911 turbo newbie
New member
think i will have to get this booked next year, better take a can of lynx as well by the sound of things[&:]
How to make the most of a 997
- Thread starter paulmichele
- Start date
Thanks Alex. Yet more expense (all of £2, for the highway code) [
]. Actually I've already used it - I've been wondering for ages about whether you can cross cross-hatchings on a road (where there is a broken white line on your side).
The answer is YES provided that crossing into the hatched area is "necessary". Now whether over-taking is a "necessary" activity gets us into a moral minefield, I think. Now I own a car where one has to overtake a car driving at 50mph -- clearly a necessary activity (as I have to enjoy the drive).
Of course the sentiment of the hatchings is meant to be... this is a bit of a dangerous road (the hatchings are there to separate the traffic) so drivers be warned: take extra care.
Happy reading indeed!
]. Actually I've already used it - I've been wondering for ages about whether you can cross cross-hatchings on a road (where there is a broken white line on your side).The answer is YES provided that crossing into the hatched area is "necessary". Now whether over-taking is a "necessary" activity gets us into a moral minefield, I think. Now I own a car where one has to overtake a car driving at 50mph -- clearly a necessary activity (as I have to enjoy the drive).
Of course the sentiment of the hatchings is meant to be... this is a bit of a dangerous road (the hatchings are there to separate the traffic) so drivers be warned: take extra care.
Happy reading indeed!
Black80XSA
New member
enough said [
][][][][]
Check your tyre pressures before you arrive at his house - he greets you with a tyre gauge in his hand! (I ha d checked mine[])
Like Alex I recommend the day. The driving is all around the roads of northern Oxfordshire - loads of twisty A & B roads, loads of opportunity for learning skills for "fast road use".
])Like Alex I recommend the day. The driving is all around the roads of northern Oxfordshire - loads of twisty A & B roads, loads of opportunity for learning skills for "fast road use".
I'm seeing John on Thursday - report to follow.
Hi all
Thanks for all your thoughts and advice - the day out with John Cave was excellent. I can thoroughly recommend it and would say that the £250 (£225+Vat) was money extremely well spent.
As a bit of background, I'm a 997 owner with little experience of RWD/sports cars (a 944 10+ years ago) and it was pretty clear to me that although driving a 911 these days is remarkably easy, there was a gap in my knowledge.
As pre-warned, it kicks off with a tyre pressure check (embarrasing for me, despite the warning, as I hadn't checked them) and after a short talk and aims-setting session it was into the car for a quick (30 mins or so) tour around the North Oxfordshire roads. Immediately followed by John showing me how to do it. [Of course, I thought I'd driven fairly well but the truth was pretty evident: safe, yes, like a driver, no]
The theme for the day was a bit of theory, with and putting it into practice straight after, which suited me. Others might think that there was a bit too much theory but I would definitely argue it was right. Loads of knowledge imparted and it was all practical and useable. I'd be pretty sure that although there is clearly a set of instructions that John follows, it is well tailored to the individual and you can't ask much more than that.
But John's main skill is teaching in the car; he drives a 997.2 so knows how the thing ticks. He's got a great manner - kind yet insistent and when he raises his voice, you know it! I hope that hearing him shout "more power" will stay with me for a long while.
I hope that the foibles that he observed (honesty time now... I could improve on gear selection, use of the throttle and road positioning and horizon scanning), will have been worked out in the coming weeks. Even after the six hours or so, there was no doubt that I was (am) driving more smoothly yet faster and I am beginning to really enjoy the car. It was hard work but a great deal of fun.
I am so impressed, I've booked a track day with him for the Spring.
Final thought - he'll advise reading Roadcraft (see earlier in the thread), I'll be buying him a new joke book
Thanks for all your thoughts and advice - the day out with John Cave was excellent. I can thoroughly recommend it and would say that the £250 (£225+Vat) was money extremely well spent.
