English rose for a teutonic hussy - discuss

Hi all - think I took the wrong turn at the lights and skipped past AMOC and arrived here...[ ] But now I am here - I've a hankering after something different for the summer - currently in a 97 Db7 Volante, but my mind is full of thoughts of C4S's and maybe a little less 'stressful' ownership. I even wondered about a really young Cayman - but thats another story. So, as a newbie to the marque - I've read the buyers tips - what suggestions would you have, or even what comparisons would you make with my current mode of transport..... forgetting the fact that its swapping soft top for tintop. Not looking to spend too much as its a 2nd fun car - so somewhere mid 30's for an 02/03 plate. Help appreciated

Ive had a DB7 and the 911 is a totally different beast. I would not say that a C4S was 'fun' as such, as its four wheel drive does mean that it sticks to the road like glue at all but insane speeds (I have one currently). I would suggest a 2 wheel drive 911 if you are looking for a 'fun' car or indeed the Cayman (I drove one at the weekend and was very surprised on how good it was!). But in either case, I would say that you would be happy with a porsche, whichever you choose, as they are much better built than the Astons of old (although maybe not as good to look at, as the DB7 is pretty and getting rarer).

having had a 996 "4" i agree it does stick like glue,especially as the speed increases,so as far as fun goes my cayman s is in a different league-huge fun all the time[ ] i suspect you will enjoy any of them after that old ford[ ][ ][ ]

I see things slightly differently... With a C4S (and most likely a C4) you can provoke the rear into playing, knowing that when your skill runs out, the PSM/4WD will most likely catch it... So I find it easier to be a hooligan (if that's what fun is) in relative safety, than in a C2. Also, I could well believe that in the right conditions a C2 would be 'purer' than a C4 or C4S, and possibly quicker...but where I am it's cold, rains - a lot - and the road surfaces are abysmal. In these conditions...the C4S is absolutely unstoppable. When I'm in the mood, getting from a very cold, wet 'Point A' to an equally cold and wet 'Point B' is my idea of 'fun'...and at that point the C4S (or C4 with PSM) makes total and utter sense. Much more so than any 2WD version...the surefootedness, traction and confidence factor all add to making the C4S a 'no brainer' choice for me.

yeap all good observations - I've looked at a number of questions on the 996 and Cayman boards - obviously people are as divided in their opinions as we are about an i6 v an v12 Db7. Both huge fun and tools of choice in for different occassions....my idea of fun is that cold/wet day when I can still drive 'within legal limits officer' and feel connected with the road - in a previous life I had the 3.2 Audi TT, went around roundabouts on rails, even in the wet - so i'm guessing that the C4S feels a little like that - but i'd hope for a much more rewarding experience in the whole package. how about running and maint costs for these beasts?

how about running and maint costs for these beasts cheap as chips[ ] servicing costs about £500 -1k a yr tyres etc prob same depending on use. major running costs of course depreciation -lots of threads on this forum,but prob no more than you are used to!!

yeap servicing is similar to AM - running at around low 20s mpg - depreciation is a pain.... trouble is with all the additional costs an AM gets expensive so if anyone wants to beat that depreciation and swap their 911 for my DB7 - here she is with her kit off in the cold[ ] h ttp://myfreefilehosting.com/f/24e257aa99_4.76MB http://myfreefilehosting.com/f/e03faf76e6_3.33MB http://myfreefilehosting.com/f/35f148210f_2.88MB http://myfreefilehosting.com/f/e2f76d959a_4.49MB http://myfreefilehosting.com/f/5cf92ddf2b_3.86MB http://myfreefilehosting.com/f/1186d859d3_3.3MB http://myfreefilehosting.com/f/c91adfeafe_3.08MB http://myfreefilehosting.com/f/b129f9c638_0.72MB http://myfreefilehosting.com/f/cb07d4fd65_0.67MB http://myfreefilehosting.com/f/0ad455784f_0.75MB

old Ford...cheek [ ] infact its current Ford - you take any of the switchgear off and you see its got Ford stamped on it [ ]

just jealous as i cant afford a DBS steve[ ] (though i nearly bought a DB6 in 1986 (for £7k)!! good luck with your teutonic quest

thinking of taking a trip to my local OPC this weekend - only trouble is its JCT600 - and I've only had bad reports about them, mainly from the Aston and also the Jeep side ..... anyone have any experience using them, other Indy thats close would be Strasse or at a push Specialistcars of Malton...............then theres GMund I suppose...... er ok there are a few[ ]

