PASM

[RSJ]

I have just done a very long drive in a Cayman "S" with PASM.
Took one with PASM as i wanted to see what it was like and i have to say i didnt like it at all.
Am i right in thinking that a car with PASM is exactly the same as a non PASM car when the PASM is switched off ?
With PASM sport turned on, the car felt very bouncy and twitchy on german autobahns and any other long fast roads i could find.
I just ended up not having it on.
To be honest i found it a bit scary at high speeds.
Anyone else feel that way about PASM ?
Any PASM experts out there ?

[CharlesW]

PASM is always on, but there are 2 modes. In Normal it is still active, and will adjust damping according to road surfaces and dynamic inputs. On poor surfaces it is great improvement over non PASM especially if you have 19" wheels. I'd go as far as saying it is essential, if you have 19" wheels. If you start driving with a bit of verve, it will firm up.

Sport mode is very firm and really only useful on very smooth surfaces or track days. This subject has been discussed endlessly on the various forums.

http://www.caymanclub.net/cayman-uk/12116-porsche-...

http://www.caymanclub.net/cayman-chat/11030-option...

http://www.caymanclub.net/cayman-chat/10163-porsch...

I hope this helps.

[pikey]

Not an expert, but I have PASM with 19s and am delighted with it.

Just done 2,000 miles round Spain where some roads were smooth and some fairly bumpy. The PASM was extremely useful.

If I order another car (whatever model) then I would certainly tick the box.

[shoestring7]

[quote=RSJ]I have just done a very long drive in a Cayman "S" with PASM.
Took one with PASM as i wanted to see what it was like and i have to say i didnt like it at all.
Am i right in thinking that a car with PASM is exactly the same as a non PASM car when the PASM is switched off ?
With PASM sport turned on, the car felt very bouncy and twitchy on german autobahns and any other long fast roads i could find.
I just ended up not having it on.
To be honest i found it a bit scary at high speeds.
Anyone else feel that way about PASM ?
Any PASM experts out there ? /quote]

Some answers below. In addtion, the Cayman bodyshape does produce lift at high speed. I've noticed that at high speed (<130mph) it feels a little spooky on the fast sweepers of my personal test track.

SSS7

[CharlesW]

On reading your post again and your other post about your trip to Belarus, I see that what you didn't like was the Sport mode. That I can understand. As I pointed out in my first reply, it is really only any use on very smooth and even surfaces. From what you said about your trip to Belarus, you actually liked PASM in the Normal mode. It is a definite improvement over non PASM equiped cars. Whether it is worth the extra money or not is a personal decision. I believe it is. You could easily spend twice as much on an aftermarket suspension, which was nowhere as good.

[K Man S]

CharlesW said:

PASM is always on, but there are 2 modes. In Normal it is still active, and will adjust damping according to road surfaces and dynamic inputs. On poor surfaces it is great improvement over non PASM especially if you have 19" wheels. I'd go as far as saying it is essential, if you have 19" wheels. If you start driving with a bit of verve, it will firm up.

Sport mode is very firm and really only useful on very smooth surfaces or track days. This subject has been discussed endlessly on the various forums.

http://www.caymanclub.net/cayman-uk/12116-porsche-...

http://www.caymanclub.net/cayman-chat/11030-option...

http://www.caymanclub.net/cayman-chat/10163-porsch...

I hope this helps.

You learn something new every day. So if i press PASM without pressing the sport button i'll get something in between that is adaptive?

[CharlesW]

If you don't press the PASM button, it is in Normal mode. It is always on. You just select which mode you want. So at all times the suspension is adaptive.

Edited by CharlesW on Wednesday 12th September 14:06

[K Man S]

CharlesW said:

If you don't press the Sport button, it is in Normal mode. It is always on. You just select which mode you want. So at all times the suspension is adaptive.

Sorry -

1. PASM light off - PASM off
2. PASM light on - PASM on (adaptive)
3. PASM and Sport light on - Sport mode and sports suspension (is this adaptive?)

