911desire

I'm in the market to buy a 997.2 convertible very soon and narrowed down what I want. However, the one question I have is should I get the S or 4S. Does it matter? I live in PA but the car will not be a daily and most likely not come out of the garage during the winter season either. So, does the 4S matter?
Does the AWD system on the 997.2 have issues that need to be addressed? Are there components of that system that are prone to break? Does the car drive differently with or without it? I will not be tracking the car at all.
I've read some reports the 4S is wider than the S but other reports say they are the same. Which is it?
Also, are there any differences between 2009, 2010, 2011 years in terms of quality or reliability, changes made between the years?
Oh, and a manual trans is a must too.
Any other information would be appreciated.
Thank you in advance.

850tgul

I have never driven a 997 4 or 4S to compare to my RWD car, but those that have do say the 2 wheel drive car has better steering feel, which is completely logical given it has no front driveshaft and less weight up front. That is not to say the 4/4S drive like an Audi, just not quite as pure as the RWD cars.

4 and 4S both have the wide body, whereas the C2 and C2S do not.

The AWD system on the 997s seems to be pretty reliable, I have never heard of any horror stories, but additional maintenance from the extra diffs (fluid changes) should be noted.

No substantial differences between 09-11.

Given you will not be driving the car in the winter, I wouldn't bother with the AWD car. Having said that, if the right spec/color/mileage car comes up, and it's AWD, I also wouldn't dismiss it outright. 6MT 997.2 are hard enough to come by as it is.

Bets of luck on your search!

911desire

Thanks for the quick response and so much info.
Oh, so the 4 and 4S have the wider rear? And not the C2S? Interesting. I was under the impression the "S" models were all wider and the 4S was possibly the widest.

I have heard also the rwd does have a better steering feel and it does make sense.

Does anyone have any information for actual production numbers for 2009-2012 S and 4S with manuals? I found production #s for the years and models but not for transmissions.

Carreralicious

I have a .1 2S and drove a friend’s .1 4S back to back. Both manuals. I personally liked the way my 2S drove. The 4S has about 100 pounds more weight up front due to the hardware required for the AWD and the steering feels noticeably heavier. When you throw it into corners, the 4S feels secure but not chuckable like the 2S does. 2S just feels more like a sports car to me whereas 4S feels more secure but less nimble. 4S, due to the extra hardware required also has slightly smaller front trunk btw.

My 2S in front, and friend’s 4S behind:

soundbehindyou

Ah, the age old question asked many times on forums......bottom line, buy the best car you find. Unless you are "Parnelli Jones" (famous race car driver if the younger crowd does not recognize the name)....both cars will be great....personally the extra width (minimal) looks cool and driving at the limits which most of us are not capable of, would make the 4S safer as it could save your butt....as far as additional weight - negligible, and I believe 4S models cost more when ordered (and if you ever sell it back to Germany, the Germans love 4 wheel because of their environment).
As far as production numbers - as mentioned on this forum before, the 997.2 in 2009 - 2012 production was in a recession and less cars were produced along with the "new latest and greatest PDK", so about 80% were PDK...go find a manual 997.2S and you will not find that many.....
In my humble opinion, any 997.2 manual will be great - S, non S, four wheel or not.........
Bon Chance!

wardrive

I had a 997.1 C4S and now have a 997.2 RWD car.

Personally I think the wider hips on the C4S alone makes it look sexier and you can add more rubber on the rear wheels as well (305/30/19 I believe). As for the driving dynamics, its really going to be a personal preference. Personally the way the 997 RWD drives is a bit looser because the weight is missing up front compared to a AWD car. All the weight remember is in the back behind the rear wheels with the engine. So for me, I liked the heavier/solid steering feel of the AWD vs RWD. But to each their own.

Best advice was said just before - get the best car you can afford and enjoy. C4S tend to also be higher optioned when new. The model lineup was base, base 4, S, 4S, Turbo back when the the 997.1 was new (and the convertible variants of each). Targa I think only came in 4 and 4S I believe.

IrishWhiskey

If you live in a climate that it would be beneficial., and more a DD, ..then 4S is a great option to have. Otherwise 2S IMO...

But both are great...

I think 4S Cabriolet is best of all worlds...

JamesBaxter

Yeah AWD makes them a bit heavier in the front and it feels different at the limit, but I don’t mind (I don’t need AWD) and frankly like the wide body a lot more.

SpeedyD

Easy choice for me. 4S.

Better looks and better performance.

The feel is nearly the same in the .2 cars.

Rarer and will hold value better too.

NevilleNobody

Hands down rwd for me. I don't like the extra complexity and weight, and at the risk of sounding like a schmuck, you lose some purity too. I am also not a fan of the red bar on the back.

groovzilla

Having owned my now 7th 997, 3 997.1 C4S, 2 997.1 C4 and 2 997S cars here is my opinion:

I am older at 63 yrs old and don't drive like I did in my wild days. I still drive aggressively and find hardly any difference in performance between the 3.8 S motor and 3.6L motor.
Same goes for the slightly bigger brakes on the C4S & S models. I don't notice much of a difference at all. Maybe that's something determined on the track at higher speeds and more aggressive braking.

I do know that the 3.8L S engines are more prone to Bore Scoring. Lots of Threads/posts on this.
And I love the wider hips of the C4S & C4 and all wheeel drive is great in mountain curves..

So in summary, my choice is the C4 with the wider body and 3.6L engine. The car I currently own is a California born 2006 C4 with full leather, Short Shift kit, Fister Muffler that sounds just like PSE, lowered slightly with H&R springs and full service records

Good luck in your search and remember to Bore Scope Inspect whatever you buy.

Khloesdad

Personally I like some junk in the trunk. Go for the wide hips.

850tgul

Hard not to love the wide body, but also understandable to want the purest 911 experience you can get (at least in the water-cooled, non-GT world) in RWD.

Solution...pony up $100k+ for a 6MT GTS Coupe. Outside of the GT2/3 RS, the only wide bodied RWD 997.

qikqbn

This question has been asked in few threads already. Feel free to browse through these to get the full spectrum of the debates we like to have here on rennlist. Here are a couple threads... oldies, but goodies. Should keep you busy for a while

https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...s-or-4s-4.html


https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...4s-vs-s-2.html

Nate R

I was in your situation a few years back and had trouble finding a coupe MT S. (Countrywide search). A 4S popped up with PCCBs and I jumped on it. I have driven a 991 S but never a 997. Thoughts:

It is very fun in the rain, you can get the car sliding a bit and with older tires you would get axle hop from the rear tires spinning WOT in first (straight line) dry road. I have driven it in the winter and it does okay (don't get the back end swinging because it has a lot of momentum) but it was also on summer tires. Winter tires you would be pretty well set, other than the 4 inches of ground clearance.

It is a little heavier and maybe less pure. I had the AWD controller serviced and that isn't a big deal $100 or something at an INDY. Also replaced a front CV joint and that was like $1.2k. The weight will cost you a few tenths to 60 and a few mph top end. That said it is nothing like a Quattro and drives with a heavy RWD bias. Don't notice it really unless the roads are not dry.

The rear of the car looks great and I think looks better than an S, but this is subjective.

Having driven the PDK and the MT I would prioritize that over the S / 4S. Love driving it, no regrets here.

Good luck, you will most likely love whatever you end up with - they are great cars.