deeplo

Hello everyone,

I'm new to the rennlist and forums, and first must say how wonderful a resource this is, and that I look forward to being an active contributor in the future.

I am currently in the market for a 997-Gen2 - and would like it to be my daily driver. I live in the Northeast - New York/Connecticut area.

I'm aware of some of the classic discussion points between the C2/C2s and the C4/C4s ( driving, handling, wide body aesthetic, classic porsche feel), but I wonder, for those of you that actually drive your Porsches in the winter, especially in the Northeast, how you believe your P-Cars fare in the winter conditions.

Are there any distinct advantages o the C4/C4s over the C2/C2s in actual northeast winter driving? What are the limitations? Do you ever say - "leaving it in the garage today."

Also, what do you do to prepare your Porsches for winter driving?

Thanks!

997_Toronto

First year owning a 2007 C2 and loving it in the Toronto winter. A good set of winter tires and common sense makes driving this car a lot of fun even in the winter. The C4 will obviously do better from a traction standpoint, the S on either will add more options & power but I doubt will impact winter driving.

Welcome to the forum.

Check out this thread: https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...-much-fun.html

TommyV44

I'm on my 4th 911 and live exactly where you do.

I've had one C2 and 3 C4Ss….IMO there's a big difference in handling in the snow with the C4S over the C2 which is why I buy them!

I never leave mine home on purpose. If my wife happens to be home and her GLK is sitting there I might take it but not because the 911 can't go.

I just put snows on her every November and off she goes until late March when my summer tires and HREs go back on……over 14 years and no issues….and you won't have any either….just to be clear I'd pick the C4!

Tom

wc11

All wheel drive vs 2 wheel drive?
Of course.

moab

C4S is amazing in the snow. Pick up a good set of winters and enjoy. The only time I think twice about driving it is if the roads have a large accumulation of snow that has not been plowed. During these times, the car can have ground clearance issues. In a big city where the streets are plowed quickly, this shouldn't be an issue, but problems can still arise on the side streets (as they do for me sometimes).

cvtbenhogan

The choice really should depend on what you prefer in the dry.

Why? Putting on good snow tires makes a world of difference in winter driving. My BWM is great in the snow with aggressive blizzaks. I keep the 997 in garage and away from the salt, rocks and grime.

If you drive in elevated terrain, the C4 becomes the better option. Of course you could just prefer it in the dry as well.

3Series

The only downside with a 997 as a year round car is the ground clearance.

Most important to me is the ability to stop, therefore snow tires come in handy. There's nothing you can do about clearance.

fskof

Any car with snow tires will be better than a car without. So a c2/c2s with snow tires will be better than a c4/c4s without.

I dont drive mine during the winter not because of the snow but where I live we get pot holes that swallow large suv's and salt that will sand blast the paint right off of your car. They dump so much salt on the roads that at times it looks like a gravel road. It does keep the window replacement shops very busy

Bruce In Philly

+1

It is the tires. I have a 2009 C2S and have been driving this winter on Michelin Alpins and find the car very secure and stable in the snow.... I do not wish for a C4 as it pertains to snow performance.

Peace
Bruce in Philly

BAD.TAG

A good questions would be what do you drive now?

If its an Audi with Quattro you will have high expectations, and you may want that extra bit of traction a C4/S will provide.

If you have a RWD front engine car, just having a RWD with a rear engine weight bias may be enough of an improvement

Brett

mxp

I feel like my 997.2 C4S is the only one which drives terrible in the snow.

My set up:
H&R Springs
Fresh Alignment
Front Tires: SottoZero 240s 235/40/18 ~50% DOT Stamp 20/07
Rear Tires: Michelin PA2 265/40/18 ~90% DOT Stamp 42/12

In any amount of snow the rear wants to come out, even straight line acceleration in let's say 1/4 inch of snow, am I crazy? I'm comparing to my SLK 55 which felt the same but was RWD ....

CamsPorsche

Love my Carrera 4 in the snow. You can feel the front wheels grip on occassion that that there is the difference between having a rear wheel C2 or C2S.

Remember the widebodied (larger hipped cars) are the Carrera 4 and C4S as they share the awd drivetrain.

wwest

The 997.2 front drive coupling system is about laying down, SPREADING, engine torque at times when the level of torque "commanded" would otherwise result in rear wheelspin.

Whereas snow/ice driving REQUIRES finesse, feathering the throttle right up to the point, cusp, of wheelspin but not beyond.

The 997.2 front drive coupling does not, will not, activate when/if the car is properly driven on a slippery roadbed. On the other hand you may have to disable TC in order to "find" that "do not go beyond point".

Don't really know but I quite strongly suspect the front drive system will stiffen up less and less in accordance with the tightness of a turn, turning. Dedicate more front traction to the turning effort.

If I ever find myself owning a vehicle (Venza in mind) with this type of opposite axle drive clutch I will immediately add a manual switch to keep the clutch fully engaged on a slippery surface but ONLY at low speed.

wwest

The Porsche VC front drive clutch NEVER "activates" in the wintertime conditions of need, especially with TC active.

Edgy01

Tires. Tires. Tires.

That's the key to winter driving with any 911.