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!

[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!!

[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!!)