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How many of you drive your C4 12 months of the year in areas with appreciable snow? I'm trying to decide between a C2 and C4 and whether the car is a suitable daily driver in cold snowy climates like CO or MN. It seems a shame to leave the car parked 5 months of the year, on the other hand, maybe thats best??
Our Porsche, C2, is at our Colorado home. I wouldn't have any qualms driving in the winter with snow tires. One of the local dealers had a video showing a C2 driving around Denver in a snow storm. It was very impressive what the car could do. I'll see if I can find the video and post it.
I drive my 991 C4S in the winter when it isn't snowing. When it's snowing, I drive the Macan. However, my wife drives her 997 all winter regardless of the amount of snow. We have a set of winter tires mounted on 18" wheels and get some strange looks from SUV and pickup drivers as we effortlessly cruise through the snow.
Even though I own a Cayenne, kind of freaks me out to use it in a snowstorm. One idiot in a Camry sliding into you will cause a lot of heartache. If I need to use it, I do, but I have a smaller, cheaper, much more disposable Japanese SUV that we use in the slop with no reservations. I have a 911 on my list and a C4 would be nice here in the Northeast to get home before the snow gets deep. I have no doubt the car is awesome in snow...my fear is others who have no clue how to drive in it.
I have driven 911's in the winter for the past 15 years and live in Canada. Always a 4WD . They are amazing in the snow and with the rear engine will climb up hills effortlessly from a dead stop. W/ 4 winter tires, acceleration on a curve gives you confidence and surefootedness .
Once or maybe twice a year when there's a really deep snow then you've got a problem because the car sits so low and will hit bottom and drag in the snow
My Targa 4S is my year around daily driver. I toss Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4's on from mid October to mid April and although its not for drift busting, for most snowy driving conditions, she works like a charm.
I live outside Chicago, and my all wheel drive 911 is my only car and year round daily driver. As I have done with all my previous cars (Corvette's, M3's, etc.), I put snow tires on around Thanksgiving and take them off in the March/April timeframe.
The 911's all wheel drive system is fantastic - it has no problem handing heavy snow, slush and similar challenges.
I am going to try to get through this winter with a set of snows on a C2 and Uber when I don't feel like driving in the snow/slush/salt. I figure that will cost me about $500-1000 if I use it to commute 20-40 times plus I can work from home. Anyone try getting by with Uber? Also any 19" winter wheel recomendations?
I am going to try to get through this winter with a set of snows on a C2 and Uber when I don't feel like driving in the snow/slush/salt. I figure that will cost me about $500-1000 if I use it to commute 20-40 times plus I can work from home. Anyone try getting by with Uber? Also any 19" winter wheel recomendations?
Tire rack has a 19" Pirelli option that is as low as $2,500.
Thanks for the replies. I guess I need to decide if I want my new car to be a long time keep (6 years plus) with some end value - in which case it will be a C2, or a 3 year car on lease in which case it could be a C4 and a daily driver. I'm starting late with my first 911 (58) with the complication ( in the car buying decision) of 2 young kids (7, 10). The added factor is school drop off every morning. A short drive from our house (4 minutes) but while they fit in the car (I tested this a few weeks ago with an overnight demo), once the winter boots go on its a squeeze for their feet in the rear seats, even in my current 5 series. Given the choice, they always want to go in mom's mini van. In my case, this might be the deciding factor.
Maybe there are many here in their mid to late 60s, but I'm betting the majority of people in that age category are already out of 911s and into a Macan or Panamera by 65+. I suspect I'll do the same, so maybe I should park the 911 for the worst winter months and make it a single purchase last 6 or 7 years. I know the car is depreciating regardless, but I have to believe a 7 year old car with 40,000 miles on it is worth more than one with 65,000 miles that has been driven year round. I'd drive the 911 from March/April until the start of November. The difference night buy an AWD Subaru for the winters.
Interesting decision for me. A psychiatrist living around the corner from me drives his C4S year round, but now in his 60s put limited miles on the car and has no kids to haul. The kids might be the deciding factor here.
I'm 71 and intend to keep moving in my daily driver C4. My son the funeral director tells me not to sit in a recliner. He finds a lot of guys my age in recliners!
I have a 991 C2, live in Minnesota, and drive all year round. I have the factory 19" winter wheel set that I put on mid-November, the car drives great in the snow. I do a once a week car wash with the undercarriage wash, no problems. I also have two daughters, 10 and 12, they fit in the back perfectly, and with a little bit of coaching they can get in and out of the back with boots on without hitting the door sill or the back of the seat (winter mats in the back). I did the same thing with my base 997, same deal, works great in the snow.
07-28-2016, 07:01 PM
Winter Driving in the Snow Belt
