Porsche 911 2 vs 4 RWD vs AWD differences C2S vs C4S 

The Carrera 4 I previously owned had an amazing feeling while you were into a turn and stepped into the throttle. You could actually feel the front wheels bear down and pull you through the turn. Loved the way that car pulled onto highway ramps.

I did not know that the 4s had a wider body. You learn something everyday, except when you dont.

Honestly the widebody is worth the money, it looks a lot better. Still it would be great if you could completely disengage AWD and make it RWD when you wanted, surprised Porsche didn't make that a $10,000 option knowing them.

Nice comparison. 95% of the discussion I see on Porsche 2ws vs. awd centers on weather. Unless you're buying a Porsche specifically to drive in snowy conditions climbing hills, weather matters very little. Awd vs. 2wd is a different driving experience. I think you described it very well: 2wd gives you a loose back end when you want it. Awd will pull you around corners and is generally "safer" in that it's much harder to do something stupid with the back end. Of course, some of us like to do stupid (aka fun) stuff with our cars. I have a preference for awd because I like the confidence it brings. For me at higher speed awd just corners better. You could argue that it's a skill issue on my part. There's a reason the 911 turbos are awd.

I think I rather wait for a fwd cvt 911.

I love my "garish" wide light-bar! I've got a 2004 C4S. It's very nice , thank you Nick.

I'd buy the C4S just for that red line connecting the rear lights. That makes the car so much more beautiful!

There's only one solution, Nick: Have both! In all seriousness, really neat to hear about the little differences and your wheels are amazing!

Always interesting to have a look at your videos...Content, form ... enjoying to watch and well provided with details....Thank you for your nice job you do on youtube on these subjects...!!

Nice to see such an honest summation. Most people couldn't help but make out what they were currently driving is the best. Bravo !!. Oh & both cars, gorgeous

I think I will buy the AWD since it has been snowing a lot here. Thank you for the video Nick.

Did not realize there were so many differences between the 4 and 4S. Super informative video! Great job!

Thank you so much! I had the same concerns, and you have decided me!

Another great video Nick. Especially since I have been debating between 2 and 4 S models.

Great review. I appreciate your perspective. Thanks for sharing your what seems to me as a honest un-bias review. Great information to be able to make an informative purchase.Thank you!

Really good video. Conclusions based on solid personal experience. Thanks.

Great video, Nick. Thanks for sharing.

I love your videos, and I do appreciate the work that goes into them.....thank you very much.

Great review, Ill go with the 2WD, many thanks for this excellent analysis.

991.1 50th Anniversary was a C2S with wide body. The ideal car for me.

Despite the weather conditions where one lives, it's really a personal choice taking into account launch control chrono, stop/start accelerating at the lights, going in/out of corners & taking the car out onto a race track. All faster & much fun.

Quality video as always Nick, thanks

Really enjoying your reviews, also extremely handy as I’m on the hunt for a 991

I drove the 991.1 C4S @ the Porsche Experience Centre Silverstone UK three years ago and was just blown away with it. What an amazing car!

Great comparison!! Good information on the two models.

I really enjoy this video, i sent this video link to my friend as he's deciding which model he wants to buy. Very helpful information

Entertaining as usual. Love your videos

I definitely can notice the difference in the wider body on the 4 and 4S. I believe it adds an extra level of nice aesthetics to the looks. If you also have the power package, which lowers the body, it enhances the sporty look.

I concur! I live in Southern California so 4 wheel drive wasn't as important to me. If I lived in state like yours and use it as a daily driver. Then I would definitely get a four wheel. Thank you for your video!

Great Video Nick.. am about to do something similar video with the 964. I have a modified C4 which is going to be compared to a standard RS and a Modified C2.. the old C4 system was quite crappy though so am expecting the difference to the modern 991 series cars to be more apparent handling wise.

I love your reviews! I also love the views of my hometown of Fairfield, Ct too! Thanks for always doing a great job with your Porsche reviews! :-)

I have a 2013 991 C4S. It was the wider body and the light bar that put it over the top for me, lookswise. I’d also add that here in Connecticut the 4WD with the stock tires is not very good in the snow. However, with OZ 19” wheels and slightly more narrow snow tires the car is an absolute blast in the white stuff!

You’re driving on the street I used to live on! Right down the road from greenfield hill Mercado Fairfield ct, beautiful neighborhood and beautiful car! Thank you for the review!

Great vid, Nick.

