Palting

In Nurburgring, the track times that have been posted show the C4 to be the slowest, the C2 faster, and the C4S faster than the C2. All the above using stock cars.

Unfortunately, here in the US, only the C4 was available for 1999-2000. For track use, I'd go with the C2 over the C4 for that MY. For 2002 and up, I'd go with the C4S over the C2. Of course, the fact that I bought the C4S over the C2 has absolutely nothing to do with that opinion, heh-heh-heh .

Curt911

I'd say it all depends on the driver/car/track

Ray S

I agree w/Jim. I am not buying the "Tire Management" idea at all. You may be pulling out of turns with all four tires, but you would also be cornering and braking with significantly more weight.

In my opinion the C4 has three strikes against it when going up against a C2 on in a road course.

1) More Weight
2) Additional Drivetrain losses (less power to the wheels)
3) Understeer (the C4 has more)

The understeer may help a novice with confidence problems but at the end of the day the C2 will out accelerate, brake, and corner a C4. The again maybe I'm wrong and we'll soon see the 997 GT3 or GT2 with all wheel drive.

However....throw some snow in the mix and it all changes!

stiles_s

It appears that Porsche feels 2wd is a superior overall solution for their most sporting of 911s, which should go a ways towards answering your question:
- GT3, and
- GT2

I think I remember Stuck mentioning that the C4s would likely be quicker (than the C2) in the hands of an inexperienced driver. Makes sense.

Mr. C4

C2 is quicker in capable hands while a beginner would be faster in the C4. Using the "Ring" for measuring track capablities is not accurate since it does nor resemble any other track in the world.

Ciao,

Johannes E.

fast1

Anyone who has ever raced knows that weight is critical. My personal preference is the C4 for the road and the C2 for the track. I just love the feeling of security you get driving a C4 in the rain.

Kevin H. in Atl..

The beauty of the 'Ring in determining a car's track capabilities is that it combines the challenges of both short, tight tracks and longer, faster tracks in each lap. So, if you are not setting up a car for a specific use, re: autocross, vs say, 2.5 mile road courses, if you simply want evaluations of a singular setup which could be used on a variety of tracks, the 'Ring lap time is an excellent measurement of overall vehicle performance capability and is generally accepted by the automotive industry as such.

Many manufacturers now use the 'Ring for performance testing and suspension design and calibration. Hell, even Cadillac, a luxury sedan manufacturer, does so.

TT Surgeon

The 'ring' is an excellent measure of a car, that's why all the major manufactures test there and compare the relevant data obtained. I couldn't think of a better tool to compare Porsche models/ F cars/ L cars/ corvettes/ etc..

Fast40th

I'm sure there's a reason why the supreme C2 based GT3 is not an AWD car...

Riad

I'm always amused by these threads. How many of us could actually push a C2/C4 to it's limits? It's like making sure you have Tiger Woods' clubs even though you shoot a 98.

TT Surgeon

Well put.

jumper5836

The GT3 and GT2 don't have AWD because it wouldn't be able to race in their respective categories if it did.
AWD has an advantage but the extra wieght negates it. A C2 should come out on top on tracks with longer straights and not so tight corners. That extra .2 or .3 faster exceleration on a C2 is quickly lost when you have to break much earlier on a tight corner.
The C4 in my opinion is for rallies and extreme weather or endurance racing. Anyways it is fun to drive both.

Ray S

In fact, the opposite is true. You will have to brake sooner in a C4 due to higher vehicle weight. Addidionally, the C2 will allow for higher cornering speeds due to lower weight and less understeer.

Ray S

I disagree. Have you ever spun your car at the track or autocross course? If so you were not only at the limit, you exceeded it. Porsches are driven on the Ring, in DE's and Autocrosses every day all over the world by amatuer drivers. These drivers often take their cars up to (and some times over) their limits. You don't have to be Schumacher to experience this just as you don't have to be Tiger Woods to have fun on a golf course.

PS - If Tiger Woods has a new se of clubs that will take a golfer from a 98 to a 95 and the price is right, I'l bet he'll find a few takers.

stiles_s

It's a tricky call, since the C4 will allow you to get on the gas sooner on corner exit. Also remember that the 996 C4 was named the best handling car in the world at the time. Not an understeering pig a'la Audi (see my sig ).

Given where I live, I would have gone C4 (narrow body) had they been readily available in '03. The C4s has never been my cup 'o tea.