Is this correct? Sorry for being thick

[CharlesW]

This is what the manual says:

"Porsche Active Suspension
Management (PASM)
Function
PASM makes two running-gear setups available to
the driver: “Normal” and “Sport”. The selection is
made via a button on the center console.
After the ignition is switched off, PASM is automatically
reset to Normal mode.
In Normal mode the running gear is in a sporty and
comfortable setup. Sport mode offers a markedly
sporty shock absorber tuning (e.g. for driving on
the race circuit).
The variable suspension system selects the appropriate
damping level for each wheel according to
the situation and conditions of driving.
Example: If the vehicle is driven in a markedly
sporty manner in Normal mode, PASM automatically
adapts the shock-absorber behavior to the
driving situation in this case as well.
Switching on PASM Sport mode
Press PASM button in the center console.
When PASM Sport mode is switched on, the
light-emitting diode in the button is illuminated
and a message is shown by the on-board
computer.
Switching off PASM Sport mode
Press PASM button in the center console. The
light-emitting diode in the button goes out and
the on-board computer displays a message for
a limited amount of time."

So if the PASM button is not illuminated then it is in Normal mode.

When you press the PASM button to put it in Sport mode it illuminates
and a message appears briefly in the Display to tell you it is in Sport
mode and an icon of a shock is displayed.

Then if you push the PASM button again, it puts it back into Normal
mode. The PASM button illumination is switched off and a message appears
briefly in the display to tell you that you are in Normal mode.

Yes. Both Normal and Sport are adaptive.

Edited by CharlesW on Wednesday 12th September 13:50

[CharlesW]

erhaps this will clarify how PASM works.

[shoestring7]

CharlesW said:

If you don't press the Sport button, it is in Normal mode. It is always on. You just select which mode you want. So at all times the suspension is adaptive.

I think the button is marked PASM? I know that in my SportChrono equipped car I've got two; Sport and PASM. If I hit 'Sport' they both light and PASM switches to Sport. But if I then press 'PASM' it reverts to 'normal' mode but with the 'Sport throttle map and PSM settings.

SS7

[CharlesW]

shoestring7 said:

CharlesW said:

If you don't press the Sport button, it is in Normal mode. It is always on. You just select which mode you want. So at all times the suspension is adaptive.

I think the button is marked PASM? I know that in my SportChrono equipped car I've got two; Sport and PASM. If I hit 'Sport' they both light and PASM switches to Sport. But if I then press 'PASM' it reverts to 'normal' mode but with the 'Sport throttle map and PSM settings.

SS7

Typo. Now corrected.

[K Man S]

CharlesW said:

This is what the manual says:

"Porsche Active Suspension
Management (PASM)
Function
PASM makes two running-gear setups available to
the driver: “Normal” and “Sport”. The selection is
made via a button on the center console.
After the ignition is switched off, PASM is automatically
reset to Normal mode.
In Normal mode the running gear is in a sporty and
comfortable setup. Sport mode offers a markedly
sporty shock absorber tuning (e.g. for driving on
the race circuit).
The variable suspension system selects the appropriate
damping level for each wheel according to
the situation and conditions of driving.
Example: If the vehicle is driven in a markedly
sporty manner in Normal mode, PASM automatically
adapts the shock-absorber behavior to the
driving situation in this case as well.
Switching on PASM Sport mode
Press PASM button in the center console.
When PASM Sport mode is switched on, the
light-emitting diode in the button is illuminated
and a message is shown by the on-board
computer.
Switching off PASM Sport mode
Press PASM button in the center console. The
light-emitting diode in the button goes out and
the on-board computer displays a message for
a limited amount of time."

So if the PASM button is not illuminated then it is in Normal mode.

When you press the PASM button to put it in Sport mode it illuminates
and a message appears briefly in the Display to tell you it is in Sport
mode and an icon of a shock is displayed.

Then if you push the PASM button again, it puts it back into Normal
mode. The PASM button illumination is switched off and a message appears
briefly in the display to tell you that you are in Normal mode.

Yes. Both Normal and Sport are adaptive.

Edited by CharlesW on Wednesday 12th September 13:50

Got it. I got confused because when i press my Sportchrono button PASM automatically comes on. I wondered what mode i'd be in with just PASM lit up. I'm assuming this is stiffer suspension but simply without sport chrono.

I find it difficult to understand how people can drive daily with PASM activated unless i'm just driving it too hard round town and my PASM thinks i'm on a track (i'm sure this can't be the case though).