Love your videos!!! Congrats man

Great Video and it proofs what i thought. Happy to have a RWD (Cayman)

I'm from the 🇬🇧 and a great fan of yours Nick. I'd like also to thank Brian your friend for him allowing you to produce these great vids. Ps I'm collecting my very first Porsche next Friday 28th Manual 911.2 Carrera 😜

More than having fun the other advantage of having a two wheel drive system is its greater fuel economy , as you said the 4WD system delivers more torque to the front if it were to sense the rear is sliding outwards bringing down the efficiency to deliver this additional power. But nonetheless it all comes down to the conditions and each one has its own plus points.

Excellent analysis, thanks

Great video man! 👍

Good to know! Thanks

Thanks for sharing your practical insight. This will help me in the search for my next 997.2. And the sarcastic gorilla is fun as always: )

The Carrera 4S is the best all round 911. Its supposed to be just like a 911 turbo, but without the turbo. I'm So glad to see you have the proper manual trans. Thanks.

AWD wide body looks much better. Never noticed/knew that. Thanks for the informative video....

Living in Salt Lake, I'll definitely be getting the C4S when I get mine in a few years. I love the wide body; it looks sportier / racier. I love my Audi A6 and the traction I get with the AWD system so I'm pretty sure I'll love the 991.2 C4S and it's AWD system as well. I'll go with the PDK, though.

Thanks again for the great info videos Nick. Always appreciated! Any friends around with a GTS? Would love to see a comparison with your 4S.

Bless you for including the metric measurement in this video.

Great review very informative, thank you!

I had no idea there were so many aesthetic differences. Very informative, and personally, I support the 4s. I have ultimately found that one can get out of a corner a quantifiably faster with AWD on a tight and technical course in the dry, and the advantages seem exponential in wet and cold climates due to the traction advantage when introducing some over-steer. I'm also not sure I've met a car that wouldn't go sideways, but I understand that's a lot of car ($) to throw around, and frankly, its just nice to look at; Very nice to look at; Very, very nice to look at. Thanks for the video, Nick!

An option to disable AWD would be wonderful and, as the torque split rear to front is already electronically controlled, it shouldn't be that difficult to implement. Of course, there are other factors that prevent it.

I don't watch this video to know what's all wheel drive or rear wheel drive I watch it bcz of two Porsche's and ur videos always good and some time funny keep up the good work

great advice, video exactly i was looking for, thank you sir

Great video. Well explained! Thank you.

Hey Nick, thanks for such a great video. Awesome! You forgot to mention one more difference, and that is your car has four exhaust pipes while the other has only two. I agree that rear wheel drive is so much more fun in dry weather, I know, because I notice more hair on my chest after driving my CLS63 AMG. LOL!!!

Clear comparison, thanks !

I love that light bar

thank you, I'm selling my Geo Metro and getting both, the C4S and the C2S

You all know that the 2S and the 4S are both amazing machines. I personally have my 2022 Carrera 2 S on its way. Delivery is April 15, 2022. Can't wait.

I propose a test under snowy conditions with the 911 AWD vs 911 RWD with the same snow tires ;) Standard 911s are no bad winter cars concerning the high weight in the back. You know it :) When you curve a bit too hard the RWD will reach the traction limits earlier but on a straight hill road the differences are quite small.

Learnt a lot from this video.... thank you !

Good vlog, thank you.

Nice video!! More one thumb up for you!

Nick you must be a braver man than I trying to step the rear out with all those stone walls around. Unless of course the clear bra prevents against stone wall impacts.

Hey Nick, great video! Will there be a detailed vid about C2 and your C4S engine and performance difference? Also a few words with and without Sport Chrono and manual transmission. Would be great. Take care!

Great video. I just wish Porsche would make the 911 smaller like the older ones, particularly the head lamps.

Nick, you make it sound like the AWD is 100% safe (and boring) - whereas on slippery roads (even just rain) it can at times be pretty challenging to keep the car straight (even without driving like a complete fool). Especially because of the very wide tyres.

kiwis for life

All i know is your concave wheels > those flat spokes on the C2.

Really like your vlogs and videos for porsche. Is there any change you can fit your road bike into a 911? What about a 28" baggage?

Excuse my language but this video was so fucking informational and I thank you for that Nick! Great video dude

Nice comparison! The wide body really makes a big difference with the two cars together (to my eyes). Yours also appears to be a little bit lower as well.

