Turbo vs. C4S ground clearance

[Scelto]

According to the handbook, my C4S has a minimum ground clearance of 99mm when fully loaded.

A quick Google tells me that a 997.2 911 turbo cabriolet not less than 105mm, although that was from the North American owner's guide, the only one that came up on Google.

In other words, at maximum weight, the turbo apparently rides slightly higher than a C4S.

Can anyone say from experience if that's true for UK models? I guess I'm asking anyone who's made the transition from C4S to turbo and for whom clearance over speed bumps was an issue

Thanks in advance.

[Magic919]

I think US models are a bit higher. You need the rest of world clearance figure.

[Rockster]

Scelto said:

According to the handbook, my C4S has a minimum ground clearance of 99mm when fully loaded.

A quick Google tells me that a 997.2 911 turbo cabriolet not less than 105mm, although that was from the North American owner's guide, the only one that came up on Google.

In other words, at maximum weight, the turbo apparently rides slightly higher than a C4S.

Can anyone say from experience if that's true for UK models? I guess I'm asking anyone who's made the transition from C4S to turbo and for whom clearance over speed bumps was an issue

Thanks in advance.

What Magic919 said.

I have the numbers for the 996 Turbo and there are 4 vehicle height call outs.

Turbo USA: 158/163 (f/r axle heights).
Turbo ROW: 138/153
Turbo X73: 128/133
GT2: 118/133

All heights have a tolerance of +/- 10mm except the GT2 which has a +/- 5mm tolerance.

Heights are with the car's empty condition: full fuel tank, with spare wheel/collapsible wheel (not GT2) and tools but without the driver and without additional weight.

While the above is for the 996 Turbo I suspect the same relationship applies to the 997 Turbo.

Also, I have to note that you quote a 99mm height with your C4S fully loaded. This fully loaded state does not agree with the numbers/state I gave above.

If you want the numbers for your car, in your area, I would hazard a guess that if you ask your local Porsche dealer service department would print out an alignment sheet that not only gives the alignment numbers but states the ride height as well.

Sincerely,

Rockster.

[rimkah]

gen 1 997 turbo 110mm ground clearance

[Scelto]

Thanks all - much appreciated.

Rockster said:

Also, I have to note that you quote a 99mm height with your C4S fully loaded. This fully loaded state does not agree with the numbers/state I gave above.

That's taken directly from my owner's handbook - the figures in there are quoted at maximum gross weight.

Do you know if the figures you've quoted are taken at the lowest point (i.e. the front lip)?

I don't want anything MUCH lower than my C4S, thanks to over-size speedbumps that I already scrape over, but the car I was going to see is a very long way from where I live so just measuring the difference isn't a sensible idea.

I'll pop over to my local Porsche dealer and ask them. While I'm there, I'll also measure the actual clearance of an empty car in the showroom - I guess that's the only way to be sure!

Thanks again folks.

[surfymark]

Scelto said:

That's taken directly from my owner's handbook - the figures in there are quoted at maximum gross weight.

Do you know if the figures you've quoted are taken at the lowest point (i.e. the front lip)?

I don't want anything MUCH lower than my C4S, thanks to over-size speedbumps that I already scrape over, but the car I was going to see is a very long way from where I live so just measuring the difference isn't a sensible idea.

I'll pop over to my local Porsche dealer and ask them. While I'm there, I'll also measure the actual clearance of an empty car in the showroom - I guess that's the only way to be sure!

Thanks again folks.

So how long have you had your C4S again?? Did I get you thinking back in Chappell?? :-)

P.S. I don't really have too much trouble with speed bumps but I would get one with a black lip rather than colour coded as then you do graze it you won't notice! Plus they are not that expensive to replace anyway.

The only speed bumps I have any trouble with at all are long ones rather than the standard sleeping policeman.

M

[Carl_Docklands]

Scelto said:

According to the handbook, my C4S has a minimum ground clearance of 99mm when fully loaded.

A quick Google tells me that a 997.2 911 turbo cabriolet not less than 105mm, although that was from the North American owner's guide, the only one that came up on Google.

In other words, at maximum weight, the turbo apparently rides slightly higher than a C4S.

Can anyone say from experience if that's true for UK models? I guess I'm asking anyone who's made the transition from C4S to turbo and for whom clearance over speed bumps was an issue

Thanks in advance.

