Porsche 911 2005 Review

The Porsche Carrera 4 may be safer, more comfortable and ever-so-slightly slower than the rear-wheel-drive version, but it is no less thrilling to drive.

And no, Porsche hasn't lost the plot with its Cayenne, Cayman, Panamera and 20 per cent purchase of Volkswagen. But more of that later.

Porsche has made a series of AWD models before, so the technology is not new to the famed Stuttgart brand.

But does it look, sound, handle and feel like a 911? That's what fans and potential buyers of the most revered car in the automotive world want to know.

The answer is yes and no.

The 997 version of the 911 is broader than the 996 and the C4 and C4S in Coupe and Cabriolet body types is wider again.

This makes the vehicle look even more muscular in the shoulders with an almost horizontal rear wheel arch protrusion.

Apart from that, plus some badging and 10mm wider tyres, there is no discernible difference.

But does it handle and feel like a rear-wheel-drive 911?

No. A 911 Porsche requires a certain driving style that is challenging and brings out the talent in a real driver and slaps a bad driver in the face.

It's a stop-and-go car, requiring late braking, slow corner speed to avoid heavy understeer, then a brutal fire out of the corner, accompanied by a tail snap that will send some drivers directly to the naughty corner.

The C4 and C4S are different. There is simply no need to brake as late, nor to wash off so much corner speed, as there is nowhere near the understeer.

And because you are carrying so much corner speed, there is no need to fire it out of the corner, but if you do, there is no violent tail snap, just forward motion.

If it's wet, then the experience is even quicker.

That does not mean you can't play the tail-wagging game in the C4. Porsche understands the need for fun and provides plenty of latitude, but with a safety net called PSM (Porsche Stability Management), which is standard on all 911s, but in AWD it has two new braking functions.

Lift off the accelerator quickly and the system "thinks" you are about to slam on the brakes, so it brings the pads up to lightly brush the discs in preparation.

The second function brings the braking up to ABS threshold.

The all-wheel-drive system uses a viscous multi-plate coupling with varying degrees of drive, split between front and rear. Minimum front drive in normal conditions is 5 per cent, but this can increase to 40 per cent in certain situations, so the inherent feel is of rear-wheel bias.

With PSM turned off, there is a fair amount of "play" in the rear.

While both have PSM, the C4S also has PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) which can flick between comfort (I use the term loosely for a 911) and sports settings at the touch of a button. It is available as an option in the C4.

Both are available with a sports "chrono" package which includes such computer niceties as a stop watch, lap counter and specific mapping to suit your driving style.

As for Porsche losing the plot over Cayenne, Cayman, Panamera and its VW buy-in, Porsche Cars Australia managing director Michael Winkler said: "Porsche will remain Porsche and . . . we are focusing on what we do best. Nothing is going to change."

That means more Cayennes, which have dramatically lifted Porsche sales. Fans can also expect the Cayman in February, a 911 turbo and GT3 in the middle of next year, but no sign of the four-door Panamera until 2009.