I'm so nervous. I have butterflies. I'm probably going to order my car this week. I've waited most of my life for this moment and it's actually about to happen. Not to sound dramatic or anything but the day I get my Porsche will be a day I will remember for the rest of my life. So, S or 4S? At this point I'm leaning toward 997C4S. I'de appreciate your feedback.

Hey, Lori--I don't think you can go wrong with either choice. I think it depends a lot on the kind of driving you do, the weather conditions in your area, etc. I think most people feel the C2S is a little more "tossable" i.e. lighter and nimbler. The C4S has the advantage of 4WD but it is a little heavier. Many people like the looks of the C4s better because of the wider wheels, but it is also more expensive. Would you really drive a C4S in the slushy, salty road conditions? I don't think I would but maybe you don't have those conditions or don't care. The point is, you have to ultimately decide what you want the most and what you are able to afford. But nobody will diss you for either choice--they're both great cars. Good luck with your decision.

Thanks Vintage, I'll be avoiding bad weather and wider hips, to me, just mean more paint to get scratched by flying road debris. What is important though is a well behaved car that feels secure when I hit the twisties.

The C2S will fill that bill just nicely. Will you be opting for the 6 speed or the Tip? Once you get past those two major choices the rest should come easy, unless you're hung up on color choices like a lot of us often are.

I like the 6 speed manual, probably with sport shifter and I'm torn between Bassalt Black and Carrera White.

I drove the S and the C4S last weekend. I expected to like the C4S more but actually liked the S better. It felt little more livelier and more fun to me. It also felt a tad bit quicker from the start. Both are good and you can't go wrong with either one. Personal preference I guess...

Lori, congrats and good luck. I just got my first P-car and I couldn't agree more about the excitement and the anticipation. Sounds like the C2S fits your requirements best and you can use the extra $$ for needed/useful options like the TPMS and self-dimming mirrors (both of which I really wish I had). I have the sport shift kit (like it but don't have any experience to compare it to). My car has a lot of options (the dealer spec'ed it out) so let me/us know if you have any other questions? BTW, I prefer the Bassalt Black over the White but that is just a preference.

C2 sounds like the car for you, but if you want that C4 and are afraid of getting your hips scratched and nicked, you can always have some "clear bra" material placed in those areas!

There is nothing like a Porsche, especially a new one. You can't go too wrong in your choice, except the color. IMHO the Bassalt would be my last choice if I had to do it over again, it looks dirty to me, or maybe faded is a better word choice. The white would be my pick. I have the Artic, and although not my first choice, and I have grown to really like it.
Enjoy this precious time in your life and post pics when you get her.
Best of luck!

Doc

Lori, it appears that you are on the west coast. Which dealership are you planning to order through?

get the 4S X-51, have the model designation removed, and pretend it's the new turbo until the turbo comes out, then buy that one too

The Basalt Black is gorgeous. It has so much depth. I think it's my favorite, and will definitely be the color on my next one.

I had the butterflies a bit too -- it was the most I've ever spent on a car in my life. And even during the first weeks, I found myself wondering if I really "need" such a car. But that went away pretty quickly after I realized how much enjoyment the car brings.

Good luck and order what you want, even it if costs a bit more on the front end. You don't want to have any regrets later on. And the nominal extra cost is easier to deal with than regret.

I ordered my fourth Porsche the other day after a lot of research on options. I can relate to the price issue,--is this NUTS or what? Well, what else will I do with the money? My 997S Cabriolet 6-speed won't show until May 06 as it's a paint to sample car with a lot of additional options. This will be my second factory delivery and my third 911. Gulf Blue with Cocoa top and full cocoa leather interior. Adaptive seats, etc. etc.

Dan

Believe me, I know how you feel. I actually put the money down for a C4s Cab a couple years back and cancelled when the car was only a week away from the dealership. It was REALLY hard for me to commit to spending this much money, but I cdecided to go for the C4s for the added stability on dry payment. With that said, I've been amazed at the videoes I've seen of the 997 C2s on wet pavement sticking like glue, so perhaps I'm overly nervous about putting my rear end in a ditch or guard rail. Overall though, I think I made the right choice and I hope to remember the day for the rest of my life mysef.

Good luck and enjoy!

Lori...
I second the emotion! If you didn't have butterflies, would this be as enjoyable a process? IMO the entire 997 line is quite solid and any of us '1st p-car people' would probably be in love with any of them.
I personally think the decision to go 2 vs 4 should depend on your weather needs. If the car is going to be your daily driver AND it snows/rains a fair amount where you live then I think the extra 9 grand is worth it for the AWD (plus the extra 2 grand for extra rims + snows!).
For what car mag reviews are worth, here are some of the summary points that seem to be a common denominator for the 997 line:
1) the AWD 997 corners more like a 'regular sports car' than a 911 - this will naturally be a polarizing factor to different drivers
2) for the first time, the 4S accelerates and tracks as well as its 2S counterpart (e.g. 0-60 same, 0-100 0.1 sec slower for 4S, identical Nurburgring times w/Rohrl at the helm, top end 3 mph less for 4 vs 2)
3) The 2S is an amazing car,...get the 4S if you need the AWD.
I will be curious to see what the braking tests will be for the 4/4S vs 2/2S. The 4-line has extra rubber in back and a PSM modification which 'preloads' the brakes when an abrupt throttle lift occurs.
As for the looks, the rear hips are really sweet on the 4, but both the 2 and the 4 have a nice butt (it's not like the lack of 1.5 inches makes the 2 look like an anorexic's ***).
SORRY FOR THE LONG POST PEEPS - as some may recall, I was away and without internet access for about 3 weeks and experienced an often painful Rennlist Withdrawal Syndrome (RWS, Stage V - the worst)...and, I'm still on vacay and refuse to acknowledge that I still have lots of responsibilities other than playing on the computer.
Oh yeah, back to the original point,...GOOD LUCK LORI. Rennnlisters helped me decide on the right p-car for me and the right options for me. You don't need everything on your car, just most of it!