997 C2S - any comments?
Discussion
I've done 4500 miles in 3 months included 2000 in Spain and have managed it twice - both at 9/10ths (for me) and to be honest whilst taking the p*ss so think I'm probably as much to blame as the car. It's my first 911 after years of driving a 330CI BMW and various motorbikes and to be honest the car is less planted than I was expected.
Don't get me wrong I actually really like the way it handles and it's part of the excitement of the drive - but if you keep pushing it will eventually understeer (my experience at least).
Don't get me wrong I actually really like the way it handles and it's part of the excitement of the drive - but if you keep pushing it will eventually understeer (my experience at least).
SkinnyPete said:
How fast do you have to be going to notice the understeer, and is it easily cured by trail braking?
As above I would like a 911 but I hate understeer, if of course its only at 9/10ths then its not really a problem.
I don't notice any understeer at all with my 4S, feels pretty neutral to me. Turns in nicely, holds its line through the corner and you can get back on the throttle very early too. It's not really feasible to get near its cornering limit on the public road and I haven't driven it on track. That's the only place where you could find out. I believe they are set up to understeer with factory settings for obvious reasons, but I really don't notice it on the road. Trail braking on the road is pretty dangerous to be honest, it's really a track technique for those really really pushing the limit. I know a few old-skool pro racers who don't even do it!As above I would like a 911 but I hate understeer, if of course its only at 9/10ths then its not really a problem.
anonymous said:
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As RobM77 is fond of telling us, tyres take a fair old slip angle at well below what we call the 'limit', so controlling weight transfers is beneficial even at modest speeds. So far, I haven't felt any need to trail the brakes on the 997, as turn in is excellent; but it feels like it would push wide if provoked in a slow corner. I might be wrong. If it does show that tendency, I will at least try just easing off the brakes a little later to keep more weight over the front wheels.I can't drive for s
t, but that's what it feels might be appropriate.
ORD said:
anonymous said:
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Also one of the standard wheel designs. On a different note (no pun intended), I miss the induction noise of the Cayman. Noise is a big consideration for me.
ORD said:
There are probably 2 answers to that question.
(1) It is more about how the car feels than actual on-limit performance. Hard to explain. In my experience, cars hint at how they'll behave if pushed even when only at 5/10s. And the 911s I have driven always seem a bit less planted at the front than the Caymans.
On the upside, they also seem to turn in more keenly.
(2) I expect you would have to be balls out to actually get it to understeer considerably on the road. Grip at both ends is absurd. In terms of outright grip, for road use, it's very similar to the Cayman, I think.
I may be talking crap. All perception, really.
I remember a test a few years back that showed that the 911 in fact beats the Cayman in a lot of technical handling challenges BUT all the test drivers felt happier and safer doing the tests in the Cayman. The 911 feels a bit less friendly.
Thats what I've quite frequently read, in comparison tests the 911 laps quicker but the drivers prefer the mid engine handling of the Cayman. (1) It is more about how the car feels than actual on-limit performance. Hard to explain. In my experience, cars hint at how they'll behave if pushed even when only at 5/10s. And the 911s I have driven always seem a bit less planted at the front than the Caymans.
On the upside, they also seem to turn in more keenly.
(2) I expect you would have to be balls out to actually get it to understeer considerably on the road. Grip at both ends is absurd. In terms of outright grip, for road use, it's very similar to the Cayman, I think.
I may be talking crap. All perception, really.
I remember a test a few years back that showed that the 911 in fact beats the Cayman in a lot of technical handling challenges BUT all the test drivers felt happier and safer doing the tests in the Cayman. The 911 feels a bit less friendly.
FrankCayman said:
Magic919 said:
They look like Carrera Sports to me. They are wider than most of the 'standard' wheels and take a 305 on the rear.
That's what I thought. They were wider on the 987'sOP
Did the 2 year approved warranty have any influence on your decision to buy from an OPC?
I`m in the situation at the minute where I`m about to pull to the trigger on a car* but a bit of me feels the 2 year Porsche warranty is a safety net as opposed to the 3 months from a specialist.
I`ve always been a safe buy kinda person so I see the extra costs incurred as insurance.
Any input ?
Did the 2 year approved warranty have any influence on your decision to buy from an OPC?
I`m in the situation at the minute where I`m about to pull to the trigger on a car* but a bit of me feels the 2 year Porsche warranty is a safety net as opposed to the 3 months from a specialist.
I`ve always been a safe buy kinda person so I see the extra costs incurred as insurance.
Any input ?
Edited by bigkeeko on Wednesday 19th August 05:24
ORD said:
I don't agree re trailbraking. It's useful at very safe speeds in cars that otherwise push to understeer a little.
Trail braking kills turn-in understeer very nicely - I was taught this at PEC and it feels great when you get it right. It's not full-on braking, just leave enough braking effort on to manage the weight towards 50:50 from the usual 60:40 R:F, then gently off the brakes and onto accelerator. It's a very 911 thing and part of the fun - you have to up your game to make the most of the car, whereas a Cayman is an altogether more neutral drive. It's also a great way to start an argument with an IAM Observer… ;-)Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff