Can't deny the laws of physics. If you have two driven wheels and one hits black ice then you have a rotational force with no balancing force. Same scenario in 4wd and the additional rotational force of the opposite wheel to the spinning one is balanced by the two front driven wheels. Electonics, PASM etc will admittedly reduce the effects on the 2wd car, by braking the opposite wheel, but you are thus relying on the electronics to keep you out of the hedge rather than the basic stability of the drive system. In reality a tiny difference probably, but that piece of mind, however irrational, is worth 5k to me. I would guess its worth it (along with the wide bum looks) to a lot of other people, otherwise Porsche wouldn't have pitched the price difference at 5K (i guess the extra parts are probably say 1K)...