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Is a 996 really that good?

T

tirfor

New member
I used to have a 2000 Boxster S, which I found was a fairly good drive but didn't feel too safe when driving around corners at speed. So I decided to swap it for a 2002 C4s, with the belief that a 911 was one best cars to drive and the four wheel drive and psm would be a great benefit.[:D] I have had it for nearly 2 years and I don't think that it is as good as I was expecting it to be. The powers great it just the road handling![:(] Since owning it and especially within the last few months with the bad weather I have noticed that at motorway speeds it doesn't feel like it is sticking to the road and if the wind is blowing I say a few prayers! When driving around roundabouts and corners (at low speeds) the back end has twitched and the front seems to loose grip. If I was driving any faster I am sure that it would have just spun. I also drive a Vectra Sri which I have had for nearly 8 years and I can honestly say that at the same speeds and weather conditions I have always felt safe it the car more then the C4s. I have had M3's, Cosworths etc but non of them made me feel unsafe. The car has continentals, fpsh, has been laser tracked by Hi-q and an indi, has had the suspension and steering checked and no faults ever found. I just want to know if anyone else has had the same thoughts as me and could there be anything wrong with my car? I was thinking of taking it to Centre Gravity to see if they can try to sort it out but I just can't see it making that much difference. I have always wanted a Porsche since I was a boy but now I just feel let down with my experiences. I may just sell it and buy another M3.[:(]
 
i`d get a cayman s if i was you[:D]
just been to sussex and back via some great country roads and never put a foot wrong at some quite exciting (tho obviously legal!)speeds-never felt quite as safe when in the 996 c4
 
Try changing to Michelins or Pirelli (or Bridgestone)

Did your Boxster have the "flaps" in front of the front wheels intact (and not worn) these make a heck of a difference to the Boxster feel.

Normally Continentals get good reports on 996's but bad on Boxsters. I wonder if the 4WD of the 996 (and more forward weight distribution) brings the characteristics more towards the Boxster, and therefore back to bad feeling Contis...?
 
I think that if I was in the same situation I would take it to Chris Franklin at CG and ask him to drive it first - before making any adjustments. I have no experience of CG, but from what I have read by others he seems to have some benchmark tests he uses on the road test after adjustment.

If the alignment is a long way out - particularly if front and/or rear are toe-ing out - it can give weird handling characteristics. But if you have had two alignments done, I guess it's unlikely. Having said that, I would be wary of any Hi-Q alignment, and I saw a 993 that my friend Tony was working on a couple of weeks ago that had had a full alignment by another indy, and it was miles out. These laser alignment machines are only as good as the people operating them, and you need someone who is good.
 
I can't remember if the Boxster flaps were intact, but I'm sure if they weren't the opc would have told me as they did notice every other minor problem when it went in for a service! I haven't got nothing to loose so I will be taking it to Centre Gravity, as they seem to have had great reviews from other owners. Would it be fair to say that the majority of 996's owners haven't had the problems that I have experienced? Does everyone believe that there car is one of the best out there to drive? I'm hoping that I have some simple problem that needs sorting, as after all these years of believing that a Porsche 911 was one of the best cars to drive in the world, I would be pretty much gutted if I found my old Vectra drives better!
 
Your car should handle brilliantly in the wet and dry and also should suffer less than the regular 2WD Carrera from the 'floaty' front end feel.
I took my 996 C4 on the track and I couldn't believe the speeds I was doing round bends, and even when the back end began to step out PSM put it all under control.
You car will have better brakes and lower suspension than my C4, so I cannot imagine that you should be able to lose control of it off the track.

I'd go with the others and take it to CG, I've only ever heard fantastic things about his service.
 
You sound like you have done some work to ensure the car is straight (albeit Richards point is valid), so maybe it's just tyre manufacturer, tyre condition or tyre pressure. Tyres make a heck of a difference. But maybe it's just a different driving experience. I have a C4 and although spot on for handling, it doesn't feel the same as other cars I have driven. It's a Porsche - maybe it's the engine in the back, I don't know "" I have had the light feeling at the front whilst making progress on a bumpy road and although it never puts a foot wrong, I am not as confident in it as I have been in other cars. Maybe that's a function of the price though! The other thing to do is to get someone else to drive it and make a comparison. Lastly, try it on track with an instructor.
WeeJohnyB
 
I would argue the case for getting your wheel alignment checked. I found that when I took my car for new tyres once and the garage suggested that I should have the checks done, there is a huge differnce in settings.

They changed the settings and upon driving the car out of the garage I knew within 500 yards that they had mucked up the car (I know that you had to allow for the fact that all of the tyres were now new) but the car drove as it were driving on sheet ice.

I argued and they showed me all the printouts to say that they had changed it correctly. I rang Porsche who confirmed that the garage readings were within the tolerances that they have for my car (like yours - a 996 C4S).

I still wasnt happy and had them change all of the settings back to how it was before (they put it to as close as they could without being in the 'red') and the car handled pretty much as it did before.

In conclusion, with only minor changes to the settings this can make a huge differnce to how the car drives.

