breakdown

Looking for cars right now on the used market and I'm not having much luck finding used C4s. They are harder to come by and significantly more expensive. I am; however, seeing quite a few C2s with PSM for sale.

I live in Vancouver, BC so I'm driving on wet roads quite frequently. If the car does start to slide, how will the different cars react? From what I understand, PSM allows a certain degree of oversteer then kicks in and keeps the car under control. That sounds pretty good to me.

Basically what I'm wondering is how a C4 will react in a slide compared to a C2?

jumper5836

The C4 will pull from the front when PSM comes on. Turns in the direction the steering wheel is pointed faster with less man handling of the wheel. The C2 doesn't but is still totally controllable. The C4 can just can carry more speed while it is happening, not that is matters since your not going to be wanting to be going faster if it does happen.

I kind of experienced it with a C2 as steer from the back and not know if your not gona make it and hit the curb, or a C4 steer from the back and wait till the front kicks in and graze by the curb never knowing if you will clear it. Then going Whew!

smackboy1

I've owned and driven both a C4 (PSM is standard) and C2 w/ PSM through the snow/ice (both shod with the same Pirelli winter tires). However the C4 had a stock suspension and the C2 has X74. That being said, I notice that they are more similar to each other than they are different. The Porsche AWD system is very RWD biased. Under braking, I'd say they feel more or less identical. Under throttle with the C4, I can sense the front wheels pulling the car. The pull in the front is not as strong as in a front engine FWD car or other AWD systems which splits the torque more evenly front and rear. Examples of where this is noticeable is when the car is driving through tire ruts in the snow or when the car is making a turn in a low traction surface. With the C2 you feel the front end is a bit more skittish as the rear tires push the car through. With the C4, if you give it a bit of throttle, the front tires will pull the car a bit and the front end will feel more stable. Also, going up a slippery hill, the C4 has better traction, although it's no 4X4 and you can get stuck.

chsu74

Why wouldn't you consider importing a car from the US into Canada by yourself? There are many threads on this and it looks fairly straight forward.

rajeshr

Second this idea if you haven't already looked into the US market. You'll find quite a few C4's or C4S' there at savings over what you'll find in Canada. I did this a few months back for my C4S - let me know if you need more details or help.

ivangene

AND if you need someone to look at it before you head down... there are people down here willing to help out

rajeshr

Gotta say that are great people in Seattle willing to help out!

Have to say Ed was instrumental to my purchase! And the subsequent outflow of cash for the mods!

Sneaky Pete

Did he make you buy a wing? Sorry....couldn't help it.

rajeshr

Actually, he taught me a lot! (of what not to buy)!

gota911

IF Ed were to go to a Porsche swap meet, I can envision him being like Rodney Dangerfield (in the movie Caddy Shack) as he is walking through the Pro Shop

"I'll take one of these.... three of these.... two of these.... and a couple dozen of these! Oh yeah, throw in a couple of GT2 wings will ya?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=171FURqSIQc

missmy993

I bought a C4. If I did it again I would go 2WD. Why, a more pure P-car driving experience, less maintenance/potential maintenance. In terms of snow a recent article in C&D (I think) rated AWD/2WD cars w/ and w/o dedicated snow tires. The findings: Best is AWD w/ snows then 2WD w/snows then AWD w/ all season. I did drive my C4 one winter in MI with snow tires it was fine. I did not do it again bucause I hated seeing my car dirty all of the time.

Rob996

I bought my C4 from the US several years ago, (which was really easy to do, and far less drama than anything i had read)
My intention was to drive the car all year long and through the winter with a good set of snow tires. However, after speaking with my mechanic about winter driving, he explained that winter driving the C4isnt a problem at all and should perform very well. The problem was the salt and the asscoiated problems the salt causes to different parts of the car, especially engine coils, and corrosion on the brakes and other critical and expensive parts. The other posts are accurate in describing the AWD system being very rear biased. Another observation is ground clearance, and tire width over for a light car. All these factors negatively effect the ability to control this car well in snow and ruts. This is my fourth winter with the car in storage! I track my car, and the awd drive works really well on a wet track, and can corner faster than some on the 2wd's but will not rotate the same way through the corners. My next porsche will be rear wheel drive.
Good luck