TTO - 356 v. 911...
12-15-2007, 06:19 PM
#1
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TTO - 356 v. 911...
An aquaintance of mine, not a porsche (or even a car) guy, recently acquired a nice 356 (his wife gifted him) - brought it into my mechanic for fine-tuning , and picked up on a day it had snowed...
yah, sadly, spun & wrecked the car (fixable).
but it got me to wondering - are 356 as susceptible to trailing throttle oversteer as 911"s? more? I think there are a few posters here who have had both...
yah, sadly, spun & wrecked the car (fixable).
but it got me to wondering - are 356 as susceptible to trailing throttle oversteer as 911"s? more? I think there are a few posters here who have had both...
12-15-2007, 07:11 PM
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I'd had my 356 for 5 or 6 years and usually never drove in snow or ice. At least not on purpose. 1 time and 1 time only I made the mistake of downshifting as a means of braking on a curve in snow. I missed a light pole by inches as I spun by it. What a stupid mistake. Not like I hadn't driven rear engined cars for the previous 30 years without doing something that basically dumb. Live and learn.
12-16-2007, 11:13 AM
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I think your friend needed some "normal" time behind the wheel, maybe a driving school & some practice spinning the car in the wet to get a feel for its behavior & limits - then he'd of been fine. I hope the repairs come out nicely.
I have both as drivers - a '65 SC & '87 Carrera, coupes (lets not consider Turbo & 4wd variants). We don't get much snow & ice down here (much less drive in it), but I've driven the 911 in the snow (skiing in CO), & the rain + oily asphalt compound around here make driving on slick surfaces a common occurance. The 356s (like the 911s) evolved their suspension (including wheels) over time to minimize oversteer. Still, the late 356 is more tail-happy than my 911, though not to the point of danger - IF you have accumulated some experience driving it, on both dry & slick. 9/10ths in a 356 feels like 7/10ths in a 911. Early 911s, esp the S, were not very comfortable at the limits & there was much criticism at the time by reviewers. Porsche addressed the issues (LWB, wider rear wheels & tires) and the cars became more neutral as time went on (& now, all the years of accumulated development means any yr 911 can be made more stable). For me, I think the 911 is drivable in almost any conditions that a 2 whl drive car can handle & I would not be afraid to drive the 356 under any conditions I drive the 911, but I drive it differently, w/ its characteristics forefront in my attention. Meaning (on slick surfaces): Brake & accelerate easily & evenly, & avoid entering decreasing radius turns too hot & lifting the throttle, don't brake hard in a curve w/o the throttle on (or even then...). Back-in-the-day, Porsche enthusiasts drove the 356 in the most inclimate weather & remarked on its great traction (weight over the driven wheels) & the narrow tires helped avoid hydroplaning / flotation control in the snow & rain. Really, just being familiar w/ the 356's unique response one can stay out of trouble.
I have both as drivers - a '65 SC & '87 Carrera, coupes (lets not consider Turbo & 4wd variants). We don't get much snow & ice down here (much less drive in it), but I've driven the 911 in the snow (skiing in CO), & the rain + oily asphalt compound around here make driving on slick surfaces a common occurance. The 356s (like the 911s) evolved their suspension (including wheels) over time to minimize oversteer. Still, the late 356 is more tail-happy than my 911, though not to the point of danger - IF you have accumulated some experience driving it, on both dry & slick. 9/10ths in a 356 feels like 7/10ths in a 911. Early 911s, esp the S, were not very comfortable at the limits & there was much criticism at the time by reviewers. Porsche addressed the issues (LWB, wider rear wheels & tires) and the cars became more neutral as time went on (& now, all the years of accumulated development means any yr 911 can be made more stable). For me, I think the 911 is drivable in almost any conditions that a 2 whl drive car can handle & I would not be afraid to drive the 356 under any conditions I drive the 911, but I drive it differently, w/ its characteristics forefront in my attention. Meaning (on slick surfaces): Brake & accelerate easily & evenly, & avoid entering decreasing radius turns too hot & lifting the throttle, don't brake hard in a curve w/o the throttle on (or even then...). Back-in-the-day, Porsche enthusiasts drove the 356 in the most inclimate weather & remarked on its great traction (weight over the driven wheels) & the narrow tires helped avoid hydroplaning / flotation control in the snow & rain. Really, just being familiar w/ the 356's unique response one can stay out of trouble.
+1
02-20-2008, 11:36 AM
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seat time bro...
no substitute for seat time, or a properly maintained car ( suspension etc.).
They can handle as well as most early 911's, or as poorly as a worn out bug...
a lot of variables...but drive it like the car it is, a 356, not a 911. And never pick one up in crappy weather, unless you've driven one in crappy weather...
Jay Putnam.
They can handle as well as most early 911's, or as poorly as a worn out bug...
a lot of variables...but drive it like the car it is, a 356, not a 911. And never pick one up in crappy weather, unless you've driven one in crappy weather...
Jay Putnam.
