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Turbo has solid Mezger engine with no worries of IMS and scored bores, but I'm getting the gist that maintenance can be quite costly, probably $2k yr.
Friend of mine has a 03 C4S that he has been VERY happy with and has been rock solid. Nothing done other than regular maintenance. He recommends the C4S over the turbo due to running costs.
A local well respected p-car indy recommends the C4S over the turbo as well wrt to repair costs, though internet banter of catastrophic engine failure due to scored bores worries me a bit. Not sure if it's the few making most of the noise.
How have your C4S' engines been holding up? The thought of getting a "Turbo" is pretty bad a$$ but not sure about maintenance costs.
I went to check out a 1 owner 02 C4S yesterday with 47k miles, asking $34k but it was being sold when I got to the dealership!
My 996 C4S was very reliable, although one of the reasons that I sold it was the increasing maintenance costs as it approached 140,000 miles. The 997 and 996 turbo cars don't really require much more maintenance than the 996 C4S. The service intervals are more frequent and the plugs need to be changed more often, but there really isn't that much more. There is a "turbo premium" on some parts that should be considered. For example, the plastic front spoiler lip on the C4S retails for $199. For the turbo, it's $399.
In my opinion, maintenance cost alone isn't a reason to pass on a turbo if that's what you want.
My 996 C4S was very reliable, although one of the reasons that I sold it was the increasing maintenance costs as it approached 140,000 miles. The 997 and 996 turbo cars don't really require much more maintenance than the 996 C4S. The service intervals are more frequent and the plugs need to be changed more often, but there really isn't that much more. There is a "turbo premium" on some parts that should be considered. For example, the plastic front spoiler lip on the C4S retails for $199. For the turbo, it's $399.
In my opinion, maintenance cost alone isn't a reason to pass on a turbo if that's what you want.
Good info Dennis. Thanks. Curious, what was maintenance like with your C4S? How much would you budget for maintenance? What are your thoughts re: scored bores? As a DD are you able to get regular use of that turbo rush in your 997tt?
My C4S didn't start to get really expensive until it hit 100,000 miles or so. It needed to have the front differential rebuilt. It needed a clutch. It needed a water pump. It needed new front suspension bushings. You could argue that these are all wear items and any car would need them, and you'd be right. That being said, it was still expensive. Here are my costs for the last four years that I owned the car (this includes maintenance, repair, wear items, upgrades,
etc.):
The large expenses in 2013 included a new clutch, LN Engineering ceramic IMSB upgrade, new brake pads and rotors, a new lower control arm, a new battery and an Evolution Motorsports ECU flash. I haven't heard much about bore scoring in the 996. I see it more on the 997 boards, typically associated with cars in cold weather climates. It wasn't an issue in my 996, even though I regularly drove it in cold weather.
So far, my expense on the turbo has been minimal in the last year. I do get to enjoy the turbo rush. It's addictive. I live at close to 8,000 feet of elevation, so forced induction makes a huge difference.
Somebody (maybe a 6speeder) said to allow 10% of the car value for service and repairs costs each year. My C4S cost me £15,000 and I've spent around £1700 in 10 months on repairs so not far over what I budgeted for. Repairs include coil packs, rears tyres, water hose, clutch spring and most recently alternator. I guess I could reduce that if I was mechanically minded but I'm not plus far too lazy so pay labour rates of £70 per hour. Not sure how any of these prices relate on US$ which I why it always put prices i pay in the UK to compare to prices your side of the pond. Bearing I mind this is my first year of owning a 996 and not knowing much about the history on this 2004 107k miles C4S I'm satisfied with this expense. Moving forward I'm creating a good repair history for this car, I don't know about the IMS, I know it's had the short shifter mod by the previous owner and other than brakes and discs not many receipts were included in the docs when purchased but service book was up do date.
Comparable to my Lexus which has had only about £300 in repairs in 2 years (tyres and battery) it's expensive but ones a Japanese family saloon the other is a finely tuned German sports rocket.
+1 with the previous post. I purchased my 04 C4S two years ago (106k miles, now at 125k a daily driver) and have replaced/repaired many of the same items listed. About $5,000 in the last two years, to include replacing the convertible top. Put some $$ on the side. You gotta pay to play.
Turbos are fine: I'd wanted one since I saw the first one in 1976. I've been able to afford one since the late 90's.
And yet, I've tipped to the C4S, three times running. Why?
1. How much speed do you plan to use? It's not a matter of 'you don't need it'; of course we don't. The issue is that the Turbo has a top speed of, what: 188mph? The C4S dawdles along at maybe 176, tops. My sphincter tone reaches maximum at less than 140, so: I'm good with the C4S. 0-60 is clearly a bit more brisk with the TT. Once again: I don't find myself tearing off at traffic lights at maximum acceleration, but instead find that reaching 60mph in less than 7 seconds is more than sufficient without attracting needless lawenforcement attention.
2. Costs are doubtless higher with the Turbo, longterm. The annual figures graciously provided by one of the posters seem exceptionally high; while I've never kept close tabs on this, I doubt there's been a year (with three separate cars) when i spent over $3000 excluding consumables. You'll go through tires briskly, but: Probably a wash either way. The costs of maintaining my '01 MB S600 were wildly higher than any one of them.
3. Appearance. This is an eye-of-the-beholder thing. I prefer the C4S. Others strongly prefer the Turbo. I understand both, and would be immensely happy with either one. But personally the C4S gets the nod.
4. Track/racing: If you do, the Turbo is the natural choice. If not, the C4S seems the better option.
Hard to go wrong with either one, and both are in my narrow, biased opinion among the best performance automobile deals on the market, if you're looking for something that will still have performance and style in 2025.
Enjoy your choice, either way.
Consensus so far it appears maintenance costs between C4S and Turbo are very comparable. Both IMHO are great driving cars and appear to have bottomed out in depreciation.
My C4S has been very reliable, nothing but oil changes and flushed radiator and brake fluid. When I bought it I did the HD RMS and IMSB as a preventative issue.
