992 - The importance of the spec

[IREvans]

I'm a few weeks and 500 miles into ownership of a 992 C2S. I went with RWS, -10mm PASM, sports exhaust, sports chrono and std 4 way Sport plus seats. I love how it drives; It's got superb road comfort, and it turns in so much more eagerly than a 991.2 GTS in the same chassis spec. I'd like to try it with PCCBs, just to see if the rather over servoed brake pedal improves, but otherwise, I wouldn't change a thing.

Anyway, I've got on loan a 992 C4S. It's a fairly heavy standard car with a sunroof and 18 way seats, but crucially doesn't have RWS or -10mm PASM. It's staggering how different it is to drive. Whereas my car turns in so precisely, this C4S feels really vague and imprecise. It's got a noticeable amount more body movement, and if you turn on sport PASM, it gets firmer and less comfortable, but is no easier to place at an apex at speed. On 3rd or 4th gear medium corners, it has a tendency to run wide on the exit - For me, it really isn't nice to pedal quickly.

We all like our cars to drive and behave differently, and its great that Porsche are one of the few manufacturers that allow you to chose your own preference of chassis options, but my advice would be before you order one, go and drive a variety of specs first.

There's a reason the GT3 comes as standard with RWS.....

[IREvans]

Leithen said:

I'm 300 miles in and overall deeply impressed. I have an almost identical spec, with the addition of the nose lift.

I have a niggling feeling that the turn in isn't as good as the demonstrator I drove however. I initially lowered the tyre pressures to F31 R34 (10C cold) and selected the comfort tyre monitoring choice, but have put them back to standard (+1 deviation showing).

Time will tell, and perhaps the car is just tight at the moment. I'm following the handbook running in procedure - below 4000rpm. I just wonder if my front suspension has come out of the factory with a touch too much toe-out. The suspension damping is excellent - even in Sport it is useable on country roads.

My tyre pressures are at the comfort setting, 29F/32R, and I prefer it at this setting, as it's way more compliant than at the higher standard pressures. Did you not like the way it drove on the comfort setting...?

If your car stays in a straight line under heavy braking from moderate speed, then it's unlikely that your front toe is out - I know this isn't particularly scientific, so to put your mind at ease, I'm sure your dealer would check the tracking for you.

[IREvans]

nw942 said:

IREvans said:

My tyre pressures are at the comfort setting, 29F/32R, and I prefer it at this setting, as it's way more compliant than at the higher standard pressures. Did you not like the way it drove on the comfort setting...?

If your car stays in a straight line under heavy braking from moderate speed, then it's unlikely that your front toe is out - I know this isn't particularly scientific, so to put your mind at ease, I'm sure your dealer would check the tracking for you.

I guess increasing the front tyre pressue on the 4WD help with your understeer issue, albeit at the cost of comfort?

Do both cars have the same tyres?

Yes, both cars on the same Goodyear tyres and at the same pressures.

If I increase the front pressures, it’ll make the front end worse (and I’m already at the lowest ‘comfort’ pressure) . It’s not so much understeer at the front, just a general lack of precision in placing the front end. The way it washes out on the exit of a corner is a similar phenomenon to car with an over aggressive rear LSD.

Having it driven it more, I think it’s the lack of RWS that reduces its agility, the higher chassis reduces its precision, and extra weight just blunts the overall performance.

By the way, I’m not saying at all that a 992 C4S in this spec is a terrible car, it’s just not how I like it.

[IREvans]

Secret director said:

Leithen said:

Quick drive with a C2S demonstrator, almost identical to mine apart from having PDCC and not having Front Lift.

Much better composure, turn in and at holding a line through a corner with throttle application. Really shrinks around you in twisties.

Does PDCC operate all the time, or only when "engaged" with the dash button?

Either way, something's not right with mine - I wonder whether the new dampers can get confused and need a reset. Booked it in for a passenger door handle squeak fix and investigation into the handling. We will see....

Really interesting thread ... I have a Carrera T with lift and RWS and previously had one with just RWS....

From my experience I don’t think a car with front lift is quite as sharp as one without... I just find that the car is a little less composed.......what I do find is that if I’ve not used lift for a while it seems to settle down and improve and feels closer to how my previous car felt.... Anyway could all be in my mind but hey!!

Interesting, as I was about to suggest that it’s possible that the lift mechanism could lead to a difference in feel at the front end. I’m sure it’s mechanically very robust, but there are moving parts there which somehow need to be bound firmly when on the move. I’ve never driven 2 cars back to back like you have to make the comparison.....

[IREvans]

GT3ZZZ said:

The vast majority of 991 GT3/RS have front lift specced and I've never seen a single comment to say its a problem, certainly haven't been able to notice anything on mine.

I'm of a similar view, as each GT3 or RS I've had has had front lift. We're not saying there's a problem, just wondering if a car with lift will exhibit slightly different characteristics to one without..?

[IREvans]

Secret director said:

Leithen said:

Quick drive with a C2S demonstrator, almost identical to mine apart from having PDCC and not having Front Lift.

Much better composure, turn in and at holding a line through a corner with throttle application. Really shrinks around you in twisties.

Does PDCC operate all the time, or only when "engaged" with the dash button?

Either way, something's not right with mine - I wonder whether the new dampers can get confused and need a reset. Booked it in for a passenger door handle squeak fix and investigation into the handling. We will see....

Really interesting thread ... I have a Carrera T with lift and RWS and previously had one with just RWS....

From my experience I don’t think a car with front lift is quite as sharp as one without... I just find that the car is a little less composed.......what I do find is that if I’ve not used lift for a while it seems to settle down and improve and feels closer to how my previous car felt.... Anyway could all be in my mind but hey!!

Interesting, as I was about to suggest that it’s possible that the lift mechanism could lead to a difference in feel at the front end. I’m sure it’s mechanically very robust, but there are moving parts there which somehow need to be bound firmly when on the move. I’ve never driven 2 cars back to back like you have to make the comparison.....