PASM - the dogs danglies!

[dealmaker]

Guys,

After driving my 997S every day since it arrived, on a wide range of surfaces and road types - I can say that Porsche have indeed got it right with the PASM - this was underlined for me by a drive last weekend in a 997S with the -20mm "Sports Pack" - I'm afraid it's not in the same league.

Ultimatley the -20mm will be faster on the track (due to the reduced roll centre and the effect of the LSD more than anything) - but on normal roads the PASM car is quicker - believe me.

So with the PASM car you have a device for all seasons (well - except snow!) - and road conditions - and at the flick of a switch a car which will get to within 99.5% of the -20mm car on the track!

I sincereley hope that Porsche have the bottle to upset the "purists" and fit an enhanced version of PASM to the new 997 GT3 (along with a Ferrari style "Mannetto" electronically selectable diff and a DSG gearbox please Porsche!! ) and leave the ultra-stiff non- PASM setup for the 997 GT3RS version - for those lucky individuals who can afford to have a pure track toy! Then I'll be able to use my 997 GT3 EVERY day as well!

[c310]

dealmaker said:

Guys, After driving my 997S every day since it arrived, on a wide range of surfaces and road types - I can say that Porsche have indeed got it right with the PASM - this was underlined for me by a drive last weekend in a 997S with the -20mm "Sports Pack" - I'm afraid it's not in the same league. Ultimatley the -20mm will be faster on the track (due to the reduced roll centre and the effect of the LSD more than anything) - but on normal roads the PASM car is quicker - believe me. So with the PASM car you have a device for all seasons (well - except snow!) - and road conditions - and at the flick of a switch a car which will get to within 99.5% of the -20mm car on the track! I sincereley hope that Porsche have the bottle to upset the "purists" and fit an enhanced version of PASM to the new 997 GT3 (along with a Ferrari style "Mannetto" electronically selectable diff and a DSG gearbox please Porsche!! ) and leave the ultra-stiff non- PASM setup for the 997 GT3RS version - for those lucky individuals who can afford to have a pure track toy! Then I'll be able to use my 997 GT3 EVERY day as well!

So the 997S has PASM as standard (which changes the suspension). Can the throttle profile be changed also?

Am I likely to have any clearance problems with road humps?

[jjr1]

Interestingly I have exactly the opposite view of PASM. The car does not feel as sharp at the front and almost feels floaty compared to the 20mm drop. There is no way I would swap the dropped car for a PASM one.

Each to their own

[dealmaker]

jjr1 said:

Interestingly I have exactly the opposite view of PASM. The car does not feel as sharp at the front and almost feels floaty compared to the 20mm drop. There is no way I would swap the dropped car for a PASM one. Each to their own

Exactly - there is no "one size fits all" approach.

My preference is based on my daily commute - 35 miles each way with a mixture of Dual Carriageway, Fast B roads, clogged A roads and gnarly back roads. PASM is perfect for this in a way that my previous GT3's ( X 2) nor my -20mm Suspended 996 C2 Facelift were'nt!!

I know what you mean about the 997S with the -20mm - it feels very "pointy" at the front end - excellent when in the mood on the right roads, - the PASM car is very well keyed into the road at the front IRRESPECTIVE of road type/condition, or indeed the weather. I drove the -20mm car to work the other day (in the wet)and it was not as "confidence inspiring" as the PASM car, plus a little nasuea inducing on the (bumpy) back roads (although not as bad as the 996 on -20mm).

Conversley the -20mm felt great on smooth & fast A&B roads in the dry (but frankly no better than my PASM car in "Sport" mode!

I am sure the -20mm car will excel at the track (it was 2 seconds faster round the Nurburgring with Walter Rorhl at the wheel) - what's really impressive though was that a standard PASM equipped 997S is only 4 seconds adrfit from the 996GT3 Mk2 time around the 'ring! Talk about progress - bodes well for the 997 GT3!!

[dealmaker]

By the way - we keep calling the sport chassis car -20mm - which it is in comparison to a standard 997 - but the "S" is -10mm from non-PASM - so a sport chassis car is really -10mm to the PASM version!!

[SimonHarrod911]

c310 said:

dealmaker said: Guys, After driving my 997S every day since it arrived, on a wide range of surfaces and road types - I can say that Porsche have indeed got it right with the PASM - this was underlined for me by a drive last weekend in a 997S with the -20mm "Sports Pack" - I'm afraid it's not in the same league. Ultimatley the -20mm will be faster on the track (due to the reduced roll centre and the effect of the LSD more than anything) - but on normal roads the PASM car is quicker - believe me. So with the PASM car you have a device for all seasons (well - except snow!) - and road conditions - and at the flick of a switch a car which will get to within 99.5% of the -20mm car on the track! I sincereley hope that Porsche have the bottle to upset the "purists" and fit an enhanced version of PASM to the new 997 GT3 (along with a Ferrari style "Mannetto" electronically selectable diff and a DSG gearbox please Porsche!! ) and leave the ultra-stiff non- PASM setup for the 997 GT3RS version - for those lucky individuals who can afford to have a pure track toy! Then I'll be able to use my 997 GT3 EVERY day as well! So the 997S has PASM as standard (which changes the suspension). Can the throttle profile be changed also? Am I likely to have any clearance problems with road humps?

The throttle response is altered by pressing the Sport button when the 997S is purchased with the Sport Chrono Package. You can't get the button without the silly clock unfortunately, although it's not as bad in the flesh.

[steveD]

hi guys...

I'm new to things Porsche but have just ordered a 997S (artic/black/manual/chrono/Sports seats/Bose etc.,) after having driven both the standard Carrera and the S. My impression, admittedly only over a small mileage is that the S appears to resist the initial (slightly disconserting) understeer better than the standard car. Also, one thing I am slightly confused about is whether the car has a limited slip diff or is it only installed if you specify the 20mm lowered option? ...maybe the PASM system can't work with a slippy diff?

Steve

[dealmaker]

steveD said:

hi guys... I'm new to things Porsche but have just ordered a 997S (artic/black/manual/chrono/Sports seats/Bose etc.,) after having driven both the standard Carrera and the S. My impression, admittedly only over a small mileage is that the S appears to resist the initial (slightly disconserting) understeer better than the standard car. Also, one thing I am slightly confused about is whether the car has a limited slip diff or is it only installed if you specify the 20mm lowered option? ...maybe the PASM system can't work with a slippy diff? Steve

Steve,

You only get the slippery diff if you order the "-20mm (-10mm) sports susp. pack" - which, as you know is a NCO in place of PASM.

PASM will not work with a conventional LSD - (however it could be made to work on a Ferrari style Mannetto electronically switchable diff - which is what I hope they will do with the 997GT3 derivative!!)

[steveD]

that's interesting... no problem with a lack of slippy diff...car felt great
on the road and I'm not intending to track it (I have a Caterham Seven for that), it's just that all my current and recent cars (including the Seven, plus Mitsibushi Evo/Honda S2000/Integra Type R) have all had them...and it seemed strange that my new 70K supercar did without!

Steve