thesheik

Hello All!
I have never owned a Porsche but am interested in buying a 996 this summer. I have narrowed my preference to the 99 to 01 996 Coupe. The big question I have is whether to spring for the C4 or if the C2 is the way to go. The car will mostly be used in Seattle, and will generally be my daily driver. I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee already that I can use on really bad (snowy) days. I wanted to see if anyone had input on the C4 vs. C2? Thanks in advance!

newport996

Well the C2 is lighter and handles differently than a C4...The C4 is more sure footed in bad weather or wet road conditions. The C4 drives very differently than a C2...Drive them both and you decide. One other thing. the C4 holds its value slightly better. The C4 is usually more of a fully optioned car, It comes with PSM standard. A C2 can range from bare to fully loaded, which in a Porsche is MAJOR. Again, look at LOTS of cars and see the options and decide on what you want. I have a C4 cab, and I LOVE the AWD system...I also drove many C2's and I had no preference either way.

DanDotDan

It's all a matter of preference since they're both great cars. I went with the C4S for four reasons: all-weather capability in Delaware (where we get real snow three or four times each winter), the way-cool wide-body look, the turbo suspension, and the standard features including full leather. Plus I fell in love with the car the first time I saw it.

All I can recommend is the standard advice - drive as many cars as you can and see what you like.

Palting

Wooho. Here we go again .

I suggest a search. This has been debated to death on this board.

A point of clarification. A C4 is not a C4S. Only the 996 C4 coupe was available here in the US through 2001. The C4 cab was available longer. 2002 and up, only the 996 C4S coupe was available. The C4 is a narrowbody AWD. The C4S is AWD, widebody, sports suspension, etc.

Nutbeem

We need some kind of a Cyber Siberia for people who ask the same questions over and over.

Lordy lordy....

Dharn55

Palting, you are a little mistaken on the C4. I know C4 Cabs were available in 2000 as I have one. I am also sure I have seen 99 C4 cab owners here on the forum. No big deal, both the C2 Can C4 are great cars. You are cetainly correct that C4's are narrow body and C4S are the wide body.

Palting

What I meant was, that the 996 C4 cab was still available beyond 2001, unlike the C4 coupe. I think they started in 1999, and I believe they continued until the 996 C4S cab and the 996 turbo cab became available in 2004.

TurboMark

I have a 1999 c4 which I realy enjoy. I have drive c2's many times and like them both. It is a slightly different drive but my opinion is that you do feel more glued to the road in a c4. just my .02.

roberga

sheik: If you can swing a 2002 it is a much better car. Look forward to you joing the club. Do not forget to join the NW porsche club. It is a lot of fun. A very active region. Check ou the website. We have AutoX and DE coming up in a couple of weeks. Stop by if you can.
www.pnwr.org

heelix

Well, I bet you are warmer - but I drive my 2001 c4 year round here in MN. Not the same style of driving as the c2, but lots of fun none the less.

Alan C.

Rick H. Wrote:
Hey Rick it's the guy's first post. How would he know it's been asked over and over?

thesheik

Wow, great responses! I did try to search other threads but never saw a straight up one versus another question posed. Roberga, I actually have a buddy in the NW club, I travel a lot but am going to try to get out at the next opportunity. BTW, beautiful car!!! My sense is that C4 people are more apt to respond to this question as everyone that posted here has a C4. Any C2 people care to challenge/debate? Thank you all for your responses, I'm glad I asked the question because I wasn't aware that the Widebody (which I want) is the C4S.

smackboy1

I was in you shoes a few months ago so for the sake of clarity and at the expense of redundancy here is the summary (this is for the US market):

up to 2001 available naturally aspirated 996 models (had the 300 hp 3.4L engines) included:
C2 coupe
C2 cab
C4 coupe
C4 cab

2002+ available naturally aspirated 996 models (these "facelifted" cars had the larger 320 hp 3.6L engines+turbo style lights+stiffer suspsension+cabs have glass rear windows) included:
C2 coupe
C2 cab
C4 cab
C4S coupe
C4S cab in 2004

(note that in the US the C4 coupe was no longer available in 2002)

As to the C4 vs. C2 debate, the C4 is a little heavier and more $. Driving the speed limit in dry/wet street conditions I would be hard pressed to notice much difference. I find the benefit of the AWD is when accelerating and need more grip e.g. snow, ice, heavy rain. The front tires give that extra margin of grip when the rears are losing it. It gives no help in stopping. Regardless of C4 or C2, you will need winter tires for driving in snow/ice, and ground clearance will be your biggest enemy in the deep snow. IMHO if you want to drive your car in poor traction situations AWD would be 3rd most important, behind good tires and PSM.

Hope this helps.