Porsche 911 Type 997 Carrera 4S Cabriolet - 2008

The 997.1-generation Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet arrived in 2005 and bowed out in 2008, landing squarely in the sweet spot of mid‑2000s 911 evolution. It reintroduced the classic round headlamps after the controversial 996 era, brought a big uplift in cabin quality, and wrapped the all‑weather capability of all‑wheel drive in the desirable wide‑body silhouette. The full‑width red reflector bar across the tail was a knowing nod to air‑cooled Carrera 4s of old, while the fabric roof kept the 2+2 format and a surprisingly practical front trunk.

Under the decklid sat Porsche’s M97 3.8‑litre flat‑six with VarioCam Plus, rated at 355 hp and 400 Nm. It paired with a six‑speed manual or an optional five‑speed Tiptronic S auto. Drive went through a rear‑biased viscous‑coupling AWD system—typically sending only a small portion forward until needed—so the C4S felt like a 911 first and an AWD car second. PASM adaptive dampers were standard on the ‘S’, as were 19‑inch wheels and larger 330 mm brakes; Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) could be optioned for track‑day heroes.

Period testers loved it. The steering—hydraulically assisted and brimming with feel—was singled out for praise in magazines like evo and Car and Driver, while the cabriolet’s stiffened structure impressed those who remembered the scuttle shake of earlier 911s. In the wet, the C4S’s traction turned cold mornings into playtime. Typical critiques? The Tiptronic felt old‑school just as dual‑clutch gearboxes were emerging, and the cab’s extra mass took a thin slice of edge off compared with the coupé.

Competition was fierce: Aston Martin’s V8 Vantage (later Roadster) wooed with soundtrack and looks, BMW’s M6 Convertible blitzed with V10 muscle, and Mercedes’ SL55 AMG offered luxe thunder. By 2007 the Audi R8 arrived to move the goalposts of mid‑engined civility (its Spyder would come later), while Nissan’s GT‑R soon reset performance numbers—though not as a drop‑top. Against this backdrop the C4S Cabriolet’s USP was balance: everyday usability, year‑round pace, and authentic 911 character.

Fun facts? The C4/C4S body is 44 mm wider at the rear than a Carrera, and that reflector bar became a cult visual cue. The roof’s heated glass rear window and quick electric operation made top‑down runs an everyday habit rather than a special occasion. The 997 also appeared widely in TV and print ads of the era, often pitched as the sports car you could use daily; 997 cabriolets were a staple of red‑carpet car‑park shots, reinforcing the model’s status cachet.

In 2008 the 997.1 made way for the facelifted 997.2 with direct‑injection engines and the new PDK gearbox. That timing makes the 997.1 C4S Cabriolet the last open‑air, wide‑body Carrera with the charismatic non‑DFI M97 and classic hydraulic steering—a combination many enthusiasts still seek out today.