Others may know better but, some C4S Gen2's may be fitted with the -20mm sports suspension so, un-leaden clearance would be lower by default?

[Rockster]

Scelto said:

That's taken directly from my owner's handbook - the figures in there are quoted at maximum gross weight.

Do you know if the figures you've quoted are taken at the lowest point (i.e. the front lip)?

I don't want anything MUCH lower than my C4S, thanks to over-size speedbumps that I already scrape over, but the car I was going to see is a very long way from where I live so just measuring the difference isn't a sensible idea.

I'll pop over to my local Porsche dealer and ask them. While I'm there, I'll also measure the actual clearance of an empty car in the showroom - I guess that's the only way to be sure!

Thanks again folks.

No. The front axle height is not from the front lip. The front ride height is measured from the road contact surface (the point at which the tire contacts the road) to the lower edge of the hex-head bolt (A/F 18) of the tension-strut screw connection to the body.

The rear ride height is measured from the tire contact surface to the locating bore of the rear-axle slide section (between the toe and camber eccentrics).

I do not have any problems with speed bumps when I'm in my Turbo. Parking lot entrances, exits, business and private drive ways quite often have the lower edge of the front air dam dragging. I just take it easy and when possible approach the driveway at an angle.

The rear of the car never drags and I've never had the underside of the car make contact.

Oh, I also take it easy when I pull into a parking space. I do not pull so far in the front bumper/air dam's lower edge can encounter the parking space curb stone or sidewalk. I use the driver's side mirror housing to spot the car so I know how far to pull in. Once I pulled into a parking space and got out of the car and spotted a man and woman looking at the front of the car. I thought something was wrong (radiator leaking) but the guy just pointed out to me how close I had pulled the car in and yet stayed clear of the curb. Not even an inch gap between the curb and the lower edge of the front air dam. Can't always get it that close but I do try to avoid contact.

Sincerely,

Rockster.

[Angelus]

Did anyone ever check these heights? As my home garage has stared being built I'm choosing my ramp and this one is the front runner. At 123 mm laid flat will I able to drive over it without having to put planks either side? My car is stored for a couple of weeks while the garage is being built, so can't check myself.

[996TT02]

These are ACTUAL measurements I took off my 996TT, +/- what I considered to be good enough:

Wheelbase 233cm
Clearance mid (sills) and front chin, 12cm
Front overhang from front wheel contact point 100cm

Basically you can grab a length of wood (2"x1"?) that is 233+100cm (333cm) long, cut 2 pieces of wood that are (say) 20cm long and screw them at 90 degrees to the length, one at one end, the other 233cm away, and such that they are now "legs" for the length, that measure 12cm, so the base of your length is 12cm off the floor. The legs simulate the tyre contact points.

That way you can test what will and won't work.

Hope I managed to make myself understood.

Steep ramps are the killer, more than anything else, the front overhang is crazy! Rear never seems to be an issue.

Edit - did not look at your link before, and now understand what you mean by ramp... weell if you approach it from the level, then you won't make it, if you have a 996 turbo!

If you are building a garage, presumably the floor, why not have the jack recessed below floor level, you could also cover it with ply when not in use for a nice flat floor...

Edited by 996TT02 on Wednesday 6th November 16:54

Edited by 996TT02 on Wednesday 6th November 16:55

[Angelus]

Thank you, I know what you mean by recessing the floor. It's just not that easy. Putting a couple of planks either side would be easier, but less pleasing to the eye.

Thanks for the measurements.

[993AL]

Not the best quality but info for clearances for 997 models below.

[6C4GTS]

Its easy to recess a concrete floor - position wooden planks/boards where you want the recess once you have poured the base - once the concrete is rockard - set fire to the planks and remove the ashes - sorted!

[Angelus]

6C4GTS said:

Its easy to recess a concrete floor - position wooden planks/boards where you want the recess once you have poured the base - once the concrete is rockard - set fire to the planks and remove the ashes - sorted!

Should I expect you round with your saw then?

[Angelus]

993AL said:

Not the best quality but info for clearances for 997 models below.

Thanks for that Al, but with the aero kit I think I'm screwed. Once the base is down, I might have to add another 100 mm of concrete with the recess to give me the clearance.

[6C4GTS]

Angelus said:

Should I expect you round with your saw then?

Saw as supplied by Al...happy to help.
I'll even bring a tape measure.