DOS AND DON'TS OF DRIVING A MODERN 911

[BLONDELAWMAN]

I'm confused and would appreciate input from owners of 997 2s & 4s and also 997 GT3s.

Basically, it relates to the drving and handling characteristics of these cars and more than a tiny desire to switch my forthcoming order from a 4S to a GT3.

As a driver of rear wheel drive cars, i always try to get my entry speed right and drive under active acceleration around a bend: i always drive with safety systems active, but my understanding is that if i wanted to get a bit of slide/tale out, then you just give the car a touch more right foot and this leads to oversteer.

I've just read an article in GT P' and it seems to be saying that a 997 will understeer when you're pushing it a bit hard and that the way to get the car back on line is to get off the throttle mid-bend.

Without sounding too boring, i guess what i really want to know is:
1. How do you need to drive a 997 to drive it fast and safely on bends and roundabouts, etc?
2. If i need to lift off the gas in the middle of one of those long, wet, sweeping motorway run-ons for whatever reason, is a 2 or a 4 (or a GT3) going to swing round on me where my BM just carries on?
3. What really is the sketch on trailing throttles, etc. with the modern 911? If i misjudge entry speed, am i better just keeping on the gas and praying, or is PSM so good that you can hit the brakes mid-corner if necessary ending up in a hedge backwards?
4. Should i think about writing a will if i order a GT3?

Lot of questions i suppose, but i'd really appreciate all your input.

Many thanks,

Ian

 

[oliver]

IMO, if you want 911 'purity' it should be 2wd, Coupe, manual, normally aspirated, and with no more weight than necessary - the rear wheels providing the traction and the front wheels providing uncorrupted steering.

The best such examples of all the 911 models, from the pre-impact cars to the latest 997 GT3, are just so rewarding to drive. It takes an idiot to get it wrong, even in an early 911, but to get the best out of any 911 it's definitely worth taking some professional tuition.

It's almost inconceivable that the latest GT3 would bite back on the road, unless you were travelling at stupifying speeds in very poor conditions on badly worn MPSCs.

 

[BLONDELAWMAN]

in the last paragraph, i meant to say 'without' landing in a hedge backwards!

 

[sidicks]

My C4S is so much more stable than my previous M3, which was quite a handful, particular in more extreme weaher conditions.

Accelerating out of a roundabout in my C4S, the tail kicks out very slightly before the thing just grips and goes - I tried a similar thing in a Porsche Boxster S recently (while my 911 was at the garage) and had a huge slide. Fun if you were expecting it and can catch it, scary otherwise.

I fully agree with the previous poster that the purest 911s have 2-wheel drive, and I guess that the new GT3 is the ultimate version of that. However, I believe that most of the advantages involve driving at or close to the cars limits, and hence are probably more appropriate for track day driving, rather than general on-road driving.

For me personally, the C4S is the ultimate - it handles well enough, will kick the tail out if deliberately provoked (even with stability control on) and if you want to be really silly you can just turn off PSM. More importantly for me, it doesn't provide any nasty surprises in wet weather, and I feel really safe when pushing on, regardless of the conditions.

I think the choice of GT3 v C2S v C4S depends a lot on the type of driving that you will do, your skills as a driver, and whether you will be tracking the car or not.

Each to their own !!

Sidicks

 

[Rintoul]

My OPC told me that the full allocation of 997Gt3s were all sold a few months ago when I made enquiries, therefore unless you want to pay a premium, a GT3 may not be part of your equasion.
Personally I think that there is very little extra feedback from the C2 over the C4 and if you want to use your car as fast every day all weather transport the extra traction and security provided by 4 wheel drive can't be beaten.
Have you thought about a turbo? You can get a superb 996tt for the price of a 997c2/c4
[]

 

[BLONDELAWMAN]

The primary 2 reasons why i was considering a GT3 are because it's dry-sump and i'm really put off by all i've heard about RMS problems and a constant worry that shouldn't be there on an £85k plus C4S and because i really want to feel thrown back in my seat.

I've driven both a 997 S & 4S at speed and i just loved the 4S's steering; quite heavy, constant and reassuring: by contrast, when i booted the 2S is actually scared me...steering went light and i didn't feel as if the front wheels were on the road! Is that what the purists love so much and rave about then?

 

[YvesD]

Ian,

Seriously, dont worry about it. Its no more of a problem than anything else you cant change about what might happen in the future, ie nothing.

No cars are 'perfect' but the 997 is as good as it gets. Would you believe it, even Lexus's arent fault free !!!!!!!!!

Forget RMS, its only an oil seal anyway at the end of the day, get that order placed before you wake up dead one day and regret not having placed your order !

Comprendez ?

Respectfully, Yves

 

[BLONDELAWMAN]

You make me realise that i sound more like my mother with every passing day Yves!

 

[Rintoul]

If you really like the feel of 4 wheel drive, then you should really try a low mileage 996tt, I too went through the concerns re the RMS worries, having had 2 fitted to my last 996 C4( a superb car non the less).
The GT3 and Turbo engines apparently don't suffer as they are a completely different design (lots of previous threads on this issue). A few months ago, having missed the boat on a new 997GT3, I felt uncomfortable about getting a 997 C4 (even though covered by warranty they are still having RMS failures), I felt residuals will continue to be affected (as they have with the 996) until it is definitely sorted. The 997tt was a big jump in cost, and not available for 18 months anyway (although some used ones are becoming available now), so I therefore bought a superb 996tt, X50 power kit, aero kit, sports suspension and more. An absolutely brilliant everyday supercar ( and it cost less to buy than a new C4 and is far quicker). But having said the above, all porkers beat the opposition hands down.[8D]

 

[BLONDELAWMAN]

Thanks Rintoul; sounds like a great car you got yourself

 

[bobfair]

If you are worried about front end going light on a C2S then put 75kg in the boot and that will help a lot. My new turbo is much better in this regard and the OPC tells me its because of the additional weigt of the front diff and associated mechanical bits that go with 4WD

 

[38F3E1]

The old VW Beetle handing mod ... two bags of sand in the front. Like it.

 

[Simon Grey]

I have recently taken delivery of a 997 GT3 having had a 997C4S for the twelve months prior to that, and previously a 996 C4S. The 4 wheel drive cars are very stable on the road and particularily the 997 probably the most accomplished car I had ever owned. Long trips,short trips all great fun and very comfortable. In the wet the car was extremely stable with bags of grip, and you really can only ever get the back end out if you really push the car to an extreme that you shouldn't be driving on the public highway. Loved both cars !

Now to the GT3, this is a different "animal" altogether. The whole driving experience is something extra special, you feel "wired" from the moment you get in to the moment you get out. For a day to day car it probably will not suit everyone, you need to keep your concentration at all times, acceleration is awesome, back end will step out quite easily in the wet, although reined in by the TC once past a certain point. Since I took delivery of the car at the end of November it really has not stopped raining, and it has taken quite some time to build up enough confidence to really boot the car in the wet.

To answer your original question, as to which car to choose there, would be no hesitation in me recommending the GT3 so long as you are happy to accept that it is a hard and focussed drive.

Without doubt the most exciting car I have ever owned. Hope this insight may be of help


PS I forgot to mention the noise it makes, just fantastic!

 

[BLONDELAWMAN]

Simon,

Tremendous post, many thanks indeed; you answered my question.

Ian, I lost my VW bug on a wet bend when i was 17 despite the mandatory bag of sand and i'm ashamed to stay the feeling has stayed with me...i think i'll get the '4'!!