheap little plastic part), it has been a joy with no more issues from the soft top compared to any other German car I've owned. If you're aching for a cab, there's not going to be much satisfaction until you get one.... They really are a different beast altogether. David

I simply am not fond of the look of a Cab. IMO The powerfull, sexy look of the 911 lies in the roofline - especially at the rear. you don't get this with the Cab. I would actually opt for a Boxster over a 911 Cab in the looks department. Thats easy for me to say however because I have a C4S coupe and a Boxster so I don't have to decide. I love a convertable though. Thats why I could not part with the Boxster when I got the 911. If the look dosen't bother you go with the Cabriolet!

I don't see any negatives. Over the past 7 years I've owned both Viper and 911 convertibles and been extremely happy with them. Theoretically, in car shootouts the convertibles are 0.1 seconds slower in the 0-60 mph dash. Wow ! Let's all buy coupes now and miss out on those night time top-down drives along the beach Let's reverse the question : unless the purpose is to track the car, why would one even buy a coupe ?

I echo this sentiment. I was reluctant to get the 996 cab (even though I owned a BMW convertible for 4 years) because I liked the lines of the coupe... until you own a cab then it does not matter. All the joy of owning a 911 with the pleasure of a fall day or summer night top down drive, back seats if you want to take a little one for a ride.... and did I mention it's a 911?

1) The coupe looks a lot better 2) I don't like the looser chassis 3) 911 converts look bad

As a long term coupe driver (from the days of the real 911s) I enjoyed the security, warmth, appearance and rugged build quality of the coupes for several decades. As I got older I decided it was time to do what they say to do,--own a convertible at least once in your life. The newest (996 and 997) cabriolets are the best of the best cabriolets in the world! The tops are bomb proof, and with the rear glass windows rear visibility is quite good. With the hardtop installed on them the rear visibility is better than that of the coupes,--the windows are actually wider! With the wind deflector you can drive highway speeds without getting blown around. The 997 improvements have eliminated the 996 complaints about chassis stiffness. They did a lot of work on that,--as those were sore spots with a lot of 996 owners. I drive my 997 version on some fairly rough roads including cobblestones and it holds up well.

Wrinkles from the suntan.

To me this is entirely WRONG (I know it is JYHO)...the cab porsche is the best looking and performing cab ever. It looks great top up or down...no comparison to a boxster BTW!

I was asking myself this very same question when buying my 996, CAB or Coupe? I would first ask myself how often would I use the top? There�s nothing better then being able to drop the top! But I haven�t used it nearly as much as I thought I would. I would agree that the noise could be an issue for some as when I have my hard top on it is night and day to me. I also haven�t notice a real difference between the cold with or with out the hard top on. I would keep in mind that Porsche said it best in the Owner�s Manual on page 140... �NO folding top is 100% leak proof!� Only issue I have had with the soft top is a few times when drivingly spiritedly while raining some water did leak into the cabin up by the sun visor. Must have been body flex as I have never had an issue with it leaking before in the rain, in fact I don�t even garage my 996. Shame on me! But no issues with leaking other wise. There is some maintenance with the top but it�s not bad. There are some squeaks with the top from time to time with the fine roads of the DC area but Silicone spray greatly helps when applied to the weather stripping above the wind shield. All in all I really enjoy my CAB!

I was going for a coupe....less money....my wife pointed at the black C4 Cab on the Porsche lot....I was coming from the Boxster and she said "You are gonna miss a convertible."....I bought the C4 Cab and never thought twice about it! Its an AMAZING car and with the top down is even better....I have the hardtop and its not on very much at all....maybe 5 days a year. I LOVE my C4 Cab....

wross996TT that is how a P-car should look,fantastic!!!! I love cabs!

With the top down, on a beautiful day with an equally beautiful passenger, you can turn the radio off and listen to the flat six sing.

Wonderful picture newport996! May I ask what wheels you have on your car please? Looks fantastic!

WROSS's car is definitely the exception, but you need the side and rear skirts bad. It looks like the car is bowed in the middle and front heavy since you only have the TA front bumper. Porsche cabs are far from the best looking converts out there. The Merc SL looks better, the Aston Martin looks better, the Honda S2000 looks better. 350Z looks as bad as the Porsche. The problem is the rear. it's a big hump without a top. bulbous, round awkward thing. Post a pic of a stock cab - looks weak sauce

Wross, your car does look nice but it's not in stock trim. Your areokit, wheels, etc. make a big difference.

