New 991 Owners Update: 2500 Miles in a 991 Cabriolet
Discussion
Well, that’s two and a half thousand miles under her fan belt in the first month, including a hoon round the Highlands and I’ve been able to really open her up at last (and on some great roads).
Mine is a 991S cabriolet equipped with PSE, SC and PDCC, optioned for sporty driving. A month or so ago I started a self-indulgent thread http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... describing the build up to and first week of ownership, and this post is by way of attempting to answer a few questions I posed myself in the original thread.
It is widely recognised that the 991 represents a huge leap forward in comfort over the 997. For that we have to thank the longer wheelbase, the improved PASM, the dynamic engine mounts that come with Sports Chrono and the new PDCC. And the cabriolet is an even bigger step forward over its predecessor, owing to the new panel bow roof, its magnesium panels and the highly effective insulation.
As a daily driver, it is a quite brilliant compromise of practicality, good looks, comfort, handling and speed.
But this much I had already concluded after a few days’ ownership. More to the point: how good is it to drive on a hoon? And what difference does the PDCC make?
“Seriously blinkin’ fast” is a good starting point. The PDK transmission is night and day better than on the 997, and makes for ear to ear grins at every depression of the loud pedal. Nevertheless, on a sweeping A road at moderate speed, I’d say that the compliant suspension and the much lamented drop in steering feel, makes for a less engaging car than any earlier 911. That’s the price you pay for the extra liveability. By way of compensation, cornering speeds are simply phenomenal. Many times in the Highlands my son pointed out: “do you know how fast you just went round that corner?” If you want to know the answer, sorry, I claim the 5th.
Only when you push and provoke does the car wake up, the PSE barking and growling its appreciation of your intent, the chassis tensing in anticipation. Press the Sport Plus button (keeping in manual mode so as to get out of 1st or 2nd gear) to engage the Sports chassis and loosen PSM’s stranglehold and you not only get some of that steering feel back, but the snarling rear whips eagerly around big sweepers with just a hint of slip.
Does the PDCC prevent the driver reading how much grip is available, as some have wondered? No. I don’t think it does. It feels different to be rounding corners dead flat, but the tyres still speak to you. In fact the wet grip offered up by the 20” Pirellis is short of that derived from a Michelin PS2 or PSS, and you most certainly can feel when the tyres begin to lose it.
Where you really see an improvement is on a typical country B (or worse) road. Put the chassis back to Normal to dial in some extra compliance and let the 991 eat up the imperfections. My GTS (and the C2S before it) were far from composed on such surfaces, resulting in disappointing progress. A GT3 would hardly stay in contact with the blacktop. To the 991’s more planted suspension, add PDCC’s dynamic roll bars and you have a recipe for B road annihilation.
One road I particularly enjoyed in Scotland saw a raised and rutted single track with big ditches either side throwing up multiple sharp direction (every 10 metres or so) and elevation changes. In a 997 I’d have been backing off all the way. The 991 simply dominated it without the slightest hiccup. Smooth. Incisive. Breathtaking.
But this praise comes with a warning. To liberate the beast, you will be travelling very fast, very soon. The PDK is so effective that a simple overtake from 40mph will have you at 70+ in what seems like (maybe is) half a second. You’ll be nonchalantly rounding bends at what feels like a relaxed canter to find the car on your tail has shrunk to a speck in your rear view mirror.
There’s a parallel thread this week inviting opinions as to whether the Turbo is boring http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... The consensus in the Turbo thread seems to be that the car’s immense capability can be interpreted as uninvolving. And it’s certainly the case that I sold my Cayman S (definitely not a boring car) back in 2009 because its exemplary handling and unflappable road holding diminished the challenge. And I suppose the same criticism could be levelled at the 991.
Yet the 991 is so capable in all conditions as to render such criticism churlish. It is a car ahead of its time. The motoring press has long been muttering that modern cars are set up for rigid handling at the expense of ride comfort: Audis, Minis, BMWs, you know the suspects. The 991 with PDCC combines the compliance of a limo with the razor edge of a Lotus, the fuel economy of a family saloon with the acceleration of a Lambo.
For some, this all-round capability is a drawback. They want something harder-edged, but harder to live with. But for me, the car is a stupendous compromise which means that I don’t have to compromise. Each phase of my commute tests different capabilities: I get to engage Sport Plus for a white knuckle ride round the moorland twisties, stay calm, cool and quiet with Auto Stop/Start in the traffic, coast downhill on the M62 in “gliding mode” (transmission disengaged) using zero fuel, kickdown from 7th to 2nd for effortless overtakes, and float over Leeds’ rutted roads to arrive both grinning and composed at the office.
The fact remains that nothing beats old Pork for high days and holidays motoring enjoyment at sensible speeds, but a 993 is simply not a viable daily driver for the target well-to-do 45-65 year-old, rapidly greying, slowly “greening” customers.
The 991 simply obliterates its forerunners as an all-rounder for its intended clientele. In my opinion anyway. Does it deliver comparable thrills? Undoubtedly. And on much more challenging roads. And if the thrills are slightly different owing to the new technology, well, that's progress. Just keep an eye on the speedo!
Mine is a 991S cabriolet equipped with PSE, SC and PDCC, optioned for sporty driving. A month or so ago I started a self-indulgent thread http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... describing the build up to and first week of ownership, and this post is by way of attempting to answer a few questions I posed myself in the original thread.
It is widely recognised that the 991 represents a huge leap forward in comfort over the 997. For that we have to thank the longer wheelbase, the improved PASM, the dynamic engine mounts that come with Sports Chrono and the new PDCC. And the cabriolet is an even bigger step forward over its predecessor, owing to the new panel bow roof, its magnesium panels and the highly effective insulation.
