981 Cayman S - 20 inch wheels but no PASM

[Nomes]

Hi guys

After a little bit of advice. I am contemplating a purchase of a 981CS which has all of the options I would want except for PASM. The car is on 20 inch wheels and I am worried about the ride comfort. Have any of you got a car with this combination, and if so what is the ride like? I could potentially wait for another car with PASM to become available but as I said this one has everything else I would want and I may end up gaining PASM at the expense of other options.

For reference I currently drive an E90 M3 on 19 inch wheels but no EDC. The ride is firm but tolerable. I would hope that the Cayman S wouldn't be any firmer despite the slightly larger wheels. Thoughts?

[Malo]

Take it for a test drive. You'll know then.

[bcr5784]

Like the man said - only you can decide. Personally I wouldn't buy 20" wheels without PASM, but others are perfectly happy with the ride. Many (the majority?) are keen for the look 20" wheels give, so if that isn't an issue to you, you might be able to strike a better deal with smaller wheels. (Personally I specifically DID NOT want 20" wheels, but knowing that they are a popular option, I would certainly have tried to negotiate a lower price for a car without them).

[Spartikus]

I'm adverse to big wheels and always assumed I'd have to change to smaller ones when I was looking for a Cayman. But, I found that 20's with PASM is very acceptable - even on crap roads. For me, PASM will be a must have option on future cars. It covers all requirements with just two settings. Unfortunately to the OP I can't comment in non-PASM comfort(!), but that aside it is a desirable option anyway. Hope this sort of helps

[Heathrow]

Some factors to consider which will influence views include the condition of the roads round your way and your intended use for the car (ie daily driver vs 2nd/weekend car etc.) It all boils down to personal preference. I prefer PASM with 19s for the record but I was surprised that standard dampers with 20s was more pliant than I expected.

[Sparkyhd]

Can't get winter tyres on 20s so you'll need wheel change

[DJMC]

I think I could have coped with non-PASM and 20s as the ride was better than my 2012 TTS with 19s and mag ride (which isn't saying a lot). But... if I were to spec another 981 Cayman, PASM would be top of my list of options. Not so effective on a 718S with 20s, but that's not what you're after.

As has been said, you'll only find out how necessary PASM is by driving both PASM and non-PASM cars on 20s over a variety of surfaces, for some time, AND at speed (try 80+ MPH with PASM in Sport).

[NBTBRV8]

Each to their own really. I have a GTS with X73 sports suspension and I just wouldn't contemplate having PASM. I love the feel the suspension gives you. But I do like focused cars, a prior ride was a 997.2 GT3 as a DD.

You need to drive it.

[LiamH66]

Having driven a few 981/718 Caymans and Boxsters this year. PASM or not, I have never driven anything that gives such remarkable ride comfort while retaining steering feel and grip, even on relatively bumpy roads with 20" wheels. Nothing I've driven so far compares, so you really do need to drive one before making a decision. Awesome would be an understatement.

For myself, I'm pretty happy without PASM on any wheel diameter, despite my preference for the smallest wheels available. But I want LSD, and seem to recall from speccing that it means I have to get PASM anyway. PASM really is great, but so is the standard suspension setup, and there are less buttons to press. Drive both and make a call on it. There is no incorrect answer or downside that I can see.

Liam

[Gerber1]

I find the ride more than acceptable with 20's and no PASM, I certainly wouldn't spec it on a new build.

[missile]

+1 20inch and no PASM.
Ride is far better than my old TTR which was shod with 19inch rims

[Gerber1]

Gerber1 said:

I find the ride more than acceptable with 20's and no PASM, I certainly wouldn't spec it on a new build.

Hate to quote myself, but I have just bought a 981 on 20's with no PASM so I put my money where my mouth is.

The ride quality and NVH is perfect.

[b2tus]

Fully agree....20" and no PASM on my 981B too. The ride is even better since I binned the P Zeros and shod the car with Goodyear F1 Asymmetrics 2.

[bcr5784]

b2tus said:

Fully agree....20" and no PASM on my 981B too. The ride is even better since I binned the P Zeros and shod the car with Goodyear F1 Asymmetrics 2.

Nothing wrong with that - better than most of the competition. But PASM gives a greater range of ability from boulevard cruiser to focussed sportscar - and no real down sides.

[JAhmed]

+1 for driving it, you've got to see what YOU find acceptable.

My CGTS is equipped with X73 and 20" wheels, and my wife still insists that it rides better than our SUV...

[Thumperson]

I have a 2.7 981 on 20" and it rides our very crappy Australian b and c roads with out a problem.

[Presuming Ed]

Another 981CS driver on 20" without PASM. No problem in terms of ride quality and nicer than my missus 3 series running 19"'s.

I would go for PASM given the choice but that's from an aesthetical side as it looks a lot better hunkered down with its lower ride height.

[Radish]

Mine's a 2.7 981 with 20s and PASM; the ride is excellent in either setting (sport most the time) so I don't think that lack of PASM would be a deal breaker for me if it had everything else that I wanted. That said, I agree with the comment on the looks of the lower ride height