Questions for 981 manual transmission owners.

[Ozzie Osmond]

1. Are you happy with the gear ratios?

2. Do you routinely skip gears going up and down the box?

3. If you were to change anything about the ratios, what would you change?

OzOs

[Robograd]

Ozzie Osmond said:

1. Are you happy with the gear ratios?

2. Do you routinely skip gears going up and down the box?

3. If you were to change anything about the ratios, what would you change?

OzOs

1. Ambivalent. 90% satisfactory all of the time: 10% too long gearing some of the time

2. Regularly & routinely. It's the only way to fly!

3. Lower 2nd & 3rd. Leave 1st, 4th, 5th & 6th as is: 4, 5 & 6 no use for continued acceleration in this country without possible loss of licence: would probably get too much wheel spin if 1st any lower.

Edited by Robograd on Saturday 12th December 16:12

[Prestonese]

Which version?

I currently have a 2.7 manual on loan and I think it's fine. If you are trying to look for that extra tenth in F1 qualifying the change in gearing might make the difference but most will not notice that much. Also, in the 2.7, you are wringing it a bit more so the shifting feels more intuitive to me. With the GTS I find you can get caught in two minds about which gear to select. The extra torque and power can also make you lazier with shifting.

My main complaint really is the clutch is a lot heavier on the GTS than the 2.7. Which probably also explains why it feels more intuitive in the standard car. This is enough to make the two feel very different to drive (if you ignore the different engines). I didn't like the 2.7 when I jumped into it at first but it's growing on me.

[Robograd]

Addendum to earlier post.

My initial comments referred to the Cayman GTS variant I presently own - lovely car, by the way.

Digressing a little, according to the Motortrend USA Youtube site, they calculated that if you were to give the halo GT4 model (hallowed be thy name & twenty 'Hail Mary's")" normal gear ratios" - allowing 35mph in 1st max. & 65 max. in 2nd, rather than what is on offer now, i.e.45mph 1st & 82 in 2nd: 0 - 60mph would fall to 3.5 serious seconds from the mid 4.0secs it apparently offers now!!

Therefore the GTS has got to be worth 4.4 secs, pro rata, with those "normal gear ratios", me thinks?

Naughty Porsche! I'm beginning to see a pattern here: satisfy the initial feeding frenzy with the Mark 1 GT4: then for not a lot of R & D & minimal expense market GT4 Mark 2 with shorter gear ratios & up the de-tuned Carrera S bhp. Hence, starting a second feeding frenzy - & so it continues with Mark 3: cunning these Germans, what? Simples!!

[Ozzie Osmond]

Robograd said:

Lower 2nd & 3rd. Leave 1st, 4th, 5th & 6th as is: 4, 5 & 6 no use for continued acceleration in this country without possible loss of licence: would probably get too much wheel spin if 1st any lower.

Interesting comment.

[Trev450]

Robograd said:

Naughty Porsche! I'm beginning to see a pattern here: satisfy the initial feeding frenzy with the Mark 1 GT4: then for not a lot of R & D & minimal expense market GT4 Mark 2 with shorter gear ratios & up the de-tuned Carrera S bhp. Hence, starting a second feeding frenzy - & so it continues with Mark 3: cunning these Germans, what? Simples!!

I think you may be on to something there.

[Robograd]

"Interesting comment" & "you may have something there".

Are not comments usually associated with my utterances. I must start taking more water with the wine.

[_Leg_]

Yes
No
Nothing

Adapt to the car and get the best out of it, don't adapt the car to you, that's the whole point.

[Ozzie Osmond]

_Leg_ said:

Adapt to the car and get the best out of it, don't adapt the car to you, that's the whole point.

Yup, that's exactly where I landed.

[_Leg_]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Yup, that's exactly where I landed.

For me it's the whole point of being into cars. I derive pleasure from learning how to get the best from each of my cars, it's a large part of why I have such an eclectic collection.

Ive never once thought there was anything wrong* with my Boxster 981S. Pound for pound it's a superb bit of kit and probably, using the pound for pound factor, the best car I have. Not the fastest, not the most fun, not the best looking, not the comfiest or best equipped, not the most practical but overall, considering the price as well, the best.

• Apart from the sodding heater etc controls. Stupid position. I leave any changes required via them until I'm in 2nd, 4th or 6th. There I go adapting my driving again. ;-)