As a daily driver, it is a quite brilliant compromise of practicality, good looks, comfort, handling and speed.
But this much I had already concluded after a few days’ ownership. More to the point: how good is it to drive on a hoon? And what difference does the PDCC make?
“Seriously blinkin’ fast” is a good starting point. The PDK transmission is night and day better than on the 997, and makes for ear to ear grins at every depression of the loud pedal. Nevertheless, on a sweeping A road at moderate speed, I’d say that the compliant suspension and the much lamented drop in steering feel, makes for a less engaging car than any earlier 911. That’s the price you pay for the extra liveability. By way of compensation, cornering speeds are simply phenomenal. Many times in the Highlands my son pointed out: “do you know how fast you just went round that corner?” If you want to know the answer, sorry, I claim the 5th.
Only when you push and provoke does the car wake up, the PSE barking and growling its appreciation of your intent, the chassis tensing in anticipation. Press the Sport Plus button (keeping in manual mode so as to get out of 1st or 2nd gear) to engage the Sports chassis and loosen PSM’s stranglehold and you not only get some of that steering feel back, but the snarling rear whips eagerly around big sweepers with just a hint of slip.
Does the PDCC prevent the driver reading how much grip is available, as some have wondered? No. I don’t think it does. It feels different to be rounding corners dead flat, but the tyres still speak to you. In fact the wet grip offered up by the 20” Pirellis is short of that derived from a Michelin PS2 or PSS, and you most certainly can feel when the tyres begin to lose it.
Where you really see an improvement is on a typical country B (or worse) road. Put the chassis back to Normal to dial in some extra compliance and let the 991 eat up the imperfections. My GTS (and the C2S before it) were far from composed on such surfaces, resulting in disappointing progress. A GT3 would hardly stay in contact with the blacktop. To the 991’s more planted suspension, add PDCC’s dynamic roll bars and you have a recipe for B road annihilation.
One road I particularly enjoyed in Scotland saw a raised and rutted single track with big ditches either side throwing up multiple sharp direction (every 10 metres or so) and elevation changes. In a 997 I’d have been backing off all the way. The 991 simply dominated it without the slightest hiccup. Smooth. Incisive. Breathtaking.
But this praise comes with a warning. To liberate the beast, you will be travelling very fast, very soon. The PDK is so effective that a simple overtake from 40mph will have you at 70+ in what seems like (maybe is) half a second. You’ll be nonchalantly rounding bends at what feels like a relaxed canter to find the car on your tail has shrunk to a speck in your rear view mirror.
There’s a parallel thread this week inviting opinions as to whether the Turbo is boring http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... The consensus in the Turbo thread seems to be that the car’s immense capability can be interpreted as uninvolving. And it’s certainly the case that I sold my Cayman S (definitely not a boring car) back in 2009 because its exemplary handling and unflappable road holding diminished the challenge. And I suppose the same criticism could be levelled at the 991.
Yet the 991 is so capable in all conditions as to render such criticism churlish. It is a car ahead of its time. The motoring press has long been muttering that modern cars are set up for rigid handling at the expense of ride comfort: Audis, Minis, BMWs, you know the suspects. The 991 with PDCC combines the compliance of a limo with the razor edge of a Lotus, the fuel economy of a family saloon with the acceleration of a Lambo.
For some, this all-round capability is a drawback. They want something harder-edged, but harder to live with. But for me, the car is a stupendous compromise which means that I don’t have to compromise. Each phase of my commute tests different capabilities: I get to engage Sport Plus for a white knuckle ride round the moorland twisties, stay calm, cool and quiet with Auto Stop/Start in the traffic, coast downhill on the M62 in “gliding mode” (transmission disengaged) using zero fuel, kickdown from 7th to 2nd for effortless overtakes, and float over Leeds’ rutted roads to arrive both grinning and composed at the office.
The fact remains that nothing beats old Pork for high days and holidays motoring enjoyment at sensible speeds, but a 993 is simply not a viable daily driver for the target well-to-do 45-65 year-old, rapidly greying, slowly “greening” customers.
The 991 simply obliterates its forerunners as an all-rounder for its intended clientele. In my opinion anyway. Does it deliver comparable thrills? Undoubtedly. And on much more challenging roads. And if the thrills are slightly different owing to the new technology, well, that's progress. Just keep an eye on the speedo!
Edited by BnB on Tuesday 28th August 13:46
Have you thought of writing for Evo? I'm equally enjoying my fairly basic 991 3.4 Cab. I've only done 2000 miles in 2 months and am only just discovering the delights of the Sport button! Mind you, this is my 1st 911 so can't compare it to previous 911s. It's quick enough for me. I'm just waiting for my PEC day in 4 weeks with Richard Attwood (hopefully).
mollytherocker said:
An informative and well balanced review.
Your thoughts on the the 991's huge capability and very high limits are interesting. Can you really get to that zone of dancing on the limits on day to day roads?
The 991 Turbo is going to be stupendous, thats for sure!
MTR
Day to day roads? Aye, there's the rub. I think in the more crowded parts of Britain, it's at comfort where the 991 excels. For dancing, you need roads North and West.Your thoughts on the the 991's huge capability and very high limits are interesting. Can you really get to that zone of dancing on the limits on day to day roads?
The 991 Turbo is going to be stupendous, thats for sure!
MTR
Binksboy said:
Great write up,after reading it I am now drooling at the thought of picking my C2S up on Saturday from Chester. You have described it as everything I want it to be, only doubt you leave me with is I didn't opt for PDCC.........can't wait!!
Still a great car without PDCC. I just can't resist trying new technology. Hope you're very happy.Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff