High Speed Stability

High Speed Stability

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croyde

Original Poster:

23,011 posts

231 months

Thursday 11th January 2007
quotequote all
Had a wonderful 24 hours with a 163 mile old, Midnight Blue 997S, lent to me by an OPC. Put 300 odd miles on it, in mainly pouring rain on A roads and a bit of London commuting.

Loved it, that grunt that slingshots you out of each roundabout and its general chuckability and amazingly no scarey moments in the wet, or maybe I was not trying hard enough. Wasted in London traffic as this car just wants to go and if I owned one I would lose my licence or my life or both.

The 997S really inspired confidence BUT it did not feel so planted at 120, the front end is starting to go light and the front wheels seem to be skittering and steering does not feel so confident. Is this normal with a 911? I would have thought that it would be more stable, especially as it goes on to top out at 180. Up to 120 no problem.

I really did not want to give it back but as most of my driving is around town it would be a shame to misuse such an awesome vehicle plus the fact that it managed 10 mpg on a 20 mile London crawl. The other factor against such a car in town are all those bloody speed bumps, you just have to stop and walk it over unlike my Beemer that just floats over them with its 1990s tyres.

At least I got to thoroughly drive my dream and the OPC did not even give me a hard sell when I brought their machine back covered in road muck and a bit of mud.

croyde

Original Poster:

23,011 posts

231 months

Thursday 11th January 2007
quotequote all
A bit windy but the "track" was drying out.

croyde

Original Poster:

23,011 posts

231 months

Friday 12th January 2007
quotequote all
Raven Flyer said:
Starts to get firm at 125 and is rock solid at 160+.

I am sure there is a Citroen showroom near you that can satisfy all of your needs.



Ouch!

My comments about town driving were aimed at all those tossers that buy the car 'cos its expensive but never get out and drive it like its stolen. Such a waste.

And the guy in the quattroporto holding up all the traffic as he stayed at 60 in the outside lane, were you not ashamed that even the lowly Previa had to undertake you.

Raven, I'm asking a question which if you can't answer it please refrain from sarky comments. So it appears this is not normal so maybe a tracking or wheel balance problem then.


Edited by croyde on Friday 12th January 07:06



Edited by croyde on Friday 12th January 07:09

croyde

Original Poster:

23,011 posts

231 months

Friday 12th January 2007
quotequote all
Sorry, just had an arguement with the Missus, I take it back

Thinking back it was a very bumpy A road and a long righthand curve, the other time I saw XXXmph was when I didn't even realise it and just glanced down at the speedo whilst on a M road.

I have driven a 996 Turbo on a track which felt rock solid all the time so I was only asking as this one did not seem as planted.


Edited by croyde on Friday 12th January 07:48

croyde

Original Poster:

23,011 posts

231 months

Friday 12th January 2007
quotequote all
Thanks people, so I wasn't imagining it. A bit concerning on a 180 mph supercar especially as I have driven my Beemer near its top whack of 140 and it felt fine. I suppose that in the 911 with all that weight at the back and the transfer of weight backwards under acceleration and at speed, the front will go light, like a motorbike.

I thought that the boffins would have accounted for this with electronics with the latest incarnation of the 911 but some of you say that the car felt fine at speed.

Maybe I need another testdrive