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porsche 996 turbo vs 996 c4s

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stevomepy

New member
Bit of a stupid question if i'm going to be honest but i'll ask anyway. For a while i've been considering which of these two cars to have. Leaning more towards the turbo. Need some confirmation from other people. Is the turbo really that much of a difference to the c4s? Because according to Jeremy Clarkson the c4s is a "fake".
Any replies appreciated!
 
In the sense that the 4S is a Turbo without the engine, yes, it's a "fake" turbo. However, they are different cars despite their outward similarities. Ultimately, only you can decide what suits you.

BTW, anyone who takes guidance from JC on anything (especially Porsches) should be taking such guidance with a (very) large pinch of salt!
 
The only 911 I had ever driven my Dad's C4S up until Monday of this week, and originally thought that it would be enough for me, and was all set to buy one.

Then had a niggling feeling that if I did buy one, I'd want a Turbo after a month or two.

So in the last five days I've driven three 996 Turbos, two at indies and one OPC.

And bought this one yesterday

911opc2.jpg


TBH it was a few grand more than similar age / spec cars at the independent garages, but it is one owner, done 12k, and looks, drives and smells like new! And has the OPC warranty etc.

My advice? Get a turbo :)

 
My standard 996 C4 S comes with firmer suspension and lager disc brakes, this model is superb at cornering at higher speeds, it was
glued to the roads in Germany, with 171mph showing on the Sat nav. on the Leipzig ring road on a Sunday morning last Sept.
Petrol consumption averages around 29 miles per gall. in the UK. My previous car a 996 C2 3.3 gave a more comfortable ride on

B roads, but did about 4 miles less per gal. The 997 has the same size discs and calipers as the 3.6 C4S.!!!
 
There really is no choice is there?

When I was looking, they were virtually the same price-so why the hell would you buy a C4S. Lovely car and dont flame me, but who wouldnt want the extra wellie?
 
That does look cool - ive currently got an E46 M3 - the C4S is actually slower than the M3 - I just know if I get a C4S I will wish after few weeks id got the turbo - a few weeks after having my M3 the speed and accelaration become just normal - its amazing how soon you get used to things isnt it - are there any real downsides to the turbo compared to the C4S


ORIGINAL: scorcher

The only 911 I had ever driven my Dad's C4S up until Monday of this week, and originally thought that it would be enough for me, and was all set to buy one.

Then had a niggling feeling that if I did buy one, I'd want a Turbo after a month or two.

So in the last five days I've driven three 996 Turbos, two at indies and one OPC.

And bought this one yesterday

911opc2.jpg


TBH it was a few grand more than similar age / spec cars at the independent garages, but it is one owner, done 12k, and looks, drives and smells like new! And has the OPC warranty etc.

My advice? Get a turbo :)
Click to expand...
 
Unless you are a trackday god, if you intend to track it, the 4S will be more friendly in that environment. On the road, the Turbo is a thrill a second
 
Have you seen the top gear clip explaining the difference between turbo and C4S using women with different sized breasts - its on you tube - now thats funny

ORIGINAL: Stewart H

Unless you are a trackday god, if you intend to track it, the 4S will be more friendly in that environment. On the road, the Turbo is a thrill a second
Click to expand...
 
[:D] very good..

Back on topic... unlike what they said in the video the Turbo does have a different engine to the C4S, it has the GT1 lump which isn't as prone to RMS failure... other than that its your call.
Service pattern for the plugs are different and possibly the key question.. Insurance costs may be different

garyw
 
just go and try a new 997TTand you will never need to ask this auestion again(IMHO)[:D][:D]
especially when you press the sport button[:D]
 
Well I went on a track day with some fellow Porsche owning mates from work. Amongst us was a 996 x51 turbo and a 996c4 (not a c4S but same performance) and I was absolutely staggared at the sheer out and out performance of the turbo. I could keep on the coat tails of the C4 at will and never felt it was massively quicker than my car (which is modified by the way), however the way the 996 turbo left us standing at will was astonishing. It is not just in a different league in terms of performance, it is a good two or three leagues above. At any speed the turbo could simply leave us for dead as if we were stationary. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind which one i'd go for. And talking to its owner I'm amazed at how 'cheap' the car is to run. Servicing is definately affordable especially when you consider the service interval, insurance is not that bad - I was paying only £200 less for my 944T before I moved over to a modern classics 2nd car policy.
 