Assuming you're talking about the old "it's not a sports car..." logic, it shouldn't have a back seat, either. Or an engine in the back, probably... Reasons I have a coupe: 1) Lighter weight and less flex 2) Storing a hardtop is a PITA 3) I can only afford the 996 cabs with plastic rear windows--no thanks 4) As someone else said, the 911's look is all in the roofline 5) I purchased a Miata because of its performance and found I rarely even put the top down 6) Is the back seat slightly smaller in the cab or am I mistaken? I seem to be one of the few people that use it--er, my 4-year-old does, at least. 7) Coupe was cheaper All that said, if I had found a cab the way I wanted, I would have seriously considered it, but the coupe seemed like a no-brainer.

Although I love my C4S coupe, I'd trade it for a C4S cab if I could.

Over the years I have had several different convertibles including a 1965 356C Cabriolet, a Alfa Romeo Syder Veloce, a Honda S2000, and a 2000 Boxter. While it was nice to put the top down when the conditions were right, it stayed up most of the time. Living in NJ, it is either too hot or too cold most of the time for the top to be down. I am also in the camp that a 911 coupe just looks a whole lot better. And with a sunroof you get enough of the open feeling when you want it. Plus you have the advantage of opening and closing at any speed. I use my car as a daily driver and the expense and hassle of the cab is just not worth it. And I just don't like the way they look. The 356 did look better as a cab than a coupe. I think the 911 design looks better as a coupe but to each his own.

Love my cab... works with kids in the back as well (I have a 3 and 5 year old). Have never owned a coupe, but would hate missing the opportunity to drive back from work and not being able to put the top down. Get seat warmers though... I use them in winter in Charlotte, so they will come in real handy in DC!

I have the top down if it's 45 and sunny or below 90... that's a lot of days and it's zero hassle. As an added bonus the top goes up and down while doing 30MPH.

The cabin is going to be noisier than a hard top, but I am very impressed by how quiet the car actually is, even at higher speeds, when the top is up. Passengers have also commented on how it is more quiet than they would expect. As for visibility, it's not great, but it's also not bad enough to pose a problem. Go topless!! You won't regret it.

Thanks! I have 997 Porsche Sport Design 19" rims custom painted black...with custom painted center caps....as well as custom painted calipers....

The only down side is that I'm not crazy about how it looks w/the soft top up. I actually like the way it looks w/the top down and w/the hard top on better than the the coupe though, so they cancel each other out. Other then that, zero nada.

Love the look of the C4S cab with the top down but did not care for the roof up appearance. I also liked the two different looks with the hardtop roof on almost like having two cars for the price of one. But...the wind noise with the top up is a negative as is the ride. Especially with the stiffer suspensions of the C4S and turbo cabs the ride suffers once the structural rigidity is lost. Supposedly this is better with the 997 and PASM but so far Porsche does not make a 997 C4S cab so there is no way to compare apples and apples. I've owned quite a few Porsche cabs over the years and just went back to a coupe. And I'm tickled with the better handling and ride.

Another vote for the look of the coupe. That was what made my decision. Smoother roof line just looks better IMHO. But, as always, to each his own.

This is my opinion since you asked - both 'cab's negative and 'why not a coupe?': - I like the coupe because I love the lines of it. To me, as some have already mentioned, the cab does not provide the same lines unless it has been aesthetically changed in it's exterior appearance, and it has to be good. - I am not into sunbathing while I am driving my car, hell I do not even like the sun-roof being open all the way. I have had it open and sitting at a light for several minutes in 100+ temps with the sun coming through the roof, and it made me feel like a french fry under the heat lamps, closed it immediately. - I do not like the hear a lot of wind while driving. - do not like the sun on my dash as gauges are harder to see. - like the 'extra' comfort zone of having a hard-top vs. a soft-top in the event of a roll-over (I know that this is not a life saving extra and that a roll-cage would be, but it will at least hold-up better than a soft-top if you end-up on the roof sliding down the road). - I hate seeing roll-bars/cages on cabs. - price is somewhat a deciding factor for a coupe. - I have no justification for getting a cab, my wife doesn't want one either (maybe my girlfriends want one... ). - the colour of the top really plays an important roll in the overall appearance of the car when it is up. The wrong colour will truly make a Porsche look bad. - you cannot polish the top to deep rich colour. Again this is my opinion...I will be staying coupe even if I do not race

