Originally Posted by docfink

I feel the C4S is necessary: Those wide rear fenders seal the deal for me--AWD not withstanding!

Originally Posted by Edgy01

Having come from the older series of 911 cars (with the 60% - 40% weight bias to the rear) with no special traction control or PASM capabilities, I had to learn how to handle a heavily rear biased automobile. It's particularly challenging with more than average power, and with adverse road conditions (wet or snowy). That being said, the latest generation of 911, the 997, has very much dialed out that tricky handling. Have you ever really LOOKED at the width of the rear tires on these things? The tire width, along with PASM and ABS brakes has virtually eliminated the need for AWD in a 911. Porsche was forced to make all their turbo models since the 965 into AWD cars because there are a lot of people out there with more money than driving skills--something they learned with the 930 as secretaries borrowed their boss' cars and then wrapped them around trees--and then sued Porsche for making inherently unsafe cars. Hogwash! Once you understand how to drive a rear drive, rear weight biased automobile, you will eventually learn why that combination has been and remains so popular in Formula 1 racing. And in Porsche driving. I can't tell you how many times I have seen people assume that they can do more with a 4WD or AWD car in adverse road conditions. These are the people who have to have their vehicles towed out of ditches after a snowstorm. The RWD guys keep things dialed in and don't get tempted to do things that will result in an accident. I don't know about you, but I can much better control a RWD car with engine braking than I can engine braking an AWD car.

What you really should do is go out and drive both. But remember that you gain a lot more complexity and weight with a AWD Porsche, and that results in higher maintenance costs over the life of the car. Also, you pay a price in the loss of trunk space--on cars with already small storage space.

In retrospect, I would never change a thing about ordering a 2WD Porsche 997. I laugh every time I see a Carrera 4 in Southern California. What were they thinking? I believe most of them think that 4 is better (it's more expensive) and thus they have to have that, without knowing a thing about the 997.

Ultimately, the real danger in the wintertime are the OTHER drivers out there on the roads. Some 997 drivers do drive their cars in the wintertime and they feel more confident with the AWD on such roads. I maintain that with proper snow tires (not all season mud/snows) and a RWD Porsche you are nearly invincible until higher snow levels pretty much shut down all Porsche movement.

(Don't let my location confuse you. I have lived and driven in Germany, Colorado, Oregon, Wyoming, Utah, Oklahoma (the ice state) and even Iceland, and prefer the simplicity of 2WD).

Originally Posted by Mike in CA

Each of my Porsches has been RWD; where I live AWD is completely unnecessary. That said, and as good as the traction in a RWD Porsche is, if I was buying a DD in an area where it snowed regularly, I would strongly consider the AWD car. You can listen to all the anectdotal evidence you want, but the fact is that the AWD car will have a performance advantage in those conditions. Period. The only argument to be had is whether that advantage is necessary or meaningfull for the kind of driving YOU do, and therefore worth the penalties in cost and complexity. Good luck with your choice.

Originally Posted by cbzzoom

Both cars are very safe and easy to control if you drive reasonably.

In a C4 it's almost impossible to get the back out and crash even if you want to.

In a C2 you can spin the car and wipe out if you really try.

Originally Posted by brendo

making this decision really is a good problem to have.