2011 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S is the discerning choice for driving enthusiasts | One-Mile Review

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If you love driving, rear-wheel drive is almost always the best answer. But what if we told you Porsche made an all-wheel-drive 911 that's as good as its rear-wheel-drive counterpart? That would be the 997.2 Carrera 4S, which Damon drives today. Turbo wide body, no wing, standard sport suspension, what's not to like?
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[@thomashauck9103]

I have a 2010 997.2 C4S, very well optioned. My car has sport exhaust, full leather - and it’s a phenomenal car. I couldn’t be happier with my car.

[@ambitiousceo]

How long have you had it?

[@morganvon5664]

The best 997 imo. I had a base 997.2. It was good with the 3.6 but not nearly as explosive as the "s". Plus, wide body look is much better.

[@nelsonclub7722]

Its down to taste - I prefer the regular non 4 slim fit

[@markwood7045]

Me too@@nelsonclub7722 and plenty of others do as well, which is why the 997 Carrera S (non 4wd) and GTS are the ones which retains the highest values here in the UK

[@borjator2996]

All black 997.2 4S cab 2009 with 85.000Km on the clock and so far so good, bought new tires and black rims, Enjoying Spanish roads every week…. “Not for sale” gentlemen

[@aresmatthew]

Pdk lover

[@jdrennsport8704]

I owned a 2009 C4s after owning a 996 C4s. I never loved or bonded with the 997.2. In my opinion the DFI engine, while arguably more reliable, is far more boring than the M96/97. The 997.2 is also really a proto 991 (whereas the 997.1 is really more like a 996.3) and I found the 997.2 relatively unengaging to drive except at the limit, which is too high for public roads. I sold it and bought a 997.1 C4s which I find to be a much more soulful and exciting car. And many of these cars were optioned as PDK, which is a good transmission but again takes away another level of engagement with the car. Also I think the heckblende across the rear of the 997.2 looks like an afterthought on this car where the 996 C4s’ was perfection. Finally, my other criticism of the 997.2 is the the the LED bubble lights are not aging well. To me the 996 and 997.1 tail lights are simply more classically “Porsche” and aesthetically pleasing. Just my opinions as a guy who’s owned a lot of 996s and 997s. If you love your 997.2 more power to you.

[@DonBMW]

Yo, I test drove a 997.1 base model and was just blown away by how awesome the drive was. Torquey, smooth, and amazing sound. It truly was a glorious experience.

[@lapchoine6600]

Porsche 997.2 borescoring is creeping up. You still need to conduct a bore scoring analyst before you buy one!!! That $300 can save you a $30K engine rebuild.

[@ambitiousceo]

I’m looking for a 2011-2012 997.2 C4S (must have PSE)…please send me your offers. Thanks

[@mistysoulboy]

I’ve got a 997.2 4s targa with sport , sport plus and sports exhaust ,and I’ve also had 997.2 4s with sport , sport plus and sports exhaust and the difference between them driving wise is negligible other than ones got a glass roof and one is a hard roof ..

[@DonnWagner-fj5fm]

Porsche continued the 997.2 4s into 2012.

[@stevied91]

Have a 2009 C4S Cab, guards red, manual with sharkwerks exhaust. Feel so connected to the road and love hearing the enhanced exhaust note and burble when you left off the gas. Two cases of wine in the frunk and golf clubs on the shelf. Perfect car!

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Right on!

[@LC-rj6ok]

I had a Cayman R with the DFI engine, I bought for that reason of piece of mind with engine issues. It sounded amazing as it has different manifolds to the S. However I have now sold that for a 997.1 4S manual short shifter, with impeccable history. Having been around Porsches more, the consensus is the older none DFI engine has more soul, despite it being less powerful and efficient and bore score issues. I can categorically say that the sound of the older non DFI engine with sports exhaust is monumentally better. It is glorious.

[@QuietStormX]

Great review but I'd select the Manual for FTD and resale when it's time you get more $$$$$$...I for one hate the PDK, I like involvement when I drive and feel the road and engine between shifts than the steady tone from automatics.

[@N911GT2]

The PDK is far, far better and besides the US the PDK is worth more everywhere else... so make off that what you want.

[@DoctorSoftie]

First Gen pdk is not where it’s at

[@oliverradcliffe7974]

Would disagree with "no downsides" from 997.1 moving to .2. The car does feel quite a bit different from an engine perspective.

[@computerhelpcc]

?? details?? !!

[@41Forethought]

The two engines display quite different performance profiles, but I would argue the 9A1 engine is the better engine. Driving the M97 and 9A1 back to back makes obvious, in my opinion, the better throttle response and increased torque of the 9A1. (Highway mileage is better, too - an added bonus.) The only potential downside is the engine note. The M97 perhaps sounds more aggressive but that is easily corrected by replacing the 9A1 center muffler with a Sharkwerks X-pipe.

[@computerhelpcc]

@@41Forethought Thx! Two more Qs: 1. DFI motor complications long-term for maintenance? 2. Steering in 997.2 vs 991.1 and how that weighs in satisfaction vs engine differences?

