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Mods - please dont move, I know its in the wrong section but i would like peoples opinions who have driven an RS4 and a 911 993 c4s to be able to put the differences into a more tangible perspective.
Im interested in maybe buying one and test drives are quite difficult. I would just like some feed back on the rear wheel steer, ride quality, enjoyment factor vs RS4 (Two completely diff cars but enjoyment is enjoyment). Costs and reliablity I know about. i do not travel far to work so every day travel again is not an issue.
Any comments would be good. Thanks.

It was many years ago since I last drove one, and then it was a fairly brief excursion, so I'm probably not best placed to offer much of an opinion, but I will anyway!

As you know I'm sure, the two cars are so different it's like comparing chalk and cheese, really (if it was a 996 a comparison would be more valid). If you think the fact it has 4WD means it handles like an RS4, don't! Anything like the cornering speed you can manage in an RS4 will have you in the hedge! But saying that, treat it with a modicum of respect (i.e. drive it like a 20-ish year old sports car) and it's a great car to drive, and handles pretty well. They tend to mild understeer, and I don't think the infamous lift-off oversteer is a worry unless you're going stupidly fast (althouhg I'm no expert!).
The ride will be more "juddery" than an RS4, but if the shocks are in decent nick and you're careful with tyre choice it would be prefectly adequate. The whole driving experience will be more "raw" than the RS4, but for many that would add to the enjoyment factor, not detract from it.
They are fantastic cars and personally I'd love to have one as my daily driver, particularly if the commute is down half decent A and B roads. The smile factor when glancing back at it in the office car park would be far more than an RS4 would ever achieve - they're gorgeous looking things (especially if fitted with the turbo spoiler)!

One other thing I should add - it won't feel as quick as the RS4. If you want RS4 type speed you'll have to go for the turbo!

I don't know how easy it is to find decent ones these days, and they certainly aren't cheap!

Thanks for that, just the kind of feedback I am interested in. I just think they are the most beautiful cars made. They seem to be going up in value and have seen what appear to be decent cars from 36-42k.
There is a black one from an indy dealer with very low miles and it is up for 42k but I havent been able to have a look as it is 200 miles from me. I love my RS4 but Im getting frustrated with all that power and very few places to use it so maybe less power and grip would be more rewarding and fun. I like the idea of wheeling something like that out at the weekend giving it a good clean and then sneaking off for an hour or so.

Any normally aspirated 911 up to (and possibly including) the 997 is certainly not going to feel quicker than the RS4 in a straight line. I've owned a couple of 996s, a C4, and an X50 kitted Turbo. The latter was MUCH quicker than the RS4, the former, I would say, was marginally slower. In terms of cornering, I agree with the above comments, that the RS4 is more planted than 4WD variants of the 911. The lift off oversteer thing is still present in the 911 (I know from personal experience), but you have to be pushing pretty hard to get it.

I think the other thing I'd say about a 993, is be prepared for a VERY outdated interior. Even the 996 interior which was a huge improvement over the 993 was not something you'd expect in a £100K + (in the case of the Turbo) car, and IMHO fell far short of the interior quality of the RS4

Having said all of the above, I'm still a massive 911 fan, and I expect I'll have another one (probably a 997CarreraS) at some point.

Hope this helps.

Never owned a 993 as I bought a Boxster then a 996, but have driven a few 993's in my time.

The 993 definately gives you a 'sense of occasion' when driving it, like not many cars can, but the interior an build quality wont be anywhere near on a par with your RS4.

Chalk and cheese apart from both having 4WD

I've had a few 911s (all water-cooled) but a mate had a 993C4S. One passenger ride revealed just what you'd expect. It felt special, it sounded amazing, but nothing prepared me for how old-fashioned it seemed in there. The proximity of the windscreen too - scary. But as a weekend car? Perfect. Is the one you've seen down in Sussex? Drooling at that one online the other day, although the Turbo spoiler would have to go...

gmk666 wrote:I've had a few 911s (all water-cooled) but a mate had a 993C4S. One passenger ride revealed just what you'd expect. It felt special, it sounded amazing, but nothing prepared me for how old-fashioned it seemed in there. The proximity of the windscreen too - scary. But as a weekend car? Perfect. Is the one you've seen down in Sussex? Drooling at that one online the other day, although the Turbo spoiler would have to go...

There is an arena red at paragon and a black one at chichester I think and the black one looks amazing. I quite like the idea of the quirky inside. I seem to recall that the brake and clutch pedals are hinged at the floor or am i thinking of pre 993?

Yep, pedals are floor hinged, but doesn't take much getting used to from what I can remember.
Although the interior's pretty spartan, it's very well made and build quality is good (I think - although I may be confusing it with the 944 S2 I had!). I'd say the interior quality of the early 996 I had was worse.

That Paragon one looks good. Bet it'll cost a bit!

Meant to mention that my mate is selling his 993 Turbo 4 if thats something you'd be interested in, the quintessential ultimate 993 (excluding the GT cars obviously)

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/431968.htm

I have a 993 C2 (not 4s) as well as a B5 RS4.
The comments above pretty much sum it up.
The RS4 is quicker point to point, and on bumpy B roads will leave the porker.
However, the 993 gives so much more in terms of driver feedback and enjoyment.
Bear in mind that a 993 pre 96 was only 272 bhp, and after 96 only goes up to something like 285bhp. That said, the engine pulls pretty well and it feels like more than the figures would lead you to believe.
The S has no more power, just wider arches the same as the turbo, and on the 4s I think it has big reds too, but its been a while since I've thought about specs.

Yes they have a dated interior, but I personally like it. It makes it feel like a sports car and not just another euro box full of plastic, carbon, and integrated dials.
I would put the build quality ABOVE that of the RS4, and the fit & finish is every bit as good, despite its age difference.

As it happens I brought mine from Paragon a number of years back. They are a good place to deal with, well respected and easy to deal with. Loan car is not all that much - was a Nissan Micra last time I borrowed it !!
I would suggest you have an independent examination, just for peace of mind. They shift a lot of cars, so can't always be spot on with history of all of them.

To get 3 or more in the 993 requires the rear passengers to have no legs, or the front occupants to put up with less leg room.
The pedals you mentioned are offset to the left. Imagine where the brake is usually in a normal car - that'll be your throttle pedal position...
It doesn't take too long to get used to.
Check which interior the car has.
There are comfort seats, and two sorts of sports seat - early and late. The early ones are the same as the 964 seats, and for the 'larger frame' are more comfortable imo than the later style plastic back seats.
The black interior wears much better than the grey interior, but the grey does look nice when in good condition.

I won't go on any more. If you have further questions by all means pm me and I'll send you my email address.
I have carried out a few mods such as fitting pss9 suspension, HID zenon headlights, and a couple of other minor things.

If you buy one, and your happy now with the look of the outside and the inside, I very much doubt you'll regret it

Thanks for all the replies and your in depth one JohnW. Its good to know that the build quality is better than Audi.