I am curious to know the realistic benefits of a wide body over a "regular" coupe.

I'm close to pulling the trigger on a 996 or a 997, and I am really trying to figure out if the extra money for a wide body is worthy since I have no intention to put the car on the track simply because I do not have the time in the forseeable future to do such a thing.

Does it not make as much sense for a "regular" coupe with a sport suspension, plus other options; as opposed to spending the extra to get a wider stance?

This is a Porsche after all, it is going to handle amazingly no matter what.

 

no difference on the street....go for the looks....the widebody will have a little but wider rubber on the rear, 1"...and more weight, oh and less aerodynamic. But the performance of the narrow body and wide body is almost identical...so its really just a matter of looks.....some like th elean and mean look of the narrow body...some like the curves of the wide body. its like your choice in women...do you want J Lo or do you want Angelina Jolie? lol....

 

drive both styles.
you'll find that the narrow-body feels lighter, a bit more nimble and tossable.
the wider rear end feels more steady and sure-footed.
the 996 wide-body, in my research, is retaining value better than the narrow cars.

i love the c4s...best-looking 996 by far. but the narrow cars drive slightly nicer.

 

subjective...996 narrow body cars are USUALLY 2wd, widebodies are 4wd...997s are wide for C4 and C4S, narrow for C2 and C2S...the 997 AWD system is NEAR PERFECT....amazing....the 996 version has some understeer stock, it goes away with suspension tuning...(PSS9's, sways, alignment)....

 

I have a two year old daughter, which has spurred on the sale of a stable of Ducati bikes that I had. some track, some street. I love nimble handling and lots of torque.

It sounds like narrow may be the way for me anyways?

Although.... I do have to say, that little bit of extra booty in the rear is awesome.

I'd take Jolie over J-Lo any day.

Thanks guys.

I've driven a very nice, low mile 04 narrow that happens to be an Anniversary model. And I'll head up to a dealer and spin a C4S this week.

 

I see some of you say that narrow body handles better, more nimble.

Is this just because it's RWD? How would a Widebody C4S or Turbo with RWD conversion handle compared to the narrow body RWD?

Is there any particular reason porsche does this for AWD 911's?

 

If I were you, I would make time in the forseeable future to go to the track, C2, C4, narrow, wide body, I have driven them all on the street and the track. Wide body, a bit more stable but a heavier feel ( more expensive tires). Narrow body is lighter and a bit more exciting in the turns. If you go wide body, go TT, you will not regret it.
Good luck
Jim Greer

 

I own a narrow body car, but like the look of the wide body from the rear. Plus , you can stuff tons of rubber under those WB fenders.

 

i say WB..... resale is much better.... as well as the looks.... if i could, i would trade in my NB for the WB

 

Different tail lights, NB are bit smaller than WB.
NB is sexier tho! IMO
+1 on Jolie

 

Hey Jam996, do you have pictures of your alcantara interior?

 

Ill post pics when I get back, away till the 20th..