Both great cars, when brand new the C4S did offer awesome value compared to the Turbo, which is why it was so popular & probably the more sensible choice, residuals have also been better than the Turbos.

BUT in the used market prices are much closer & if you can afford the extra for a Turbo it will justify its premium for the fabulous grunt & extra toys that come as standard, used it gets my vote over the C4S! If you find an X-50 it is pretty much as fast as the 997TT for nearly half the price!
 
imho had to be the turbo. The running costs aren't that different - tyres, brakes, warranty are all the same only major difference is the expensive spark plug job (only once every 4 years though, probably) and possibly petrol consumption but unless your doing lots of miles wouldn't let it bother you. Insurance wasn't bad for me either, infact 6 month newer turbo was £40 cheaper than my c2 for some reason??
Regards x50 i had a shot of one and never thought there was that much a difference in it, would have liked but wasn't willing to pay much more for it, but insurance for an x50 was nearly double so worth remembering too[;)] I placed more importance on nice colour inside and out in original well looked after condition, but this proved a lot harder to find than i thought for a car that cost nearly £100k originall[:-]
My advice is to drive a few to see what a good one should feel like and be patient as the right one will come up.
ps if your still thinking about a c4s seriously, don't test drive a turbo[:D]
 
IMO, C4S looks better- full width rear reflector, no rear airvents.
C4S sounds better- no PSE for Turbo.
Most of the time, on the road, the C4S's performance is more than adequate.
Like for like, C4S is cheaper to buy, run and insure.
Any rational person if cost was not in the equation would probably have the Turbo, but try finding a decent one, or one at all for under £40k which will buy you a lovely 4S.

If you really want find you want the extra poke, then upgrade with a Evo MS supercharger, 470 hp!
 
i have seen loads of 996 TT`s out there at prices very near 4s money-some great bargains[:D]and great fun
 
ORIGINAL: Robertb

IMO, C4S looks better- full width rear reflector, no rear airvents.
C4S sounds better- no PSE for Turbo.
Most of the time, on the road, the C4S's performance is more than adequate.
Like for like, C4S is cheaper to buy, run and insure.
Any rational person if cost was not in the equation would probably have the Turbo, but try finding a decent one, or one at all for under £40k which will buy you a lovely 4S.

If you really want find you want the extra poke, then upgrade with a Evo MS supercharger, 470 hp!
Click to expand...

but anyone person with a budget in mind who has just bought a C4S because its cheap would have just spent alot of money on an Evo MS supercharger. If you had put this money on top of your original budget then surely you may aswell have bought the turbo
 
ORIGINAL: stevomepy

ORIGINAL: Robertb

IMO, C4S looks better- full width rear reflector, no rear airvents.
C4S sounds better- no PSE for Turbo.
Most of the time, on the road, the C4S's performance is more than adequate.
Like for like, C4S is cheaper to buy, run and insure.
Any rational person if cost was not in the equation would probably have the Turbo, but try finding a decent one, or one at all for under £40k which will buy you a lovely 4S.

If you really want find you want the extra poke, then upgrade with a Evo MS supercharger, 470 hp!
Click to expand...

but anyone person with a budget in mind who has just bought a C4S because its cheap would have just spent alot of money on an Evo MS supercharger. If you had put this money on top of your original budget then surely you may aswell have bought the turbo
Click to expand...
and its value must surely hold up better being the TT[;)]
 
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