C4S Powerkit Review - Initial impressions
I took posession of a C4S X51 about 6 hours ago. GT Silver, Cocoa Interior, a few interior options but nothing over the top. The money was spent on the motor. It took a long wait to get to today. I have not had the chance to really wring it out just yet, and it needs to be broken in a bit, but some first impressions. (My prior car is a 2002 996 C2 so it is not easy for me to compare straight up with a C2 997; that is the frame of reference.)
Speed - the push at lower rpm's is noticeably more potent. In second gear from 20 mph to about 50 the car just leaps forward. The 2002+ variety of the 996 is basically the same engine as a 997 C2 so this thing clearly has a lot more power on tap, especially from about 2000-3500 rpms, whereas the 3600cc motor just got its urge around the mid 3000s. The pull in higher gears at lower rpm's is also noticeable. The resistance from compression on a downshift seemed lower than on the 996; not so sure if I am imagining that or not.
Responsiveness - the X51 responds very quickly to inputs. Not that the 3600 cc boxer failed to respond, but the X51 just reacts REALLY QUICK to a bit more throttle or a bit less. I have to think that is from the superior airflow of the intake chambers and headers of this motor.
The sound - it varies with the sport exhaust that comes with the X51. In sport mode it is LOUD as you work through the gears. I have driven a few Ferraris and it is that kind of loud but a little more gutteral, like a big-bore engine with a very small amount of exhaust restriction. All this is the work of modern science and reasonance chambers and valves; nonetheless they did a great job. Revving it at idle it has a ripping sound as the tach ramps up. Very impressive.
The ride - It feels taughter than the 996 which is not a surprise given the PASM and lower profile 19 inch wheels. There was not a lot of body roll on the 996 but there is just about nil on this. I have the feeling in a skidpad test this would hold more than 1.0g - there is just no feeling that any slipping can/will occur. Obviously there are limits and I have not had a chance to explore them fully but on feel alone they are outrageously high and the 996's were pretty impressive already.
Handling - There is this chippy dialogue that seems to go on between some C2 owners directed at the C4. My take - the C2 has a lighter steering resistance and this makes it "feel quicker" but the rolling resistance of rubber is the same on both cars and with more forward weight on a C4 maybe it changes directions slightly qucker. Who knows. What is clear from driving around and "point-and-shooting" it through a variety of turns is that for actual track-type purposes you can do more with the 4 wheel drive set up. I owned a C2 for almost 5 years and know the feel of it very well, how to push the back end out a bit with the powerband, or how to bring out the rear too far if you blast the throttle unscrupulously... Personally, as compared to some other rear-wheel drive cars I have owned (BMW M3 being the best of the bunch) you need to push the modern Carreras soooo hard to use the power oversteer that I think far more is made out of this than is reasonable. That's just my opinion.
As regards the C4S's handling, it is very quick but the steering does feel a shade heavier. I did not detect any understeer, it seemed very neutral to me. But what is quite cool is powering through a tight turn - I could clearly feel the front end pulling while applying power in a small radius turn. On a C2 making the same move I might go easy on the throttle until I was far enough through the arc that the power would help me to staighten out. I don't get too many chances to work on my throttle-steering at the race track so it is a more opportunistic skill set as such, and pushing the limits does not feel comfortable to me on the streets. I get the distinct feeling of having fewer limitations in place on the C4S; the pull was very evident on some sharp 90 degree turns. And it can actually be a snow car.
According to the dealer's technician, who seemed fairly knowledgeable, holding the rpm's low in the break-in period is ridiculous as these cars are well broken in at Zuffenhausen before leaving the factory, but to be safe I am not going north of about 4500 for a little while. According to him, if I am lucky enough to pull up next to a 996 GT3, let it rip and watch him cringe in the rearview mirror; it is not even a contest. I'll assume it would be a close show with the 997 GT3 and that running laps around the a track would reveal a distinct advantage to the 8000+ rpm motor. But since 98% of my driving has some utilitarian motive typically, and based on the shove just moving around town this is a great day to day rocketship.
As a parting thought, on a familiar boulevard that I have driven up and down a thousand times, the urge from 0 to the mid 50s was just about instant; the velocity happens with almost no effort, especially in sport mode. And it sounds damn good with that engine roar 3 feet to the back. This is not a street that one ought to be driving much over 45mph for safety so keeping the right foot under control will be a big challenge. There are reasons I stayed away from a turbo despite the price proximity to my setup - though it must surely be a phenomenal rush to go from 0-80 in 5 seconds. Where the heck can you do that in the USA and not recklessly endanger everyone on the road? The speed control issues would probably be more than mildly frustrating. And it sounds like a vacuum cleaner. With the C4S X51, you have it all: brutal power, an engine that sounds the part, race-car like responsiveness, a drivetrain that can be pushed to amazing limits by mere mortal sports car enthusiasts, and clean lines / great hips. So far, I am quite satisfied.