Hi Nick, Thank you for those great videos. If you disengage the traction control, what would be the outcome/comparison for both the C2 and the C4?

Nick Murray, you need to a video comparing the sound in Sport Mode & Sport Plus Mode. The exhaust and intake noise from the interior... :)

My little Audi TT will never let me get out of control in the Florida flash floods.... I agree with all of your thoughts.

i know you reviewed the previous gen cayman/boxsters, but would love to see you do the new 718s!

nice vid mate, plz thank Brian on our behalf for submitting his car.

so true. Except for the new e63s 4matic+ allows 100 percent power to rear in drift mode..

Nice video, I often ponder the relative merits of 2wd and 4wd. Chuck another shrimp on the barbie Bruce.

Nicky. Will you ever take this thing to a track? That would be a great video. PCA has great events at NJMP for example.

The side skirts, rear wiper and the light bar really make your car looks better.

3:04 The larger gas tank is due to the extra 4cm space robbed from the trunk by the front drive. On top of it the tank can be made larger The larger rear body of the "4" is also less aero at high speeds, thus the lower max velocity. The sills on the "4" minimize the disturbance in the air flow caused by the wider rear body. I guess it better channels the side flow and stops it from getting under the car at the rear (in front of the rear wheels) and generate high speed lift at the back axle.

hi nick, i was worried when i choose my new porsche (i had one of the first models cayman s), i choose the 991.2 gts. I was worried because i like track days (i live in italy and go around monza, imola, vallelunga and mugello) and thought about something happening on old awd 911: the understeer in the exit phase of the turn. I said maybe new models don't have that problem any more...But i have chosen the nornal 911 gts...with the extra money spared i put the rear axle steering and pdk...i was worried about losing that beautiful oversteer in the turn. I'm happy to know by an awd owner the pro and cons, i think i did the best chose for me(not so much rain and snow around where i live). thk you so much for your informative videos

I love these little insightful videos that only porsche owners would know. Thanks for sharing and letting us live our Porsche dreams thru you! Ps how long do u plan to keep the Porsche until you upgrade and any thoughts on what you'd upgrade to?

Gorilla cut this video? Love your humour! And your detailed opinion most Porsche salesmen even dont think about.

Hi Nick, Nice video. Just the price you show for C4S is $112,00.

Greetings. What suction mount did you use for your DSLR? I noticed it only has single suction but doesn't shake at all.

Is it a way to deactivate the 4 wheel drive on the front and just have the rear wheel drive by choice? The wider hips is really nice to have!

Lol. I see Franny asked the same question I would have, because we take off the traction control if we want to with our Turbo. What can I say Nick. You need a lift and both cars! Heidi

Aside from the snow... If you live in Seattle or Vancouver? RAIN! But 4 wheel drifts in the rain and snow especially with around 300hp? That would be a blast.

The quad exhausts look so much better in my opinion. How much more are they?

Hi very informative video again! What will be your possible build for 2024 911S?

Hey nick, will you make a viedeo comparing the sport exhaust sound vs normal exhaust?

Informative video. Did you drive the C2? I had a 997 C2S. I was loaned a 997 C2 while the 2S was having some work done on it. I felt that the smaller engine was more free revving and enjoyable.

would be interesting to see a roll on race between the two. And also discuss engine differences between the S and non S version. Cheers :)

Hey Nick, I was wondering: what DSLR mount are you using? The suction cup mount I have is SO SHAKY that my videos from the car are COMPLETELY unwatchable! I use an a6300, so not a terribly heavy camera, and I tighten everything on the mount as HARD as I can...it's still just AWFUL!! I definitely want to try something else...what mount do you use?!

We've had horrendous rains this year in the Bay Area and I can't tell you how many times my 911 rear-end has slipped out from under me... specially since I wasn't really pushing it... I wish I had the 4S... Considering how many times I''ll push it on purpose to jut regular driving... really wish I had the 4S...

Hello Nick, Do you happen to know the max g-force difference between RWD and AWD 911s for your model year?

It would be good if your porsche had a drift mode function like the focus rs and some of the mercedes amgs then you could have fun in the summer and snow 😎

Hello Nick. Would be nice if you can make a video comparison in the future between your 911 carrera 4s and a 911 carrera....of course if you have the chance. I just sold my M4 cabrio recently and got the new 911 carrera 991.2 with sport chrono. I am curios if there is big difference between the S version and the normal carrera.

Please drive Matt's GT3. That would be a great comparison!