As a bit of background, I'm a 997 owner with little experience of RWD/sports cars (a 944 10+ years ago) and it was pretty clear to me that although driving a 911 these days is remarkably easy, there was a gap in my knowledge.
As pre-warned, it kicks off with a tyre pressure check (embarrasing for me, despite the warning, as I hadn't checked them) and after a short talk and aims-setting session it was into the car for a quick (30 mins or so) tour around the North Oxfordshire roads. Immediately followed by John showing me how to do it. [Of course, I thought I'd driven fairly well but the truth was pretty evident: safe, yes, like a driver, no]
The theme for the day was a bit of theory, with and putting it into practice straight after, which suited me. Others might think that there was a bit too much theory but I would definitely argue it was right. Loads of knowledge imparted and it was all practical and useable. I'd be pretty sure that although there is clearly a set of instructions that John follows, it is well tailored to the individual and you can't ask much more than that.
But John's main skill is teaching in the car; he drives a 997.2 so knows how the thing ticks. He's got a great manner - kind yet insistent and when he raises his voice, you know it! I hope that hearing him shout "more power" will stay with me for a long while.
I hope that the foibles that he observed (honesty time now... I could improve on gear selection, use of the throttle and road positioning and horizon scanning), will have been worked out in the coming weeks. Even after the six hours or so, there was no doubt that I was (am) driving more smoothly yet faster and I am beginning to really enjoy the car. It was hard work but a great deal of fun.
I am so impressed, I've booked a track day with him for the Spring.
Final thought - he'll advise reading Roadcraft (see earlier in the thread), I'll be buying him a new joke book
Yes, in my car. We could get into deep legal waters here but assuming he is covered for 3rd party damage as he is driving with my permission, then the only risk to me is that he prangs the car. If he does so, whilst providing a professional service, then I can sue him for damaging my pride and joy.
I agree about the bargain status (the "day" was roughly 9.15 to 3.30), do take your Boxster for a spin with him.
I agree about the bargain status (the "day" was roughly 9.15 to 3.30), do take your Boxster for a spin with him.
When I did John's "day" the 30 mins of him driving was in his 997 (.1 at the time) - although perhaps that was because mine's a 993 and he did keep commenting on how his "size" was not ideal for my car!
Is John's 997.2 a PDK or a manual?
Is John's 997.2 a PDK or a manual?
garyw
Moderator
Chris, Driver training is John's business/living, so I suggest he is more than covered for insurance purposes...
I know what he is saying about his size, he told me the 997 was the first 911 that he could get in with ease and thats why he now owns one..
For those interested, you can claim back in your business for driver training...[]
I should perhaps ask him to pop along to an event some time...
garyw
I know what he is saying about his size, he told me the 997 was the first 911 that he could get in with ease and thats why he now owns one..
For those interested, you can claim back in your business for driver training...[
]I should perhaps ask him to pop along to an event some time...
garyw
Mark
Sorry, missed your question about manual/PDK. An emphatic "manual" for John - his main argument against PDK was simply that he likes to be in complete control. [I'm only the messenger!!!]
Paul
Sorry, missed your question about manual/PDK. An emphatic "manual" for John - his main argument against PDK was simply that he likes to be in complete control. [I'm only the messenger!!!]
Paul
Paul,
I was wondering because he was so keen on "electronics" in his 997.1 (so natural extension of that is obviously to go for PDK) - but somehow John does not seem like a guy who will want to lose the clutch pedal!
Mark
I was wondering because he was so keen on "electronics" in his 997.1 (so natural extension of that is obviously to go for PDK) - but somehow John does not seem like a guy who will want to lose the clutch pedal!
Mark
Spot on. The marvel that is a 911 -- all the weight in the back yet still controllable -- is what makes John love the car and the reliance on stuff like PSM and PASM is all part of the package. However, in his view, the driver still needs to know when to steer, accelerate and brake ... and to do that well, you need to be in control of selecting the correct gear (and at the right time).
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