I test drove a 991.1 C4S cabriolet yesterday ... I had previously owned a 2013 C2 cabriolet. The thing that stood out the most to me was that the steering felt rather heavy on the car ... more so than I remember my C2 feeling.

The salesman suggested it might be due to the AWD and wider tires (car had 20s on it while my C2 had 19s). But my Ferrari has 20s and wide tires and steering is very light in comparison. I know that's not an apples to apples comparison.

My C2 also had the steering assist option on it, but I thought that was only applicable at lower speeds. They did not have a 991.1 C2 for me to compare the C4S to.

I have owned almost 20 911s since 1990, including several 993 Carrera 4s, and don't recall the steering being like this one. Anyone driven both back to back recently?

 

Definitely the AWD.

I owned a C4S, and when I drove the C2S, there was a notable difference in steering feel. Not sure heavier is the right word, but certainly different.

 

Having owned a 2012.5 C2s cab followed by a 2014 C4s cab, there is a definite difference in steering feel. I've also owned a 2013 Boxster S.

To me the C4s steering provides more feedback and a feeling of more "directionality" - the sort of point-and-shoot accuracy we had in the Boxster. I actually prefer it to the C2s.

Gordon

 

Having owned both, I prefer the heavier more planted feel of the c4s steering.

 

Had targa 4S and moved into GTS 2-coupe. Yes I can say certainly the GTS front wheels feel easier to turn, whereas the targa was decidedly harder. No PSP on either. At first I attributed it to the extra 300lbs the targa was carrying, but then decided that didn't make sense. It had to be the AWD. which do I prefer? It's definitely personal preference but the RWD GTS steering feels more precise and nimble, less numb, but the targa did have a more "on rails" feeling to it (whether that was actual or not I'm not sure since it weighs more). I prefer the RWD.

 

A couple of years ago I read a review that addressed this issue. In comparing the S vs 4S, the author gave the nod to the 4S because of the steering feel. He said it gave more feedback, and felt closer to the old style hydraulic steering.

 

I'm not sure who that reviewer was, but s/he likely only drove each car for a couple days, if that, in coming to their conclusion. I owned the T4S for nearly a year and now the GTS several months. In that ample amount of time I can definitely say the RWD car has more liveliness and feedback to it. The difference was so dramatic that when I was driving the new RWD car back from the dealership it was enough to put a sh** eating grin on my face - I could feel every little bump and road alteration as it fed back to the steering wheel. I knew exactly what the front wheels were doing and how they were pointed. I didn't get this kind of feedback from the Targa. Granted, they did update the steering I believe on the GTS from what I hear so maybe this had some to do with it.

 

going from awd 991 C4S cpe to rwd GTS coupe , the former's steering felt heavier -but not in a pleasant old school hydraulic way - more as if it had " stiction " esp on initial turn in and it had a loaded-up " fwd " feel on cloverleafs ...the latter giving it the sensation of being sl more " on rails " on long looping turns vs the GTS

( both cars driven and compared with identical OEM P Zero " wide body " tire sizes and set at same tire pressures )
( both cars were bought because they incorporate my preferred wide body ..neither were or will be driven in rain , so awd for foul weather was not reason for having the former car ...otoh, the awd 996 Turbo kept at my high altitude snowy Tahoe place , with its Porsche oem approved Nokian year round All Season " snowflake in mtn " embossed snow tires is a HOOT immed after the steep hilly roads are plowed after a snowstorm and esp in the unplowed fluffy fresh powder areas of local ski resorts' empty on weekdays perimeter parking lots !

the rwd GTS steering feels lighter , more spritely ...a tad less " planted " in long steady state cloverleafs , which for me , makes the car feel more sporty and " alive "

my wife asked me on our first outing with the rwd GTS if I could feel any real difference between the two cars " just driving around " ...my answer -which had nothing to do with the motor or chassis differences which are subtle at everyday in-town pace - was that the new car felt immediately very different - and better - because of its steering ....I replied it was as if 200 pounds of cement sacks had been removed from the front trunk of the old C4S !

it is far and away my favorite reason for enjoying the newer car over the prev one
...the chassis difference ( PASM / PDCC before , now Sport-PASM / PDCC ) and motor difference ( 400 hp / PSE/ Sport Chrono Plus before , now 430 hp /PSE/ Sport Chrono Plus ) are far down the list , after all the unique custom visual attributes of it being a Club Coupe , which come second !

 

4:30 into the video he discusses the steering wheel feel on the 4s vs S

 

PSP vs. non PSP will be noticeable below 2ish mph. Not above.

 

Thanks folks ... it was a 14 with some miles on it, might go take out a new one and see how that feels.