Tyman

The 991.2 C2 checks many, many boxes for me -- however I am concerned that without the PTV+/LSD, it might be a problem in the Snow. I would probably go with a 19" winter tire/wheel set.

I'm in Kelowna, BC where the roads are ploughed consistently, but there is the odd steep grade. My current Audi has been great in winter. Years ago I got by fine with an RWD Infinti on winter tires. (But I had to be careful with the throttle)

Any 991.2 C2 snow experiences to share? Will I be fine, or should I hold out for a C4?

Al.Fresco

Good winter snow tires is the first priority and will allow a C2 to perform quite well in the snow. Keep in mind, most of the weight is over your drive wheels, so acceleration traction is pretty good.


That said, a C4 will provide additional traction during acceleration over that of a C2.

asia

991.2 C2 features Automatic Brake Differential (ABD), a component of Porsche Stability Management (PSM):

If one wheel on a driven axle starts to spin, it is braked so that the other wheel on the same axle can be driven.

Onesided spinning of the wheels is prevented even when PSM is switched off.

Wintertime in Sierra I drive my Toyota Land Cruiser exclusively.

KenTO

I would go for AWD. I have had issues with RWD cars with winter tires going up inclines in the past, especially with how wide Porsche tires are.

Homeles

Stay with the Audi.

mb1

I drive my 991 C4 all winter in Chicago. Snow tires are mandatory. Previously owned a 996 C2 and a 997 C4. In poor conditions, the C2 did fine, but the C4 does better. Lots of debate on Rennlist about the overall virtues of C2 vs C4, but there's little disagreement that the C4 (or C4S) is better for snow.

py0413

The key is to have a set of proper snow tire for whatever winter condition you need to deal with. I have a X5 with all-season tires and it was trapped several times in snow last year here in Vancouver, BC. I regret not getting winter/snow tires and bet on the AWD would do me good, well, didn't work out quite the way I hope.

If if it was me, I'd probably go with the C4 considering the area where you live.

By the way, is the rumored new Porsche dealership in Kelowna now open?

verstraete

I drove a base 991.1 C2 without LSD on 19 inch Pirelli Sottozero winter tires for four winters and used the same tires last winter on my current 991.2 C2S, with standard PTV/LSD. The 991.1 C2 was once unable to climb a moderately steep grade in shallow, but slippery, snow near my house that I had no problem with in the past with other RWD performance cars. I have no idea if the LSD in the C2S would have made any difference, but rather doubt it.

I tend to attribute the problem to the apparent availability of only winter performance tires, like the Sottozeros, in 991 sizes, rather than true hard core studless snow and ice tires, like the Bridgestone Blizzaks, which I had used on my previous RWD cars. The Tire Rack clearly distinguishes between the characteristics of winter performance tires and studless snow and ice tires.

If snow traction were really important, I would choose a C4, rather than a C2. After the first two winters, I decided to longer drive a 991 as my only car, but now also have a SUV for snow, etc.

Tyman

Porsche Kelowna should be opening in a matter of weeks I think. I was at an Audi track day at Area 27, and they had a Porsche tech there and he told me August 1st was the target, but that was in May. (The Porsche guys were working out of the Audi dealership as they have the same parent company)

Tyman

Thank you, this is great to know. I can always use my wife's XC90 in a pinch. I like the idea of a versatile year round machine.

budrichard

After spending a Wisconsin winter and two Snow Cross's at Road America with my C4S, I like our XC70's in the snow(Nokian WR G3) much better than my 991.2 C4S with ContiWinterContact.
The C4S does OK in snow where the tires can get a grip but I found during a Snow Cross that in an icy/wet start box, the C4S(PDK) would just spin the wheels to no avail and the best strategy was to keep upshifting as soon as I got any momentum going.
Photo is testing in a large University Parking lot before the plows get to it.-Richard

GrantG

LSD/PTV is a very helpful option for snow with a C2. Mechanical LSD works much better than electronic ABD alone.

subshooter

Except you can't get PTV with a C2 - it is and never was offered as an option. Only base car to have it is the C4 but only as an option. S and GTS comes standard.

asia

I prefer 991.2 lateral dynamics without PTV. I'm glad a car without is an option.

Also, the LSD on my 996.2 GT3 had very poor longevity, but IMO the car handled fine on dry tracks with it being inoperative, so no problem. Maybe the technology is more reliable now.