Porsche 911 Type 996.2 Carrera 4S - 2003

Porsche 911 (996.2) Carrera 4S, 2002–2005 — the car that perfected the wide-body, all-wheel-drive 911 formula for the water‑cooled era. Arriving with the 2002 facelift, it paired the naturally aspirated 3.6 with Turbo-width stance and hardware, creating a sweet spot between everyday Carrera running costs and near‑Turbo road presence.

Porsche’s idea wasn’t new — the 993 Carrera 4S had already proven how desirable a wide-body, all-wheel-drive 911 could be — but the 996.2 C4S sharpened it. The facelift brought cleaner, clear‑lens headlamps (no more “fried egg” indicators), a much‑improved cabin with a glovebox, smarter switchgear and PCM 2.0, while the C4S layered on the Turbo track and body, the full‑width rear reflector strip, red 4‑piston monobloc brakes on 330 mm drilled discs, and a 10 mm‑lower, stiffer chassis tune. Under the lid sat the 3596 cc M96 with VarioCam Plus, good for 320 hp and 370 Nm — ample torque and a 7200 rpm zing, fed through a 6‑speed manual or 5‑speed Tiptronic S to a viscous‑coupled AWD system.

On the road, period testers from titles like evo and Car and Driver praised the steering purity, brake stamina and rear‑end traction that let you lean on the car earlier and harder than a narrow‑body Carrera. The C4S was a touch heavier and not as explosively fast as a Turbo, but its balance made it an everyday hero. Some critics grumbled about the price premium and the Tiptronic’s relaxed character, yet most concluded the 4S was the thinking person’s 996 — the one you’d choose to drive home by the long route.

Competition in the early‑2000s was fierce: BMW’s E46 M3, Mercedes‑AMG’s CLK 55, Maserati’s 4200 GT and even TVR’s wild offerings all circled the same buyers. The C4S countered with day‑in, day‑out usability and four‑season pace. Its look — especially that reflector lightbar — became a cult signature, later echoed on 997 C4S models. Porsche’s own options deepened the appeal: X51 factory Powerkit (to 345 hp), Porsche Sports Exhaust, and tasty 18‑inch Turbo‑Look wheels were frequent box‑ticks.

Curiosities? The C4S borrowed its braking system almost wholesale from the Turbo, and its wide hips allowed 295‑section rear tyres from the factory. While the 996 generation weathered debate over headlamp styling and talk of IMS and RMS issues, the later 3.6‑litre engines generally proved more robust than early 3.4s, and many cars have been proactively upgraded. In magazines, on British TV motoring shows and across early‑2000s video games, the 4S consistently played the role of the connoisseur’s 996. Today it stands as a modern classic: usable, handsome, and one of the most satisfying ways to experience a water‑cooled 911 without going full Turbo.