A few questions about 996 C4S

Hi Everyone, I'm new here, and I'm doing some homework on my next car purchase, I've nailed the car down to a 996 C4S. What I'd like to know is 1) What sort of mpg do you get, (I've got an RX8 at moment so it can't be much worse 20mpg if your lucky) 2) How much and what sort of mileage do you get from a set of tyres on a 996 C4S, 3) What does it cost for a service at OPC and independant, 4) How common are the engine problems outlined in EVO Feb2006, ie the oil seal, and the liner problem. 5) Any other things I might need to look out for. Thanks in advance Dave

You might get a better response in the 996 section, so I'll move it there for you (Linked from here) - Mark

Thanks Mark.

Hi Dave - welcome to the forum! 1) What sort of mpg do you get, Nice gentle runs along the motorway to work: 22-24 Fun in the countryside: 16-20 Track Days: 8-12 [ ] You'll want Optimax or similar. 2) How much and what sort of mileage do you get from a set of tyres on a 996 C4S, Hum. Well, mine has done 11500 or so and the fronts are original with about 5mm left whereas the rears were replaced about 500 miles ago. Those 11000 miles did include three track days, though. By then the rears were down to 3 to 3.5mm. Replacing the two rears was a little shy of £500. 3) What does it cost for a service at OPC and independant, Only had an annual check and a minor service so far, both OPC. I think the annual check was £120ish and the minor £250ish but I'd have to check if you want accurate figures. I supplied my own oil, which cost £40 instead of £100ish from the OPC. 4) How common are the engine problems outlined in EVO Feb2006, ie the oil seal, and the liner problem. Well I've seen nothing. So far (touch wood) the engine has been utterly sublime and the RMS oil seal is dry as a bone. 5) Any other things I might need to look out for. Yes. Take great care to ensure you can afford it before you try one. I test drove a 996 and that was it ... I had to have one [ ]. Seriously, take your time and choose the one that suits you. There is so much choice in the spec that two different cars might be totally different, aesthetically speaking. I've seen some 996s that, in my personal opinion, were utterly hideous whereas (again, in my opinion) the combination of colours and materials on mine is simply perfect [ ]. Someone must have liked the hideous ones, though - so each to their own. Have fun!

Forgot to ask, Dave - whereabouts are you? Do you need to see one "in the metal"?

Hi Michael thanks for the info, this just the sort of stuff I need to find out. You're right about needing to look at the cars, because there are so many options and configurations of 911's. I live in Lincolnshire, near Scunthorpe.

Ah. You're a bit out of my neck of the woods, then! I had a 18 month (ish) wait for mine, and I spent about a year thinking before I put the order in. So I had over 2 years to think about spec etc, and just visited OPCs whenever I went near one. None of them minded me wandering about sitting in everything I could find, and most gave me a nice cup of coffee. Over that time, I started to develop a view about what kind of kit was actually (a) common and (b) useful, and to realise what the options in the price list actually meant (where is the "trim strip, central?? [ ]). It was only after about a year or so that I walked into Reading and saw a C4 Cab in the middle of the floor in midnight blue metallic, metropole leather, a blue hood, painted seat backs and the Aluminium interior kit and just stopped dead, jaw open, dribbling.... [8D] From then on, that much was definite! Good luck with the search.[ ]

Dave, here are my thoughts...mine is now 14 months old.. Average, I get 22ish. I don't commute in it...so it's all pleasure driving on decent twisty roads...and I have PSE so I NEED to get above 5300RPM in each gear...just because it sounds sooooo good. On a long run, I'll maybe see 25MPG. At 165+ it does 18.9MPG...and round the 'ring, 18.6MPG. Just under 7000 miles so far, and the rears are around 4mm...fronts are hardly touched. This with 18 hot laps of the 'ring on them. Only serviced once...and I had the 2 yearly service done (I like having the oil and filter changed regularly) and it was about £300 at my OPC (Aberdeen) They seem to exist...but thus far, I'm clear... I don't worry too much to be honest...I'll use it hard and worry about problems if they appear...I can't see the sense in getting all bent out of shape about something that may never occur. Yeah, be prepared to find that you need PSE (Porsche Sports Exhaust) in your life once you've heard it...it's sublime!!!

I had one too, although from order/spec to delivery was 4 months. No point hanging about. I agree that Metropole blue is the best interior colour, although you'll probably find most are black or grey. Dark colours look best when clean, but are hard to keep clean and show surface marks more readily. Seal grey is the best choice for hiding dirt. Aluminuim handbrake and gearlever make the inside look nicer. Porsche Sports Exhaust transforms the experience and it makes a great sound - although can easily be retro-fitted. Diving to work and back, motorway and A-roads, plus a small bit of town driving (25miles each way) used to give around 24mpg average. On a long motorway run 27 is quite easily achieved. Best I ever got when stuck at 60 for miles due to bad weather and congestion was 31. If you drive enthusiatically about the countryside below 20 is quite possible. Rears wear a lot faster the fronts with normal road use. I reckon 2 sets of rears to 1 set of fronts. I got 4 tyres for the turbo (which are the same size) for £630 from Micheldever. 12K from the rears is likely if you drive on twisty roads, about 16K if you drive on the motorway a lot. Less if you do track days obviously. I can't remember about the servicing, but I worked it out to be cheaper than a Nissan 200SX for the first 48K miles. In 28K miles mine had no issues of any sort. The only problem is that it is too good and you will want more power. Then is gets expensive...

