I got a call from the sales guy yesterday after work telling me he had taken deposit on the silver 996 and the 993 :/ I was going to go for the silver 996. Though he did say he has another 2003 (facelift) 996 which has done 50,000 miles for £26k. Which I thought was a bit pricey, since the 01 silver 996 already sold was 20k. The best bit was he had just got in a black C4
After seeing the 993 was a cat C, I was going to test drive and see how it drove, but probably not have bought it.
The test drive:
When I got there it was sitting outside, as with all black cars, it looked dirtier than it actually was. What a beauty, the lines, the kit, I ended up just looking at it for a while. After the nicities with the sales guy, grabbed the keys and sat in the C4. Before I could admire how comfy the seats were, I noticed the tip gearbox, and in my head I thought sh!t. All of the cars I've owed have been automatics/bmw steptronic, which are lovely. Though I'm to lazy to be bothered, even when I'm going fast, i switch it to sports mode and I'm off. Though reading peoples comments here I had my head set on driving the manual, I'd miss the auto but heck it's a sports car, damn it, it should be a manual
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
Oh well I was already in the car so I thought lets see if it's as bad as what everyone says it is. Started up the car, which was my first disappointment, no growl, no roar, no anything, which doesn't sound like a porsche. My first experience of a porsche was my friends 1984 911, that thing could purr! Oh the noise on that would leave you standing there wanting to hear more. Anyway, it was so queit my V8 535 was louder. As we were sitting on a cobbled side road facing down on a hill, I put it into drive and off we went. All I can say is I'm glad it didn't rip the spine out of my body. So the ride wasn't as good as I thought, but that's not the cars fault, it's a sports car and it demands nice lovely roads. Which was my second disappointment, as mentioned not any fault of the car, but the fault of the crappy roads in blighty. I don't think I could pop my family in that and drive through Glasgow, without shattering some spines.
At that time of the day 5.30pm, all the office drones were getting off home so I was stuck in traffic most of the test drive. I rolled down the window, so I could hear the engine, sigh nothing. As we trundled along I noticed how many people wanted to run me off the road , first I thought meh it's a coincedence the articulated truck almost took the back out. Then there was a taxi driver who almost took the front out, just because he didn't want to give me way. Then there was that other guy … nevermind, I take it porsche owners have to deal with this crap?
I did get a chance to play with the tip, it's a bit weird since you have what looks like volume controls on your steering wheel.
After the test drive I caught myself admiring the car from the outside again, what a beauty! Black, C4
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
I checked the usual service history, if I recollect there are two previous owners, it's a 2003 pre facelift and he wants 26,000. It's over my budget for a daily runner/family taxi, but for the right car I might stretch. The service history wasn't as good as I thought it could have been, only 4 stamps, two OPC and to specialists, with the next one a minor due soon. The owner of the car an older chap has kept it immaculate, clean as a whislte. So I guess the service history though sparing wouldn't be that bad.
In short:
positives
C4
Black
Negatives
Out of my budget
C4 so more expensive
Service history is wanting (minor service after I've bought it)
Does it sound like I'm trying to convince myself? What do you guys think?