Is it really a C4S?
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Joined: May 2007
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From: Blaine, Wa (not in Irvine anymore)
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The OP need not feel embarrassed, as some of the answers revealed a lot of confusion out there. The only visual cues are the wider rear end and the more cramped trunk resulting from the rearrangement of equipment due to the front differential. For me, the wider rear end isn't always that easy to identify unless you see it beside a narrow body, and even then it can be tricky. Narrow body cars with wider rear tires and wheels with more aggressive offsets can give the illusion of being wide body cars.
Simple rule: 4 means 4-wheel drive, which also means wide body; S means more power and better suspension and brakes, and applies to both wide and narrow body cars. Turbos by definition are AWD and thus wide body.
Simple rule: 4 means 4-wheel drive, which also means wide body; S means more power and better suspension and brakes, and applies to both wide and narrow body cars. Turbos by definition are AWD and thus wide body.
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From: LA
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to make me feel better given we see carrera s'z and GTS'z like hondas in la. thanks for making me think of her now again, 
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 253
From: LA
Rep Power: 42
The OP need not feel embarrassed, as some of the answers revealed a lot of confusion out there. The only visual cues are the wider rear end and the more cramped trunk resulting from the rearrangement of equipment due to the front differential. For me, the wider rear end isn't always that easy to identify unless you see it beside a narrow body, and even then it can be tricky. Narrow body cars with wider rear tires and wheels with more aggressive offsets can give the illusion of being wide body cars.
Simple rule: 4 means 4-wheel drive, which also means wide body; S means more power and better suspension and brakes, and applies to both wide and narrow body cars. Turbos by definition are AWD and thus wide body.
Simple rule: 4 means 4-wheel drive, which also means wide body; S means more power and better suspension and brakes, and applies to both wide and narrow body cars. Turbos by definition are AWD and thus wide body.
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Joined: Jul 2011
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From: NJ
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CARLOS, thats so strange, my last gf didn't notice sh#t when i changed the rims but can still tell them apart from the NB, she would always say oh don't worry who cares it if its an s, a GT3, or GTS, she don't have your wide hips. to make me feel better given we see carrera s'z and GTS'z like hondas in la. thanks for making me think of her now again,
to make me feel better given we see carrera s'z and GTS'z like hondas in la. thanks for making me think of her now again, 
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Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Eastern Washington.
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Totally agree on both counts. C'mon guys: I lost it between the second guessing of the VIN and badging (how many Porsche owners swap a CS badge with a C4S one) , "Red rear reflectors on 997.1", "congrads", and the visual "queues". Sorry I am being a little harsh here but could not help it. My bad.
Last edited by w00tPORSCHE; Jan 20, 2012 at 09:28 AM.
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From: California
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My own engine cover says C2S, but when I insured the car, the policy came back saying C4S. Since a lot of people remove that badge for a distinctive look, it was always possible the wrong badge got restored somewhere in the ownership path from the original buyer to myself. Bloody unlikely I thought, but when I futzed around a little, it turns out the ability to tell them apart is not widespread. Only serious fans like you meet here can be sure without looking underneath the car, and my back precludes that simple solution.
I was puzzled. Didn't feel like all-wheel drive to my experienced touch, but what did I know? First Porsche I'd ever owned also.
The VIN does lie, contrary to what others have said. The database that insurance companies use considers that the VIN for my car indicates C4S. USAA checked twice. When I expressed surprise and asked that they correct my policy, I had to get bumped to an underwriting specialist to learn that the database just reports the more expensive of the two possibilities in a crash damage situation. Since the rates are the same with USAA, I didn't care of course. but my policy still says C4S though the car is not.
To interpret the VIN properly takes a serious fan or a request to Porsche in some fashion. You can get Porsche Cars North America to send you a complete listing of all options on VIN umpty ump for about $75. Comes on a nice piece of paper "suitable for framing" as the expression goes. Or for a more practical version, you can request a listing of options from a Porsche dealer. Suncoast Porsche does this as a service. I don't think they charged me anything, but it might be something nominal like five dollars to fend off people trying it for every car offered on the internet just because they 'might' want to buy it.
In any case, yours is a beautiful car. Your Dad has good taste. Enjoy it, and welcome to the posters among our number,
Gary
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From: Eastern Washington.
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With all the variations of the 997 even a porschephile will find it hard to keep up with all the specs of the model line up. So no sweat. What Gary says is The certificate of authenticity from PORSCHE CARS NA. It's more like $150.00 I think.
