996 driving characteristics
Discussion
Hi all, I've had my 1998 996 for almost 2 years. IMS went (well caught just in time actually) so it spent a couple of months off the road but all in all I haven't driven it that much what with other commitments etc. Around a month ago I had some new rear tires fitted and had four wheel alignment done too. The fitter, recommended by my Porsche Specialist, said that the alignment was out a fair bit, so when I got it back I expected it to be a bit more sure footed than it had been. It wasn't.
Maybe it's just me but it is an extremely twitchy car to drive, forcing you to grip the steering wheel at anything over 50mph on anything but a flat road. Just the other day I had to overtake another car on a B road, only got up to around 65mph and it was pulling me this way and that to the point where it feels dangerous. My other car is a 1 series and it's a dream to drive in comparison to the 996.
Are they all like this or is there something I can do to fix it? It's due a service in a month or so so I do plan to ask the guys at that point but wondered if anyone can offer any insight in between please.
Thank you.
Maybe it's just me but it is an extremely twitchy car to drive, forcing you to grip the steering wheel at anything over 50mph on anything but a flat road. Just the other day I had to overtake another car on a B road, only got up to around 65mph and it was pulling me this way and that to the point where it feels dangerous. My other car is a 1 series and it's a dream to drive in comparison to the 996.
Are they all like this or is there something I can do to fix it? It's due a service in a month or so so I do plan to ask the guys at that point but wondered if anyone can offer any insight in between please.
Thank you.
Mine was like that, but sad to say, it seems your alignment may not have been done properly, as when I did mine, it was sorted. Or you have problems with the suspension bushes at the front, particularly the coffin arm bushes. Check that these are fine, if they are, redo alignment. Could well be that the aligner input the wrong model in the computer so the geo was set up perfectly... for another car.
Basically more outwards toe makes the car turn in quicker and more responsively, but makes it a pig to keep straight when the road surface is not perfect or has any camber in it. I remember crossing Europe with the car set up that way and it was hell having to fight the wheel to keep the car on the road.
Basically more outwards toe makes the car turn in quicker and more responsively, but makes it a pig to keep straight when the road surface is not perfect or has any camber in it. I remember crossing Europe with the car set up that way and it was hell having to fight the wheel to keep the car on the road.
I've driven BMW 1.20 Diesel (brand new back in time), early 2014 for a few weeks along with my 986 boxster. Driving on both busy (London) and motorway (m11, A12), I would say 986 is pretty solid and easy comparing to 1 series. The car(BMW) was absolutely flat and I did not dare to go over 60 mph (well, ex girlfriend's car so... 
). 996 should behave and feel much better, I think your suspension or wheel alignment would need to be double checked.
). 996 should behave and feel much better, I think your suspension or wheel alignment would need to be double checked.dan you need to get your car checked out by someone who knows what they are doing. You probably have tired bushes, geometry out and maybe even a crap batch of tyres. Get it sorted and the car will be a revelation.
p.s. the first and only time I ever drove my sisters 130iMsport was in the pissing rain. Felt like a gokart. Very precise and would quite happily drift at the legal limit. Probably why my sister never normally lets me drive her cars and has not since or my niece for that matter either. I would quite like to sample her 1 series with its E92 V8 and dct transmission
p.s. the first and only time I ever drove my sisters 130iMsport was in the pissing rain. Felt like a gokart. Very precise and would quite happily drift at the legal limit. Probably why my sister never normally lets me drive her cars and has not since or my niece for that matter either. I would quite like to sample her 1 series with its E92 V8 and dct transmission
Cmoose knows what he's talking about!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=154...
Yours sounds like something is seriously wrong (tyres?), I'm afraid to say.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=154...
Yours sounds like something is seriously wrong (tyres?), I'm afraid to say.
I have an M135i as a daily and a 996.2 Carrera.
Some favourite roads close to me are quite undulating/bumpy and the 1 series will drive down those roads 'steamrollering' the road flat. It feels very safe and secure. In the 996 the car feels alive and jitters about. When I first got the 996, it felt very insecure in comparison, but with the passage of time I learnt to trust the car and relax my grip on the wheel.
It was the masses of information being relayed through the steering wheel, compared to the 1 series, that was throwing me a curve ball. I kind of let the wheel do what it wants to and the car behaves. However, a trait I feel of the 996 (or any 911 maybe), is that hitting bumps mid corner can have the light front end skipping across the road sometimes. Or maybe it's just my car?
One thing that hasn't been mentioned above, damper condition. Just needs to be considered along with everything else i.e. arm and bush condition and geometry.
Some favourite roads close to me are quite undulating/bumpy and the 1 series will drive down those roads 'steamrollering' the road flat. It feels very safe and secure. In the 996 the car feels alive and jitters about. When I first got the 996, it felt very insecure in comparison, but with the passage of time I learnt to trust the car and relax my grip on the wheel.
It was the masses of information being relayed through the steering wheel, compared to the 1 series, that was throwing me a curve ball. I kind of let the wheel do what it wants to and the car behaves. However, a trait I feel of the 996 (or any 911 maybe), is that hitting bumps mid corner can have the light front end skipping across the road sometimes. Or maybe it's just my car?
One thing that hasn't been mentioned above, damper condition. Just needs to be considered along with everything else i.e. arm and bush condition and geometry.
12dan34 said:
Can anyone recommend somewhere in north Essex to get the alignment checked please?
Protyres in both Dunmow and Stortford have the right kit. It does sound very odd though. Yes, new tyres need treating carefully because they have the releasing agent from the mould still on them. Sometimes they feel 'loose' for up to 100 miles. How many miles have you put on those tyres? 1 series is a quick, reliable modern hatchback no issue there but in my experience it was pretty concerning after some high speeds, it feels really light and flimsy to take control or make any immediate move while on motorway. With 996 or 986, especially if they are manuals, when the speed increases, the car is completely under-control, gripping or handling it's almost like riding a bicycle. I would really say it's either geo or suspensions that makes the OP's driving experience a bit shakier.
When my 996 C4S started feeling a bit wayward, it was down to the coffin arms needing replacement and a good GEO done. My car is rock solid on all roads, and so should yours be. A 996 can be set up to be very twitchy and slidey on the rear, but this can be dialled out by a good suspension specialist. Mine has been transformed by a trip to Centre Gravity, it was money well spent.
My 996 felt totally planted. No sense of the weight being behind the rear wheels. And that, according to the guy who bought it from me, was with knackered coffin arms (I think his 'specialist' was ripping him off). So for the OP to be experiencing something different suggests a geo problem or perhaps they've fitted the tyres incorrectly?!!!
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