let me first say-i have a 997tt, but i have owned at least 12 different porsches. i do not drive my car on the track-i use it to take me to work mostly, and to drive for pleasure a couple extra times a week, but my turbo is my daily driver. i have also owned about 3 different c4s models (a 1989 (first c4 made), a 2001 996 c4 and a 2006 c4s 997 launch car. in my opinion, they are making the c4s model drive more and more like a c2s, as far as it's driving quality. now that the 997.2 c4s model is out, with and without pdk, in my opinion, you cannot do better, if you live in an area where there is snow or slippery driving conditions, than buying a c4s, getting some winter tires for the cold season, and driving that baby day in and day out. now that the car has almost 400hp, availability of a pdk, and porsche wide backside and porsche reliability, in my opinion, it is almost the perfect personal sports car. you can probably do no better than buying a c4s, and now with the great deals available.....well, enough said. the obvious question-why didn't i buy one instead of a turbo? good question-i kind of like the turbo acceleration, but if i had a bit more common sense, i would have also bought a c4s. i do put 4 snows on my turbo and drive it all winter. but, i still feel that if you can get 10-12 grand off a new 997.2 c4s, you have a car that will get you to work, to your ski vacation, to the track, and let you do it all in style. just my opinion.

 

Why spend the extra when the C2S makes for a better driver's car regardless of road conditions? I drive me C2S Cab in the Midwest and put winter tires on, and have never felt the need for awd. In fact I owned an Audi S4 and a 996C4S and realized that the awd wasn't superfluous. You get better handling and steering feel with the C2S and it's more than capable in icy or snowy conditions, so why bother with the added weight, poorer steering and more understeer?

 

2 points-the awd system on the 997 is more transparent than it was on your 996 c4s and when you are in an area with significant snow/ice, the c4s with snows definitely will give you better traction than a c2s with snows.

 

C4/C4S is a variant of the std Carrera. Is it the perfect 911? I do not think that statement is right as it must be qualified. In the 996 generation C4s were much better planted than 2WD Carreras, but with the 997 generation the 2WD Carrera is very planted, in-fact more so than the 996 C4. The 4WD variant is heavier and you do feel the front plowing at the limit. If one knows how to drive a 911 (and modern 911s are easier to drive) one does not need front-wheel traction in most traction conditions, except in snow/icy country. And with 2WD one carries less weight, enjoying a nimbler car.

Would I buy a 997.2 C4/C4S in California (outside the Sierra Nevada)? No. If driven largely in the Winter in snow country? Yes.

 

I drove the 997 C4S back to back with a 997 C2S in winter, on icy roads before I bought my C2S and came to the conclusion that I didn't need it. We get snow in the Chicago Metroland but it's not bad enough to need awd. If the snow gets too deep you can't drive without taking the front bumper off anyway. The deal killer is the corrupted steering with awd. Winter tires are really all you need to be able to drive briskly and safely in the midwest, but maybe where you are you need more.

 

chef-let me ask you-you drove both cars back to back on icey roads? they must have been on summer hi performance tires (from a car dealer)-that is why they both drove the same, do you think so? with winter tires, the c4 has much more traction than a c2.

 

The C4S has evolved tremendously since it made its way into earlier Porsches . With the 993 the C4S never came close to the 993 Turbo which at that time was so far ahead of almost every car in its time . It still is in many ways . It had the price and some Turbo goodies but NO bite . With the 996 C4S it was even worse . To me it really looked like a Porsche car with an identity crisis . Then things began to change . With the 997 C4S Porsche began a winter driving program.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dFo0...eature=related

Things began to change . With DFI and PDK and limited slip differential standard , increased low end torque . this car has evolved . It no longer is the UN Turbo . It no longer has to answer to the 997S either. It is a seamless driving top notch performance car with a flavor of Turbo but making a name for itself . '

Doc --Don't sell your . It can still smoke the living daylights out of a C4S if you are ready to throw some money into the engine but if a precision car with a mature quality is what you are after .. then this is agreat car .

 

IMO -

GT3 > C2S > C4S

Why would you want a heavier, slower version of a killer RWD car?

For winter - I have quattro.

 

Both cars had Pirelli P-Zero's on them which meant the only difference was the drive system. I could tell more of what the car was doing with the C2S than with C4S. I prefer the "consistency" of rwd because I know all the drive is going to the back wheels, rather than changing %'s between front and back.

 

no no, i am not selling-i love my turbo-i am just admiring the c4s for what it is. i think that your summary is a perfect review of the evolution of the c4s. i recently drove a c4s against a c2s (just for something to do on a saturday) and really couldn't feel much difference between the handling of both models-they have really done a heck of a job with that 997.2 c4s

 

lig-i probably mistated my point-i am saying if you had to have 1 car. a gt3 is no where close to a good daily driver in the winter.

 

I agrre with the above statements, both for the C4S and CS, I've owned both, I chose the C4S the second time around because I went the the limit with the CS after some mods, and let me tell you it gets pretty hairy past 170 mph, awesome feel, at speed and getting to speed the CS is much lighter and does feel to get you there faster, on the other hand, by the time I got my C4S I was looking for something that had that extra traction, not because of the weather, but because I just like the grip it has going around corners, the way it pulls you through and then pushes you out of the corner. There is a noticable difference in getting to speed, but those corners are fun to go through without slipping. The C4S does feel heavier, but I can live with it. I love it. it's my daily driver. You can always lighten up the front end with ceramics and I even read a thread that stated you can take off up to 8 kg per corner with mods.. Either way both cars are awesome, it all depends on personal taste.

 

I can understand where you feel that the C4S could be the perfect car for your needs if you were limited to one P-car and it had to be good in the winter.

I couldn't really do with just one car. I need something that I can use for business every once in a while and I don't really feel comfortable picking up prospective clients in my Porsche.

 

I am contemplating selling sti and lotus for a new c4s...I agree with op

 

chef, those p-zeros are great tires, but not good for cold weather. trust me-a c4s with winter tires will get you through most anything in the winter. i have also driven a 997s with winter tires-it is pretty good in the snow, but with the awd system, you can floor it in the slippery stuff just to tempt the car to slip and slide and it won't. when it snows, i take my turbo with the winter tires to a school parking lot at night and floor it, then turn it hard and hit the brakes-all things to try and get the car to slide, spin, etc. obviously, the lot is empty. the car is as stable as a jeep. if i am at work and it snows 5 inches, it is simple to get home the 25 miles. the c2s will do it also, but not as simply or with the same traction-you have to try an awd 911 with winters on it to appreciate it.