RS4 avant vs 996 C4S

[hlbeckley]

Help and thoughts please
Love my avant, '08 with 69kms and I have loved and looked after her but have this porker itch! Found a mint '02 996 C4S black on black with 52kms
I drove it yesterday and it still feels tight, but sounds much quieter and although nimble, in a straight line, well the RS simple murders it

Has anyone done this move here? Am thinking collectibility too as the 996s appears to be sought after in TT or C4S guise! Am I making a mistake?

that ass!

Ps I ride to work so either way I only use my car max twice a week and do max 4kms a year

[marc1]

If you don't need the practicality of the RS, I'd go for The 996tt rather than the C4s.

[JCviggen]

I don't think you can make a mistake if you like driving the car. Yes it will probably feel a bit gutless. But it's important with these cars to verify that the IMS bearing has been done at some point. Whilst failure rates aren't as high as doomsday stories would suggest, it's too much of a risk otherwise.

Personally I'd be more inclined towards the slightly more current 997s but that's just me. If you want a car that feels quicker than the B7 in a straight line you do need a Turbo.

[JohnFC]

From my Porsche days (2006-2008, 997) I remember that the 996 was rather unloved and certainly not an appreciating asset. Maybe they have become more collectable but the 997 is a better daily driver, and neither 996 or 997 is as much fun as my RS4 cabrio!

[Briggy]

I've done a bit of research on this in the past and the prices of 996s have pretty much bottomed out. Basically because they're the cheapest way into a 911, which in turn feeds demand and fuels prices. The only reason they were unloved (before the well document bore scoring and IMS failures) was because they were water cooled, so not for the purist at the time.

[njp]

I just shifted a 997.2 C2S which was a wonderful car. If collectibility is your main aim then a 996 isn't the way. As mentioned the IMS problem caused a number of issues with the 996 and 997.1 but the dislike runs to the styling with the fried egg headlights and the interior fit being nasty imo.

The 997.2 would be a more collectable car, released during the GFC so there are less of them and the styling is several notches above the 996. Also if cash doesn't stretch to a Turbo, the C2 models are more desired by the die hards and I personally wouldn't bother with the base Carrera, always step up to the S model.

Two very different cars with different characteristics. I shifted my porsche as I needed the extra room and it was sad seeing the porka in the garage not getting tracked or driven hard regularly due to work.

Very happy with the change to the B7 but I did get a bit or buyers remorse today at the Porsche museum in Stuttgart....

[RS4JAMO]

I came from a 996 C4S and don't miss it if I'm honest. Yes the sound is very nice and distinctive from the flat 6 and PSE the overall drive is disappointing when compared to the RS. Personally in comparison the RS is better made, faster, rarer and gains more attention than the c4s. I would think very hard before making the jumps.... now a 996 turbo that's another story.... good luck with whatever you do 2 great cars just the RS4 is better IMO

[Shinobi675]

I've got a 996 c4s and a c6 rs6. I wish I'd got the rs4 and then maybe I could have brought myself to sell the 996. Prices however are on the rise. The c4s is the collectable after the turbos. The holy trails are the gt2!

http://www.rpmtechnik.co.uk/sales/

Probably a bit far for you... But these guys have both a gt2 and a turbo x50 for sale. Lovely cars and I'm so tempted!!! But you won't lose money on a c4s over the next two years.

I'm sort of hoping the Arse falls out of the 2nd hand market so I can grab a gt3rs at prices they used to be! They did have two 997.2 gt3rs from 2010 one was £180k the other £200k! Prices are mad at the moment, but no sign of dropping.

[hlbeckley]

Thanks everyone very helpful! I have had a look at a 997.1TT since which is manic, if not a little clinical
I guess my ultimate solution is to keep the RS and buy another toy! So now need to explain to wife why I need two cars I barely drive! Oh and I have a classic Jowett Javlin too now

[Shinobi675]

Do what I did! Assure her (don't promise, just assure) that you're definitely selling the RS but you have to buy this one first and it'll only be a small overlap (under no circumstances put a time window on "small") then just keep the RS!

Driving back round the m25 today, I think I need a B8! In a lairy colour... The C6 is just too lethargic.

[RS_Four]

I had a Polar Silver (blueish silver) C4S... it looked the nuts, and sounded mint with the exhaust open. I enjoyed it but am not a lover of the 996 interior and had a number of problems with the engine... not the usual rear main seal stuff but scored right bank cylinders which resulted in a full engine re-build with a new block from Porsche. Fortunately I didn't pay for the fix but it did leave a rather compromised feeling in my gut. Nice motor but RS4 quicker though. I agree with other's comments about the 996/997TT being the one to get (outside of GT territory) as they have blueprinted blocks shared with the GT2/3.

FWIW if I was in the business of buying an older 911 again my money would be going back into another 964... Despite making £5k on it a year I wish I'd never sold mine as it only had 55k on clock and prices have started to jump over recent years in suit with the whole 993 air cooled thing.

[Briggy]

If you're looking for a collectible Pork, then a 928 would be a good bet. It's similar to the RS4 in that it's a V8, can cost a lot to run and hardly anywhere really understands them! Failing that, 944 Turbo prices are going nuts & I suspect the 944 S2 will follow suit, to a lesser degree.

People will always have opinions on which is best, but only what "feels" best is actually important. Buy the 996 if you like it more than the RS4. You can always change back again.

Cheers,
Bryan