[pikey]

shoestring7 said:

I've noticed that at high speed (<130mph) it feels a little spooky on the fast sweepers of my personal test track.

Feels like floaty bollox at 170mph..

[Paracetamol]

Joel...do you have too many Cars without PASM for sale

[RSJ]

Yeah got a few in at the moment with PASM.
Guess i should have read the manual.
However not all PASM equipped cars have the SPORT button.
In fact i have seen very few PASM cars with a SPORT button.
However seen cars without PASM having a SPORT button.
Too many choices for the confused buyers these days i think when they are ticking the boxes at OPC.

I wasnt aware though that in NORMAL mode there is still some adaptive damping.
Maybe thats why i enjoyed the ride so much.
It was a very comfortable 3000 miles,some of it over poor roads.

Joel

[pikey]

RSJ said:

Yeah got a few in at the moment with PASM.
Guess i should have read the manual.
However not all PASM equipped cars have the SPORT button.
In fact i have seen very few PASM cars with a SPORT button.
However seen cars without PASM having a SPORT button.
Too many choices for the confused buyers these days i think when they are ticking the boxes at OPC.

I have PASM with no SPORT. The dealer (or literature) never convinced me of the advantage of SPORT so it was a concious decision to omit it.

The dealer did advise the improved throttle response was most noticable with the TipTronics gearbox but I didn't have Tip. They also said you get additional functions unlocked should you have the Communications Module, but I wasn't having PCM. Finally they said it came with this gay looking fugly, useless stopwatch on the dashboard... and I certainly wasn't having that

(I wish they did a PSE when I bought mine though )

[K Man S]

pikey said:

RSJ said:

Yeah got a few in at the moment with PASM.
Guess i should have read the manual.
However not all PASM equipped cars have the SPORT button.
In fact i have seen very few PASM cars with a SPORT button.
However seen cars without PASM having a SPORT button.
Too many choices for the confused buyers these days i think when they are ticking the boxes at OPC.

I have PASM with no SPORT. The dealer (or literature) never convinced me of the advantage of SPORT so it was a concious decision to omit it.

The dealer did advise the improved throttle response was most noticable with the TipTronics gearbox but I didn't have Tip. They also said you get additional functions unlocked should you have the Communications Module, but I wasn't having PCM. Finally they said it came with this gay looking fugly, useless stopwatch on the dashboard... and I certainly wasn't having that

(I wish they did a PSE when I bought mine though )

The Sport Chrono makes a massive difference particularly when added to the short shift. Did you not test drive one? You should have as you've missed out IMHO. I rarely trust anything the Stealers have to say and prefer personally experience. After being gien my demo for the weekend, Short Shift, SportChrono, Auto Climate and PASM were an absolute must.

The clock is a bit of a gimmick although i've certainly made use of mine on the track. This was I assume inherited from the 911 and I guess the CS couldn't come with anything less if fitted with the Sport Button.

Edited by K Man S on Wednesday 12th September 18:47

[pikey]

K Man S said:

The Sport Chrono makes a massive difference particularly when added to the short shift.

That may be, but they didn't convince me £500 for a mapping was worth it.

K Man S said:

Did you not test drive one?

No. Slight problem in that when I placed my order (October 2005) none of them had been made! That's faith in the brand for you

PS. Had the short shift retrofitted. Prior to this I had an S2000 (excellent box) and reported to the dealer that I was disappointed with the gearbox by comparison. They retrofitted the shortshifter and I'm happier.

[K Man S]

pikey said:

K Man S said:

The Sport Chrono makes a massive difference particularly when added to the short shift.

That may be, but they didn't convince me £500 for a mapping was worth it.

K Man S said:

Did you not test drive one?

No. Slight problem in that when I placed my order (October 2005) none of them had been made! That's faith in the brand for you

PS. Had the short shift retrofitted. Prior to this I had an S2000 (excellent box) and reported to the dealer that I was disappointed with the gearbox by comparison. They retrofitted the shortshifter and I'm happier.

It's enough to knock 3 seconds off the Nurburgring time so i've heard . Well worth £500 which is absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things. I wonder whether it is this, together with the short shift, that allows me to compete in a straight line on a level playing field with my friends (plural) Z4M's. The twisties goes with saying .

Edited by K Man S on Wednesday 12th September 20:13