belair

After many older Porsches from 356, 911, and 928, I am ready for a newer 911 for a daily driver. Budget puts me into 996 selection. I have narrowed search to a couple of cars which is an 03 C4S with 72K or a 40th anniversary with 52K. Say all things are equal with respect to service histories, which would you pick and why. Thanks for your opinions.

KrazyK

Neither is a good DD but each have unique qualities. Very different models but both great cars.

MiamiC70

Not sure what not a good DD means.
I have driven my 40th AE every day rain or shine for last 4 years and put 40,000 miles on it with hardly an issue. Go for the 40th AE. the full leather, X51 engine and LSD are more than worth it. Oh, yea it is also faster and lighter than the C4S

alpine003

No brainier, 40th all the way.

More exclusive, x51 engine package, exclusive wheel finish, LSD, exclusive paint, potential custom fitted luggage option, lower miles, higher resale, etc. I'm sure I'm missing other points here...

philooo

x51 engine pack and LSD justify the 40th anniversary is the better car. hands down. unless you need 4WD...

WalterRohrl

If price is equal as well with the other parameters you listed, then it's either a good deal on a 40th or a bad deal on a C4S (IMO). Either one would be a great daily driver even in bad weather conditions if properly equipped. The 40th is faster (on paper anyway) and rarer if that matters. At the end of the day, both are great.

groovzilla

having just sold my 2001 C2 and purchased a 2003 C4S, hands down the C4S is a better handling/driving car. you can be much more aggressive in the mountains and the difference is very noticeable

looks alone should sell you on the C4S - the wider stance and turbo front end makes it a great design

Rubik

I think it depends on what you want. If collectability matters to you much, I'd recommend the 40th. If you want to spend a lot of time on the curves or even perhaps track your car, the C4S. Purely from the look standpoint, I prefer the C4S but the 40th is a wolf in sheep's clothing. It's a tough call but I'd stay away from DD unless you have a short commute; not because of reliability, but for the love of the car.

belair

My commute is quite short. About 5 miles each way. I do enjoy spirited driving when I have the time and do get over to the Smokies for fun. I will likely never get on a track. My last 911 was one of the first 1989 C4s. The rarity did not seem to make much difference when I sold it. When I say the cars are comparable in price the 40th is about 4 Gs more.
I do like the looks of the 4S but certainly do not need it for weather being in Tennessee. I do also understand handling benefits of AWD. I am a Subaru salesman. I could get a new WRX for less but 911s just fit.

996_North

Tough call. x51 sleeper is nice, but the wide body is nice..I'm not a fan of the 40th wheels and probably wouldn't go silver again...that might be my deciding factor for a C4s... Good thing it will be a couple years before I have this horrible problem you are faced with.

belair

They are both silver and the wheels on the C4s are nicer.

aussie jimmy

hard choice between these 2 as they both have their respective pros/cons.
i like them both equally. but those wheels and the silver trimmed dials on the 40th, are the two factors which makes them equal, otherwise 40th all the way.

adcampo

Personally, I don't know much about the 40th. It seems like it has some nice options. I have a 4S and bought it mostly because of the turbo body and aesthetics.

DaveCarrera4

+1 wider hips are nice...

2002 Turbo - Basalt Black Metallic / 2003 Carrera 4S - Speed Yellow / 1955 356 Continental 1500 - Rust Red

Seeeu911

+ yes DaveCarrera wide hips are nice. That styling plus the AWD made my choice. I chose a C4S as a DD.

Lots of great input and perspectives here. The 40th is great but in a different way. It's more subtle and really special only to true porschephiles. 40th is special with a collector appeal. It has a loyal following here and in the PCA concours clique.

A poster referenced liking his porsche too much to drive it ? Another suggests not a good DD, I disagree. If I am in the car for long daily commutes I want it to be the best drive best car every single time.

A commute yesterday was Orlando to Daytona Beach for 7:am project meetings with a important client. 1 hour 15 min, 70 miles easy traffic quick runs into the red zone extended speeds whooohoo ! Did I want to save my car ... leave it home in the garage and take a Taurus ? Nope. Client insisted we drive for lunch in the Porsche. From Daytona Beach a mid afternoon high speed drive going to Melbourne, long empty stretches of 95 then a side twisty road detour in the back of cape canaveral cocoa on some awesome motorcycle type twisty back roads..then I95 again, mixed traffic lots of construction and cops ( thank god for built in escort) but still a few romps into the red zone. 1 hour 45 min drive. I arrived for a early walk on the beach and then a ocean view dinner happy having a post speed Porsche adrenaline high.

Then a few hours later another 1.+'hour run back home to Orlando. Nearly 250 miles today at 25.3 MPG in a gorgeous fast car. 4 + flawless fun hours in her today. Who could ask for a better DD ? As you can also see from this rear view of my date, I love wide hips.