'Skittish' C4 at speed?

[gibber1]

Hi,

Bought my first 911 a few months ago from an OPC and happy with it. 2001 C4, basalt black.

I bought a 911 on the basis of reputation for handling and competence etc. I have enjoyed it, but I am finding that it is a little skittish at high speeds (anything between 75-120mph). It just seems to sometimes find a groove in th road and want to go off there.. a little diosconcerting at those speeds. I am just wondering is this normal - or is there a problem that needs sorting?

I am reading with interest about the debate between C2 and C4's re stability and also about top speeds in 996s, with high speed behaviour like this I daren't go any faster (obviously not on public roads), which I am sure is not the aim of a car like this.

I had a Griff 500 a few years back and that was more stable at speed, believe it or not. I wonder if there's something I'm missing or just not used to the Porsche's dynamics. Thoughts please.



Cheers

J

[willdew]

Sounds like you might want to get your geometry checked out and put back to Porsche standard settings (presuming they aren't at present). With things set up correctly, you shouldn't find much that's more well planted at any speed. When you view the car from head-on is there a perceivable amount of camber on the front wheels? From what you say, I suspect a previous owner may have added front camber.

[gibber1]

Thanks willdew,

I will have a look at the car tonight when i get back to have a look. Would the geometry not have been checked and set as part of preparation by the OPC? If not I will go back to them! So it sound like an unusual isssue then? To add a little more information, there is no vibration at all at the wheel and the tryres are all correctly inflated and sufficient tread etc.

thanks again.

Jeff

[anglebox10]

Have had a C2s and C4s but don't remember that being an issue.
Guess I'd just double check the basics - tyre pressures, wheel geometry, nothing missing from undertray, worn suspension bushes etc.

[Rawhide]

My C2 is slighly skittish at speed. It's all in alignment though. To some extent it depends on what car you have come from. The steering is very light and responsive compared to a lot of cars, probably as there's no engine to keep things planted. Have you tried holding on a bit less tightly and letting the car wander a bit? It will follow tramlines a bit but it's not a big problem for me.

I had it up to 150is in France and it was moving around a bit but it wasn't too worrying.

Edited by Rawhide on Thursday 26th April 15:15

[kayc]

gibber1 said:

Hi,

Bought my first 911 a few months ago from an OPC and happy with it. 2001 C4, basalt black.

I bought a 911 on the basis of reputation for handling and competence etc. I have enjoyed it, but I am finding that it is a little skittish at high speeds (anything between 75-120mph). It just seems to sometimes find a groove in th road and want to go off there.. a little diosconcerting at those speeds. I am just wondering is this normal - or is there a problem that needs sorting?

I am reading with interest about the debate between C2 and C4's re stability and also about top speeds in 996s, with high speed behaviour like this I daren't go any faster (obviously not on public roads), which I am sure is not the aim of a car like this.

I had a Griff 500 a few years back and that was more stable at speed, believe it or not. I wonder if there's something I'm missing or just not used to the Porsche's dynamics. Thoughts please.



Cheers

J

They all do it imo its the nature of the beast..the older the model the more it does it..the only 911 i have driven that seemed to have cured that sensation is the 997tt,(and it did feel a bit sterile and uninvolving).My 996tt was fairly good as well but the 993tt(latest purchase)..well what can i say..vague at best.Its called character.

[gibber1]

Kay C,

I've had the luxury of driving a few fast beasties (not the 996tt)and raced a few cars in my time too but I was not sure what to have expected with the 911. The car feels solid and planted generally but a couple of crosswinds and you're gripping on for dear life... can't be the nature of it can it? how come it's raved about so widely??

I really want to love the car but something's not clicking right now for me to trust it at the limit/ approaching 'naughty speeds'.

I'm wondering if I should upgrade to the turbo....

[willdew]

gibber1 said:

Would the geometry not have been checked and set as part of preparation by the OPC? If not I will go back to them! So it sound like an unusual isssue then? To add a little more information, there is no vibration at all at the wheel and the tryres are all correctly inflated and sufficient tread etc.

Not sure if they check it as standard.

And it's not as if it sounds to be "wrong", just that it doesn't sound to be at the factory recommended settings. This adjustment lets owners set the car up as they wish. I would expect an OPC to put it back to factory standard though (if they checked).

Will

[kayc]

gibber1 said:

Kay C,

I've had the luxury of driving a few fast beasties (not the 996tt)and raced a few cars in my time too but I was not sure what to have expected with the 911. The car feels solid and planted generally but a couple of crosswinds and you're gripping on for dear life... can't be the nature of it can it? how come it's raved about so widely??

I really want to love the car but something's not clicking right now for me to trust it at the limit/ approaching 'naughty speeds'.

I'm wondering if I should upgrade to the turbo....

As i said my tt was fairly stable(996),however the 997tt seemed to have removed a lot of that 'where are we going now feeling' where as my 993tt has very similar characteristics of the 993 c2s i had years back..engine in the back and little weight on the front will cause weird balance i presume..i think Porsche have attempted to get the engine placed further forward with every new 911 model to improve things..

