I am brand new here but not new to Porsche. I built in 2011 Cayman S that I sold recently and now ready to move into a 991S. I am very torn between the 2S and 4S as the base platform and am hoping for some help based on my description below.

1. The car will NOT be a daily drive
2. I live in SE Florida and may rarely (if ever) take it to the mountain roads of N. Carolina
3. My wife will be driving the car occasionally so it will have PDK for her ease
4. I will track the car maybe 4 times a year (simply spirited driving)
5. 90% of use is just around town (Date nights, weekend driving, etc.)

I plan to outfit either car with: PDCC, PASM, Sports Chrono, Sport Exhaust along with many other goodies.

Thank you in advance for any input!

 

You do not have a NEED for a C4 based on weather requirements. Pick the one you like best based on looks ?!

 

Agree with this. Test drive both and see if you prefer RWD or AWD. Either way, you're on the mark with the performance options you're planning on adding.

 

I suspect that if you prefer the slightly wider rear fenders, the other detail style differences, and the entertainment value of the power to the wheels screen for the 4S, those would be the obvious advantages given your requirements. The 4wd has obvious safety advantages in heavy weather but that seems outside of likely use.

 

Since you're not "need" the AWD, it comes basically down to looks. Which one do you like more? I prefer the looks of the C4S, but this is something no one can really give you any advice on. It's a matter of personal taste, just as so many options.

When driving them back to back, you won't feel much difference, except maybe the slightly steering feel of the C4S, but that is a very small difference. Once you are used to one of both cars it doesn't matter anymore. The AWD is hardly noticeable, unless road conditions change to damp road or snow. But since you're in Florida, that will not be something to worry about.

Testdrive both as intensively as possible and then decide what you like most and if you think it's worth to pay the price difference between C2S and C4S.

Suzy991 (iOS app)

 

It sounds like a case of 6 in one hand and 1/2 dozen in the other...

I do like the looks of the 4S better. You gotta love that big ole rear end with the connecting tail light!

I can justify $2k for looks alone and the rest for safety buy that would only be for those 5% times we are on wet roads, etc. I want to but the car that will maximize the 95% use of the car

So the real questions would be...

1. what am I giving up with the 4S over the 2S in terms of performance as a touring driver?
2. If I am not giving anything up from 2S to 4S performance wise and I can justify $2k in looks, is the other $5k increase in price worth the peace of mind knowing you have an AWD sports car?

Thanks again!

 

1. Nothing... You'll get slightly better traction with a C4S, but every 911 has already plenty of traction, with or without AWD. The biggest difference is when conditions are not ideal, regardless if it is rain, snow or just a dry surface with less grip.

2. That's hard to answer.... Only you can decide that I guess. For me it would be worth the money, but it will be your car, not mine

Suzy991 (iOS app)

 

Not sure if it's that mathematical but everyone is different. If I purely go for looks, I'd go for 4S over and over again. End of the day, you've gotta drive both side by side and decide. C2S would definitely slide/wiggle more ( some call it fun )vs C4S which could help with safety at high speeds/ cornering and steering feel .

 

As said, drive them both. I prefer the driving dynamics of the C2, the C4 feels heavy in the front to me by comparison.

The good news is that you cannot go wrong with either one.

 

You could wait for the GTS. I don't think anyone would mind if Porsche stopped making the narrow body and made all C2's in wide body like the C4. A C2 with wheel spacers visually helps a little but still not the same as adding that amazingly effective 1.7 inches of fender. I have a C2 and love it, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't a tiny bit envious of my C4 counterparts when it comes to how the car looks from the rear point of view. Get what you love.

 

What he said! See what suits you best. By the way, even if I lived in Los Angeles, and I own a home there, I'd still prefer my Pana 4S and C4.

 

Drive both. I like the C4S because you don't need to be as disciplined with the throttle when exiting corners. The car can handle higher exit speeds because of its torque vectoring.

 

That is an excellent point and one that I am actually thinking about. Realistically I will wait until summer to order the car anyway so I get a 2015. By then the GTS should be out.

The 997 GTS came out a few months after I took delivery of my Cayman S. I almost bought that GTS but decided to enjoy the Cayman and wait for the new 991.

What are the thoughts about whether the GTS will be released in both RWD and AWD at the same time?

 

Had a C4S in Florida, great in the rain. What I didn't like about it was on the track. Going through the hairpin at Sebring, you could feel the computer trying to assist. That's why I bought the C2S.

 

Was that a 991 C4S? Or a 997?

Suzy991 (iOS app)