C4 on wet roads- how good?

[sbloxxy]

Looks like I'm on the verge of convincing my wife that a 964 would be an ideal replacement for our Jaguar X-Type Diesel estate (don't ask how I managed that - even I'm surprised at this one). This has come about as I'm still missing my old C2 -despite replacing it with a Boxster S - and because we simply don't need an estate car any more. However, late last year I bought a holiday cottage in the Scottish Borders which is a swine to get to in the bad weather. What I want to know is: how much better is a C4 than a C2 on wet or muddy roads? I remember my C2 was a real handful in the bad weather.
Opinions gratefully received because I need all the ammunition I can get...

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Steve,

I can't admit to having experience of both - but "chalk and cheese" comes to mind!!! Mud, rain and snow is what the C4 is good at!! I suspect it would be stretching the imagination at bit to put it in the same class as, say, a Land Rover but the 4WD and traction control puts it leaps ahead of a C2 under those conditions.

Regards

Dave

 

[Rotorhead]

I did 35,000 in two 964 C2s in the early '90s and never had any problems.

I briefly drove two C4s at the time but wasn't keen on the greater tendancy to understeer, or the smaller boot.

I don't buy this idea that a C4 is somehow safer than a C2. 4WD would provide extra traction if she has to negotiate slippery slopes at low speed, but fitting winter tyres from Nov to March would probably be just as useful.

A Tiptronic might be easier for your wife to drive.

 

[smallspeed]

ORIGINAL: sbloxxy
I'm still missing my old C2

I can sympathise; its been 2days 1hr and 24mins since I last drove it and Im missing it like crazy

ORIGINAL: sbloxxy
I remember my C2 was a real handful in the bad weather.

Seconded.. [] ..although driven at non-porsche speeds and given the respect it deserves it seems well dialed in (and exceptionaly communicative) despite solid suspension, LSD and the lack of traction control...

If the main concern is slippy roads, have you thought about having an aftermarket traction control system fitted? I had a racelogic system fitted to my old RX7 as it would light up in the damp/wet at the slightest provocation at low speed and it just wasnt fun after a while

ben

PS.. I followed a race prepped 308GTB home the other day in the hammering rain, both of us getting passed by just about everything else on the road, eye's burning with concentration []

 

[sbloxxy]

Actually main concern is snow and ice. When I first bought the cottage (back in September) and drove into the village - which is high up in the Cheviots - for the first time, I could'nt help but notice the large number of 4x4s present. In January this year I found out why: proper real-deal snow packed roads when everywhere else was relatively clear. Couldn't get the 964 within about 10 miles of the place and ended up buying a cheapo 4x4 to get me over the winter (a Frontera - a truly horrible car) and I don't want to have to do that again.
I'm thinking a C4 with winter tyres would probably do the job OK.

 

[Mark Elder]

Does the 964 C4 have ABD? In the experimenting I did back in the winter in my 993C4 the ABD was the thing that kept it all in line. It might be good without it too but impossible for me to know.

 

[RichardLW]

You will need winter tyres at the very least as Z rated tyres and snow do not mix at braking time - you can start but stopping is a different story.

In my old 964C4 I drove back from Leeds on a very snowy and slushy A1 just after Christmas. The car felt fine and was perfectly manageable but you really had to allow a lot of room for slowing or changing direction. I didn't expect to experience a prolonged 85mph four wheel drift which took up three lanes and not get a dent but the car was in control throughout.

Me - I would get a Land Rover.

 

[MarkK]

On wet roads i find a C4 steady as rock, went to highwycombe today ,lots of rain in places no grumbles from me, got some understeer off a roundabout on the A43 but a great all weather sportscar.Sixteen inch wheels are cheap enough now so a spare set with winter tyres would be an idea to be sure in cold and snowy conditions,you can lock the diff for pulling away too.

 

[Miles Watkins]

My C4 dug me unaided out of a very soggy field last year at Chatsworth House when everything else was requiring a tow from a tractor. Very

 

[Miles Watkins]

..Very satisfying that was meant to say! []

 

[Alexander_Drobik]

The C4 is better imho for everyday driving, in the wet it is astonishing. Some would say it understeers too much although that can be largely sorted. Some would say it is over complex (true) and when things go wrong it can cost a lot more to fix (the AWD system). But the C4 remains a great all weather car. In terms of performance on everyday dry roads - no real difference. In the wet etc a huge difference. On track I would say the C4 is 2-4 seconds slower than a C2 in the dry, but 15-20 seconds quicker in the wet. The C4 cost a lot more when produced - there was a reason for that. Oh - one negative a smaller boot. Whatever route you take - get a good one!

 

[964rh]

C4 in the snow, only experienced on newly fitted SSR's and I sh1t myself.
C4 in the wet, more than enough for what I've got the balls for
C4 understeer, as previously said, can be sorted
C4 on track, great but don't expect to swing the back end out much as the TC keeps it in tow
Out of all the things on my car I've improved or fixed the AWD system hasn't broken or needed improving.
I do wish I had bought a C2 sometimes for the thrill factor (ie lairy driving etc )
But I'd go for an old defender or range rover if you need it for the hills, if only for ground clearance.