Ok, I'll pause for laughter.. but how can you tell the difference between the 2 just by looking? I know the 4 is wider in the back (inch or 2, hard to tell), but what other clues or are there vin differences? I guess you could look underneath.. but if there is a aero kit and undertray... it is kinda hard to tell.

Thanks in advance!

 

Hmmm, no the back-end is tha same. Ooh ooh, I know. It says Carrera 4 on the back!!

 

Carrera 4 have silver-painted brake calipers from factory.
Carrera 2 have black-painted ones.

 

and the Carrera 4S have the wide body (I think)

 

That's correct, the C4S is the wide body (turbo body), but was only available 2002+ in the 996 model. Easiest way to distinguish is as arr0gant stated, it says Carrera 4 vs Carrera on the back.

 

The badging is obvious...IF the badge exists.

 

Other than the badge and caliper color there is no wat to tell by looking....if you can get into the front trunk it has less room than a C2 because of the front diff. Oh on wet roads it wont be sideways...lol...

 

Sadly, its seems with many german car enthusiasts like to debadge the cars and some makes allow to order the cars without them. Not to mention the people who get fake badges.. I have seen a million S500 badged as S600

 

but why does it matter? They are both great 911's...if you are buying one you will know.....

 

It does matter, because I appraise them for my company. If there is an easy way to tell I won't have to put them on a lift. This will allow me to cut down on the time it takes to do an appraisal.. making happier customers

 

Yes look in the front trunk. No way to hide the front diff and stuff.....now a GT3 (and GT2?) which is a RWD also has the same space as teh C4/C4S/TT...they use the C4/C4S/TT chassis for the stiffness. Also look on the registration! I am sure there is a way to tell via the VIN number as well as there is a code for the model, I just dont have that info..but you can google that....Also look at the car ID stamp...wont it say Carrera 4?????? LOTS of ways to tell if you are appraising it. most of us thought you meant if one drives by you.....

 

Popping the trunk lid makes it very obvious. A C4 won't have a spare, a false bottom on the floor with tools underneath and the big hump in the back. Porsche did make a non-widebody 996 C4. The C4S is the widebody, essentually a Turbo body without the turbo engine or the turbo engine lid. The other key indicator (besides the emblem on the back) of a C4 over a C2 is the C4 came with gray painted brake calipers with the same brakes as the regular C2.

 

I have an 02 C4, and yes less space in the front. My spare blowup tire sits at the bottom in a false compartment.
And I have silver/brushed calipers (soon to be red )

 

If you are appraising it, does the insurance paper tells you what model it is?

If you still not sure, just turn the front wheels and look for the drive shaft....

 

Drive it fast and see if it understeers to oversteers.