Couple of Newbie Owner Questions

[Guest]

Hi All,

I have an 03 996 Turbo and it seems at times that when you a coming to a stop at a junction and dip the clutch the revs drop below what it feels is normal and bounces up to 1200 - 1300 rpm and back to idle. Is this normal on a Turbo or is there somethiing else up.

Also if you back off the throttle at say 2500 - 3000rpm the engine breaking is quite sharp is that normal too.

Lastly alot of restraint is needed to drive this car it's so fast and addictive.

Uppy

 

[Guest]

Nice one, congratulations on plumping for the turbo.

When cold, the engine management can get confused and rev the engine a little when you dip the clutch. E.g. start the car, reverse out of your parking space at 1100 revs, then dip the clutch and it will go to 1300 for a second or so before dropping back.

Once warm, it is not as noticeable. However, if approching a junction, if you let the revs fall too low (e.g. 700) before dipping the clutch it may rev the engine a little.
If you have 1000-1500 as you approach the junction and press the clutch the revs should die to idle straight off.

Tickover should be 750'ish. It may also feel slightly uneven, particularly when cold.

Engine breaking is pretty good. In the lower gears, 1s/2nd, you can slow as well as other cars without using the brakes.
You need to be aware that the cars behind will not see your brake lights though. Sometimes I dip the clutch and brake just so that they know I am slowing (if you brake and use the engine braking you stop too fast).
Significant engine braking is intentional and Porsche LSD's (as fitted to GT2 and others) are set up to make the most of it.
(BTW F1 cars can get 1G of deceleration using engine braking alone.)

Restraint is indeed needed, at least if you want to keep your licence. Take your time to play yourself in.
There is a time and a place for everything, and when the opportunity arises, you can make some seriously quick progress.

Enjoy.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Stuart.

The idle is indeed 750 and it was cold when I went out all the Porsches I have owned all had slightly rough (uneven) idles.

It's a great car and i've only done about 300 or so miles in it as the weather has been awful and last night it was wet and horrible so it now needs a good clean.

But it's sunny now so hopefull I'll get the chance to give her a good wash.

Thanks

 

[Guest]

Mine's filthy.
I use it everyday, so I'm going to wait to clean it till the worst of the weather is over, since it just gets into the same state within a few miles. Maybe next weekend.
It is well waxed, so protected, and I reckon over-cleaning it just gives you more opportunities for swirl marks and scratches.

The amount of grip you have, even in the wet is impressive. Full power is just about possible in the wet, and try braking (on a clear piece of road) and you will be surprised at the stopping power. Whilst the brakes are supposed to be the same as the C4S (and I think the 997), they feel stronger. I think it is because there is more servo assistance.
The only thing to be careful of is that there is not as much grip for cornering in the wet, and look out for changes in tarmac surface, particularly on a bend.
The tyres are not much good in snow, by the way, even if there is 4-wd, they are too wide.

It rewards good driving, lets you know when you have made a meal of it, and doesn't punish you too hard of you do make a mistake. Exactly what you want.

 

[garyw]

Congratulations Uppy, what spec did you end up with(apart from TT) and where the pics[]

glad you are enjoying it.

garyw

 

[Guest]

it's an 03 TT with a few options Sat Nav, Heated Seats, Telephone Module coloured crest's on the wheels, leather steering wheel but I think thats standard, Aluminium Handbreak and Gear Lever and Porsche Mats [] Black Leather Interior and Artic Silver on the outside.

 

[Guest]

Here's another pick showing it's shiny []

 

[garyw]

Very nice, I don't think mine has been shiny for quite a while (Nor Stuarts)[]

I see you have found the spoilers posing button for the photo's []

enjoy it, roads were great today,the salt had dried and left dust everywhere....
garyw

 

[Guest]

Very observant and here is a picture of it extended the pistons shine up really nicely.

I cleaned it this afternoon after last nights (can't wait for the roads to dry drive) and now it looks awesome again the salt was caked on so I am glad to get that off and now it's back under it's cover hoping for some nicer weather so I can go on a nice long drive and not have to clean it at the end.

What spec and colour is yours Gary?

 

[garyw]

They do polish up well don't they, I have been out all day in mine while the sun was out. Had the seat warmers on and the heater a little warmer than usual and it was a delight.
I have a August04 TT cab in Basalt Black and apart from it always looking dirty [] the sound of the induction at full bore is amazing, more people comment on this noise than the exhaust note , although with the roof down thats quite audiable.
Uppy, similar spec as yourself in additional to Ally pack, red belts and GT3 wheels.
Due for a big clean and maybe a proper polish, you've inspired me and my dirty motor[]
Cheers Garyw

 

[Guest]

leather steering wheel but I think thats standard

Yep, on a C2 the centre was plastic, but on the TT it's leather at no extra cost.

I don't think my hydraulic struts were that shiny when it was new!

You'll find that the airflow, aided by the wing, causes the back to be grubby all the time.
The front, sides and roof of mine look good when cleaned up, but the back is not so nice and shiny any more. Of course some wax will hide this, but all the sand, grit and mud is taking it's toll. It's not bad, and on any other car you wouldn't notice, it's just that the top clear coat is so shiny you notice the surface swirl marks.
Dark colours look good when clean, but are hard to keep clean and show marks more.
Silver and seal grey are the most practical colours.
Anyway, it's there to be used.

On full boost the intake noise is louder than the exhaust. It's the roar that is the most impressive.

My exhaust pipes are crusted with salt. I went to scrape it the other day when I got out, and burnt my finger. The tips get hot!

 

[garyw]

I have the quad pipes and two of them are white from the salt...[]
I looked at purchasing a bottom rear diffuser to try and keep the rear end a bit cleaner(stop the air swirling), its filthy after only a short time on the road but the response back was that a diffuser wouldn't help.
Basalt Black looks dirty even after being cleaned!!

garyw

 

[Guest]

The dirt is coming from the spray from the rear tyres, which then get caught in the swirling air, which is worse due to the wing.
Taking the wing off and fitting a C4S cover would reduce it a bit (since they don't get so dirty), but that's not really a viable idea.
The only other way is to fit big mud flaps, but I don't think this is an official Porsche option, even if you could put up with the way it would look.

I tried driving faster to leave all the dirt behind, but it doesn't work []
I suppose you could lower it till it was scraping the ground, like a GT3 RSR, then there would be no air going underneath, but you wouldn't be able to use it on the road.

I think we just have to live with it.

What are you supposed to do with the side air intakes? All the cr@p must be going in there as well. I wonder if you can squirt a hose up them to flush the salt out.

If you look in the front air intake, beneath the number plate, you will see loads of stones, leaves and cigarette ends in front of the radiator. At least I do. The you have to try to pull it all out with your finger tips. The side intakes are inaccessible, so I'm not sure what you do about that (maybe wait for it to be serviced - mines due in a couple of weeks).

 

[garyw]

Big rally style mud flaps eh!![]

 

[Guest]

My Boxster, C2 and TT all gather rubbish in the front end air intakes and I can only assume and element of this goes in the side intakes.

My exhaust tips were Salt Crusted after just one use in salt comes of easier enough hopefully the snow is behind us for another year.

 

[Dapster]

There is a certain appeal seeing performance cars absolutely filthy - like they have been used as intended. I saw a black 996 TT last weekend caked in salt streaks, the rear end almost completely white. It was very impressive. Much like the Bentley Speed 8 at Goodwood a couple of years ago - driven straight from the winners podium at Le Mans and covered in bugs, dirt and brake dust. Very impressive. It's a guy thing!