Next topic, drove a c2s but never a 4s. I know one 2 wheel drive and ones 4,but apart from that woul the car feel any different ???

Nickfrog has pretty much nailed it already.

I'd say the 4S (at least for the 997 series) is the 'safest' 911 in terms of traction/driving control. Rereading the brochure yesterday I noticed it has some additional safety features over the C2/S versions, little things which are likely imperceptible in normal use, such as pre loading of brakes or full brake assist as well as a slighyly different mapping to the PSM.

For me the best factor was the wide ass!

I also have this idea, likely totally wrong, that they hold their value better. This is mostly based on looking at 993s and 996s which, incidentally, could be argued were a less satisfactory car than the same period C2 versions given the extra weight etc.

It REALLY depends on which generation of 997 you drive.

The new PTM in the 7.2 C4 generation cars is a WORLD apart in feel and driving experience compared to the previous viscous coupled 4wd systems.

With the new PTM, understeer is reduced and turn in sharper compared to the 2wd cars, and the transition between 2 and 4wd is completely transparent and seamless.

Whereas with the older viscous 4wd, understeer is more pronounced.

It's a classic automotive misconception shared by many "experts". Front grip is inversely proportional to weight so the heavier the front end, the earlier you'll lose lateral front grip because of the centrifugal force in corners. If you add 100kg in the front boot of a Boxster or 911, the front end will start sliding quite a few mph below what it would do if you leave the boot empty.

The confusion may come from the fact that when it comes to longitudinal grip (in other words = traction), it's the opposite. The more weight on the driven wheels, the better the traction, hence why a 911 is so tractable, or that a 3-series doesn't like snow when even a humble front driver does OK.

Drove a 2S and a 4S before I bought my 4S; the 4S feels more stable through twisties and at higher speeds on the motorway (ahum). On track: 2S probably a bit more fun, 4S slightly faster.

But the fact is that there is already >600kg pushing the front wheels to the ground. It's all about centripetal force. If it's a fun/weekend car go RWD, for a daily driver go 4WD.

There's always bits to hold/control/slow the wheels, like axles, suspensions, brakes so there's hardly going to be zero weight...

I am not "reinventing the wheel" here, I promise, this is very basic car dynamics, the more weight the less grip (but the more traction)...

Think how much front end lateral grip an Elise generates, and think how little weight it has up front, so much so that when they used the chassis for the VX220 they even had to make the front tyres even narrower (down to 175 IIRC) to make the handling a little less pointy...

About 28mpg but it is fairly speed sensitive.

Based on....?



As an aside, I'm fairly certain I would only ever buy a RWD track car, but this 'myth' that 4wd on a 911 somehow preculdes it from being a special/weekend/drivers car is getting tiresome.

Yes particularly if you genuinely think that added weight generates more lateral grip ...

For more details, this is a good article: http://www.autozine.org/technical_school/handling/...

Out of which the following quote should dispel any doubts:

"some conclusions : to maximize the cornering grip, we must minimize the weight transfer. We can achieve this by lowering the CG, by reducing the weight of the car or by enlarging the track width"