Cheers guys, seems the mpg is better than my RX8 so thats a bonus. I will take my time in finding a car and spec I want. I was thinking about the PSE as a neccesary option, what about PCM/SAT NAV, I've got a PDA with TOM TOM and find it excellent, is the Porsche one any good or is it as poor as I've read? The interior colour I would go for is Black or Metropol blue. Anymore input would be great for other members, I'm taking notes. Cheers Dave

The one thing you forgot to ask about was the appalling depreciation at the moment!

Maybe that is what he is taking advantage of.

[ ][ ][ ] Had not thought of that!

Hmm, Never thought about depreciation, have seen several at OPC on the internet for around £45 - 50k thought that was what they were going rate. Maybe by the time I've done my homework and sourced a car the price might be even better. Thanx Guys

I'm definately looking for a post face-lift car, so it has to be the youngest car I can afford as for the colour its a toss up between Basalt Black or Silver with a black or metropol blue leather interior and as much aluminium bits as poss, (makes the inside look very smart). The jury is still out on PCM etc but time will sort this out. And I've got to have PSE.

If it was me I wouldn't worry too much about PCM. I'd have a better, integrated, after-market system fitted. Seats are entirely personal. I've had most types over the years and find that I can adapt to them all. For me it is more important to get the driving position absolutely right - and then make sure no one messes around with the adjustments. A lot of C4Ss have the comfort seats with full electric memory and these are great for getting and maintaining a really comfortable driving position.

I was certain I wanted the Sports Seats...until I spent some time in them...and for us larger framed people (6'3" and 18st) the Sports Seats pushed my shoulders away from the seat to such an extent that my upper spine was no longer being supported. I ended up opting for the standard full electric seats as they are simply more comfortable for me... After 23 hours of sitting in them, accross 6 countries and at the end of 1000 miles of solid driving (some me driving and some with me in the passenger seat - including a few laps of the 'ring) I got out feeling fresh as a daisy. Great seats...

Larger side? Surely not... It's all these anorexic, vertically challenged people that are wrong... I'm sorry, I can't say.. I have only expreience of 993 vs 996 seats...of which I still prefer the 996 seats. Same with the car really... I'm impressed with quite how well the standard 996 seats hold you...compared to the Recaros in my S3 I didn't expect such well fitting seats, as they didn't 'look' great...but that shows how much looks count for. With my penchant for pies, I find the 996 C4S seats brilliant...comfortable, supportive, relaxing...whereas the 996 Sports Seats aren't nearly as comfortable for the fuller framed gentleman...and the 993 Sports seats seem smaller in some way, and hence not as comfortable...but that could just be my feeling...

I'd recommend sport seats though I'm a bit of a lightweight... Remember the pre/post facelift question has been asnwered for you as the C4S was a post facelift only iteration.

I stepped up form Mazda RX8 231, haven't looked back. Loads of torque in the Porche, great drive, quieter, more presice direction change. Mines a 996 Cabrio 2.

Having had an RX8 and got rid of it for a C2 996 last year, the comparisons are mainly negative to the Mazda: - 996 far more economical - better build quality - less depreciation - 996 IS a performance car The only negatives are: - Snooty OPC service - more scared of where to park it - major repairs more expensive Hope this helps

Hi thanks for input jamesc, whilst I'm pleased the Porsche is more economical, has better build quality, less depreciation etc (all the good points), I feel that I must add (even tho this is a Porsche Forum) that for the money the Mazda RX 8 is a fabulous car it handles extremely well and once you get used to revving the superb Rotary engine more thro the range it turns into a very enjoyable car to drive, (I used to ride bikes so revving the engine to 9000 rpm is nothing new for me). But I'm still looking to change to a 996 C4S regardless, I look forward to the better build quality, (which the Mazda cannot match), the increase in performance and the better mpg and the best bit IT'S A PORSCHE [ ]

Dave, the RX8 is a great car to drive, but the performance is illusory; 0-60 in 6.9 secs is matched by a lot of other cars and its economy for that performance is ridiculous, even given the rev range of the Renesis (very little bottom end power as well). It was getting burned by a 'fat bloke and his Missus' in a ten your old seven series on the straight that did it for me!

Hmm that would be bad news for me also, mind you what 7 series was it? out of interest Anyway back to the Porsche C4S - I have another question - do you need to run them on Shell Optimax or BP Ultimate? I ask this because I've just filled up at Shell petrol station and the damn stuff was 92.6ppl gulp

You can run it on 95 or 98. In normal use you won't detect any real difference, although there is some evidence that some engines do produce a bit more power, torque and even economy using the higher octane fuels. If you go from 95 to 98 you'll need to reset the ecu (by disconnecting the negative lead on the battery - see other threads), otherwise it will take a while to adjust itself.

Shell Optimax seems to be the fuel of choice here. Fifth Gear also did a test of the two and Optimax came out as offering the best performance inprovement... Not sure what 7 the 'fat bloke and his Missus' were driving, but it was a fatal blow for my time with the 8....

Apparently so...but with my C4S it's the only car I've owned in a long time where I can detect no changes in it's performance or manners regardless of what fuel I use. It makes no difference...it pulls like a train regardless. Simply because it's handy, I tend to use Ultimate...but in all honesty, I don't know whay I bother!