sambb

I am looking to get a fairly barebones C4. I have put a limit of 100k on the car (after discount). I really need a C4, not so much the C4S based on little performance difference in the real world. I am not planning on tracking. I also strongly desire the look of the sportdesign.
I am now considering the following barebones build:
991410 911 Carrera 4 $91,030
Individualisation
Category Order no. Individual equipment Prices*
Exterior Color 0Q White $0
Interior Color CG Platinum Grey standard interior $0
Exterior 498 Deletion of Model Designation $0
636 ParkAssist (front and rear) $990
651 Electric sunroof $1,490
748 Electric folding exterior mirrors $320
CAS Model designation on doors in black
Exclusive
$300
XAT SportDesign package Exclusive $4,990
Performance 250 Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) $4,080
Wheels 411 19-inch Carrera wheel $0
Interior 276 Automatically dimming mirrors $420
342 Seat heating (front) $690
345 Steering wheel heating $270
583 Smoking package $0
P09 Sport seats $0
Destination Charge
Amount $950
Vehicle price $105,530


I know that I could get sportchrono, PSE, and an S model, but when I look at the 991 stats, it seems better than the 997 S which I considered very very closely. Is there any major concerns (not worried about performance or resale).

duxsi

I'd lose the Sunroof and Park assist. Not worth it.
Ventilated seats are simply divine.
And a glass roof would look very good on a white 991.
Just my $0.02

manibot

Loose the park assist and please get glass sunroof and chrono it will be as fast as 991s without chrono.

sambb

How does chromo make it faster? I dont do 0-60 in drag race style.

uhn2000

Agreed here, good points.

cmb13

Exactly. It doesn't increase power or torque right? I have it and find its only use is it looks cool. Of course mine is a manual.

manibot

I am under impression that it rev matches and that's what makes it faster. It will be a difference in tracking though.

sambb

I find the discussions around sport chrono and PSE interesting on this board. Undoubtedly they are popular and people like them. Thats great, and i have o criticism. But when it comes to real world "on the street" performance (for me commuting 12 miles to work and back at speeds of 60-80 mph), I am not sure that they make a difference. Hey, the sport design doesnt either, so I get it. I am sure there are all sorts of reason to get any option one desires, that is what I like about porsche - you can configure whatever you want. I just dont know what PSE adds (besides sound) and what sport chrono add in actual real world everyday performance. I am sure an expert could use these on a track! However, I acknowledge that clearly they add some intangibles because they are so popular that it feels almost weird ordering a car without them. I guess one could say the same over a bose stereo over the standard, or any option. I guess everything about a porsche is "intangibles" so perhaps this philosophical point is moot.

Twodan

My neck must be shorter than most others. Try backing out of a parking spot in the dark. I can't see that well out of my cab's rear window in the daylight with out my neck stretcher. Park assist, IMO, is a must.

bccars

Your neck is fine ;-) I had a Boxster without parking sensors. Always regretted not getting them. It is a real bother to reverse with convertibles ! Little visibility !

spourreza

In my 997.2, I had SC and only used Sport mode. Sport plus was useless for me since it redlines at a very high rpm. With the 991, you get Sport mode with car so the decision to not get SC was easy.

duxsi

The OP said nothing about a Cabriolet, hence the advise given was as pertains to a coupe..

Carrera GT

Park assist isn't great and it's expensive, but it's cheap compared to the first time you tap something. I'd get park assist and add an aftermarket camera.
As "bare bones" goes, this car is more like "loaded."
Forget the folding mirrors (I never use them) but be sure to get dimming mirrors and seat memory (both of which I miss ... the door mirrors can be especially bright if you have a car sitting in an adjacent lane with dazzling HIDs bouncing up and down.)


I've read some comments that people don't like the 991 and find it a let down compared to the 991S. Funnily enough, I think the 997 was great and didn't require the 997S.

Of your initial list, I'd delete the following

651 Electric sunroof $1,490
748 Electric folding exterior mirrors $320
CAS Model designation on doors in black $300
XAT SportDesign package Exclusive $4,990
Performance 250 Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) $4,080
Interior 276 Automatically dimming mirrors $420


I'd get rid of XAT in the spirit of bare bones and I'd go with black cabin and anything other than the standard aluminum cabin trim (because it reflects in the windows and it looks cheap.) The best result there is probably to pay for the dealer to remove the trim and get a body shop to spray it all (including the steering wheel) in piano black.

I find vented seats very useful (they're also more effective and quieter than the 997 vented seats) but we don't use the seat heat (and steering wheel heat is just irrelevant unless you have arthritis and park overnight in the snow, maybe ... : )

I don't have the sunroof and don't miss it.

If I were ordering a Carrera today, I'd be looking for any news on mid-cycle updates (since the GT cars are nearing production, some parts bin changes could be in the offing.)

I agree with the position of not worrying over resale value (not buying the car for the next owner) but I would be cautious about total cost of ownership. If your local dealers have 50% C4's and 50% C4S's, then great. A lower priced car has less to depreciate as a dollar amount and may sell to wider demand in some parts of the country. But I'd look at the local market as well as PCNA's sales reports to see if the C4 is perhaps an uncommon car for lack of demand -- the total cost of ownership could be less for the C4S once net loss is factored in.

What kind of discount are you expecting? What's the applicable taxes?

If you're keeping the car for 3+ years, you might look at a lease product while interest rates are at all time lows (assuming you have investments with net after tax returns better than the interest load on the car finance.)

sambb

thanks to all, very good points on several fronts