Discussion
HELLO GUYS, NEED A LITTLE HELP FROM YOU GUYS WHO KNOW,
A FRIEND OF MINE HAS BOUGHT AN 03 C2 PORSCHE OF WHICH I REALLY LIKE THE LOOK OF AND WANT TO PURCHASE ONE, THE THING IS WHICH ONE, I HAVE A BUDGET OF ABOUT 50K ISH SO I WENT TO PORSCHE DEALER IN BOLTON AND DROVE A 04 PLATE C4S WHICH WAS FANTASTIC SO IM IN TWO MINDS AS TO BUY A C2 OR C4S 996, THEN I DISCOVERED THAT I COULD BUY A 996 TURBO THAT WAS ABOUT 2 YEARS OLDER AND ABOUT 20000 MORE MILES FOR THE SAME MONEY, HELP ME, WHAT WOULD YOU BUY
A FRIEND OF MINE HAS BOUGHT AN 03 C2 PORSCHE OF WHICH I REALLY LIKE THE LOOK OF AND WANT TO PURCHASE ONE, THE THING IS WHICH ONE, I HAVE A BUDGET OF ABOUT 50K ISH SO I WENT TO PORSCHE DEALER IN BOLTON AND DROVE A 04 PLATE C4S WHICH WAS FANTASTIC SO IM IN TWO MINDS AS TO BUY A C2 OR C4S 996, THEN I DISCOVERED THAT I COULD BUY A 996 TURBO THAT WAS ABOUT 2 YEARS OLDER AND ABOUT 20000 MORE MILES FOR THE SAME MONEY, HELP ME, WHAT WOULD YOU BUY
Lurking Lawyer said:
I'd invest in a new keyboard with a working Caps Lock key before spending any money down at your local OPC 

LOL..
I've been through the same as you but with a difference, I didn't need to drive a friend's 911 to know I wanted one. I wanted one since I was 10, like Porsche says: "There's the moment you know you want one and the moment you own one and then there's a decade or two in between" (something like this).
After driving pretty much all the 996's (incl. GT3's, Turbo's and C4S) and a 997 S.
If you're love the 996 and you like driving but 320hp is enough then get the 4S, great looks, great car and less depreciation.
If you're a real enthusiast, power junkie, you pretend to do some travelling with the car and you only plan on attending a couple a track Days go for the Turbo.
If you're a track junkie, REAL commited driver, have at least another car for commuting and travelling and you plan to track the car often then definately the GT3 is your car.
For a given amount of money, you would probably be able to buy a newer, lower mileage C2 than a C4S or TT.
Quite a lot of people, myself included, would prefer the C2 because it is closer to the traditional 911 spirit - rwd, normally aspirated, narrow body, etc.
Some people would argue that a TT, for example, provides a lot more for your money, but it could also cost considerably more to run.
There is a much used phrase with 911s - "less is more".
Quite a lot of people, myself included, would prefer the C2 because it is closer to the traditional 911 spirit - rwd, normally aspirated, narrow body, etc.
Some people would argue that a TT, for example, provides a lot more for your money, but it could also cost considerably more to run.
There is a much used phrase with 911s - "less is more".
Thats okay...
In a nutshell (and expect a lot of bickering, infighting, oh, and correction on these points)
For the 996 facelift (which is what i think your looking at)
C2 - 3.6 RWD. Good allrounder - reasonably comfy etc.
C4 - 3.6 4WD. As the C2 - however a touch heavier than the C2 due to 4WD - half the boot space, feels a little different to drive.
C4S - 3.6 4WD. Exactly as the C4 - only has the turbo wide bodykit - simply a visual thing (although wider tyres i think, so theoretically more grip)
Turbo - 4WD twin turbo - very, very fast version of the C4S (kayc's gonna hate that comparison)
GT3 - Fast road/track version. N/A 3.6 (i think) RWD - no rear seats (think roll cage is optional). More driver focused than the Turbo, but harder suspension means not as much of a GT car.
GT2 - Physco Nutter mobile - the bastard child of the GT3 and Turbo - 450bhp through the rear wheels in a lightweight track focused car.
Does that help? best advice, see which suit your needs best, go test drive a few and see which you prefer the drive of.
oh, and buy on condition.
In a nutshell (and expect a lot of bickering, infighting, oh, and correction on these points)
For the 996 facelift (which is what i think your looking at)
C2 - 3.6 RWD. Good allrounder - reasonably comfy etc.
C4 - 3.6 4WD. As the C2 - however a touch heavier than the C2 due to 4WD - half the boot space, feels a little different to drive.
C4S - 3.6 4WD. Exactly as the C4 - only has the turbo wide bodykit - simply a visual thing (although wider tyres i think, so theoretically more grip)
Turbo - 4WD twin turbo - very, very fast version of the C4S (kayc's gonna hate that comparison)
GT3 - Fast road/track version. N/A 3.6 (i think) RWD - no rear seats (think roll cage is optional). More driver focused than the Turbo, but harder suspension means not as much of a GT car.
GT2 - Physco Nutter mobile - the bastard child of the GT3 and Turbo - 450bhp through the rear wheels in a lightweight track focused car.
Does that help? best advice, see which suit your needs best, go test drive a few and see which you prefer the drive of.
oh, and buy on condition.
COLCERB said:
if im honest, i dont know a great deal
C2 = 2wd, non-turbo 300/320 bhp
C4 = 4wd, non-turbo 300/320 bhp (C4S has turbo-style wider body, turbo brakes etc)
Turbo = 4wd twin turbo, 420/450 bhp
GT3 = more track-focussed (but many people still happily use on road) 2wd, non-turbo 360/380 bhp (best sounding)
GT2 = 2wd twin turbo, harder than turbo but maybe a little softer than GT3 462 bhp
Hope this helps even if its from a non-Porsche owner
Edit: I must have been rather slow posting that.
to all you superior speed-posters! Edited by GravelBen on Tuesday 12th September 12:59
DucatiGary said:
GravelBen said:
C4 = 4wd, non-turbo 300/320 bhp (C4S has turbo-style wider body, turbo brakes etc)
where is this C4S has wider ass than a C4? I thought all 4's had the bigger ass ?
It would appear so, looks like I got that bit wrong.I generally do better on questions about Subarus and rallying

COLCERB said:
the 4wd versions must handle better maybe
Actually no.
The C4's suffer more from understeer than the C2 - they key thing you need to remember about the 911 is that its rear engined - its a very different animal to other cars...
As was said though, it comes down to personal preference - I considered a C4 - but found the C2 handled better [for me] and I would've struggled with the C4 boot space.
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