Speed, you're a welcome addition to this place which the same can't be said ofme by more than a handful of other members here. And I'm not sure I'm going to help myself by posting my candid thoughts below. I enjoy convertibles. E.g., between a F430 coupe and F430 Spyder, I'd pick the latter everytime because Ferrari executed it well. The same thing cannot be said of the 911. The 911 is a coupe first and foremost and the rear hump design just doesn't translate well in cab form. It's very tough to design a coupe/cab that look equally good. Most always the droptop variant gets hit w/ the ugly stick. I certainly like the idea of hearing more flat6 and being "seen" as I had a convertible as a daily driver for 5 years and 80K miles (S2000). I just don't like it when the coupe variation looks outright better than its cab counterpart. The 911 already looks like a toad/frog... in cab form it looks like a mutant toad/turtle without the shell on its back.

This is my first cab and I love it...no regrets. Well...only regret is I should have gotten one when I used to live in California :P. thanks, Amir

You have the best of both worlds. If the C4S had the GT1 dry sump I'd probably have two Pcars in the garage right now. The C4S coupe is IMHO the best looking 911 ever made. I was never a fan of the 911 growing up, always preferred the 928 or even the 944, both of which to me had a very modern design for that era. But when the LMP GT1 headlights made it onto the 996 I was one of rare early salivating fans. The 02-04 996 facelift was even better. All in the crapper now with this hideous 997. I've also never been a fan of the concept of hacking off the roof of a sports car. Not sure about the awd's but in the one 996 cab I was driving, at high speeds on open highway with a strong cross-wind and I'm getting a feeling I've never gotten in my BoxsterS or front engine drop top...a not good one. You have to be able to feel well planted on open highway in a convertible. But its only common sense: if you take off the roof from the original design, performance will suffer. Even the F430 spyder had a noticeable downgrade in handling over the tin top, although the newest F430 Spyder seems to have bridged the gap. My buddy is checking one out this week, his fourth Ferrari!

[QUOTE=newport996]Thanks! I have 997 Porsche Sport Design 19" rims custom painted black...with custom painted center caps....as well as custom painted calipers.... Thanks so much for taking the time to post those pictures. I have been debating about getting black wheels myself. Those in black look great! But I guess in the long run sounds like I need to sell my 996 CAB and get a Coupe! Or better yet a 993 Coupe, right?

I had both for about 6 months... man that was fun...

riad, what are your thoughts between the Carrera 4 and 4S drivewise, lookswise?

The narrow body C4 was more nimble, I was able to "throw it" around turns if you know what I mean? The C4s is much more planted it took some time to get used to the wider stance and it's also heavier. But I can fling her pretty good now even though she got fat... wait that didn't sound right, well you know what I mean. Looks wise, no contest at all, the C4S cab and coupe are much better looking in almost all areas.... my C4 was a 2001.

a little bit more weight, a little less rigid, but a whole lotsa fun......... DO IT!

I love the cab, love the look up/down, couldn't care less what others think...here in nyc we don't take gorgeous days for granted.I try to come up with excuses to drive topless around the city. Its 90 out and i've been pumpin' AC w/ top down... When its 45, kick in heated seats and we're good to go... if we're coming up with a list of ugly cabs...my vote goes to the 6-series...

of course they make a 997 c4s cab. http://www.porsche.com/canada/models...-4s-cabriolet/

the problem with 911 cabs is that it is a butchered designed based on the coupe frame. If Porsche designed the cab first and ring it out on the track, and used that frame to design the coupe... the coupe would be one hell of a frame! Prob better than the existing frame...

Negatives? For starters they're one of the ugliest convertibles out there IMO. They look great from the front and front 3/4 but any other angle isn't very flattering. Security- thieves think absolutely *nothing* of cutting a cloth top open. Even if they can't get inside the car due to bracing and frames they still do it. It's just a crime of convenience moreso than smashing a window. I know because I've had it happen twice with soft-tops. Wear- If you trade the car in a couple of years I wouldn't worry about it but I drive my stuff until the tires fall off. The softtops I've had gradually lost water resistance and started to seep or leak. This is if they don't get damaged or embrittled. Weight/stiffness- you don't have to be tracking the car to notice this. The first 996 I drove was a c4s cabrio and I was surprised by how heavy it felt. Buy what you want but a Porsche 996/997 cabrio doesn't do much for me.

