Having been a big Porsche fan ever since the day I've had the pleasure of driving one. I plan to lease a manual C4S. However one thought in the back of my head is crash safety ratings. After searching 6speed as well as many other sites I've yet to find official ratings for 997s (05-09). Anyone know of any actual US spec crash test ratings.

Another question is lease numbers... I've found several 08 C4S in my area, would a lease be significantly less than that of a similarly equipped 09 C4S. I'm thinking of going for an 09, unless the price difference is above 200/month. I plan on approaching dealers as soon as I have an idea of what type of 0 down (taxes/fees upfront, 36months 12k/year) payment should be. A ball park estimate would be appreciated.

thanks

 

There is a special lease rate equivalent to about 3.5% APR from Porsche since March and I believe it is still available now. Call AJ Thurber at Langan Porsche in Schennectady NY and he will give you a quote. I just bought a car from him and he is very pleasant and straight forward guy to deal with. If you call him let him know John with the red 2009 C4S say hello.

John

 

Lease numbers.

Some dealers will have a limited number of certificates, that they can use to offer special lease rates. The equivalent interest rate should be 3.5%.

Some dealers will say the rate only applies to 09. But you can get it on 08 model also.

A good discount on an 09 Model is about 10%. For the C4s, some dealers might just offer only 5% off. Due to their limited quantity.

For the 08 model, you can get an easy 20% off sticker.

But when it comes to leasing. The 09 has a slightly higher residual, maybe about 2% higher. You really need to dig into the numbers and see what makes sense to you.

I would consider an 09 (997.2) since Porsche did a great improvement on these models. More power, direct fuel injection, better suspension, nav and electronic features are improved.

When it comes down to the actual lease payment. It also comes down to the selling price of the car. If you are looking for a fully loaded C4S, you are getting close payments to a 911 turbo. So when you are looking for a particular car, the options will have a big impact on the payment.

You also might want to consider the C2S, I believe the residual might be slighter higher than the C4s.

For a ball park lease. What is the selling price range of the car you are looking for?

 

I got 10% off on my 2009 C4S cab...and the certificate lease special...I did great...I have a client who has a 2007 C4S cab, loaded, and he paid $5k cap reduction and is paying $300 more per month! Make sure you also look at what the dealership is doing to the rate...they are likely marking it up, so make sure to check all the numbers...they need to move cars, and I even waited until the end of the month, and believe me, it made a difference. They really wanted to move a $121k car to help their monthly numbers. Just my 2 cents.

 

I got my 2009 C4S for 8% off MSRP and he had to get the car from Scottsdale Arizona. My salesperson did offer 10% discount for lease price but I was only able to get down to 8% for purchase price. I don't know why different discount, and I was quoted the same when I was shopping for Cayenne Turbo initially. IMHO, this is the best time to buy a Porsche with discount and incentives.

John

 

John, I'll try to get in touch with AJ. Thanks for the referral. 3.5% that sounds great! a MF of about .0000146

An 08 C4S cab in the area is listed at 98k while the 09 C4S cab is at 108. I may look into a C2S since they are cheaper and hold their value slightly better.

However the only thing discouraging me from a C2S is the fact that this will be my first 997 (rear engine vehicle). The first time I drove a 997 (had it over a weekend while vacationing on the west coast and logged in about 250 miles), it was an 08 C2S Cab (w/ the beautiful Ruby color). As I pushed it on turns I felt less confident than I normally would have in a similarly powered front engine rear wheel drive car (FR). I felt the front get skiddish and light. I also tried pushing it a bit with the PSM off and the whole driving dynamics/experience was very new to me. I guess thats why I'm planning on going for a C4S. I'll hopefully do a few track days during the summer/spring and learn how to handle/predict a rear engine vehicle better.

Thats my rationale for a C4S over a C2S. But I'm open to advice/suggestions.

thank you

 

I went through the same thing...and this was confirmed when my wife drove both as we test drove (I couldn't decide), and she also much preferred the widebody and more planted feel of the 4S...It just feels different...also, I am partial to the widebody appearance of the 4S...and they are not as common as C2S in SoCal....

 

Just a quick thought, do you guys it would be possible to get into an 09 manual C4S or C2S cab (w/ basic nav/bose/pwr seats) for 0 down and around 1200-1400/month for 36 months? (paying taxes and fees upfront)

 

Yes...should be on the higher end of that, but should be possible...

 

I am new to Porsche also as I just picked my C4S yesterday from Langan Porsche. I had a nice, long 5 hours drive back home to south of Buffalo NY. Compare to my 2006 E55, the C4S takes corner with ease, even in comfort setting. The AWD gives me a secure feel plus I need it for the snow during the winter months. Good luck with your search. This forum has helped me greatly in my research, and the members here are very helpful.

John

 

Thanks guys, well hopefully you'll be seeing more of me on this board! This forum is a great tool and I hope to share my dealer experience and the pictures.

Me being in a field where I see trauma/accident victims all day does make me worry about accidents and safety. JCBH, my wife is even a bigger safety nut than I. She worries about the safety of these "little cars" as she calls it. I tried the whole "cars like these have better brakes, handling, and abiltiy to carry out evasive manuevers to avoid accidents" argument. She does think that she feels less safe riding along w/ me nevermind allowing me to take the my little 2yr old for a drive.

I do plan on signing the both of us in those Porsche driving school classes. From reading about them, they sound like a great time.

 

Yeah...valid concerns...but these cars are very safe and just as safe as anything out there...large SUVs may seem safe, but often they have weak brakes and defensive driving and evasive manouvers suffer...my wife feels very safe in our car, and she drives a Cayenne GTS...so that says a lot.

 

Yes. My C2S cab with $117k MSRP with about 10% discount...36 month, 12k miles year, zero down + drive off....$1,4xx...

 

OK KneeMan123, no more typing and get out for some test drive and start working the deal

John

 

Porsche leasing has changed in this economy looking at the prices on this thread. In the past the Porsche lease program has been so high that a three year lease almost bought the car . For instance a 2007 Turbo (in 2007) leasedfor approx 2500 a month . That's 90K for a car what costs 130 to be left with nothing at the end but a memory .

The caveat will be the residual . If it's a high residual the monthly payments will be low but you are LOCKED into that lease unless you are willing to lose big money.
If you want out early .. they can hold you to it and if you love the car and want to buy it at the end they may rather lose it to auction than cut you a deal .

I prefer to buy these cars but I do understand that you you can get a 125K car foe 1400 a month it's pretty atttractive .