(2002 – 2004) Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet (996.2) – Ultimate Guide
Designed as a grand tourer, the Porsche Carrera 4 Cabriolet was the base all-wheel-drive version for the open-top 911 range in 2001. It offered enough comfort to be used as a daily driver, on all weather. The 996 Porsche was facelifted in 2002. Along with the coupe versions, the convertibles were reshaped also. There was not a big difference on the outside. It was the same sports-car and open-top grand tourer.
From the outside, it was hard to notice the difference between the 1998 version and the facelifted model. The main difference was on the headlights. The 2002 model featured a clear lens for the entire lamp, while its predecessor featured a yellow lens for the turn-signals. The retractable roof was able to be stowed away in 20 seconds at speeds of up to 50 kph (31 mph) under a lid, like the rest of the 911 convertible range. With the roof up, the car was tested in the wind tunnel at speeds of up to 338 kph (210 mph).
Inside, the main difference was the stereo, which received a digital AM/FM stereo and a CD-player. Other than that, it was the same four-seat sports car built for two adults for long journeys. In the 911 coupes, the rear seatbacks could have been folded down to create a flat cargo floor. It was a good daily driver vehicle and even more relaxing on long journeys.
The drivetrain received a new 3.6-liter engine and it offered 20 hp more than the non-facelifted version. It was fitted with a standard 6-speed manual. The 5-speed automatic (Tiptronic) gearbox with manual override to change gears was on the options list. Due to its all-wheel-drive system, it could cope better with the bad weather than most of the sports-cars from that era.
The Carrera 4 coupe’s last year was 2001, and was replaced by the Carrera 4S for 2002-04. The Carrera 4 Cabriolet, continued on through 2004, receiving the same updates as the Carrera, including the 3.6-liter engine.
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