997 4S Alps (or alpine equiv)

[Over over under steer]

Hello all,

I currently have a Boxster 981, love it, particularly the sound with PSE, however I rather like my skiing and a bit fed up with flying there. As a kid we used to drive there every time, and actually I really enjoyed it.

Thinking about a 997 4S would be great for this task, has anyone had any experience with taking them to the alps in adverse conditions. How did they get on? Winter tyres would be on, but I'm thinking that the ground clearance + width of tyre would cause issues.

Thanks all

[Rich_AR]

Yup! I use my 997 4S for this! No issues with winter tyres on and plenty of traction to crawl out of ski resorts and negotiate snow covered roads etc. I've not been stuck yet. I've got snow chains, but not had to use them. Great car and fun sliding it around on the back roads. 100% recommend a 4S for this, of course you need to be sensible. Granted, it's no Landrover, but still, I saw many FWD cars getting stuck in the resort carpark last weekend and my 911 just rolled out without a fuss. Few pics:-

Taken in Austria last weekend on my way skiing, roads had plenty of fresh snow and it was early before the snow ploughs were out. No issues






Slovakia last winter:

Edited by Rich_AR on Tuesday 8th January 17:31

[Monch]

I am in the Alps in mine now. (991)
Awesome. winter tyres, roof box, wife and dog.
No problems

100% recommended!

[interstellar]

Great pictures, nothing better in the white stuff!

[MDL111]

Don’t have a 4wd 911, but the FF does very well in snow, even rather deep snow and I assume ground clearance is lower (wheelbase is a lot longer too) than on a 911 (and tyres are similar size, although a lot more weight clearly)

[ATM]

I've used winter tyres on my 981 and it was fine in snow. Can you physically carry your ski gear in / on a 981?

[CamL]

I use mine every winter for ski trips, winter tyres on and skis on the roof, and it feels just as secure as my old Rangie did on hard packed snow, and great fun to boot

With respect to ground clearance, it is not so much of an issue really. Generally speaking the snowy roads are pretty hard packed, it only takes a few cars in front to pack it down, or the snowplow of course. Deeper snow in the car parks is pretty soft straight after it falls anyway. My car is on Eibach lowered springs as well and I have not had issues that cannot be avoided somehow..

Also, with respect to the width of the tyres, remember that driving on snow is likely to only be a small proportion of the driving you do on the winter tyres. Personally I like to keep them wide so that normal road performance is not compromised too much. The standard issue SottoZeros are very good on both snow and dry cold roads i find.

I carry chains but have not used them on this car.

[Over over under steer]

ATM said:

I've used winter tyres on my 981 and it was fine in snow. Can you physically carry your ski gear in / on a 981?

Can't get what I need in it sadly, plus it's an open diff which probably wont help. Soft top on the boxster might be a bit difficult...

Rich_AR said:

Yup! I use my 997 4S for this!

Amazing photos Rich, that EXACTLY what I wanted to see, and a lovely example yours is. This should be enough to swing it at home too...

CamL said:

I use mine every winter for ski trips, winter tyres on and skis on the roof, and it feels just as secure as my old Rangie did on hard packed snow, and great fun to boot

Lovely to hear, I'm sold. I'll start the hunt for a nice 997.2 4S, manual being the must have for me - I've heard rumours they're pretty darn rare....


Thanks all for your comments, you might be happy to know I'll be proving this thread as hard evidence in the upcoming business case to be presented to Mrs OOUS

[Rich_AR]

Over over under steer said:

Amazing photos Rich, that EXACTLY what I wanted to see, and a lovely example yours is. This should be enough to swing it at home too...

People talk of using their sports cars in the snow, yet we hardly see any photos showing it. Apart from them gingerly rolling it out of the garage onto a snowy driveway

Over over under steer said:

I'll start the hunt for a nice 997.2 4S, manual being the must have for me - I've heard rumours they're pretty darn rare....

Yup, manual 997.2 4S will be rare find, good luck

[Over over under steer]

Rich_AR said:

People talk of using their sports cars in the snow, yet we hardly see any photos showing it. Apart from them gingerly rolling it out of the garage onto a snowy driveway

Well I'll certainly try to remember to send some photos in when it happens. I'm sure I took some of my old Lotus Elise in the light English snow....

[CamL]

Over over under steer said:

I'll be proving this thread as hard evidence in the upcoming business case to be presented to Mrs OOUS

Mrs L was sold on the efficient heating and roasting hot seats, plus the German reliability. More than once have we had a Land Rover flat-bedded back to the UK

[interstellar]

Rich_AR said:

Slovakia last winter:

Edited by Rich_AR on Tuesday 8th January 17:31

That's my new wallpaper for my pc sorted, Thanks Rich

[ATM]

Over over under steer said:

ATM said:

I've used winter tyres on my 981 and it was fine in snow. Can you physically carry your ski gear in / on a 981?

Can't get what I need in it sadly, plus it's an open diff which probably wont help. Soft top on the boxster might be a bit difficult...

The open diff thing is not a concern. The car drives fine on snow with full winter tyres. As do lots of other 2wd cars with an open diff. You really don't need 4wd with proper winter tyres.

[Over over under steer]

ATM said:

The open diff thing is not a concern. The car drives fine on snow with full winter tyres. As do lots of other 2wd cars with an open diff. You really don't need 4wd with proper winter tyres.

I had visions of one tyre fire going up any kind of incline, nice to know that isn't the case, now if only I could fit the gear in!

CamL said:

Mrs L was sold on the efficient heating and roasting hot seats, plus the German reliability. More than once have we had a Land Rover flat-bedded back to the UK

Now that's painful, more than once, well as Mrs OOUS is quite fond of the Disco 4s I'll also be citing this. Trying to keep us to one car as I work in London and have no need for one other than for enjoyment + golf club duties. I certainly couldn't live with a 'normal' car as my only one, I'd go insane...

[ATM]

Over over under steer said:

ATM said:

The open diff thing is not a concern. The car drives fine on snow with full winter tyres. As do lots of other 2wd cars with an open diff. You really don't need 4wd with proper winter tyres.

I had visions of one tyre fire going up any kind of incline, nice to know that isn't the case, now if only I could fit the gear in!

Porsche used to make a roof rack for the earliest Boxster. Obviously this wont help you.

Have you seen the Sun Sucker thing?

[Over over under steer]

ATM said:

Porsche used to make a roof rack for the earliest Boxster. Obviously this wont help you.

Have you seen the Sun Sucker thing?

I haven't, what's that?

Any two door sports car in the snow with a roof box is the epitome of cool in my book.

[Rich_AR]

ATM said:

Porsche used to make a roof rack for the earliest Boxster. Obviously this wont help you.

Have you seen the Sun Sucker thing?

You mean the SeaSucker? If so, they do look good. I did read a few MTB forums where these had failed and the bike ended up mangled on the motorway.

interstellar said:

That's my new wallpaper for my pc sorted, Thanks Rich

Edited by Rich_AR on Wednesday 9th January 12:39

[jonny996]

Me and the older boy have often thought about this as we prefer to drive, we could go a day ahead then just nip up to Geneva to pick Mrs & youngest up

[Monch]

Here is my 991 2S, yes, 2wd, on winters and the north face of the Eiger. :-)

It’s a bit tricky on 2wd, I’m used to bringing my 4wd here, it keeps the mind concentrated on the hilly bits and corners....

[Monch]

Ahh

Not quite as steep here as the photo shows:-)