To C4 or not to C4... in Florida

So... I have narrowed my choice of a 996 Aero to two cars. Once is a C4, one is not. All else being equal - would I better of getting a C2 or a C4? I live in Florida... so no worries of driving in snow (I lived in Boston for 18 years, and drove an Rx-7 and M3 there, so I can manage with a RWD car in normal snow). Would getting a C4 add maintenance costs, or an increase in chances of breakdown (more parts to breakdown?)?

Yes and yes. 90K miles needs another liter or so of oil to change in the front differential. There's a rubber central driveshaft joint that can wear over time and 4 more CV boots to potentially rip.

I agree with garrett376. Aside from the maintenance costs listed above, you can have bearings fail in the AWD unit requiring it to be rebuilt or replaced. This is not an inexpensive repair - I know from first hand experience. The AWD system does add weight to the car, although it's not much. As I recall, it's something like 124 lbs. The system wasn't designed for cold weather conditions. It's a mechanically activated viscous coupling system that sends power to the front wheels if there is a difference in rotational speed between front and rear wheels. This is useful when you're on the track, powering out of a turn quickly. If it were me personally buying one of those two cars, I would probably opt for the C2. I wouldn't have any issue with the C4 though, if you like that car better.

Drive both and get the one that is better (Price, condition, mileage, options). A C4 can be converted to a C2 very easily and cheaply (and converted back the same) if for some reason you prefer the full time RWD. The slight increase in maintenance and/or more items to break is so small it is really not relevant. On a daily basis the decrease in luggage space for the C4 is probably a bigger concern than anything else (but shows how little it matters).

Ahh, I forgot about the trunk space difference! C4 has a lot less height in the front trunk.

C4 has neat silver calipers, too.

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All else being equal get the C2. The C4 has more drivetrain hardware as others have already mentioned. The front diff axle flange seals failed on my 03 Turbo and cost almost $800 to have them replaced. The front diff and axle hardware eats up trunk space and the fuel tank is split into two basins which do not have a connection at the bottom so siphon jets are used to siphon fuel out of the basins and keep the fuel pump fed. (When one fails the car runs out of gas at about a half a tank.) While you can "convert" the C4 into a C2 I would not do this if a C2 equal to the C4 was available. (I have not done this and don't' plan on doing this to my Turbo.) Get the C2.

I live in Fla and have had a C2 and currently a C4S. I know you were asking about a C4. C4 vs C2. Is a tougher choice than a C4S and a C2. Between a C2 and a C4S the latter is a easier choice as it's a more distinct looking car with better suspension, so easier to choose a C4S. The C4S is not a snow all weather car as one might think it is. It's AWD is designed for power delivery more than pulling traction. It does have better all weather performance but that's not its primary role. My C2 had a M030 sport suspension and the C4S has the turbo sport suspension. Both cars, PSM. I never run out of gas so I like the better weight distribution of the split gas tank. Also the prominently ugly front mounted spare in a C2 takes up much more trunk space than the hidden floor mounted C4S spare. Also the C4S front spoiler is unique and matches a different angle of the rear spoiler. A lower Cd than the turbo and the C2 so it's more aerodynamic. C4S has advantage in wet conditions with 5% of the power routed to the front wheels at all times. Up to 40% in high HP conditions. in my personal experience the C4S definitely out handles the C2 on dry roads. Same road, same speeds, the C2 had me lifting off the throttle much earlier and noticeably slower. My C2 felt quicker but I believe the C4S is a more comfortable long distance driver. My commute is 70 miles one way, the extra agility and sure footedness in the heavy heavy Fla rains made a C4S my choice. Yes I was just doing a brain dump on C4S virtues

He's looking at early C4 models, versus the C4S which is a quite different car than the early C4 models (chassis, suspension, wheels/tires, brakes, cooling). Two cars are SELDOM in the identical condition... so buy the better car, whether it's color, smell, maintenance, stored indoors or out, etc. That will be more important than whether it's a C4 or not.

