Test Drive Questions

I am shopping for my first Porsche. Just got back from driving 3 cars at a dealership. First was an '00 with 27,000 miles. The second was an '02 with 10,000 miles. The last was an '04 C4S, brand new. With the first two there was considerable road noise and, of course, that great engine sound. Both were very clean and looked well maintained, but both clutches squeaked incessantly. The '02 seemed to handle speed bumps a bit better and the steering was tighter. Would a better maintained '00 have felt similar to the '02? Were there enough changes in those model years to create these differences? The '04 was radically different. The road noise was significantly reduced and the ride was smoother over rough roads. Was this because it was a brand new car? Was it because it had four wheel drive? I would have thought that the lowered, stiffer suspension if anything, would produce a less comfortable ride. Was I feeling the newness? Was I feeling some special, inherent characteristics of the C4S? Or was this some new magic that Porsche has conjured up? Any insights would be appreciated.

I can't explain the road noise of the 00 and 02. I had a 00 and found it to be quite quiet and any coupe that I have driven to be relatively quiet. Did you try coupes or cabs? The C4S is several hundred pounds heavier and has full leather seats with thicker/heavier padding.They provide a more comfortable ride , especially over rough roads, compared to cars with the standard interior.

There are a lot of variables here. I recommend getting a Porsche enthusiast, 996 owner, from your community to help you out in person. Most of us enjoy helping others in these matters.

i've driven an 01 C4 (which i own) and an 03 C2 (which my buddy owns) and they're fairly similar in terms of power. i prefer the feel of my C4 though because it's steadier in the front end. but that's just my preference...

It is somewhat unusual that it should feel that way. I know that between the '02 C2 and C4S, the stiffness of the C4S is readily noted, as well as the "riding on rails" sensation at corners vs the standard C2. There have been changes in the chassis between '00 and '02/later models, and that may explain what you sense. Since we are talking about subjective findings with you as the judge, I would suggest you test drive an '04 C2 and compare your findings. There IS something special about the C4S. That's why I bought it .

The greatest variable is probably tire wear. Even small wear-induced irregularities in the tread can cause significant road noise. Also, are the rim sizes the same? The larger the rim, the more road shock is transmitted into the car. You might also come with your own air gauge and make sure you are experiencing identical air pressures in both pre-owned cars. I've not experienced clutch pedal squeak on any of my Porsches, but that sounds like it should be remediable. I'd look at the tires very hard, especially to determine if there is any evidence of hard usage. Something like new rears and old fronts on the 10K car would raise my index of suspicion. AS