There's a role for the 997.2's (and 991's), but it's not in my garage. My DD was a fully loaded '09 C4S...but something was lacking...call it 'connection' or 'soul'...or whatever, but it was missing. I sold my '09 and began the search for my new DD. I knew to be patient b/c I intend to keep her for a long time and I was not going to compromise what I want. It has to be a C4 or C4S with hardbacks and 10-speaker Premium sound plus service records and passionate prior owners (as proved by the record keeping, the car's condition and lack of deferred maintenance).

Well, I found her at Holt Motorsports in Philadelphia. She's an over serviced and well-pampered 1996 C4 with 50,500 miles and 2 prior owners.. the last one for 11 years and 2,000 miles per year. Carfax is clean, of course. We put the paint meter to her and it's all original with no new paint. Obviously garage-kept b/c the clear coat is in excellent condition. Color is Polar Silver over Classic Grey with some black interior trim bits and black paint on the back of the Hardbacks.

Her height is lowered to ROW, so we put her on the lift and remov the engine tray. The motor is clean and dry, but what's this? Green springs and sways that look new and are branded...Ruf. Hmmmph. A little research shows these are made by Eibach and sold by Ruf. But the shocks appear stock (Boge?) with color codes red & white. 16 tear old shocks can't be good, so I'll take the advice of many of you and install some Bilstein HD's...but having just spent a small fortune for the car and failing to notice any obvious deficiency with the car's handling I'd like to put this off for a while (...don't torch me...16 year old shocks w 50k miles can't be good...I get that...but the car handles great).

So, I fly into Philly, spend the afternoon with Tim Holt, toss my duffle in the frunk, and point my car west for a 20-hr, 1,200 mile ride home. The car runs beautifully, pulls strongly, shifts smoothly, and is just a dream. Late start out of Philly so I spend the night outside Pittsburgh and fall asleep reading the owner’s manual. Up early and it’s chilly outside so I down some coffee, fire up the car, and turn on the heat. I live in Minneapolis and I remember my dad’s early 60’s VW Beetle when I was a kid….and the heat was, shall we say, inadequate. But not this car…it’s 40F outside and the cabin warms up in no time…it even provides a little olfactory stimulation with the faint hint of combustion & oil. Wonderful…

Let’s talk about the engine’s song – I come from a water cooled 997.2 with PSE. PSE helps, but with a water jacket muffling the motor there’s no way the exhaust note can recreate the magic of an air cooled motor. So now I understand why other owners have said they don’t need to upgrade the stereo b/c you never get tired of listening to and enjoying the lyrical notes of the motor. And the seats, oh the seats, we’re talking all-day comfort. They wrap around you and support you and snuggle you. So comfortable that I never felt the need to wiggle and squirm.

So I get home safe & sound, check the car over again, and begin to detail her. Here she is:

 

Nice car, love the hardback sport seats

 

I won't torch you. My Boge shocks in my 1995 C2 have about 47K miles on them and the car handles great. I highly doubt they are worn. Most replacements are done for the sake of wanting to spend money on bling.

In fact, I replaced all four shocks on my 1999 Honda when they were 11 years old and had 118K miles on them, thinking "these have gotta be worn". What a waste of money and effort that was. They were fine and far better than the new KYBs I installed, which two years later, are crap.

 

Great story and great car! Congrats and welcome to the insanity!

 

Great story!

My 1996 C4S has 35k miles and the shocks are still great. Ride is so nice for daily i dont not wanna install my H&R coil over kit that is sitting in a box ready and waiting.
Run em till they fall off.

 

CONGRATZ!
Nice Polar Silver with Sport Seat!!!
Welcome to the board and Slippery Slope is waiting for you...
I agree, enjoy her as is for a while and then let the MODS begin but you don't need much.

 

welcome, glad your search is over, now the fun begins.
i also have a polar silver '96 C4 with grey hardbacks.
i agree with your "connection or soul" comment-it does engage you in a way other cars can't.
get out and drive!

 

Out with the New, in with the Old!
--Michael

 

I picked up my '95 C2 polar silver at the factory in September 1994, drove it 2 weeks in Europe, returned to factory, shipped home to Colorado. Now has about 50k miles, completely stock, still a wonderful car to simply drive. Somehow, as everyone else is saying, Porsche got everything RIGHT. The size, the feel, the sound, handling......everything. I also have a '02 996 cabrio which is a nice car, but it just doesn't match that great 993. Perhaps that was Porsche's high point? Never again......??

 

Congratulations! And enjoy your green grass for a few more days.

 

congrats on a great car. the 993 definitely has a sole. I had a 996 for years and loved it, but it doesn't do if for me like the 993. Enjoy

 

I sold my 2009 Carrera S after 6000 miles. Bought a 2003 Turbo midnight blue. Sold that bought a 2002 Carrera X51 Seal Grey and sold that. Bought my 1997 Black Carrera and love it so much I am completely repainting. I can't explain it but the 993 is just more fun!

 

Beautiful...that's a ""keeper" for sure....

 

Very well done.

Congrats and enjoy!

 

Congrats on your new acquistion. Wishing you many enjoyable miles in your 17 year old car.

Mark