So Ive been looking to buy a 996 as a daily driver. In real bad weather the car stays in the garage. Not going to the track either. So either a 2wd or 4 or 4S is fine with me. I figure if I go for a 2002 or newer model then the extra HP kinda offsets the weight of the 4wd

I've read various articles about the 2wd being a bit lighter and quicker than the 4wd, makes sense given the weight difference. But is there really a noticeable difference between the two cars? I mean if I saw a good 4 or 4S would it make sense to hold of and wait for a 2wd because its lighter or wont the average driver notice the difference? Would a 4 or 4S be a better daily driver?

 

Good question and not sure I can be of much help just yet. I've read and heard differing opinions. I've read that with 5% power to the front wheels that the car maintains it's Porsche rear engine feel and that power to the the front ramps to a maximum 40% depending on traction conditions. My Porsche service manager says the handling of a 4S is dream and that the 4S is the most reliable. I've heard others say that it is slower than a C2 because of the weight and it drives like a truck.

I will hopefully know first hand by next weekend, my daily driver for the past four years has been an 04 C2, including in the winter with proper winter tires, except in the worst of snow conditions when I typically wouldn't get on the road anyway. I have an 04 C4S on the way. Will be interesting to be able to make a true comparison and see which car ends up as my daily driver.

 

IMO - NO

get a C4S if you can swing it, has to be the best looking one out of the group

unless you are driving on the edge and really tearing it up the weight and power will feel almost the same. if you have a chance to drive one of each (or more) do it...you will see - if you took two of them to a track and had the same guy race them around the total difference would be HUGE on the scale of 100ths of a second...but tiny on the scale of seconds....

 

The difference between a Carerra 2 and a Carerra 4 is 2 Carerras if you solve for X.

 

get the C4S, not only better looking because it's a wide body, but you get the sport suspension and brakes from the turbo. It make a huge difference, and you get the amazing grip from the all wheel drive. Install winter tires and it's a great winter car.

I test drove a bunch of 2002-2004 C2's when I was looking, once you try a C4S, you couldn't buy a C2.

The C4S, will only cost you a few $$$ more, maybe 5k? It's well worth it for what you get.

I've had my C4S for 6 years now, (bought used, no warranty) and with over 70k miles I never had any problems.

 

Thanks for the inputs guys.

I'll keep an eye out for a 4 or 4S.

So far the 2 cars I was interested in were sold before I even had a chance to go look at them.