SKooT1027

I went to see a c4 for sale a few days ago, and couldnt help but notice this hot smell coming from the car. I don't really know a better way to describe it. It didn't smell like a burning fluid, or like a burning clutch, but the engine area smelled hot. I noticed it once while moving at pretty high (highway) speeds, once as we slowed down, and then again once getting out of the car. I don't assume this is normal, but I wanted to check and see if anyone knew what it might be.

Also, the clutch was replaced 3 times in under 50k miles. That was a huge red flag for me. I would think once around 50k as preventative or maybe if you arent a great driver is okay, but 3 times?

Anyway, I need to find a c2 to try out as well. I must say, I was amazingly impressed at how great the c4 felt (this was the first time in a 996). It was on all seasons, and stuck to the road remarkably. I'm not sure how much the awd assisted, so hopefully after trying a c2 I will determine that and see if a c4 will be necessary or not. It just shocked me that it was effortlessly sticking to some really tight, bumpy turns.

Dave!

That car's been abused. Clutch drops + AWD = lots of new clutches.

Edit: No real idea why you would get a "hot" smell in the cabin though, nothing I've ever noticed but I drive a C2.

Torontoworker

I don't care how bad a driver you are - 3 times??? RUN!

Sounds like a track car and even then it takes a lot to fry up three of them in such a short period of time.

ivangene

could simply be a small oil leak.....

but 3 clutches ? Well that's a bit tough to explain isnt it. There is the chance that someone really liked that "new clutch feel"........

SKooT1027

Haha yeah I asked .. car has never been tracked. It does most of it's work going about town. Said his wife uses it a lot. Car looked pretty nice, but there were some obvious no-nos. ie: mentioned that he took it through car washes with the soft top. Car was overpriced by about 7k also from current market and he didnt seem very eager to move, so all of it put together turned me away. Even so tho, again really really impressed at overall feel of these cars.

chsu74

Did you let the current owner take you around and see how he drives the car? If he rides the clutch but just replaced it with a new one, it may not be a terrible car to buy still.

Edit: Just saw that the wife drives the car a lot....

SKooT1027

I actually let him do most of the driving both for that reason and bc it's weird little back roads that I do not know and wouldn't be comfortable taking someone elses car around past very gentle speeds.

I think the wife is the bad one, and he even commented that she uses it most and isnt good w the clutch. He engine braked a little harder at times that I usually do, but did it properly so that didn't bother me much.

Barn996

No question that one of the owners/driver is riding the clutch if they're on clutch #3 in 50k miles. The smell you reference seems typical to the 911. After every drive I take, there is a distinct Porsche aroma eminating from the car at the rear which has been a topic of discussion several times.

ivangene

someone needs to invent Smell-a-vision

PS yes, there is a very Porsche smell, I love it.... means you are driving it !

redridge

dont know what smell you may be refering to, but its normal to have a smell after the drive (cosmoline, brakes, rubber against the exhaust, whatever.... there are lots of cars here with a smell after a spirited drive.

gota911

Red, I don't think that observation is limited to just cars!

SKooT1027

Okay good to know about the smell. Doesnt bother me if it's normal, and I figure things may vent different b/c of the rear engine too.

Dave!

Well I'll be. Guess I never really noticed the smell seeing as how my last car was an '87 924S in pretty poor shape. Once you have a crack in the top of your gas tank smells pretty much stop bothering you.

Marc Gelefsky

Ed's car just smells of drool after a spirited drive, and he has to wear a bib

ivangene

OK that was un called for !!!