Cayman 981 S - Chrono or Not

[RJH777]

Hi chaps,

Looking pretty seriously at a 981 S Cayman as my next car and wanted to get your thoughts on how important the Chrono package is?

I've got a couple on my list with and then one without but has much lower mileage for the price as a result.

Looking at PDKs and it'll be being used fairly regularly, no plans to track at the moment but that could well change given how suited they are to it.

So yeah, is it worth it - main difference seems to be the lack of clock and sport plus mode?

[Porsche911R]

PDK needs sports plus mode imo.

[MrVert]

Yes....needs it definitely.

[bcr5784]

Don't see the point. The dynamic engine mounts are only of any value on track - but seem prone to failure. The wart on the dash is ugly and the fractional improvement in acceleration times is at the expense of smoothness. Does anyone use launch control - other than a one off?

Edited by bcr5784 on Monday 26th October 21:03

[mr pg]

It also includes the gearbox mount which stiffens up, and relaxes the PSM.

[paralla]

Chrono adds launch control on PDK 981s.

[anonymous-user]

Good lord I’m actually in agreement with BCR.

If you track it yes, but sport plus totally unnecessary on the road imo.

[LunarOne]

On my manual car it obviously doesn't speed up gearchanges or give you launch control, but it does give you auto rev matching, more aggressive exhaust noises, a gearshift indicator, lap timer and track apps on the PCM thingy as well as the dynamic engine mounts and the less aggressive PSM settings. PTV and PSM in sport plus mode enables you to do some nice slithery rear end stuff without having to disengage PSM entirely. Lastly, sport plus mode (which you only get with Sport Chrono) also puts PASM in a harder range, while regular sport mode leaves PASM in its softer range. You can still switch PASM between modes independently if you like. I don't track my car, but auto rev matching and more relaxed PSM makes it worthwhile without any other benefits.

Edited by LunarOne on Tuesday 27th October 10:58

[RJH777]

Thanks all, that's some good feedback.

There's some decent roads near me (have the sports plus on the 5 series on fairly regularly) so sounds like it might be worth it.

Suspect the correct answer here is to stump up a bit more cash for a lower miler with it but can't see the boss lady being too impressed by that ("you spent how much extra for a big clock?!")

[Royal Jelly]

I was unsure of the benefits of SC and looked at one or two 981 CS cars without it initially, but now my car has it, I would have it down as important for what I want to use the car for.

Aside from the clock and timing/g-meter track options, the car comes alive in terms of throttle response, turn-in with the dynamic mounts, and PSE noise (if you have PSE and like the pops & bangs). While I like to dabble with heel & toe, the rev-marching in Sport+ is also sublime.

If it’s for a daily driver to work it may be less essential but as weekend car for slithering down back roads, it’s worth it’s weight in gold in my opinion.

I mentioned in my own thread about 981 values, I’d put SC, PSE & PASM as essentials for a fun second car before the ‘nice-to-have’ interior options, and even PTV, as the cornering grip and balance mean that if you’re slinging the arse out on the road, you’re probably going hard.

One big plus for caymans & boxters is that you’re able to get the sensation of really pushing-on whilst actually being at non-custodial speeds on today’s roads, and to me, SC really adds to that.

Edited by Royal Jelly on Tuesday 27th October 04:08

[mr pg]

bcr5784 said:

Don't see the point. The dynamic engine mounts are only of any value on track - but seem prone to failure. The wart on the dash is ugly and the fractional improvement in acceleration times is at the expense of smoothness. Does anyone use launch control - other than a one off?

Edited by bcr5784 on Monday 26th October 21:03

On 981's the clock isn't a wart on the dash, it's neatly integrated into the front of it, not like 718's (and any other model) where it moved forward (and creates screen reflections depending on the colour of the face).

[bcr5784]

mr pg said:

On 981's the clock isn't a wart on the dash, it's neatly integrated into the front of it, not like 718's (and any other model) where it moved forward (and creates screen reflections depending on the colour of the face).

Whatever you call it, it is stylistically at odds with the rest of the dash - but I agree it's worse on the 718.

[Porsche911R]

bcr5784 said:

Don't see the point. The dynamic engine mounts are only of any value on track - but seem prone to failure. The wart on the dash is ugly and the fractional improvement in acceleration times is at the expense of smoothness. Does anyone use launch control - other than a one off?

Its a must have for the faster manual gear changes when using paddels. and the engine mounts feel great and makes the car more direct.
If you want a non sporty Cayman buy a Merc.

As for the wart dash thing, this is just a forum sheep comment for people without it and have never owned one, so it's made you look stupid.
Its pretty much a must have on the PDK cars and is a nice clock :-)

Edited by Porsche911R on Tuesday 27th October 08:15

[bcr5784]

Porsche911R said:

Its a must have for the faster manual gear changes when using paddels.

Edited by Porsche911R on Tuesday 27th October 08:15

The gearchange in Sport (or even Normal) is so much faster than a manual change that it would only matter if you were after the last half tenth on track. In any case a faster change doesn't necessarily improve performance since DCTs flat shift so there is no interruption in power during the change.

[LunarOne]

bcr5784 said:

In any case a faster change doesn't necessarily improve performance since DCTs flat shift so there is no interruption in power during the change.

Could you explain what you mean by flat shifting? I've never heard this term before.

Thanks!

[cslwannabe]

Without the need to lift off the accelerator...

[bcr5784]

LunarOne said:

Could you explain what you mean by flat shifting? I've never heard this term before.

Thanks!

A flat shift is when you change gear while keeping your foot flat to the floor (hence the name). It is used in racing with manual gearboxes - but is, as you can imagine very brutal and not something you would do on the road. However on DCTs the throttle is kept open when changing gear and the two clutches are used to equalise engine revs to the next higher gear. It is that fact, rather than the speed of change, which is the main reason that DCTs give improved performance.

[mr pg]

Without Chrono:


With clock looks more complete imv (along with including the other features above).

[LunarOne]

bcr5784 said:

LunarOne said:

Could you explain what you mean by flat shifting? I've never heard this term before.

Thanks!

A flat shift is when you change gear while keeping your foot flat to the floor (hence the name). It is used in racing with manual gearboxes - but is, as you can imagine very brutal and not something you would do on the road. However on DCTs the throttle is kept open when changing gear and the two clutches are used to equalise engine revs to the next higher gear. It is that fact, rather than the speed of change, which is the main reason that DCTs give improved performance.

Thank you!