Having driven a few 996's and 997's, both two and four wheel drive, I would say that you should check your settings (I can fax a copy of mine to you if you like) you will find that if set up correctly, nothing should compare with the all weather ability of your C4S (I know the Cayman is great, but when it rains or you have standing water, I am sure that it would take a 'great driver' to keep up with a not so great driver' that was driving a C4S).

 
What about the way or where you are using the barkes and throttle. Incorrect use of these basics can unsetlle a car by changing weight distribution at the worng times ?

Why don't you try a track day or two and some track tuition so you really understand how the car is working under different load conditions

Just a thought not an opinion

Steve
 
Naturally four wheel drive handling will not be as precise as rear wheel drive (I have had both)
but nonetheless either your car is duff or you are.
 
I think most people have hit on the head with the advice given here. Tyres are a biggy and you'd be surprised how much difference they make. I know people who have had their cars to CG and said afterwards that vehicle was 'transformed' so that has to worth a go.

Finally, the 911's do have that 'floaty' front end feeling and its either something that you get to grips with or not.......you may have to resign yourself to the fact its just not for you...good luck anyway
 
I was hoping that the car was duff and not me but garages have said that they can't find anything wrong so it must be me![:)]
I haven't changing my driving style since driving Porsches so I am just comparing the drive with other cars I had. I know about the front feeling floaty which a believe people do say gets better the higher the speed you go, but I haven't really tested that theory out. Is this true? Are you guys saying that, with your cars properly set up, you feel 100% safe when driving at around 70-80mph? Maybe I will try a track day with someone who's used to driving Porsches and see how they feel. Tyres may be a problem but I just can't believe that Conti 295/30/18 tyres on a C4s can't grip better than 175/70/15 on a Corsa van at the same low speeds! Soon as I get some spare time I will be taking the car to CG and may change the tyres next time there due because I want to make sure I've done all I can be admitting defeat that a Porsche is not for me.[:(]
 
ORIGINAL: dyllan

either your car is duff or you are.


[:D]lol

harsh,but true!!!!
Click to expand...


[:)] agreed.

I think when you're comparing the cornering abilities of a C4S to a Vectra you need to ask why you bought a Porsche in the first place.

[:D]

 
I bought the C4s because I thought It was one of the best handling cars in the world and expect it to corner faster and safer then a Vectra[8|], I normally buy a more expensive car to get a better ride. Why did you buy one?
 
ORIGINAL: tirfor

I was hoping that the car was duff and not me but garages have said that they can't find anything wrong so it must be me![:)]
I haven't changing my driving style since driving Porsches so I am just comparing the drive with other cars I had. I know about the front feeling floaty which a believe people do say gets better the higher the speed you go, but I haven't really tested that theory out. Is this true? Are you guys saying that, with your cars properly set up, you feel 100% safe when driving at around 70-80mph? Maybe I will try a track day with someone who's used to driving Porsches and see how they feel. Tyres may be a problem but I just can't believe that Conti 295/30/18 tyres on a C4s can't grip better than 175/70/15 on a Corsa van at the same low speeds! Soon as I get some spare time I will be taking the car to CG and may change the tyres next time there due because I want to make sure I've done all I can be admitting defeat that a Porsche is not for me.[:(]
Click to expand...

yep...100% confident...and at well over 70/80 too[;)](on private roads of course!) . Thats both in a C2 and a 996 TT . One on Michelin cup sports and one on pirelli P-Zero. Prefer michelin

think its marmite time mate...[;)]
 
ORIGINAL: tirfor

I bought the C4s because I thought It was one of the best handling cars in the world and expect it to corner faster and safer then a Vectra[8|], I normally buy a more expensive car to get a better ride. Why did you buy one?
Click to expand...


Didn't mean my first comment to sound quite so harsh [:)]

I just don't understand what you mean by saying the car feels unsafe when cornering. You also said that you didn't feel safe cornering in your Boxster didn't you? I suppose what I was saying is maybe Porsches aren't the right cars for your driving style.


 
ORIGINAL: tirfor

I was hoping that the car was duff and not me but garages have said that they can't find anything wrong so it must be me![:)]
I haven't changing my driving style since driving Porsches so I am just comparing the drive with other cars I had. I know about the front feeling floaty which a believe people do say gets better the higher the speed you go, but I haven't really tested that theory out. Is this true? Are you guys saying that, with your cars properly set up, you feel 100% safe when driving at around 70-80mph? Maybe I will try a track day with someone who's used to driving Porsches and see how they feel. Tyres may be a problem but I just can't believe that Conti 295/30/18 tyres on a C4s can't grip better than 175/70/15 on a Corsa van at the same low speeds! Soon as I get some spare time I will be taking the car to CG and may change the tyres next time there due because I want to make sure I've done all I can be admitting defeat that a Porsche is not for me.[:(]
Click to expand...

The car should corner like it's on rails, with PSM and 4 wheel drive you absolutely should not be anywhere near the limits of your car's handling abilities on the open road, unless you're flooring it around roundabouts. At 70/80mph the car should be cruising very comfortably no problems whatsoever...I've been up to double those speeds on Autobahns and still, solid as a rock!
Something is definately not right with the car.
 
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