Go with manual 6 sp all the way!! Way more interactive with mountain driving-- it's fun!!

 

6 speed 2-wheel drive. Much more fun than the c4

 

Hey, can anyone who has an 09 4 or 4s confirm what I've read - that by pulling up on the parking/hand brake 'one notch/click' you disable power to the front axle, essentially turning the car into a rear wheel drive? I'm expecting a C4S in March/April, and my salesperson doesn't know or won't say.

 

Jordan: I read the same thing and asked Sharky at Sharkwerks your question; he said it was true but I had forgot to ask if manual AND PDK. I'd push my salesman to get an answer from Porsche rather than just collect his comission - you'll have better luck now than after delivery.

 

DL - I'm not trying to hijack your thread but I've got a question for everyone that might help you out too. I'm also trying to decide between a C2S and C4S and live in a cold weather climate. In the past, I've found that AWD vehicles (Audi A4; Range Rover Sport, etc) seem harder to control in wet/slippier conditions than just rear wheel (i.e., M3, 540, Cayman). Maybe it's my driving technique but I always feel that I get more uncontrollable 4 wheel drifts and more understeer in AWD and that rear wheel are easier to correct with a little opposite lock. Is it just me or do others experience the same thing? I grew up driving rear wheel in the snow and maybe it's just that it comes easier to me. Can others provide their $.02?

 

Many on this site know me as a die hard RWD fan. But this is the most perfect justification for the AWD car. The unpredictable weather while in the hills make the AWD system a great safety net. Seat heaters, nav, (I wouldn't bother with the Bose) all good. And yea, the upmarket seats are great - except for getting in and out. Test carefully. Do take a close look at the PDK. There is a lot of religious commentary but to the extent you appreciate the technology, this is a grand opportunity to acquire exactly that. Improved performance and the option of relaxing in 'auto' mode are all appealing features.
But best of luck. These are just fabulous cars. You will wish you had done it years sooner. I know I did.

 

my experience with audi S4 models, is that with summer tires, AWD is actually detrimental to control in snowy conditions. If the tires only have 10% of everyday traction available, when you accelerate, you use it up in forward motion on all wheels. That means -no steering--just forward motion. I have to admit that even with R-comps, my S4 could go up my driveway's 2 degree slope, but then it could not stop before it hit the wheel chocks in the garage! With my M3, it just refuses to go up slopes in the snow. On sweeping turns, when I would give the S4 some gas, the whole car would head for the ditch, whereas my M3 would wiggle its back end. My opionion is that the "stability" confered by AWD was somewhat negated with sophisticated traction controls like PSM. Now, if you put snow tires on...AWD is a MONSTER rally car!

 

Thanks John. I created a new thread to get a little more exposure. I appreciate your insight and I found the same thing between the A/S4 and the M3. I'm just not sure how it translates to the 997 2 vs 4.

 

Thanks JohnM. The complexity of the interplay between AWD, tires, and PSM only serves to make the choice even harder. As for my particular circumstances, I don't intend drive in snow conditions, although a surprise squall will happen from time-to-time. The bigger question is the great bulk of the driving which is 20 miles descending (and ascending) about 2,300'. While there is a speed limit, it is rarely patroled and you can drive aggressively. Also, the slope of my driveway is about 20% in spots. One of my cars (BMW 328xi wagon) gets up and down, no problem. My son's car (Subaru Outback), however, is the reigning champ.

 

DL - sorry if I got a bit off topic. Let me know what you decide to go with.

 

N,
Actually, your point is well taken. I'm sure there are many technologies, automotive and otherwise, which are only effective if used in proper context.

 

I know a bunch of people who complain about how "bad" their cars are in the snow. Mostly, they just need a good set of snow tires. I'll bet most 2WD cars are competent in the snow if outfitted properly.

That said, I was more than happy to get an AWD 911. With my snow tires, I'm set. The only problem is the low front lip from the aerokit as it makes me sort of a snowplow

 

I have had my C4S for about 2 years and have just under 30 K miles on it. I have tracked it twice and have done several AXs. I commute over twisty roads that can be wet in the winter and have limited traction. I am a novice driver compared to many of the greatly experienced drivers on the list.

The C4S handles nicely, and has oodles of traction, but it displayed plow and understeer in certain situations.

After a "hybrid street/race" alignment at TC Design Fab in Milpitas, CA. the handling and response of the C4 was transformed. TC supports a number of local racers GT3 cars and do Sharkwerks cars. They have alot of experience with AWD turbos as well, which helped their C4 tweaks.

The alignment basically eliminated the plow and understeer and the car has a much more linear and balanced feel. The car can be controllably drifted (I hear the snickers, eff-off, BTW) with limited PSM intervention. I also note that I fitted Bilstein Damptronics and lowered the car between 1/2 and 3/4 inch. This helped eliminate yaw and the car has a tighter and more precise feel.

With the alignment in particular, the car feels more like a C2 and rear end steers more like a C2. The car remains quite planted and feels glued to the tarmac. It does not have a flighty nervous front end - just predictable and linear. I think that I may have found a real world compromise between a C2 and C4 with this set-up, and now have best of both worlds..................

 

Did the Damptronics (and lowered the car 18 mm's) and H&R's, and then, per Alex's recommendation, took my S to TCDesign for the same alignment (I suspect). Same excellent results. The car is insanely great-er.

 

I am 62 yrs old and bought my 08C2s about 6 months ago. I drive in the local mountains in southern california and the C2s is lots of fun. A C4s is probably better for snow.