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Porsche 997: Should I Buy a Carrera2 or a Carrera4?

So many choices and no wrong answers. It can be tough to pick just the right 997 to suit your needs. Read on to learn about the differences between the C2 and the C4.

By Nik Romano - March 20, 2015

This article applies to the Porsche 997 (2005-2012).

In any iteration, the 997 is a sleek, stylish, and comfortable cruiser with serious sporting capabilities. Still, everyone has their preferences, and Porsche was kind enough to give it to us in many different flavors. In this article, the differences between the rear-wheel-drive Carrera 2 and all-wheel-drive Carrera 4 are covered. Read on for more information about how they respond to daily driving, road and track handling and feel, and functional differences.

Daily Driving

Both cars make excellent daily drivers. The C4 will get slightly worse gas mileage due to higher drivetrain loss and more weight. For those living in snowy climates, that may be worth it to avoid having to use chains and for the extra acceleration traction. Under normal driving circumstances, both cars will feel almost the same, although at high speeds (very high speeds) the extra weight on the front axle of the C4 will make the car feel a bit more planted.

Also for consideration is the increased running cost of the C4. Between needing to service the front running gear and wider tires, you will be paying more out-of-pocket for the same number of miles. With the front tires being driven, they will also wear quicker than in the two-wheel-drive counterpart. Is this worth it? The answer depends on the owner.

Figure 1. The C4 and C2 in the wild.

Handling

On a dry track and all things equal, the C2 will be a hair faster than the C4, due to the difference in weight. However, add in inclement weather, a dirty track, rough surfaces and the like, and the AWD system in the C4 starts to shine. Giving you more traction to accelerate out of turns, it will allow you to step on the gas, exiting corners harder than the C2.

However, the biggest difference lies in the style in which they are driven. With all-wheel-drive, you are generally limited by front tire grip, and will understeer at the limit. The C4 must be driven smoothly and cleanly to get the most out of the rubber and maximize the strong suit: corner exit. With rear-wheel-drive, the process becomes more involved. "Rotating" the car (that is, intentionally allowing the rear tires to slip just a bit) becomes a bigger factor, and you will be much more busy with the gas and steering. Both can be very fast, it's just a question of which you find more fun.

Figure 2. Both cars work well on track. It's all about preference.

Functional Differences

The main difference between the C2 and C4 is, of course, the drivetrain. The C2 uses the traditional rear-wheel-drive format, whereas the C4 uses a torque tube that spans the length of the car, with a front differential and front axles to distribute power. The system is controlled either mechanically or electronically, depending on the year of the car. The body of the cars are also slightly different, with the C4 having wider fenders and tires to improve grip and give it a more aggressive stance. To get the wide body on a two-wheel-drive model, you would need to hold out for the rare GTS or track monster GT3.

Figure 3. 997 chassis cutaway.

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