Cayman S or 996 C4S

[M666LMJ]

C4S!!!! I absolutely love this car. Probably not as well balanced or as modern as a cayman. But you get a wide bodied 911 with turbo running gear, and that red rear full width reflector. Absolutely gorgeous. I would imagine the servicing and insurance costs will be similar to each other. We had 170mph out of our c4s last week in Germany. absolutely stable. I wonder if a cayman would feel the same? Either way you get a bloomin' nice car. Hope you make your decision soon and keep us posted. Mike

 

[Wallachie]

Thinking about getting myself another car to keep me from being depressed over winter, currently have an eye for either a Cayman S or a 996 C4S, both will have to be Seal Grey as it's my favourite Porsche colour.

I have yet to test drive either as they are almost impossible to get here in NI, therefore I'm looking at doing a bit of research here first before making a trip to GB. I'm sure there are plenty of members who have owned, or at least driven both to make a comparison.

C4S worries me slightly as it's quite old, I don't want a car that will feel tired and a leggy. The Cayman will obviously be much fresher both inside and out, and to be honest that is a big thing for me.

Any advice, knowledge or suggestions will be most welcome.

 

[Buddy]

Cayman S, nicely balanced with fabulous handling the feedback is unbelievable. I've driven a 996 C4S with tiptronic transmission and it was terrific in fact my favourite 996/911 although yes a 997 C4s PDK would be better, but then I get into my Cayman S, select sport and well, I wouldn't take a 911. Now if it wasn't for my Porsche warranty I'd be getting an LSD and a Superchip.

 

[Dylan1]

yes i have been up to 170 in the cayman s and it was rock solid and absolute hoot!! for comparisons -see my car history below[] c4s was a nice car but cayman s was brilliant-which is why i have the open topped equivalent now!!!

 

[CLIFFWILKINS]

C4S with a stick Had both and would go for a good 996 C4s handerling is superb Cayman S Sport i had is a very capable car but no event to drive.

 

[Wallachie]

Thanks for the comments guys. I'm leaning towards the Cayman S to be honest, currently speaking to the dealer selling this car.  Seems a bit of a poverty spec though with no nav or Bose, although I am waiting for the full spec list from Porsche.  All it seems to have is aux/ipod connector, small chrome pack and red calipers.  Is that a big no no? Also, would the mileage be an issue at 50k? Thanks in advance.

 

[CLIFFWILKINS]

Drive both before making your mind up could cost a packet if you make the wrong choice trust me. Ps theres a nice C4s for sale in the members for sale same sort of money. Which ever you go for get it checked best advice

 

[Wallachie]

ORIGINAL: CLIFFWILKINS Drive both before making your mind up could cost a packet if you make the wrong choice trust me. Ps theres a nice C4s for sale in the members for sale same sort of money. Which ever you go for get it checked best advice

Thanks Cliff. Is that the black C4S being advertised by Gill? Looks great, but my last two cars have been black so sadly I don't think I could have another. I have only ever had a px run in a 4S, which was a Tip, sounded incredible if my memory serves me right. The difficulty here is finding cars to test drive, NI is a small place and there aren't any for sale. I also don't want to waste the time of someone whose car I have no intention of buying!

 

[CLIFFWILKINS]

Yes thats the black C4s advertised by Gill and has just been reduced Looks a bargain if it checks out all ok. A manual feels a lot better and quicker more involving than a Tip. Hope you find what your looking for. Cliff.

 

[Wallachie]

ORIGINAL: CLIFFWILKINS Yes thats the black C4s advertised by Gill and has just been reduced Looks a bargain if it checks out all ok. A manual feels a lot better and quicker more involving than a Tip. Hope you find what your looking for. Cliff.

I see that C4S has now been sold. I have bid a private seller on a Cayman S, which has Porsche warranty, he has a couple of guys viewing it this weekend so doesn't want to make a decision until they have had a chance to see it. It's going to be a looooong weekend of waiting!

 

[Wallachie]

Decided to go for a Cayman in the end, pick it up tomorrow morning. Seal Grey, PASM, sat nav, Bose, heated seats, Porsche warranty etc. Can't wait to get it!

 

[Buddy]

Hi Wallachie, Welcome to the fold! I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Don't forget the photos

 

[Spudwiser]

Nice - enjoy !

