Kolshak

Approximately how much more does a C4 cab weight then a C2 coupe (MY99 to 01)?
I realize they have very different characteristics overall, but does the added weight make a noticable/significant difference in straight line line performance for the above MY's?
Thanks

racer

Yes. it does. The C4 starts about 100lbs heavier. I imagine that a cab is another 150lbs so, 250lbs difference? I notice the difference when a 250lb weight is removed from my car. Noticable? yes. Significant? no.. a few .10s to 60 for example.

newport996

Yes but given there is also a +/- 10% variable on engine output.....this can make up for it, or make it worse...lol...I have a C4 cab, and its plenty fast....is is faster than a C2 coupe...probably not...BUT I have been on drives and have not been left in the dust by a C2 coupe....

Rob in WA

Porsche's numbers ( MY01 6-speed ):

C2 Coupe = 2,910 lbs
C4 Cab = 3,197 lbs

C4 Coupe = 3,032

Ray S

I can feel a handling difference in my cars with as little as 50 lbs in the front trunk. Additionally, I have driven a C2 and C4 back to back at a Porsche dealer event (autocross/slalom/etc) and the cars did handle differently.

Evo published an interesting article in March 1999 titled "OK Computer? Carrera 2 vs. Carrera 4" where they tested a '99 996 C2 w/traction control against a '99 996 C4 w/PSM in the wet and dry with TC & PSM "on" and "off". It is a very interesting article if you can find it.

Ray S

Also, don't forget about the parasitic HP loss off the front driveline in the C4. I don't think it adds much drag, but it will play a small part (along with weight) in straightline acceleration. (In other words if you put the exact same engine in a C2 and a C4 and strap them to a dyno the C2 should put slightly more power to the wheels)

evansaero

Darn... the articles only go back to 2002

M3killa

Weight is huge............ If I put a fat friend in the seat next to me, the car is totally different.

Kolshak

Wow, almost 300 lbs. Throw on a hardtop & it's approaching 400.
That's like having Butterbean climb in your car!

Rob in WA

Yes you give up some performance for added safety and fun. Porsche states a .2 second difference 0-60 ( 5.0 vs. 5.2 ). Porsche's numbers are conservative though, C2s are in the 4.8 second range and I was able to pull this in my C4 cab.



Quibbling about .2 seconds on the street is silly anyway. When I'm on the track I drive this.



It'll smoke a GT3 and is more fun to drive and cheaper to own/maintain.

Kevin H. in Atl..

FWIW, to add one more data point:
'99 C2 Cab = 3,070lbs, iirc.

10 GT3

Those are unloaded base curb weights and are not reflective of real world loaded weights.

Car and Drivers 99' high option C2 coupe (18" turbo look wheels, Hi-Fi and digital sound, but no power seates) weighed 3149 lbs. So much for the 99' being so light. There is also a big misconceptions about the later cars being a lot heavier (except for the C4S on the bigger turbo chassis). You have to keep in mind that these are base curb weights unladen without any options or fluids. Porsche factory claims the 02-04' is 20 kg (44 lbs) heavier than the early 99'. That difference is completely evaporated when you look at how much less the later 18" Carrera wheels than the earlier 18" turbo-looks and the extra standard equipment in the later cars that was optional and not taken into account with the older cars. Car & Driver's 03' C4S coupe test car weighed 3424 lbs. The C2 tip cab they tested was around 3600 lbs. These are fully loaded cars tested on scales, not someone's theory.

Keep in mind the the C4 chassis (without the AWD drivetrain) weighs over 75 lbs more than the C2 chassis. This is the reason why a GT3 is so much heavier than a regular C2. I don't believe any of the major magazines tested a C4 cab, but the reality is that this is a 400-500 lb difference. Add another 120 lbs if it is a C4S over a C4.

The best way to realistically look at it is to weigh the car. I had my car on corner weight scales and it weighed 3130 lbs on the scales (02' C2 6-sp, 1/2 tank gas, no driver, 18" Carrera wheels, Bi-Xenon, Bose, factory power seats, spare and tools still in the truck, no rear seat and Fabspeed mufflers). With the rear seat and original mufflers it will be 50-60 lbs heavier. Keep also in mind the weight of gas. Gas weighs about 6 lbs a gallon which means there is about a 100 lb difference between a full and an empty tank.

Kevin H. in Atl..

This is precisely why these weights published by Porsche (one single consistent source and method) are helpful in determining the difference in weight between the various models. This takes the quantity and weight of the numerous options out of the equation.
It does not matter that these weights are not "real world loaded weights" as the discussion is merely the difference in weight of the two models.

Rob in WA

So to recap the weight differences (these are all Porsche's numbers):

C2 - C4 = 122 lbs
Coup - Cab = 165 lbs
So...C2 Coupe to C4 Cab = 287 lbs
6 speed - Tip = 99 lbs
3.4l ( MY01) - 3.6l ( MY02 ) = 55 lbs
3.6l C4 - C4S = 153 lbs

Turbo Look Solid Spoke wheels ( 17" is stock ):
7.5" x 18" = 24.91 lbs.
10" x 18" = 29.32 lbs.

18" 5 Spoke Carrera wheels:
8" x 18" = 20.50 lbs.
10" x 18" = 22.70 lbs.

A 10.03 lb difference.

I just don't see how anyone can say it's 400-500 lb difference, even if they don't weigh the cars w/the wheels on.

Steven C.

All I know is that when I first started shopping for a 996 I drove a C4 and it felt heavy and slow to me. Then went and drove a C2 and ended up buying one.

Now wait a minute...in the C4 I had a friend with me and the C2 I was by myself? Oh well, never mind