Porsche Driving Experience days

[graham m]

Just did my PDE on Thurs this week at Millbrooke. Spent the afternoon tonking around in both the manual & tip versions of the new 997 Turbo. It's was an excellent session - wouldn't say it was £550 worth, but vey good all the same.
Spent time on/in the high speed bowl - 100 mph hands off!. Played with the Sport Overboost - picture the scene, you're cruising at the ton, and want to quickly blip up to 140 mph and feel that punch in your back. Then press the Sport button and floor it. Umm. You can feel the difference - not so noticable off the line down the 1 mile straight. I managed to hit 160 mph before stroking the brakes and experiencing the rapid deceleration. Did numerous laps of the Alpine circuit and got to grips with the woosh of power. What a cool way to spend the afternoon. Then had a very civilised drive of about 10 miles back to the Hotel used as base. YES a great afternoon out and well worth the 320 mile round trip.
RECOMMENDED
Graham

 

[YvesD]

Looking forward to my 'regular 911'day out.

I'm sure there are more than a few of us who would like to hear more on your first impressions of the turbo.

Can you oblige ?

Yves

 

[graham m]

Nothing too radical between the 997S & Turbo, just more toys as standard and even more surplus power. The Tip operation is 'sharper' in the Turbo, but not jerky. The cabin noise is reduced - the engine has a different beat not as gutteral as the S but still intoxicating! Tyres on the test car were the same as mine - Michelin Pilots, but road noise was less. The car is exceptionally rapid with minimal turbo lag.
The seats in the test car were the standard electric fitment - I have the sports seats (not adaptive) which I do prefer despite the lack of full electric operation. I did try the adaptive ones previously, but didn't appreciate / require the inflatable bits!
All in all pretty damn good - can't wait for mine to be ready for collection in Stuttgart! Any recommendations for a suitable route back to blighty? Thought about detour via Switzerland / Italy /French Riveria across to the Spanish border and a flit across the Milau bridge and then back up the autoroute! Wifey wasn't too impressed - need to work on her!
Graham

 

[Alex L]

Hey guys

Got my 'Precision' PDE day booked for tomorrow at Millbrook!

Really looking forward to it, especially as my retro-fit on my new Short-Shifter is ready in about an hour for me to pick up!!

The day is apparently tailored on request with your own private instructor (in my own car), 3 hours on the public roads and 1 hour on the track (which I will try to stretch "" especially as I've paid for a whole track day insurance!)

So, any suggestions on things I should ask for my instructor to cover?

The only thing really on my list currently is dealing with under and over-steer. That and power-slides in Sport mode

Thanks,

 

[burrow01]

If you don't do it already, can you ask them to teach you to "heel and toe" in the car?

Pete

 

[Alex L]

What a fun day!

Today I had my PDE Precision day at the Millbrook Prooving Ground. Highlights of the day included:

- Playing extensively with my new Short-Shifter on my car. I got to really test it out on the country back-roads on way there and back from the day (2 hour drive each way).
- PDE: On road safety tutelage for my 997 (3 hours)
- PDE (extra): New Turbo test drive (30 mins)
- PDE: Track fun (1.5 hours) "" whole place pretty much to myself!
>> Alpine route (3rd gear all way round windy hill climb/descent circuit "" good torque!)
>> Mile straight
----- Max speed (got up to 143mph before having to break)
----- Emergency break test 30mph (stops in a cars length!)
----- Emergency break test 60mph (no hands!)
----- Emergency break test 70mph with double lane change during breaking
>> High speed bowl (constant 130mph in highest bank)
>> Skid pad (50mph straight followed by self induced sharp right turn and lift of throttle to invoke spin"¦ Normal mode + Sport mode + PSE off mode)
>> Got to see all the latest new unreleased cars being tested at the facility (Lotus' / Jags / Astons / Chevs / unknown!)

Overall I learnt a tonne of new stuff from the VERY experienced 1-to-1 tutor I had for the day. A thoroughly recommended PDE!!

First impressions of the Turbo are that it is VERY easy to drive; the clutch for example is MUCH lighter than in my 997C2S. Driving round town (when the 2 turbos aren't being used it's like driving a normal run-around car!). The manual gets through the gears VERY quickly though upon hard acceleration so although I'm not really a big fan of Tiptronic I think this is probably a must have option for this car. Otherwise you constantly spend your time hitting the limiter and looking silly. The acceleration wasn't anywhere near as scary as I had expected. It's fast, but very controllable especially the way the whole car seems to hunker down into the road when you hit the throttle. That was def my favourite feature, the Turbo seems to handle acceleration MUCH more confidently than my C2S. The exhaust noise wasn't at all off putting. It's just like driving a normal Turbo car. Obviously that's one of the BIG plus of my C2S though, it's glorious PSE. So I would definitely miss that if I made the change one day. The Turbo is not really a posing car like my C2S Cab (with my PSE hack-always-on); to me it just seemed like a real non-nonsense driver's car. Last note: Cobalt Blue (like on Fifth Gear) is def my next colour!

 

[sotoole]

Went on my PDE at Millbrook yesterday - absolutely fantastic. Seen a lot of black-taped Vauxhalls and Astons when I was there, plus the facelifted Mini. Started with a silver 997 TT manual. Handling circuit took a lot of concentration but was great - the turbo can take the circuit in 3rd gear all the way round. Got up to 165mph on the mile straight - stunning stability - and did the emergency stop braking from 30,60,100,120, still got seat belt marks on my chest! Car is really solid at 130 on the banked circuit. Also did the 11mph to 104 mph in 3rd gear trick. Swapped for a cobalt blue Tiptronic. Really dont like the tiptronic, spolils the car, although i noticed in 'manual' mode and with sport on there is a throttle blip on downshifts which was nice. It was slightly faster on the mile straight - 169mph but so uninvolving. Instructor let me bring it up to 153 mph on the banked circuit. Can see why they replace tyres on the demo cars every 2 weeks! Defintely want to go on another one of these driving days.