993 Handling

[taipan]

Thanks for all the feedback. I think I'm going to have to invest in some suspension and tyres! I've checked my owners manual and for 18" wheels the recommended pressures are 36psi front and (gulp) 44psi on the back. Before I go and wipe myself out on my favorite rat run is anyone running these pressures? Any feedback welcome.

[johnny g-pipe]

(These sound worrying like the rather odd pressures recommended for by the factory for 16" Design 90's. 44 at the back sounds like good drifting spec pressures! Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.)

No-one else has mentioned that you might also be experiencing the 'OMFG its ALIVE' feeling that folks often feel when they drive a car with it's engine in the boot for the first time..It ain't an M car, and the front end will feel light - you still have to work that weight in the back if you want to drive it hard. A so-called 'forearm shove' to tame that wandering nose for example (- Marquis Rex?). There's still an art to driving a 911 fast, thank goodness!



>> Edited by johnny g-pipe on Saturday 22 April 22:15

[tony.t]

taipan said:

Thanks for all the feedback. I think I'm going to have to invest in some suspension and tyres! I've checked my owners manual and for 18" wheels the recommended pressures are 36psi front and (gulp) 44psi on the back. Before I go and wipe myself out on my favorite rat run is anyone running these pressures? Any feedback welcome.

I would expect that 44psi in the rears will cure the understeer. However you may not stay on the road long enough to enjoy it

[wildoliver]

Have to disagree, I run 36-40 front and 40-45 rear (play around till they feel right) any less and the car feels soft, wanders around, over steers, and generally doesnt inspire fast driving. But with them set up to factory pressure (Im on D90's) the car is predictable and corners like a dream, just is sublime, whilst this is for my car not yours start at the factory settings and work around from there if you find a different one to suit you great!

And if you are likely to land in the undergrowth at those pressures then the tire is not the problem its the driver

[polarexpress]

taipan said:

I'm fairly new to Porsche ownership and have a 993 C2 ('96 with BBS LM 18" wheels). My question is to do with handling. I've owned a fair number of fast cars (inc. Impreza WRX and BMW M Coupe) and just don't find the 993 to inspire confidence around corners. At speed the front always feels vague / light as if it is going to run wide at any moment. I don't think I'm being paranoid but equally don't know if this is simply down to a different 'style' being required. Has anyone got any ideas or maybe experience with 18" wheels. The tyres by the way are Avon's, suspension is standard. I don't know what pressures people tend to run on 18" wheels. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

This is exactly the kind of feeling you will have when switching from a front engine/RWD balanced car to a 2WD 911. The steering is not vague - anything but - but it is lighter (if you discount the effects of power steering), and you will inevitably have a lot more feel through the wheel. The 911 requires very different cornering technique - slower in, faster out still holds true for even the newer 911s. The benefit is that you can get on the power that much earlier through the apex and rely on the weight transfer backwards to help the car get around the corner. Hard on the gas, and the back end will want to swing around ("momentum-assisted-steering"!?), but your exit speed will be noiceably quicker than others. You also benefit from a tighter exit line whilst others run wider.

When I went from front engine/RWD cars to the 911, this was the experience I had as well. I strongly recommend having a few track days to experiment (safely) and really get to know the handling dynamics of your new chariot.

Freshening the dampers for the Bilstein HDs is also an excellent recommendation.