[@thedamonlowney]

I thought I addressed the difference in feeling between the two engines in this video, but if I didn't (haven't watched for a couple days) then I agree with you. The 9A1 engines feel and sound smoother to me than the M9X. I slightly prefer the "edge" of the M9X engines; both in sound and feel, a bit more satisfying to me. But that's truly a nitpick. I wouldn't quite call how the 9A1 sounds and feels a downside, though. Small price to pay for an engine that can reliably hit the track without nearly as much work as an M9X would want.

[@DC5Brandon]

The only disadvantage I would imagine, other than the sound which some are saying here, it the tunability. Much easier to tune up the M9X engines or add twin turbos because it's port injected vs the DFI of the 9A1. This is what a popular Porsche tuner told me online.

[@RemoteViewr]

A Cayman S 987.2 is the much sweeter spot for driving fun

[@dieselpwr782]

I have an aqua 997.2 c4s pdk cab and have zero complaints. When I was looking for my next 911 I looked specifically for this car with the color and options it has.

[@benicia21]

4:56 - needless to say, way more reliable than the comparable corvette model

[@Phil99six]

😂

[@N911GT2]

I have one, just took it on a 3500km road trip to the Spanish Costa Brava. The car is both a great GT car and also a great sportcar. Although a bit 'big' for small twisty roads.

[@corporalclegg914]

04:55 Corvette Issue during Porsche Test-Drive I hate that for anyone

[@alkoenig8519]

I literally bought this car 2 months ago, (but with sport exhaust), Speed Yellow as well. Very nice review Damon, accurate and fair...but the scores should have been higher!

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Great choice!

[@jdwxflyer]

Sport Chrono upgrade (via software flash) is available to purchase at the Porsche dealer, no? But without the ‘chrono’ on the dash right?

[@jimd435]

Yes. This is correct. It is software available from dealer. Without the dash wart which some prefer.

[@blitherflame1178]

I have a 2009 C4S daily driver (pdk, sport chrono, etc) and I drive it to work on the road this video was shot, on which is a little sureal. I dont have nearly the model exposure this man does. I'm glad to hear the experience the car provides holds up in comparison. It is awesome to drive, even if the roads are a little straight.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Small world!

[@rocketman6129]

Both the 997.1 and 997.2 are amazing rides.

[@Breakchecks]

Looking at buying the exact car 997.2 4S pdk. It’s the only car in my budget. Am I making a mistake or should I splurge a little extra $$$ for the 997.1 S manual which is $3000 more? Seriously, I found a deal on the 4S but life my rear wheel drive manuals so I’m a bit torn.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Our apologies for answering this question so late. In case it still helps, here’s our take. You can’t go wrong with either. It really comes down to whether you want a manual or PDK, or a 997.1 or 997.2. Each car has its pluses and minuses that you should know about when considering them. 997.1s appears to be having more issues in general than the 997.2s.

[@thedamonlowney]

I haven’t gotten the chance to drive a 997.2 C4S really hard yet, but from what I hear from people plus contemporary magazine reviews, the C4S is something special. More than the sum of its parts. I suspect that tracks here. The 997.1 Carrera S you describe sounds like a sweet car. I love 9X7.1 cars because I prefer the sound and feel of the M97 engines. However, they need a lot of modifications to make them truly reliable if you’re going to take them to the track, as the oiling system has only one pickup versus multiple in the 9X7.2 9A1 engines. Plus bore scoring and IMS bearing worries that lead to really expensive oil/oil changes. If I were you, and a manual isn’t required/you like PDK, get the 997.2 C4S in this case. That’s my advice. Hope it didn’t come too late.

[@HeliEnthusiast]

The rear is very very ugly .

[@dennisn.9583]

This one looks mint

[@willanthony875]

Nice Job. Yes I will be getting a Sport Exhaust.

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

You should!

[@Regigigas135789]

997 4s is my dream car

[@41Forethought]

Our 2009 C4S is optioned almost identically to your 2011 tester. It's a superb driver and my personal favorite of all 911 generations past or present. Two carryons in the back and 30mpg highway mileage make it the perfect tourer without compromising the curvy road fun! 😊 BTW, replacing the center muffler with the Sharkwerks X-pipe really improves the engine sound without adding excessive drone.

[@corporalclegg914]

isn’t that amazing? my 996 Cabriolet gets more of my time, than any other Carrera. it’s basically my Daily commute ride unless I’m worried about possible hail storms in GA.

[@phatCars]

Great Car. I have a 997.1 C4S and think its a better value. It's 98% the same car for 80% of the cost, IMO.

[@classic_matches_10]

so 2% for a new engine and transmission? LOL

[@jeremy7818]

I just came back from a road trip golfing in Montana in my 997 GTS. Love these cars!

[@PorscheClubofAmerica]

Very cool! Sounds like it was a great time. Thanks for watching.

[@brettreaby]

There's one big problem... the stupid nipples around the plate at the rear. Yuk. What happens if you remove them? We never got them in Australian

[@chrisjones6496]

@@foxx1111😂😂😂💀

[@JoJoJoker]

They’re just there due to the smaller US plates.