 

[Wallachie]

Thanks guys - picked it up from London yesterday at 9am, drove it all the way up to Scotland and got the ferry at 8pm! Long day, but definitely worth the early start. Such a great little car to drive, so well balanced especially with PASM Sport on, I need a bit of time behind the wheel to investigate its limits a little more before really getting used to it. This is my first Porsche, it's a nice change hearing lots of noise from behind you! It's not the fastest car I've ever owned, but it makes up for that in many other ways. I keep looking at it and thinking the wheel aren't quite right, so I might change them for a set of 19" Carrera Sport wheels, and I'm also tempted to upgrade the exhaust, for both aesthetic and acoustic reasons, although I don't want to jeopardise the warranty?

 

[Buddy]

What's the spec? As you have PASM I expect pretty well appointed sport seats, chrono... Glad to know you had such a good drive 11 hours straight is a pretty good basis for getting the feel of it but where have you taken it too?

 

[Wallachie]

ORIGINAL: Buddy What's the spec? As you have PASM I expect pretty well appointed sport seats, chrono... Glad to know you had such a good drive 11 hours straight is a pretty good basis for getting the feel of it but where have you taken it too?

PASM, nav, heated seats, Bose, rear parking sensors, crested centre caps, alu kick plates. I think that is it, no sports chrono as that wasn't even on my radar. Car is now in Belfast, currently getting it registered here so I can get my reg transferred to the car. The more I look at them the more I want a set of 19's though, but it has 4 brand new PS2's on so I'll wait until they're finished before spunking money on new wheels.

 

[Buddy]

I've got Carrera S 19's but no PASM, it's sometimes said the 19's without PASM is about in the middle between max/min against the 18's with PASM, so PASM and 19's on the max setting will be substantially harder than you have at present, not much chance of you borrowing a set to try and see how they are. I do sometimes think about a set of Carrera Classics in my view the neatest and easiest to clean wheels in the options list but then maybe a set of 18's with winter tyres would be of more benefit. But anyway, enjoy the Cayman it really is a terrific drive and coming up to the time when the heated seats will be useful, must admit I've never been to Ireland but I've heard that some of the country roads in the north are good for motorbiking so should be fun in such a good handling car.

 

[Wallachie]

ORIGINAL: Buddy I've got Carrera S 19's but no PASM, it's sometimes said the 19's without PASM is about in the middle between max/min against the 18's with PASM, so PASM and 19's on the max setting will be substantially harder than you have at present, not much chance of you borrowing a set to try and see how they are. I do sometimes think about a set of Carrera Classics in my view the neatest and easiest to clean wheels in the options list but then maybe a set of 18's with winter tyres would be of more benefit. But anyway, enjoy the Cayman it really is a terrific drive and coming up to the time when the heated seats will be useful, must admit I've never been to Ireland but I've heard that some of the country roads in the north are good for motorbiking so should be fun in such a good handling car.

The roads in and around Belfast are pretty poor, they're a total nightmare with PASM on to be honest so I'm not sure if I could cope with much worse. My mate has one with 19's so I might get a run in his and see what it's like. I'm tempted to put some spacers on to help in the meantime, has anyone on here added spacers? From a quick Google search it seems that 7mm front and 14mm rear are what people mostly go for.

 

[John H]

Good quality spacers and proper long bolts will add up to a fair wedge of dosh. I suggest you spend it on petrol, and get to know the car instead.

 

[Wallachie]

ORIGINAL: John H Good quality spacers and proper long bolts will add up to a fair wedge of dosh. I suggest you spend it on petrol, and get to know the car instead.

It'll be sub £300, not really that expensive. I've put almost 1k miles on it already since collecting it in London last week, I had a good run up to the North coast at the weekend on some of my local roads so I am slowly getting to grips with the car. It's not particularly fast initially, but it picks up well when you're up to speed with a nice amount of torque, but the handling makes up hugely for what it doesn't have in outright speed. My old Z4 M Coupe would have been faster in a straight line, but nowhere near as much fun, the Cayman also sounds much nicer....although I met my mate last night who has a CSL with a GruppeM exhaust and it makes the Cayman sound like a Dyson! Ha!