Just looking at the comments re driving a C2 in sub-optimal weather conditions and thought I'd add a comment, but I'll first caveat it by saying that I can in no way call myself an exceptional driver and I have far fewer Porsche hours than many who frequent this site. Having gone from 3.2 Carrera to 964, 993 and now having reached 996 - all C2 - I have to say that I have never had a problem with handling. If the C2 is slippery and, bearing in mind it can rain just as heavily in Germany, why do Porsche produce it? I am aware that the C2 has a tail-happy reputation in some quarters, I have just never experienced it personally. I bought my wife a driving day with Bernard Aubry for her birthday last year and from what I remember of her (extensive) debrief he didn't consider the C2 to be lacking in stability. This comment is not posted in disagreement with any previous comments in this thread and I will happily bow to experience and ability, I would just like to know how genuinely deserved is the C2's reputation? I can say for certain that I found my XKR to be a far less stable car, but that's another story. I live in an area of extensive, interesting B and C roads and deliberately seek out a C2 each time I change my car. I like what I perceive to be the engagement, feel, responsiveness, lightness, reduced mechanical complexity, improved fuel consumption, and performance; conversely, I have complete respect for those who choose a C4, as they too are outstanding cars, so I am not trying to go over old C2 vs C4 ground. It would be very useful for me to get an accurate perspective on C2 handling though, just in case I am living in blissful ignorance (quite possible!). On the subject of 996 as a Porsche of choice, I (am possibly one of the few to) think it is a superb car and completely worthy successor to the 993. All of my Porsches have been daily drivers and great cars to own. They have been surprisingly cheap to run, reliable and low in depreciation. The price I paid for my 996 (3 weeks ago) was £2k less than I sold my 993 for last summer and I think that just emphasises what outstanding value for money a 996 can be. My last one (993) cost £1200 a year to run including tyres and lost £2500 in 2 years and 22000 miles. Granted the 996 is likely to lose a bit more, but with some early high miles examples getting close to high end 964 prices, I think that you can find one without too much depreciation in it. In case anyone is still reading/interested, mine is a 98 R plate manual C2 (obviously) in ocean blue. With 67k miles, full OPC s/h, GT3 wheels and a limited slip diff, £5 short of 20k (with a dealer's warranty) seems pretty good VFM to me. DB7, I'd love to be in a position to spend up to £35k on a 2nd fun car (do you have any jobs going for an ex-military pilot - perhaps you need flying around the showrooms this w/e...[ ]), if you get a 996 you might just end up promoting it, stranger things have happened! My perception is that AM build a wonderful car and there rightly is a deep in-built AM affection instinct in most blokes that I know (self included). Not said in pique, but most professional AM/Porsche comparisons that I have seen (TV and written) ultimately favour the Porsche, although of course the AM wins the exclusivity tag hands down. I'm starting to ramble so I'll stop now, thanks for the opportunity to join the debate. Martyn

only reason its a 2nd car is that the other is my daily driver - Range Rover TD6. So the Aston sits and waits for me at home until the weekends - when she invariably doesnt get to play out due to the salt on the roads at this time of year ..... yeap Astons rust and you take out on your own peril. Got offered a nice Coxster S - 987 - on an 05 plate - all the toys - but if I went down this route would I only be playing at driving a Porsche, should I go for the full fat high caffine 911?

The Boxster Coupe is a great car and a sensible choice, but if you feel that way now you would always wish you had bought a 911. [ ] [ ] When you have a 911 you always wish you had gone for a GT3 or Turbo, When you have a GT3/Turbo there's always........ [8|] [8|]

Richard - I know EXACTLY what you mean - I started with looking at Cayman, then realised that the Coxster ( sorry Boxster ) was actually quite a sensible choice, but saw a really nice C4S...something about the way that backside looks [8D][8D][8D] anyway - back on the subject of cars - BUT...when then looking at C4S's...a Turbo appeared - guess what.... in all of this, the budget went up and up and up - well actually the budget didn't just the cost did..... So I just know that I'm going to be at the lights and then someone in a 997 GT3RS is next to me....in lime green more than likely and I'm going to be thinking uuuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmm......