996 C4 or C2....

[europeanme]

:confused:
Help!!!....I am in 2 minds whether to get a Carrera 4 or stick with hunting for a Carrera 2...
I have this concern of having to buy 4 new tyres quite regularly..
is this the case??.....
does the 4 wheel drive really make a difference in the newer Porsches??....
I'm sorry for the dumb ass questions but I'm a 911 "virgin"....

Cheers for any advice given
Mike

[BliarOut]

I've just got a C4 and it does make a difference The C2 felt loose at the front after a Boxster whereas the C4 feels much more planted. Add a bit of PSM and you can really play silly buggers with it.

Drive both before making a buying decision, but personally I prefer the C4.

[rob05]

I have a 03 plate c2 and i would agree with bliar, the c4 is the better buy if its your first 996.It took me some time to get used to the light front end after trading in my 3.2 987 for it,a bit of a dissapointment really.I dont think this is the case though with the new 997 c2 though.If you are looking at a c4s you might find that it feels slower than a c2. Thats just my experience anyway

>> Edited by rob05 on Wednesday 7th September 21:21

[europeanme]

it has been mentioned that the C2 feels light at the front end...does that mean the car can understeer??.. sort off......I have seen a C2 in my price range and I am curious how much of the above mentioned issue, I would really notice.....

[BliarOut]

Try it and see if you like it, but do try a C4 before you decide.... I paid the same for my C4 as you would for a C2.... Just took a bit of searching.

[europeanme]

There just seems to be a few C2's for sale in the spec I'm after but not that many C4's.....It is difficult to wait...the idea of owning a 996 is making my pocket smoulder!!....

[Raven Flyer]

I'll admit that I don't have many C2 miles under my belt, but you can do things in the C4 that I would never dream of attempting in a C2. Pace in the wet is especially good. That's not to say you want to use this ability every day, but its very reassuring to know its there.

The weight penalty for the 4WD system is only 55kg and as others have said, maybe this actually helps the feel of the front end.

[clubsport]

Having owned a C2 with psm, i used to swap with my mates C4...both 3.6 facelift cars...The C2 is much more alive and has traditional 911 handling through the corners, the C4 was more inert and flatter.
The C2 felt the faster car both as a driver and a passenger, with the psm it is fairly safe in the wet. The C4 felt more sure footed in the wet, but was ultimately no quicker. My friend is going to a 2wd with his next Porsche.

The only way i would consider a N/A 4wd 911 was if I did a lot of miles and wanted a secure stylish way of covering ground..having said that it would not be my first choice for that role.

[fulham911club]

Raven Flyer said:

I'll admit that I don't have many C2 miles under my belt, but you can do things in the C4 that I would never dream of attempting in a C2. Pace in the wet is especially good. That's not to say you want to use this ability every day, but its very reassuring to know its there. The weight penalty for the 4WD system is only 55kg and as others have said, maybe this actually helps the feel of the front end.

but PSM is so good with a C2 that I really don't see the need for C4 plus 4WD will always be a compromise IMHO..

oh ... and the boot space on a C4 is simply absurd making the car less practical (esp when you've got kids)!

[BliarOut]

C2 drivers will say their choice is better, C4 drivers will say their's is better. Each will have their reasons why it suits them.

Try both

[fulham911club]

BliarOut said:

C2 drivers will say their choice is better, C4 drivers will say their's is better. Each will have their reasons why it suits them. Try both

Agreed

[spenny_b]

I've got a C2, and am more than happy with traction; in the "real world", when wet and with usual amounts of traffic getting in the way, I think you'd have to be going some (too much?) to lose the backend on a 2WD. Usual rear engined rules apply, don't lift mid corner. If you're sensible, then I'd lay my mortgage on you not encountering this as a problem, surprising how planted the C2 is under load.

Never driven a C4, but a mate who's now on his 5th 996, inc C2, C4, TT, TT X50 and now a GT3 Mk2, always maintained (prior to the GT3) that the C2 was the most communicative of them all, and as mentioned above, the 4WD models feel slightly "numb" by comparison.

...also, it is surprising how much you can actually squeeze under the C2 bonnet as well!

My personal preference is to have the increased tactility of a 2WD and less ultimate grip than a 4WD in the wet, than transmission losses, increase in weight (55kgs...I only weigh 63kgs, so almost my weight again) and less practicality of a C4....all IMHO, of course (he says, climbing into flame suit)

[rob05]

I think you really should try driving both.All of the points made in this thread reflect different peoples preferences and at the end of the day only you will know what works best for your driving style and your needs.Finding a C4 to test drive might not be that easy though as most people prefered the C2 so there arent that many around.

[milleman]

Never tried a C4, but my 3.6 C2 with PSM seems to have all the traction you could ever need in the wet-certainly on the road. Wouldnt want to compromise the boot space anyway.

[superlightr]

Raven Flyer said:

I'll admit that I don't have many C2 miles under my belt, but you can do things in the C4 that I would never dream of attempting in a C2. Pace in the wet is especially good. That's not to say you want to use this ability every day, but its very reassuring to know its there. The weight penalty for the 4WD system is only 55kg and as others have said, maybe this actually helps the feel of the front end.

Traction is better in a 4wd then a 2wd but grip is no different.

You can come off in a 4wd as you can in a 2wd. My advice is not to over estimate a 4wd car.

[Thunderfoot]

Having come from a STi Type R (a P1 on steroids), I was certain a C4 was the way forward, untill I drove one. I was left underwhelmed and wondered if a 911 was for me.
Then I drove a C2 (with sports pack). There was a huge difference. I bought said car and haven't looked back.

I honestly don't see a need for the C4 from the 996 up. The C2 is so well planted in all conditions that unless taming 420+ ponies (as per the TT), then 4WD just isn't needed.

[mercurius]

I will second the opinion that the C4 feels somewhat slow, heavy and numb as well as not very communicative...there is a "grown up" feeling about the way that it turns into corners in such a neutral way and the immense traction also makes the car feel slower on a straight line!

It just does not feel as involving a car to drive. I drove a 1999 C4 with 296BHP and I am really hoping that a 2002 facelift C2 with 316BHP will feel faster and more fun...otherwise it is bye bye 911 for me and back to the drawing board to find a car that is fast, reliable and exciting to drive!

Oh dear...just when I thought I had found it...