996 Advice

[me23rp]

I sold my 03 Boxster S 6 months ago before the new model came out hopeing to get the best price for it trade against a new BMW 5 series as our S wasnt one year old child friendly. I desperatly miss my Porsche and want to get a facelift 996. My boxster S was in polar Silver a colour that I really liked, or rather wife liked as I wanted yellow.
My budget is circa GBP 40-45K so I am hoping to get a good carrera coupe on an 01 plate with about 25K on the clock. my 4 questions are.
1) Should I go to an independant or is the extra 3K an OPC want on top of most independants worth it for the warranty benefits, or can I buy a porche warranty on a non OPC vehicle.
2) how much do you think the values of 996's will drop say in three - six months time when there are more 997's on the road
3) can you fit a stage 1 car seat in the back of a 996 or will my one year old have to wait untill he is old enough to sit in a booster sest before he can get his first porsche experience.
4)Was climate control and PSM standard on the facelift versions as they are my only must haves (well a yellow one would be nice)

Many Thanks

Justin

 

[Guest]

Justin, I can help answer Q3: it depends how tall daddy is. A stage 1 car seat will fit (unless you already have a really wide one and have to buy a new one), but the driver mustn't be so tall as to need the driver's seat pushed right back, or else baby has nowhere to put its feet.

 

[Rotorhead]

The 996, particularly the 3.6 facelift, is a terrific car.

1. Try to find the best car you can for your budget whether OPC, independent or private. The OPC Warranty is worth having. Obviously it comes as standard on OPC supplied cars and some other cars have had it extended. You can buy it afterwards but the car needs to be inspected, at cost, any faults remedied, at cost and then the Warranty is c.£725. you can then renew it each year

2. The values of all Porsches drop, even new 997s. My guess is that the best 996s will probably drop by c.15% pa irrespective of when you buy.

3. Rear seats in the 996 Coupe are very good for kids up to teenagers and there are a range of child seats that fit.

4. Climate was standard, PSM was a, very useful, option.

5. The other thing you will need is PSE (Porsche Sports Exhaust system)

 

[me23rp]

Thanks im only 5'2 so not a problem

 

[DivineE]

Service costs should be very comparible. I have a turbo but that is more complex than an N/A car to do most jobs on (4wd/more tightly packed engine bay). Service costs and intervals on that were about the same as my 944 turbo.

Did the major belt service (48k miles) including all fluids (incl brake and clutch), all filters and 6 coil packs (as preventative maintenance) and it was still only around £1500. Not bad when it only needs oil services for the next 24k miles. Which should equate to approx £300 from OPC once per year.

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

Lewis!!

As Ben says, the running costs will be very similar to the Boxster. As a daily drive, IMO they are slightly more practical that the Boxster, with more room in the cabin and rear seats. Handling is a bit different, but nothing you don't get used to.

Take a look at our buyer's checklist here: http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=269468

 

[lewig]

cheers fellas,

Really like the sound of the 4s! these ok too as daily drivers? I think 996 is the way to go though. I will check the buyers guide to thanks for this.

Good to know there isn't much difference though. I can't wait just need to find a suitable buyer for my boxster as i have just had messers so far.

Cheers!

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

C4S has pretty much the same running gear as the Turbo (suspension, brakes, etc), with the same engine as the rest of the 3.6 Carrera range. A lot of people think it is the best looking 996. Bear in mind it has the M030 Sport suspension package as standard, and brakes are a little pricier to replace. Other than that, it's just as good a daily as the rest.

Good luck with the sale.

 

[lewig]

Hopefully have a couple of people viewing the Boxster this weekend so hopefully the 996 shopping can start

Still unsure whether to look at a c4 cab or a c4s not sure if I'd miss the softop option on sunny days. Although I love the look of the coupe especially the c4s I have been looking at a few this week on the net there seem to be a few c4s with the turbo side scoops fitted too are these cut into and fitted to the existing side panels?

What are you views on this? There is also that say full turbo look not sure on the difference think the have just put the vents in and removed the c4s panel on the rear.

Cheers

 

[chriscoates81]

ORIGINAL: lewig

Hopefully have a couple of people viewing the Boxster this weekend so hopefully the 996 shopping can start

Still unsure whether to look at a c4 cab or a c4s not sure if I'd miss the softop option on sunny days. Although I love the look of the coupe especially the c4s I have been looking at a few this week on the net there seem to be a few c4s with the turbo side scoops fitted too are these cut into and fitted to the existing side panels?

