I can't agree with the premise that it is first time buyers, or "more expensive=better" mentality. Or even that C4/C4S are only for the snow. I feel this is a common misconception that the Four is for snow bound people. From my research, etc, I have learned that a good set of winter tires on a C2 will take down a Four in the snow, if the 4 is equipped only with summer tires, (if the 4 is also equipped with winter tires, it will obviously then have the acceleration advantage [this has been discussed ad nauseam somewhere around here]).
The 4 has a traction advantage in many different circumstance, not limited to wet/snow. Reading about Walter Rohl and the press introduction to the C4 in Monte Carlo (in Excellence Magazine, #141 Oct. '05) opened my eyes to what the 4 can accomplish on dry, curvy roads. Gripping, accelerating, and pulling the car through the turn, gets Walter on the straight path more quickly, and quicker is better, to me.
Also, the new 4, along with the "safety net" of AWD has two more improved braking scenarios than the C2/2S... Something some us fathers might appreciate more than others.
I think these generalizations are bogus. I'll take a 997TT, oh, wait, that has AWD.
I do need the extra trunk space, so maybe a C2S will have to suffice