I love motorcycles, I love the wind in my face still, after riding them for over 40 years. I wish the windshield would fold forward or come off my Cab. When I wanted a 996 it was a no brainer. My only bitch when I had my'80 911SC was that Porsche didn't make it in a Cab so the Targa was the next best thing, only a PITA to keep taking the top on and off. And yea I know some people think Cabs are ugly...some people think Porsches are ugly too. It's your choice, buy what you like.

they did exactly just that! , its called the CaymanS...the best handling Porsche you can pay too much for. And still available with an 'inexplicably' tall first gear making the 0-60 time slower than it has to be. p.s. someone once said the Cab looks like a bath tub with a big butt....never been able to get that out of my head when I see one.

I agree with that. I chose the C4S coupe over a cab, because (1) I also thought the C4S was the best looking 911 ever made, and (2) I'm a performance junkie and the coupe would have better handling, faster 0-60 etc. Plus, even though I've never tracked my C4S (I've tracked alot of other cars) I could track it because it's a coupe. That being said, I would like to some day own a cab. I've been seriously thinking about adding a new Boxster S or used 911 cab in addition to my C4S when my Audi S4 lease is up next year. Then I would have the best of both worlds. That's probably insane and I haven't brought it up to my wife yet, and then I wouldn't have a car that could carry my hockey equipment. It sounds to me like you really want a cab. If that's the case, go for it. Any 911 is great, coupe or cab. Glenn

negative about cabs??? sunburn...that is about it.....I feel sorry for all the suckers with 'a roof ' over their head here in SoCal. Who cares about windnoise...takes the attention away from the squeeks and rattles.

What are you leaving in your soft top cabin?

Must be heroin.

P-car or not, I simply love top-down driving, but the deal-breaker for me was also the look of the Cab. I owned a 2000 Boxster before the 996, even though I couldn't put the top down much in 100-degree heat here in Houston. I'm a long-time fan of the 911, and I just can't sacrifice those unmistakable lines of the Coupe in favor of the Cab. The Cab isn't ugly, but it's much less attractive than the Coupe, IMHO, especially the side profile and rear three-quarter view. All the negatives of the Cab, whatever they are, don't matter as much to me. If I can only have one 911, it will always be a Coupe.

One more negative - temptation... I'm at the gas station this morning with the car recently cleaned and polished. A very attractive woman in her late 20s comes up to me and says "beautiful car. I've never ridden in one and would love to go for a ride with you with the top down." Gulp...wishing I had one of these cars before I had a wife and multiple kids. I love the look of the cab, and apparently I'm not the only one.

'cube, I am in TOTAL agreement with that statement!

Tim, remove those blue dots in the pics!!!!!!

ugly?

Agreed.....its a stunning vehicle....ESPESCIALLY lowered with the Aero kit....without it, it has an awkwardness to it, just like any 911 in my opinion....When I see one at SUV height and no Aero package...it just looks wrong to me....When I look at my car I saw "Wow"...but mine is not stock....

Right!

Yeah while they(coupe guys) are busy at the track we have their women with their top down.

LOL, indeed you must live a sheltered existence to think that anyone who would walk up and cut through someone else's car top needs a strong incentive to do so! "I'll say olde chap, looks as if you've left your silver plated cigar cutter visible in the console....perhaps you should consider removing it to more civilized environs lest some scoundrel come along and abscond with it." Hell, one time they had ripped the metal trim from another car in the parking lot and used the sharp edge to start a hole. Neither time did they get anything because the alarm went off. Unfortunately the second time it happened it was pouring down rain and soaked everything in the car. A thief will steal anything, even if it has zero value.

To bad she's driving a BMW!!!

Seems to be a matter of opinion on the looks more than anything. I love my cab, wouldn't have it any other way. The wind doesn't bother me, if my wife is along I'll put up the wind deflector and windows and there's not even enough wind to mess up her hair. I don't notice any noise difference with the top up or down, never had a problem with the top mechanically or leakage wise. I do think the car looks better with the top down than up, and I have it down as often as possible.

I don't drive mine past the end of November, until the end of March every year. Otherwise my comments mirror riad's. I do install my hard top long about the end of September and remove it by June each year. The hard top reduces engine noise by about half, (by my ears). I know you asked for negatives, but the truth is, after 101k miles and 8 years of ownership, I have no complaints about the cab. In fact, with the top down, the car is actually quieter than with the top up and the windows down. I installed the one touch switch several years ago and it works great. Finally, my top is still in excellent shape, and all I have done to it is wash it every once in a while.