What are you views on this? There is also that say full turbo look not sure on the difference think the have just put the vents in and removed the c4s panel on the rear.

Cheers

You could split the difference and get a targa then you get the best of both worlds. Im not sure if the targa come in 4 wheel drive or not im sure richard will know tho[]

 

[Magic919]

ORIGINAL: Richard Hamilton

C4S has pretty much the same running gear as the Turbo (suspension, brakes, etc), with the same engine as the rest of the 3.6 Carrera range. A lot of people think it is the best looking 996. Bear in mind it has the M030 Sport suspension package as standard, and brakes are a little pricier to replace.

If the C4s does indeed have the M030 suspension, then it doesn't feel like it. There's a marked difference when I change cars in terms of compliance, noise and body roll. I'd be surprised if it has the same suspension as my 40 year car.

 

[RichardR]

Hi I have a c4s , low fuel warning light and guage are still indicating low fuel ,eventhough refuelled.Is there a remedy to resolve this. Thanks.

 

[DivineE]

The sensor can only measure down to half a tank, the rest is calculated from the cars mpg sensor.

Therefore if you only put £20 in for example it may not reach the sensor so it doesn't know you've added fuel. Add another £20 and tou should see it.[]

 

[Ant Blain]

ORIGINAL: lewig

Hi peeps,

My second post (got my boxster up for sale in my first). I am considering a 996 looked at a few from a carrera 4 cab to a few carrera 4s seem to be a few 02/03 knocking a bout at reasonable price.

What are they like in terms of every day driving? it would be my daily driver?

I run my 996 as a daily driver (approx 12-15k a year). It'll do 30+ mpg on a steady run, high 20s on my daily commute (20ish miles each way, motorway and fast A-roads), it seems as happy in 25+ oC summer temperatures as it does in -15oC over the last winter (I used it every day, even in the snow), the rear seats make it practical for dumping things when you can't be bothered using the boot, I've done several weeks / weekends away in it (with the missus and all associated clobber), no problems.

I would actually say these cars relish being used more often, and run better because of it - mine seems to be running better now (52k miles) than when I got it at the start of 2010 (on 36k miles).

ORIGINAL: lewig

How much difference would the running/repair costs be compared to a Boxster?

To give you an idea; my service last year (minor) was £300ish (essentially just an oil and filter change and some checks), this year was £1600 (major 48k, but included new coil packs, replacement RMS, and two rear tyres at £270ish each). Other than that the only cost has been a new battery last year (£170 from Porsche). I'm assuming those costs are comparable to a Boxster, probably a touch more?

 

[chriscoates81]

ORIGINAL: DivineE

The sensor can only measure down to half a tank, the rest is calculated from the cars mpg sensor.

Therefore if you only put £20 in for example it may not reach the sensor so it doesn't know you've added fuel. Add another £20 and tou should see it.[]

At todays prices if its really low i dont think 40 will even hit halfway, as to service costs my major cost £500 however it should of been £280 but i had the a/c belt replaced (i think thats what its called) and my front disks where on the wrong side so they swapped them both over. Whats the going rate for a major on a boxster?

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

ORIGINAL: Magic919
If the C4s does indeed have the M030 suspension, then it doesn't feel like it. There's a marked difference when I change cars in terms of compliance, noise and body roll. I'd be surprised if it has the same suspension as my 40 year car.

Standard C4S was M030 (-10mm), and X74 (-30mm) was optional.

 

[Magic919]

ORIGINAL: Richard Hamilton

ORIGINAL: Magic919
If the C4s does indeed have the M030 suspension, then it doesn't feel like it. There's a marked difference when I change cars in terms of compliance, noise and body roll. I'd be surprised if it has the same suspension as my 40 year car.

Standard C4S was M030 (-10mm), and X74 (-30mm) was optional.

It's not listed in the build spec of the car when I run the VIN, I've just checked it.

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

Does it show M029? ie standard.

Edit: This is from the 2004 996 Brochure:

 

[Magic919]

There is I029 for standard chassis rather than M029.

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

I wonder why they designated it 029 when it is a 10mm lower sports suspension? Odd. So I guess I was wrong to refer to it as M030, but M030 certainly wasn't an option on the C4S.