996/997 C4-------how well does it cope with snow/ice
Discussion
is a C4 a sensible/reasonable choice instead of a conventional 4x4 as a daily driver that can cope with the sort of snow and ice that we had in the uk last winter?
i would much prefer to spend the hard earned on a 911 than on a suv
does anyone have personal experience of this sort of car in these conditions?
do winter tyres (rather than studded tyres ) on a C4 make a big difference
on compacted snow?
would a 997 be significantly better than a 996 in pertorming these winter tasks?
are 997 engines more reliable than 996's (rms/ims etc)
thanks in advance for your input
i would much prefer to spend the hard earned on a 911 than on a suv
does anyone have personal experience of this sort of car in these conditions?
do winter tyres (rather than studded tyres ) on a C4 make a big difference
on compacted snow?
would a 997 be significantly better than a 996 in pertorming these winter tasks?
are 997 engines more reliable than 996's (rms/ims etc)
thanks in advance for your input
It's all about the tyres. A 911 C4 ain't going to replace a Range Rover with Michelin Pilot Sports on it. The car comes as standard with big fat tyres on it designed for temperatures above (I think) 7 or 8 degrees C.
I got caught in a heavy snow storm in my 996 C4 and it got me home ok but if you fitted winter tyres to one you could well have a very useful tool.
I got caught in a heavy snow storm in my 996 C4 and it got me home ok but if you fitted winter tyres to one you could well have a very useful tool.
drpep said:
As has been said before - it's the numpty in the Astra on summer tyres coming up behind you at 30mph on an icy road that will keep my pork off the road in winter; not whether i'm running Sotto Zero's or not. I think i'll buy a £1k s
tter soon to knock about in over winter.
Agree with this!tter soon to knock about in over winter.When I was running my 993 as a daily, I garaged it for Winter and bought a £600 Fiesta. I sold it in March for £700!
It was great fun running about in a banger for a change! And to be fair, it was actually OK!
MTR
I really don't get the whole "lay it up and drive something else" mentality - it's just a car when all's said and done, but each to their own!
That said, this will be my first winter with my C4S, and the first time I've ever bought winter tyres so I'll know first-hand in just a few weeks!
The taxi drivers in their 2wd Merc E-classes on winter tyres do just fine, and I don't expect to fair any worse than them in my 4wd gadget-laden Porsche.
The big difference between a 911 and a 4x4 is, of course, ground clearance. There were times last winter here in Germany where that would have been a problem on the back-roads, but other than that I expect to be fully mobile throughout the winter.
That said, this will be my first winter with my C4S, and the first time I've ever bought winter tyres so I'll know first-hand in just a few weeks!
The taxi drivers in their 2wd Merc E-classes on winter tyres do just fine, and I don't expect to fair any worse than them in my 4wd gadget-laden Porsche.
The big difference between a 911 and a 4x4 is, of course, ground clearance. There were times last winter here in Germany where that would have been a problem on the back-roads, but other than that I expect to be fully mobile throughout the winter.
Callughan said:
My C4S was very good in the snow.
Mine was rubbish. Over the last 2 years i've had snotters for the winter. I sold the first at a profit, and broke even on the 2nd.I once borrowed a car from work when I used to ride a bike. Someone who wasnt insured ran into the back me. Luckily it was only light bumper damage, but since then I won't run a nice car in the snow
I use my 996 C4S every winter in the snow- I live in Switzerland and I drive to the ski resorts in the Swiss alps a fair bit. It's great (and great fun!) in the snow, but I do have winter tyres. I can't imagine they'd be very good with 295 summer tyres on however... (my winter rears are 265s and even these are a bit wider than ideal). I have never driven in deep snow though- not sure I would even try- the car is quite low and you'd end up trying to drive a snow plough.
To answer the OP's questions a bit more specifically:
I don't think you'd notice any difference between 996 and 997
It's ALL about the winter tyres. On compacted snow/ice, the 911 4WDs are very good- reasonably light with the weight at the back which definitely helps traction. You also have plenty of power if you want to play on roundabouts
Difficult to say how a winter-tyre shod 911 would fare on compacted snow vs a 4WD SUV on summer tyres- a lot depends on the driver.