I think seeing your car in person may sway me as I've rarely if ever seen a properly modded Porsche cab around this conservative little town called Seattle. So I will correct myself - The Porsche cab is NOT ugly... cuz even the coupe is pretty weak in bone stock form.

Funny thing is, I get this ALL THE TIME (as your boy Kanye said, she ain't nuttin' but a gold digger) and I drive a coupe so go figure, buddy. Diff is I'm a bachelor, never married, no kids.

i agree, stock 996 C2's w/o aero kits(esp side skirts) look pretty wimpy.

I hear you on the lines of the car but I cna not tell you how many people talk to me about mine with the hardtop on. It really makes the car very different. The longer line of the hardtop changes the look. If you are wanting a cab but not wanting to leave the look of a coupe, buy a hardtop from the dealer or better yet, buy a hardtop off Ebay. They are on Ebay all the time for 7-800. Just a way to get the best of both worlds.

"Clean" is the word I would use, but then again, I can't stand the ridiculous spoiler anyway. To me, it resembles something you'd see on the back of a Subaru WRX STi--a fine car in its own right, but not the grown-up look I was going for when I got my Aero-less C4. How much weight does the factory kit add, anyway? That's probably the bigger deal-breaker for me, anyway.

Sorry, but with your logic, there is not a car made that can't be broken into...it is too bad you have to live life with that way Peace out!

Yes, having grown up on the streets of Sunset Park Brooklyn has sheltered me. I refuse to live my life based on fear of what others may think or do... that's your choice and that's fine.

I'm picking up what you're laying down. I remember seeing your red cab for sale and how highly modified that thing is. I admit, I like it and I'm sure you get some mad attn rollin' that thing around. That's just an insane amount of work done to that car. Same goes with the E46 M3 cab/coupe. The hardtop does give the full opening on the sides and it does look good, but then that defeats the whole purpose of having a cab since you need to take it off, store it, put it back on, etc. I really do like the idea of hearing more engine/noise with the top down. I do miss that.

Agree with that. Did you ever hear the joke about the old bull and the young bull? I didn't even GET that joke until I was well north of 40. I think some modded cars look great, others not. But I see a lot of charm in quiet confidence, too. I get more attention at this point in my life because I'm not trying too hard than I ever did when I was looking for it.

Pls, Bruce, you're getting more attn because you are a scholar and a gentleman and chicks DIG THAT!

Thanks. I think. I can't tell. My Sarcast-O-Meter is broken, and you young bulls confuse me sometimes...

Lol, settle down there hero. The OP simply asked about the negatives of a cabriolet (it's a point of fact that less security is one of the negatives). No reason to unnecessarily heighten the melodrama by making it sound like you're making some heroic decision by driving a convertible! lol

This was in response to your remarks toward me that "you must live a sheltered existence". In the future it would be appreciated if you could please refrain from the snide remarks and character assessments of individuals on the board.

Wow, you didn't get that until age 40?! Well, at least you finally got it.

Which was in response to your accusation/inference that the reason my car was broken into was that I was a drug dealer or otherwise carrying heroin around for some reason. So in the future it would be appreciated if you could please refrain from making snide remarks and character assessments of individuals on the board. Thanks.

Insurance companies don't rate cabs as anymore of a risk than a coupe for theft - the statistics aren't there ( see pg. 114 of the Aug. '07 C & D ) - Unless you're leaving your stash sitting on the front seat. Riad was hardly stating that he's a hero, or saying that anyone is a drug dealer - he was making a joke. Lighten up Francis

How about the biggest positive I have yet found. Spent the weekend cruising around with my wife, top down (Car not her) looking at lakefront property. Her comment was that this is the first sports car I have owned in 11 years of marriage that she likes. She even lets me have some fun with the car without me having blood on my right arm from her fingernails.

I have a 99 with the plastic window. Top and window are in excellent shape. I use the top conditioner about once a year. No other issues with it. There are also no rattles at all with the top or rest of the car. The car is very quiet with the soft top up and the PSE in the quiet mode. Sounds great with the top down. As others have said there is no wind in the cabin with the top down, wind screen and windows up. Get one with heated seats as those cool days are the best ones with the top down. As for looks you opinion is all that matters. If everyone had my taste Chrysler would have not sold a single new sedan in the last 5 years at least! Talk about ugly (PT Cruiser, 300M and the rest of those chopped looking sedans) but some people really like them. Go figure. If you want a convertible you can't go wrong with the 996. Kris