Thanks for all the responses. While I was planning to keep my truck around, it's nice to know that the C4 is a serviceable winter vehicle if fitted with the right tires.

I think I've found my vehicle - if this C4 comes out the PPI looking alright, I'll be driving it today.

 

Good catch BB! Just took it out for pics. It went right back in the garage.

 

busted cmilam!

 

I can't really talk, when its wet (not unusual in the UK!) I use the Smart. Seems not so much of a worry with plastic body panels[sm=signs007.gif]
Big Bob

[IMG]local://upfiles/4813/B66B58125306494788DDD61B061FFE00.jpg[/IMG]

 

The four wheel drive is a plus from several perspectives, particularly as you are going to be facing snow occasionally. I also consider it a must-have on really powerful cars: its very difficult to put more than about 200-250 HP down through a tire, so around 400-500 HP, it becomes mandatory to have 4-wheel drive in my opinion.

However, you indicate you are on something of a budget and you might consider that the 2 wheel drive is likely to be less costly to own: you can buy lower miles/better condition initially, and then there are fewer parts, etc.,to maintain, too. My own rule is never buy a car used I could not have afforded new: recipe for major headaches.

As far as going like stink, Suburu and Mitsi make the EVO and Sti, both in the $35K range new in the US, both with 4-wheel drive, and both faster than a 2000-2002C2 Porsche off the line and through the quarter. They are ugly (or at least, not pretty) and more rally car than track car, but they will carry groceries and go through snow and when drivenwell they are incrediblly fast and frustrating for owners of cars costing tens of thousands more who can't keep up.

 

Lee--not sure how many people on this forum can afford a new $80K Porsche. The thing I have found about Porsche owners (in general) is that they take very good care of their cars. It's not like buying a used Ford, Suburu or Mitsi. I've rarely seen a 3-4 yr old beaten down Porsche (my opinion)

 

You're right about that cmilam. I bought my 04 Turbo used for $80K at the time with only $15k miles--it was new!!. Icouldn't afford the $130K new. I certainly don't subscribe to the logic ofneverbuying a used car if you can't afford it new. I saved $50K and bought a new SUV and Harley--go figure. I also wouldn't own an mitsi or suburu as a substitute for a performance sports car. I'd rather get a 2 year old Mercedes sports coupe for $35K.

 

Now Lee, what would you ay about the GT2. In my youth when I was all mouth and no experience I could have said "Now a man would drive the GT2 while a boy would go for the Turbo".
But you are right in these power leagues the 4WD is a key safety ingredient, but 2WD does win on mechanical efficiency and fuel consumption[sm=icon_rock.gif]
Regards Big Bob

 

The GT2 is faster than the Turbo but everything I have read (never driven one) says it takes much more skill to drive at the limit with just the 2WD, so in this respect it is really a streetable race car.

 

Well, I purchased the C4.

Lee: you're quite right that I could have purchased a less-used C2 for the same price. But the suggestions of others have gone the other way, and a few thousand miles here or there probably won't make the difference.

As for your rule: that's a matter of personal preference I guess. There's no way I could afford a new Carrera, but another way of looking at it is this: how much car can I get for $X? A used 911 is, in every sense except size itself, a whole lot of car for the money.

I could get a new Evo or STi for just a little more... or I could look at American muscle, which gets you more torque for the dollar than anything else out there... etc. But I liked the 911, I wanted it, and now I have it