It was recently pointed out to me in another thread that the C4 shares a stiffer chassis with the GT3. Other than the extra diff and xfer case fluids we haven't spent anything extra than if we had a C2. 13 years and ~70k and everything is looking and running good. Certainly we will have additional maintenance bills at some time, but it's not like it is going to cost you every year. As far as the weather goes, while the AWD is not primarily an inclement weather system it does a decent job and we drive ours year round in sun, rain, snow, and ice. The thing is a monster in any of those conditions.

Which one do you REALLY LIKE the most? Buy that.

Kromdom is dead red right. Figure out which car will keep you out in the garage staring at it at 12:03 a.m. then buy that one.

i have a c4 cab and am in georgia and I wouldn't pass up the handling of this car for anything. Its not a maintenance issue either...its like anything. If a part breaks it breaks the turbo is awd c4s is too a 2002+ has the same front drive train as the turbo... if it was THAT bad....well then many other people have the issue too so you are not alone. yes a bearing can break, typically on a turbo due to the power. Not a normal c4. yes you can get a leak on the seals. they are 25 bucks and I changed mine with the car on jack stands. That easy. yadda yadda. But you know what? IMS can happen. RMS is an issue. blah blah blah...then just don't buy a porsche. drive em. Compare em. Take em around a corner going 80 and see which you like. My C4 feels awesome...I would never hesitate to get one, or a porsche

Both are great, but there is a difference in weight (as others have mentioned) and ESPECIALLY steering feel. You can feel the extra mechanical bits working and muting the telepathic steering of a 911. Let's face it: 996s aren't fast anymore. All we have left is the sports car experience: light weight, great handling, and feel. Anything that takes away from feel is a deduct, IMHO. FWIW, European Car did a test a few years ago where they converted a 996tt to RWD (w/limited slip or Quaife...can't remember) and did some timed laps. The AWD was much faster, and easier to drive. If lap times or driving in bad conditions were a consideration, I'd say go for it. Likewise if you were considering a tt- there's something giggle-inducing about a chipped AWD turbo w/500hp flinging itself out of a corner. Visceral doesn't begin to describe it. One other thing to consider: if you are interested in upgrading suspension, you will be more limited with the C4 which has different uprights, sways, etc. It's all available, just not as easy as the normal grab bag of Mr. Potatohead GT3/RS/Cup upgrades that bolt right onto a C2. If you start with a base C2 and then start taking weight out, then you'll have something special. When I took the stock seats out and upgraded to euro GT3 seats, it transformed the car. Light wheels also helped, and I'll never carry the spare wheel and tire around again. I have GT3 brakes and can't bear to install them because they're so much heavier than stock. It's addictive; I'm obsessing about where the next 100lbs is coming from...Battery? Duh. Sunroof delete? Carbon lid? Lighter stereo components? Carbon body stuff? Plastic rear window? It's a slippery slope. For me, the C4 occupies the middle ground between the light, simple, telepathically-connected C2 experience, and the heavier (and much more powerful) tt. Food for thought. As others have said, go drive both and see which you prefer.

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I'm of the same mentality, however I do think the GT3 brakes aren't that much heavier and actually lighter overall if you use aftermarket aluminum rotor hats. I know my BBK conversion calipers are lighter than stock calipers while being bigger. If I choose to go with the factory GT3 rotors, that's where the slight weight penalty will come in but not from the calipers themselves.

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Agreed. The calipers aren't really the issue. I picked up a stock GT3 rotor and a stock 996 rotor. The weight difference was unbelievable, esp for rotating/unsprung mass (maybe 10lbs/corner?) Trick rotors may be the answer (like the Girodisc Koni Challenge kit ~340mm w/stock calipers?..or have some Colemans made?) I've deferred until the pads/lines/fluid/GT3 scoops upgrade isn't enough. So far, they are working well. But I digress...

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The items mentioned above is perfectly suitable for most people out there. I'm more or less doing a BBK to be a poser. lol