fauvre

I'm going to buy an 09 997 and am trying to figure the better track car - S or 4S? With the PDK the 4S performance dis-advantage (straight line) is substantially less, and the 4wd may provide track advantages. What are everyone's thoughts, especially the track-car people? I last PCA raced a 911SC so it's been a long time for me...

Meister Fahrer

The C4S acceleration is probably better with the PDK, but still you're carrying a bunch more weight around the track, in turns, during braking.

Thought I heard the new cars have LSD standard?
I may be wrong on that, but I'd shoot for lower weight, that is non-C4....

Edgy01

For track you have to consider weight first and foremost. The handling of the 2WD cars is incredible. The real NEXT question is whether you can fully exploit what it can do for you.

Alan Smithee

No, it won't.

tooloud10

Depends on the track. I recall that the 996 C4s did indeed offer slightly lower lap times on tight courses.

Crazy Canuck

and understeer



2wd is more fun

kauai_diver

Will there be snow on the track?

cole328

yes, but that fat **** is nice......

Alan Smithee

The 996 model line was configured differently. The 996C4S had improved brakes and suspension when compared to the 996C2 (there was no 996C2S; closest thing was the 996 40th Anniversary model). The 997C4S has the same brakes and suspension as the 997C2S...it adds only weight and wider rear track (which increases understeer...the last thing the 997 needs on the track).

996toomey

If you look at the PCA classes the 997S runs in the same class as a 997 TT. If you look at POC classes the 997S runs in a class higher than the 997C4S. Also look at the GT3; Porsche's track oriented car rear wheel drive only. IMO the 997S would be a better choice for track use.

ELUSIVE

There is a reason why ALL of the Porsche 911 race cars are rear wheel drive. Period!

wa2go

As someone very close to taking the plunge for a 997 C4S, this topic interests me.
I foresee maybe doing a FEW autocrosses now and again, perhaps zero to two or three per year, but mostly just commuting and spirited driving on the back country roads (the twistier the better). Probably no track use at all.
Being in the northeast, I want a year-round driver, as this would be my only car. I was thinking I could put snows on the C4S and be OK on snow & ice. Am I dreaming, or is it a viable year-round one-and-only car?

All aesthetics aside, what are the objective reasons one would want a C4S over a C2S (or vice versa), strictly from a driving/handling/performance/reliability/maintenance standpoint? (Assuming driving habits I described above.)

fauvre

Thanks for all of the comments - I was specifically looking for the feedback from track cars, and the class differentials between the 2S and 4S cars is convincing.
The new C4S does have PDK, saving substantial weight, as well as a new 4wd system which is supposed to provide less understeer - so I think the difference in the 'new' 997 configuration will be much less than previously. The new C4S curb weight is 3,241 vs. 3,219 for the C2S - the C4S figure is from Automobile magazine which had this to say about the new 4WD system:

[I"Aiding Launch Control in its task of catapulting the 911 out of the gate is the new electronically controlled all-wheel-drive system. Porsche Traction Management was taken directly from the 911 Turbo and replaces the viscous coupling that was in the previous Carrera 4 and 4S. The system can vary the torque split front-to-rear in any ratio within 0.1 second and is only limited by the front axle's 295-lb-ft maximum. It uses lots of signals - like steering angle, wheel slip, and lateral and longitudinal acceleration - and, as we discovered on a special low-mu track, does a superb job of shuttling power around to make any driver look like a hero, even on a slippery surface. As long as the driver stays in the throttle, the car will also avoid the need for the stability program to intervene by way of the brakes."[/I]

adfsouth

IMO, the only reason to get a C4S over a C2S is for winter weather or because of it's nice looking wide ****. For track duty, I would go RWD.

InTheAir

Daily driver in the NE, year round? The 997 will do GREAT (with snow tires). The AWD is better in the wet weather (rain/snow) for the daily commute, IMO.

You can certainly drive it year round, like me and a lot of other 997 owners.