If my P-car will never be driven in snow or ice (it will reside in Florida), is there any reason I should opt for the AWD Carrera 4S instead of the RWD 2S (other than the extra width in the back which is very cool)? Does AWD make any real difference in the rain or do the stability control and anti-skid programs suffice to keep the car facing the right direction under all normal driving conditions?

 

yes the AWD is very good in poor weather. I opted for the rwd as its slightly lighter and less complex and I live in Texas. The wider hips are nice however.

having said all that, I'm very impressed w/ how stable my car is in the rain. Much more stable than my 997.2. The longer wheelbase and added width certainly helps.

 

In your situation you definitely do not need the AWD. If you track it in the rain, you may be faster w/ the C4S but otherwise it's not really necessary.

 

You might want to consider PDCC as a lower priced alternative that increases stability even further, especially in turns.

 

The AWD benefit is traction. Acceleration from a standing start and acceleration exiting a corner are two examples where AWD can help. If the road surface is uneven or slippery, AWD will have better traction in accelerating.

For the 991 the AWD is ~100 lbs heavier and the weight is in the front transaxle. Since the engine is in the rear the C4S chassis will be slightly more neutral than a C2S. The wider hips of the C4S will spread the rear weight over a larger area resulting in more rear lateral stability. The rear being wider than the front will result in more understeer.

AWD will have better traction in the rain. Note that traction is not necessarily grip.

As far as handling both the C2S and C4S will be similar with each having a slightly different feel.

Only you can decide if you prefer the feel of one or the other.

 

I have been in the same situation as you. Since buying a Porsche is not a "logical" choice at all, you should buy the model you can afford and the one that makes you happy. Forget about weather, security, or whatever. Do you like what the 4S gives you? Would you be happy with it? Think about it and chose the one you love more.

PD: I went with the 4S, in white

 

I have had the pleasure of test driving the C2S and I now own a C4S. I have to say in my opinion I felt slightly more steering feedback with the AWD but that wasn't the reason I chose the C4S - wider stance and the red line did it for me! Also, I wouldn't buy one over the other for the weather.

It's a very personal choice and when you boil it down, you can make an argument for either... Good luck with the choice, it's a nice problem to have.

 

I prefer the feel of the RWD, but I love the wide stance and the red stripe in the back. The C4S looks fantastic! Test drive them both, in the end, you can't really go wrong.

 

Only reason I went C4S, I live in Canada and I use my car all year round.

I'd get the C2S if I had nice Florida weather. I did part of my medical training in Florida, you don't need AWD.

 

I bought a C4S because...

1. I like the wider stance and stripe in the back
2. I'm a "badge *****" and I like the "911 Carerra 4S" designation on the back of the car.
3. I live in Virginia and we sometimes get snow. If the AWD keeps me from getting stuck or allows me to avoid an accident even once, then the price is worth the difference to me.

Although you live in Florida, you may want to consider AWD if...

1. There is at least a 30% chance you might move further north before you plan to trade in the car.
2. You plan to make any trips up north in your P-car.
3. You think you may want to sell your car on a national level via ebay some day, and you want it to appeal to those in the northern states who might want AWD (I bought my first Porsche via Ebay from a guy in Texas who had a C4S).

You probably shouldn't get AWD if...

1. The price difference means you wont be able to put food on the table.
2. You aren't going to track the car and you don't care about marginal improvements in track time.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

Thanks for all the feedback and advice. I've still got a little time before my order is etched in stone so I'll use that time to show my wife a side-by-side comparison of the two and see if she doesn't agree that the aggressive stance of the 4S alone is worth the price. One thing's for sure, if the 2014 4S will delay the build, I'm not sure I can handle it! As it is I am a wreck knowing I won't see my car until next October.

I'll let you all know once the decision has been made, so stay tuned...

 

Sanibel -

I would not get the 4S for Florida . If i lived in a heavy snow region like Colorado or a rain region like Seattle then yes AWD is a MUST for all season driving .

I realize that the widebody of the 4s looks awesome but it's my opinion that the 2S is more nimble and agile and for that reason more fun to drive . In fact look at Porsches track specific cars like the Gt3 and Gt2 .. notice BOTH are rear wheel drive .

The Turbo is AWD for a different reason . Placing all that horsepower in a Gt2 for track use is very different than having amateur drivers on public roads losing control in the rain because a a Gt2 is a hugely different species than a 911 Turbo for daily use .

Comparing my 997.2S (sold) to my current Turbo using the 997 as the comparision with myself being the same driver of both the Turbo was by far the sledgehammer but run it into a tight corner and the 997S was much lighter on its feet . In fact to me the ideal setup is a Turbo and a Gt3 but the 991S has the best all around practical driving .. especially for South Florida .

If you are bitten by the C4S widebody and want the AWD then I say there is only one choice .. the Turbo .

Otherwise .. my opinion --stick with the original order.

 

Thanks! My salesman said the same: "If you want my personal opinion stay with the rear wheel drive. You will find it much more balanced and fun. The AWD gets a bit heavy...you can actually feel it. "

He also said: "The extra width is cool but it sits about an inch higher. The wheel gap kills me."

My reply to him was that someday I may just indulge my attraction to the wide body by ordering a Turbo. So you, my salesman and I are on the same page.

 

The 991 C2S feels as good or better in the daily driving rain of the Pacific Northwest than my 997 C4S did. I could get off the line in the wet quicker with the 4S. Drove the 2S last winter daily on Michelin Alpin 4's without any issues - drove great and handled beautifully but we didn't have a lot of snow to really play.

Really enjoying the rear wheel Porsche experience after several years of AWD cars.

(via 6SpeedOnline iOS)

 

You don't even really need AWD in Seattle. It is helpful if you drive over the cascades in the winter with appropriate tires or visit frequently local ski resorts. Otherwise 2wd is fine.