Porsche 911 Carrera 4S (996 Tiptronic): Opulent City Cruiser. Shooting Brake's Mini Road Review 

996's are starting to look pretty good now a days

Can't get over how nice that interior is

RU-vid has recently started suggesting videos from channels with a few less subs, and it’s videos like this that make me thank the algorithm! It’s nice to have a nuanced conversation about a topic like this. New sub here!

Well said. It is a “use case” scenario. My current 911 is a 964 Tiptronic coupe, and around town it is the perfect classic Porsche. While the 996 has never been my favorite, it is a 911 and does transcend its era because of this. In C4S form it remains an iconic, handsome car.

996s are really ageing like fine wine

Always loved the looks of a 911 996 and I still love the looks of this Porsche it’s aging beautifully like a fine wine and for sure it will eventually be seen as one of Porsches best non turbo cars

I love those lights they make a big difference to the 996

Ive owned my fair share of Porsches now various from 1986 upto 2020. Heres my opinion on 911 tiptronic boxes (torque converter based). They are really great for cases where you have awkward/difficult roads or driveways. The TC boxes are able to crawl smoothly and will not roll back even in the harshest of situations, they have incredible low speed control. For example my old house use to have a narrow steep uphill driveway that was also short and you had to turn slightly to the left when going up. This was a real chore in a PDK car, because the PDK absolutely rolls if you slow too much or stop on a hill, quite badly and unpredictably, even on the later 2020 AWD Macan Turbo that i have. The tiptronics are also really easy to parallel park into tight spots that may be cambered or on an incline/decline. Ive had some bad experiences with PDK 911s in these same scenarious. The 996.2 and 997.1 Tiptronics have ZERO problems with pretty much any scenario you throw at them, they are also exceptionally good at take off cold or wet slippery roads, throttle control is impeccable. Reliability issues aside with old cars like the 964/996/997, if you are road tripping into the country side with a sports car, the tiptronic is absolutely a great option. Ive driven them on dirt roads, navigated broken up asphalt roads for long distances and it never tired me out. In the same situations the PDK feels loose and jerky, and the manuals will fatigue your legs after a couple hours. People always talk about track racing and "canyon carving" and the want manuals, sure great, ive raced manual Porsches from 924s to 911s at track days, yeah i get you its fun, PDK is also great there too, its fast. But daily driving and exploring new places, road tripping, crowded town centres, if i had to choose a 911, it would be the 996.2 Carrera 4S Tiptronic or the 997.1 Turbo Tiptronic. Their small body size, excellent all around visibility paired with the tiptronic makes them the easiest 911s to drive by quite a margin (in my opinion).

Such a beautiful car

Wow! The 996.2 C4S is a beautiful 911, especially with turbo twists. But the interior on that specific one is the chef’s kiss!! Try as you may, you’re not selling me on a tip, sadly.

I have had 3 996's all Tip. A properly set up box will change gear, up and down, probably quicker than a manual. This, a manual is a more involving drive! I don't get it. For me, the involving bit is steering an Braking, not lifting my left leg to push a pedal with one hand off the steering wheel. Anyway, each to his own I guess.

My dream car! Great video

Good sir! I am IN LOVE with your videos! I badly want a review of YOUR porsche 996(.1?) that I have seen in the other 996 video and now this 996 video... Yours is so clean... I am now subbed and looking forward to seeing that video ;)

I love my manual C4S, would never entertain a Tiptronic though, they have only 5 speeds and the ratios are Looong, takes any ‘sports car’ element away from it. I agree about the ride, they are surprisingly comfortable. The 996 C4S is one of the best looking cars, ever. The rear end is very purposeful, and the front end I think looks good with the Turbo front bumper.

Just received some paddleshifters for my 4S, it's going to be a gamechanger for the tips. My tip only lives in manual mode and auto is for traffic

Yes you can. Don't shoot me: I had a go in a manual 996 Targa once and I did not really enjoy my time with that gearbox... Preferred my (now sold) tiptronic 986 Boxster S. Still - if I am ever in a position to buy the 9964S I so desire, I would re-check to see if I still prefer the auto over the manual. Because I know it seems like that can't be right lol.

nice video, thank you. I think it is possibly the best looking 911 of all time. Newer cars are too fussy and aggressive. The 996 C4S is simple and that's what gives the timeless look. People that don't know anything about cars just like it and that's cool.

Even though the power output is way down on the turbo it makes up for it with the noise these make, the turbos mute the engine noise and these sound the business.

Yes you can. But the manual is a lot better 😊

I have a 997 and chose one because aesthetically they are much better on the eye than the 996 from the unorthodox headlights. But I have to say with the 4S body kit the 996 does look pretty good still .

I have exactly the same great car. A pity that I couldn't hear what you were saying

Idk if mentioned, but is not the 996 Carrera 4S AWD?

I own a 4S manual and drove both cars. A 996 4s tiptronic comes Never ever even close to a manual . Way too sluggish and boring to drive. IMHO 🤷‍♂️