[simonharrod911]

Kayc's correct. Essentially Porsches are shite, the ultimate in clever marketing. People just rave about them so much from the days when they were successful in motorsport, and big in the city, that everyone wants one. Then you drive one and think "hang on what's going on here?", but let's face it you're never going to tell your mates, are you.

Then you drive one which has a GT or an RS (or both) badge on it, then you think "ah, right. THAT'S what you meant!"

Stick with it and pretend you love it, it'll help resale values.

Also next time try one which only drives the rear wheels, non of their serious cars do anything else.

Edited by simonharrod911 on Thursday 26th April 15:41

[kayc]

simonharrod911 said:

Kayc's correct. Essentially Porsches are shite, the ultimate in clever marketing. People just rave about them so much from the days when they were successful in motorsport, and big in the city, that everyone wants one. Then you drive one and think "hang on what's going on here?", but let's face it you're never going to tell your mates, are you.

Then you drive one which has a GT or an RS (or both) badge on it, then you think "ah, right. THAT'S what you meant!"

Stick with it and pretend you love it, it'll help resale values.

Also next time try one which only drives the rear wheels, non of their serious cars so anything else.

I didnt realise the 959 was 2wd?

[simonharrod911]

kayc said:

simonharrod911 said:

Kayc's correct. Essentially Porsches are shite, the ultimate in clever marketing. People just rave about them so much from the days when they were successful in motorsport, and big in the city, that everyone wants one. Then you drive one and think "hang on what's going on here?", but let's face it you're never going to tell your mates, are you.

Then you drive one which has a GT or an RS (or both) badge on it, then you think "ah, right. THAT'S what you meant!"

Stick with it and pretend you love it, it'll help resale values.

Also next time try one which only drives the rear wheels, non of their serious cars so anything else.

I didnt realise the 959 was 2wd?

Yeah, but that was a rally car. If they didn't want it for the Paris-Dakkar it would have been 2WD. I know Fritz Hitler who headed up their R&D department in Stuttgart during the early 80's so THAT'S HOW I KNOW before you ask.

[silver996]

Bugger, so my 2001 Carrera2 is a load of shite, and I spent all my savings on it and everything. :what a tt:

[simonharrod911]

silver996 said:

Bugger, so my 2001 Carrera2 is a load of shite, and I spent all my savings on it and everything. :what a tt:

Not important though, you'll still love it. It won't dawn on you until you own something proper anyway, by which time it won't matter. You also won't believe a word I'm saying so everyone's a winner. Enjoy it.

[kayc]

simonharrod911 said:

silver996 said:

Bugger, so my 2001 Carrera2 is a load of shite, and I spent all my savings on it and everything. :what a tt:

Not important though, you'll still love it. It won't dawn on you until you own something proper anyway, by which time it won't matter. You also won't believe a word I'm saying so everyone's a winner. Enjoy it.

Proper like what?It seems to me you continue to follow the usual lines of ..if you are a non gt3/gt2 driver you are a tt,the original poster had a valid question so im surprised you just attempt to be a smart arse..

[simonharrod911]

kayc said:

simonharrod911 said:

silver996 said:

Bugger, so my 2001 Carrera2 is a load of shite, and I spent all my savings on it and everything. :what a tt:

Not important though, you'll still love it. It won't dawn on you until you own something proper anyway, by which time it won't matter. You also won't believe a word I'm saying so everyone's a winner. Enjoy it.

im surprised you just attempt to be a smart arse..

You shouldn't be.

[johnfm]

stop bickering you guys - back on topic...

...tyres, pressures & alignment. Get them checked, should only be skittish on shit B roads. On a motorway surface should be steady up to 180 mph.

My GT3 is 'hands off the wheel' steady at 160 - and I'm sure non-GT models should be too.

[simonharrod911]

johnfm said:

My GT3 is 'hands off the wheel' steady at 160 - and I'm sure non-GT models should be too.

John you are a VERY brave man! Most of the Porsches I've had involuntarily change lanes at those speeds! The only 911 I've driven which is calm at 150+ is the 997 turbo.

[silver996]

MIne seems pretty nice and stable at 140 ish, it's just the driver that (so far) hasn't been happy to push on. Agree with the comment about holding wheel lightly and within reason letting car go where it wants, with no weight over the front wheels you get a lot more feel through the steering wheel, and I think it is easy to take that as a sign of instability - I don't think it is.


I dont think Harrod is right, all non GT2/3 Porsches are not rubbish?

[johnfm]

simonharrod911 said:

johnfm said:

My GT3 is 'hands off the wheel' steady at 160 - and I'm sure non-GT models should be too.

John you are a VERY brave man! Most of the Porsches I've had involuntarily change lanes at those speeds! The only 911 I've driven which is calm at 150+ is the 997 turbo.

On autobahn had it to 150 and 160 (on GPS. Indicated nearer 170)hands free. Bear in mind my rear spolier has the full 8 degrees (or whatever), so there is plenty of downforce on rear. Front didn't seem too light. I didn't take hands off long, just to establish stability. The car would sit happily all day in its lane.

You should get alignment or tyre pressures (or something else) checked if the car is weaving at high speeds - unless there is too much lift on the front at high speed of course.

Do you still have teh GT2 Simon?