BigOnion
Speed - the push at lower rpm's is noticeably more potent. In second gear from 20 mph to about 50 the car just leaps forward. The 2002+ variety of the 996 is basically the same engine as a 997 C2 so this thing clearly has a lot more power on tap, especially from about 2000-3500 rpms, whereas the 3600cc motor just got its urge around the mid 3000s. The pull in higher gears at lower rpm's is also noticeable. The resistance from compression on a downshift seemed lower than on the 996; not so sure if I am imagining that or not.
Responsiveness - the X51 responds very quickly to inputs. Not that the 3600 cc boxer failed to respond, but the X51 just reacts REALLY QUICK to a bit more throttle or a bit less. I have to think that is from the superior airflow of the intake chambers and headers of this motor.
The sound - it varies with the sport exhaust that comes with the X51. In sport mode it is LOUD as you work through the gears. I have driven a few Ferraris and it is that kind of loud but a little more gutteral, like a big-bore engine with a very small amount of exhaust restriction. All this is the work of modern science and reasonance chambers and valves; nonetheless they did a great job. Revving it at idle it has a ripping sound as the tach ramps up. Very impressive.
The ride - It feels taughter than the 996 which is not a surprise given the PASM and lower profile 19 inch wheels. There was not a lot of body roll on the 996 but there is just about nil on this. I have the feeling in a skidpad test this would hold more than 1.0g - there is just no feeling that any slipping can/will occur. Obviously there are limits and I have not had a chance to explore them fully but on feel alone they are outrageously high and the 996's were pretty impressive already.
Handling - There is this chippy dialogue that seems to go on between some C2 owners directed at the C4. My take - the C2 has a lighter steering resistance and this makes it "feel quicker" but the rolling resistance of rubber is the same on both cars and with more forward weight on a C4 maybe it changes directions slightly qucker. Who knows. What is clear from driving around and "point-and-shooting" it through a variety of turns is that for actual track-type purposes you can do more with the 4 wheel drive set up. I owned a C2 for almost 5 years and know the feel of it very well, how to push the back end out a bit with the powerband, or how to bring out the rear too far if you blast the throttle unscrupulously... Personally, as compared to some other rear-wheel drive cars I have owned (BMW M3 being the best of the bunch) you need to push the modern Carreras soooo hard to use the power oversteer that I think far more is made out of this than is reasonable. That's just my opinion.
As regards the C4S's handling, it is very quick but the steering does feel a shade heavier. I did not detect any understeer, it seemed very neutral to me. But what is quite cool is powering through a tight turn - I could clearly feel the front end pulling while applying power in a small radius turn. On a C2 making the same move I might go easy on the throttle until I was far enough through the arc that the power would help me to staighten out. I don't get too many chances to work on my throttle-steering at the race track so it is a more opportunistic skill set as such, and pushing the limits does not feel comfortable to me on the streets. I get the distinct feeling of having fewer limitations in place on the C4S; the pull was very evident on some sharp 90 degree turns. And it can actually be a snow car.
According to the dealer's technician, who seemed fairly knowledgeable, holding the rpm's low in the break-in period is ridiculous as these cars are well broken in at Zuffenhausen before leaving the factory, but to be safe I am not going north of about 4500 for a little while. According to him, if I am lucky enough to pull up next to a 996 GT3, let it rip and watch him cringe in the rearview mirror; it is not even a contest. I'll assume it would be a close show with the 997 GT3 and that running laps around the a track would reveal a distinct advantage to the 8000+ rpm motor. But since 98% of my driving has some utilitarian motive typically, and based on the shove just moving around town this is a great day to day rocketship.
As a parting thought, on a familiar boulevard that I have driven up and down a thousand times, the urge from 0 to the mid 50s was just about instant; the velocity happens with almost no effort, especially in sport mode. And it sounds damn good with that engine roar 3 feet to the back. This is not a street that one ought to be driving much over 45mph for safety so keeping the right foot under control will be a big challenge. There are reasons I stayed away from a turbo despite the price proximity to my setup - though it must surely be a phenomenal rush to go from 0-80 in 5 seconds. Where the heck can you do that in the USA and not recklessly endanger everyone on the road? The speed control issues would probably be more than mildly frustrating. And it sounds like a vacuum cleaner. With the C4S X51, you have it all: brutal power, an engine that sounds the part, race-car like responsiveness, a drivetrain that can be pushed to amazing limits by mere mortal sports car enthusiasts, and clean lines / great hips. So far, I am quite satisfied.
BigOnion
Now, how about some pictures... please! 
