I know we're right in the middle of summer, but I just purchased a '06 C2S cab and thinking ahead about winter. I'm looking for anyone's experience driving where you get 60+ inches of snow in winter. I plan on getting a hard top and a set of wheels and snow tires. Before going down this path, just want to know if others have done the same. I occasionally see a C4 in winter where I live, but not any C2's or Cabs. I have a heated garage with drains and can wash the car in about 20 minutes when it gets salty. I guess I'll have to drive it through a touchless wash every so often to get the salt off the bottom. Any real experiences driving a C2 in snowy locations would be very helpful.

 

With snow tires I think your OK. Over course the depth of the snow may make some travel plans difficult.

 

I drove a 996 C4 cab with hardtop and snows as a daily driver (and my only vehicle) for two winters in central Minnesota. Nothing but FUN! I did feel the need to wash it frequently by hand in my heated garage due to salt and constant road grime. Never took the hard top through a carwash.
Now I drive a 997.2 C4S (with snows) in the winter - although I have an Audi Allroad for backup (i.e. snow deeper than 6").
I imagine you will have little problem with good snows with the exception of very icy inclines that you can't get a run at, or are long enough that you run out of momentum (rare).
I have a very steep, very long driveway that many two wheel drive (front or rear) have a problem with, but never posed a problem for the AWD Porsches or Audis with good snows.

Go for it! With the weight distribution of your C2S and snows, you will still be able to drive away from many AWD cars with "all season" tires. Be careful as well when braking, you will find you can stop MUCH faster than most cars and need to keep an eye on your rear view mirror. There have been many times where I have stopped at a light only to have a pickup go by me sideways through an intersection (they always seem to think they have more traction than a little hot rod !)

 

ROFL

 

These guys dont seem to have any problems

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHXsndBWj3Y

 

i think i just threw up in my mouth

 

Just turned in a 535xi after a 2 year lease. The car was truly awesome in the snow with snows but pretty boring the rest of the time. I don't feel like parking the C2S from December through March. It sounds like I should have no problem in the snow as long as I don't try to drive in the really deep stuff.

 

My wife car is 535xi, and i agree......chain r an option in the deep sh_t! LOL

 

Clear bra(3M paint protection) and set of Michelin Alpins- Good to go!
It's a German snowmobile!

 

I have driven my C2S as a daily driver since new (2007), including 3 winters. Still using the first set of Pilot Alpin winter tires (probably replace this fall, however). Only problem is deep snow (car skis) and the wall of slush that a bigger vehicle crossing between freeway lanes will send crashing onto the car/windshield.

 

We get about 60 in. of snow/ year and I have a cab (997 C2S). Some minor issues to be aware of: Not having a rear wiper is a pain, especially with wet snow. (At least the 997's 3-layer top is relatively quiet, warm, and sturdy.) Also, the blind spot and miniscule rear window view in the cab is pretty horrendous. In snowy weather, this lack of visibility seems to magnify the anxiety- especially in shoulder to shoulder winter traffic.

Order rubber floor mats (weathertek, etc). Leave an extra clean towel in your car.

997-door paint isn't snow-drift friendly. Snow/ice drifts can leave scratches. Careful where you park.

Set a reoccurring meeting in your blackberry to wash your car. Salt is evil. (Perhaps you should mod your garage for a touchless undercarriage wash...BTW - Your heated garage w/ drain grates sounds awesome. Post a pic?)

I have a steep driveway with a turn-around spot which often ices over and turns into a luge. Pick your line. I'm definitely putting on winter treads for the extra grip on in November. You can find inexpensive 18" rims + winter tires on e-bay, craigslist, or tirerack. There are lots of threads on this.

Definitely slower in on corners and.. be wary of sport mode's higher rev if you have it.

The other 911's on my street (996 C2 & 997 C2S) are driven year round. The 997 C2 driver doesn't even put on winter tires, and I see him driving in snow all the time. The 996 owner is a little more conservative. He has put on the same set of Michelin winter wheels for the last 5 seasons.

All this said, the car handles with a little more predictability in snow and slush than one would expect, considering the RWD. After all, these cars have been perfected in a country were it snows. Its not like the engineers didn't think about snowy driving on the autobahn or the alps before the C4. Enjoy it!

-M

 

Porsches are built to drive in the snow. There was a really cool article in Excellence maybe 7 years ago about Porsche putting snow tires on several 911's including a couple of C2's and they went to the most northern point in Europe during the middle of winter. Very cool.

Sorry, but that 997 driver is an idiot. The summer tires are terrible in the snow. Even with a C4, and now my Turbo, getting caught in the snow with summer tires (before I put the winters on) was not fun. Steering and braking were almost useless.

 

Agreed Teflon...

Only snow tires for snow. (I tried it once too). Regarding winter driving.....I would love to get outfitted to do this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbuGiFpNXn0

So, this doesn't happen to me....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFAVQr4yF9U

 

I can't imagine going that fast on roads with drop offs like that!

 

I drive my C2S year round (with Alpins in the winter). Absolutely no issues with traction. The only concern is if you have to drive on roads that are not regularly cleared of snow. Once tracks are formed with that nasty hump in the middle (which turns into ice if it is really cold) the issue is clearance for your front bumper and underside of car.

Enjoy your Porsche every day you can but know when its the right time to leave it in the garage.