Porsche Experience Centre - Review

Porsche Experience Centre - Review

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456GT

Original Poster:

301 posts

177 months

Wednesday 15th August 2012
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I have just been to my first trip to the Porsche Experience Centre to drive the new 991. What a day!

I had received it free and I mentioned it here before:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I arrived with my wife (who was on video and photography duties) and we could see the previous group out on the track. I hadn't driven a 911 for years and I had never driven such a powerful car in anger on a track so it's safe to say I was pretty excited!

So, the car... I started with a manual Carrera S on the Handling Circuit. I was told to leave it in third gear all the way round and that provided enough go from the slowest corner (about 30mph) to the quickest straight (75 mph). It supposed to simulate a B-Road and it gave me a chance to learn about trail-braking and looking 'through' a corner. I hadn't been on a track for a few years but the 991 is so easy to drive fast. The grip is phenominal even before the stability system kicks in (which only did once). It had standard brakes which did the business and the acceleration was nice.

The second car I was in had the PDK gearbox and now it was kicking down out of the corners so the acceleration was VERY nice and I was going much faster on the straights! Again, the stability system didn't kick in and car just gripped and went. I didn't use the paddles and even in auto mode the changes were when you'd want them and there were satisfying blips of the throttle on the way down. The PDK initially felt as it if it took a lot of control away from me but I after a few laps you get used to it and I think I would definitely have it for the instant kickdowns and the blips under braking! I imagine it would only get better once you get used to the paddles.

As with the other parts of the experience, there was a wet downhill slalom section where you go through with the stability on then off to get you used to what the on-board computers do. There was also a 'kick-plate' which knocks the car sideways when you pass over it and then you have to control the resulting skid. Again, this is done with the stability on and then they turn it off to build your skill level.

The instructor I had was friendly and gave some useful tips as I was going round but they generally let you get on and learn the car. I felt as if I'd only scratched the surface of a Porsche experience and I would love to do one of their more advanced days.

For anyone thinking of going, it is well worth a trip and they throw in a nice lunch!

monthefish

20,439 posts

230 months

Wednesday 15th August 2012
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456GT said:
There was also a 'kick-plate' which knocks the car sideways when you pass over it and then you have to control the resulting skid. Again, this is done with the stability on and then they turn it off to build your skill level.
I found that the stability systems stop the skid getting any worse, but they also prevent you from catching the skid and bringing the car back under control to continue.

My review of the experience was mixed. Some great aspects, some not so great.


drpep

1,758 posts

167 months

Wednesday 15th August 2012
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PDK is so popular, and I can see why, but nothing beats a perfectly executed sequence of heel 'n toe downshifts approaching a bend.

Apparently >90% of 991s sold are PDK cars.

Maybe us manual lovers are a dying breed!

GuillaumeB

329 posts

172 months

Wednesday 15th August 2012
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drpep said:
PDK is so popular, and I can see why, but nothing beats a perfectly executed sequence of heel 'n toe downshifts approaching a bend.

Apparently >90% of 991s sold are PDK cars.

Maybe us manual lovers are a dying breed!
I don't know. I was the proud owner of 2 manual 911s before, one of them a GTS with a short shifter. Loved them. The PDK in the 991 is now so good it does make you wonder why anyone would go for a manual gearbox. It's a revelation. I don't think I'd ever go back to manual now.



456GT

Original Poster:

301 posts

177 months

Wednesday 15th August 2012
quotequote all
drpep said:
PDK is so popular, and I can see why, but nothing beats a perfectly executed sequence of heel 'n toe downshifts approaching a bend.

Apparently >90% of 991s sold are PDK cars.

Maybe us manual lovers are a dying breed!
Yep, the guy said 95% of cars are ordered with PDK. And I agree about having the satisfaction of heel and toeing but I find myself appreciating the assistance.

I was thinking on the way back, however, there will soon be a generation of drivers who only know double-clutches and perfect gear changes. They will enjoy the technology without knowing what we had to do before all this arrived.

But I guess that is progress. Most people don't appreciate cars used to have carburetors which could flood and needed a manual choke to function properly.

drpep

1,758 posts

167 months

Wednesday 15th August 2012
quotequote all
I like having something else to do on the road. As cars become more competent, there seems to be less and less to engage oneself with. An excellent manual box makes me feel like i'm contributing to the experience, rather than just bashing up and down paddles on the steering wheel.

I dunno; I've considered a PDK car, and it would be great in the big smoke, but I really don't mind changing gear myself that much, and I'd miss all those gratuitous and entirely pointless throttle blips that one can indulge with a manual, heel n' toe, and think on a challenging road, I might get a bit bored.

Going 'round the Porsche Experience centre track today in a PDK car was great; really effective, superbly fast. When I switched to the manual, I realised I would use much more of the gears. The driving chap said my lines were much better in the manual car; almost as though I was thinking more about it all...

Each to their own I say. I agree though; PDK makes a great case for itself these days.

MadMark911

1,754 posts

148 months

Thursday 16th August 2012
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Manual is so much more engaging, particularly when you're "on it"!

My instructor at the PEC sounded almost surprised when I started H&T'ing and yes it's already a dying art. My buddy with his C4S PDK asked what it was as he'd never heard of it ..... doh! frown

O Lempernute

3 posts

115 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
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I have received as a gift a full day at the Porsche experience centre at Silverston (precision course)

I am supposed to bring my 997s on the track. I was told it will be "a minimal wear and tear " for my tyres. Could I have some feedback from one of you??

Also I have checked my insurance exclusions (Aviva) they will not insure me on that day as high speed manoeuvres will be used. I am not facing 2 options: using my car at my own risk OR using one of their car for an additional cost of £ 510.00

what other drivers do or did. I have asked Porsche if the would provide a special insurance cover for a day but they don't

what would be your advice
thanks

thegoose

8,075 posts

209 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
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I think it's a very safe environment but if you feel you'd prefer to have insurance you could probably get a day's track day cover, typically under £200, and make sure it will cover the specific event (it would normally be just for ATDO organised track days), you may even get it cheaper to reflect the very much lower risk of going to the PEC.

Wear on your car will depend on your experience and how much you push it but I don't think there's usually any significantly heavy wear....u less you spend ages doing donuts!

uktrailmonster

4,827 posts

199 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Who cares what they buy?

Moog72

1,598 posts

176 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
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I'm a manual fan, but also having driven both a manual and PDK equipped 991 at the PEC recently, if it were me, I'd being going PDK every time. The 7 speed manual on the 991 is so woolly and imprecise compared to say the 6 speed unit in my Boxster, it's not great to drive IMO. I guess you might get used to it, but personally I wouldn't bother and would stick with PDK as it suits the car better.