A final point to consider would be this: would you be happy driving your 911 on winter tyres when hundreds of muppets around you are struggling to go and stop with their summer tyres? You might be the world ice racing champion, but the dizzy cow in the Chelsea tractor with 20" rims coming the other way won't be! Generally speaking, everyone on the roads in winter here in Switzerland will fit winter tyres, whether it is snowing or not.
To answer the OP's questions a bit more specifically:
I don't think you'd notice any difference between 996 and 997
It's ALL about the winter tyres. On compacted snow/ice, the 911 4WDs are very good- reasonably light with the weight at the back which definitely helps traction. You also have plenty of power if you want to play on roundabouts
Difficult to say how a winter-tyre shod 911 would fare on compacted snow vs a 4WD SUV on summer tyres- a lot depends on the driver.
A final point to consider would be this: would you be happy driving your 911 on winter tyres when hundreds of muppets around you are struggling to go and stop with their summer tyres? You might be the world ice racing champion, but the dizzy cow in the Chelsea tractor with 20" rims coming the other way won't be! Generally speaking, everyone on the roads in winter here in Switzerland will fit winter tyres, whether it is snowing or not.
Edited by Whitean3 on Wednesday 19th October 10:21
They use c4s for the Camp 4 ice driving courses ,in the Arctic Circle , with paddles and only add snow tyres ..................as someone else said its not a Range Rover , they had Cayennes to tow us out the snow banks if we actually burried them .................fantastic what the differnce the snow tyres make
NO STUDS OR SPIKES BTW
NO STUDS OR SPIKES BTW
In February's snow, I was out delivering a few parcels in the 997, as you do. On 2 roads in Northampton, at 11am, I was the FIRST set of tyre tracks. Lots of cars left in the drive, lots of sad footprints and me driving along the road in a 997 C4S on winter tyres. In my humble opinion, it's all about the winter tyres.
Now, I need some feedback. Best tyres for the aforementioned 997 C4S for summer. Uk mostly, bit of high speed Germany, 4,000 miles to Greece, and an hour at the Nurburgring. Any comments appreciated.
Now, I need some feedback. Best tyres for the aforementioned 997 C4S for summer. Uk mostly, bit of high speed Germany, 4,000 miles to Greece, and an hour at the Nurburgring. Any comments appreciated.
Bought mine in Jan (997 c4s) and it was absolutely fine for the snow, ice etc. I live in a close on a hill where loads of cars get stuck whenever there is snow, and it made easy work of it - totally sure-footed. I just run the standard bridgestone tyres, not winters.
Came from a 4wd mazda 6 mps which was also good, and before that a celica which I had to leave at home on snowy days as it just couldn't make it - it would just slip and slide.
The rear end can get a bit slippy on some corners - you just have to take it easy and not get carried away, and remember that all the 4wd in the world doesn't help your braking distances.
Re other drivers, I took the gap insurance, so I'm more than happy if someone wants to give me a solid rear end shunt
Came from a 4wd mazda 6 mps which was also good, and before that a celica which I had to leave at home on snowy days as it just couldn't make it - it would just slip and slide.
The rear end can get a bit slippy on some corners - you just have to take it easy and not get carried away, and remember that all the 4wd in the world doesn't help your braking distances.
Re other drivers, I took the gap insurance, so I'm more than happy if someone wants to give me a solid rear end shunt
I ski in Europe (a lot) and have done over 6k miles there (and back and up and down) this winter. Many snowy passes trundled over without a problem in -15 and have had 'fresh tracks' on roads in Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy... It's ALL about the winter tyres - I don't know the specific changes to the compound but WOW it's like another world.
Been up passes very sure footedly where the typical (I assume) summer hoofed 4x4s have struggled and on one occasion passed several not getting up at all on one memorable trip from Verbier to Cham... Seriously amazing traction and genuinely more confidence than anything this side of a hire car (or chains obviously).
On the down side the 'limit' of the tyres is much easier reached in warmer, end of season, temps. Great fun at slower speeds basically...
Oh and mines only an S as well so a 4 should be way better?
Been up passes very sure footedly where the typical (I assume) summer hoofed 4x4s have struggled and on one occasion passed several not getting up at all on one memorable trip from Verbier to Cham... Seriously amazing traction and genuinely more confidence than anything this side of a hire car (or chains obviously).
On the down side the 'limit' of the tyres is much easier reached in warmer, end of season, temps. Great fun at slower speeds basically...
Oh and mines only an S as well so a 4 should be way better?
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