AndyK

Don't know if everyone who owns an N/A feels the same thing, but:

When I drive my wife's Civic, I could be going 80 mph and not even realize it. I have to let up on the gas!

When I am driving my 944, it FEELS like it's going 80, when it's only doing 60!? Is it the cool sounding engine in the 944, making driving more fun, even at lower speeds?

What gives??

nib5

I have the same sensation. I put it down to altitude, noise and the fidgety steering wheel.

Tabor

I don't know what you are talking about. I think it is exactly the opposite. I can be doing 110 and think I was doing 60 (it has happened!).

Silverbullet951

[quote]Originally posted by Tabor Kelly:
<strong>I don't know what you are talking about. I think it is exactly the opposite. I can be doing 110 and think I was doing 60 (it has happened!).</strong><hr></blockquote>

Same here! I can be doing 90 and i think i'm doing 60

bpp944

Tabor, I did the exact same thing the day after I replaced the motor mounts. It was about 6:30 in the evening and the rush hour traffic had subsided. I was just driving along minding my own business when WHOOSH! I went screaming past a couple of cars. I thought to myself "I wonder why those people are driving so slowly" when I looked at the speedo. To my amazement I was driving 105mph!

I thought to myself "Wow, so this is what it feels like", then I thought "****, I'd better slow down before I get pulled over". <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

LeftLaneGuy

I think it's just a matter of perception.. After driving in a larger car, (ie,'01 jettaglx) the 944 FEELS faster. OTHH, after driving my '70 Opel GT, the 944 feels like a slug... But, after driving the 944 exclusively for a few days, I'm bound to get in trouble... To keep the tickets away, I drive the jetta twice a week...-hehe
-daveinphx

Dave

Sorry Andy, I've gotta disagree, I've even quized a passenger who guessed 65-70 mph while doing 95.
[quote]I was just driving along minding my own business when WHOOSH! I went screaming past a couple of cars. I thought to myself "I wonder why those people are driving so slowly" when I looked at the speedo. To my amazement I was driving 105mph! <hr></blockquote>
Exactly like that, on 24 in your area no less, but I asked my sister in law how fast we were going before I slowed down.
I feel speed more in my wife's car too, but it's a minivan <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />

Silverbullet951

I was in my cousin's civic, and we were doing 100 mph. It felt like 1000 mph! the car was at the limit. i thought the car was gonna explode!

AndyK

Maybe I have to get more driving time in my 944?

You should drive my car Dave--maybe the shocks are shot, or maybe something else...but I am always looking at the speedo, thinking I would see 90, when I am actually shocked to see 60 or 70. Maybe I am just not use to the noise, steering feel, etc?

Talk about steering feel...got my front wheels re-painted. Drove the car home with a HORRIBLE shimmy--yet the wheels were supposedly balanced (damned weights stuck to the rim on the outside edge)??

Back to the wrench!?

Tremelune

One time my sister guessed "75? 85?" at 125.

I just got out of my mothers '95 Wrangler. Oh my christ it was terrifying. It made me realize that speed limits are there for a reason--because anyone driving one of these cars should heed them. So much fun.

Dave

Andy, Every time I think I have the worst luck, you have to deal with a mechanic, at least you make me feel better <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" /> . Maybe we can do another cruise sometime, and switch cars this time.
[quote] Maybe I am just not use to the noise, steering feel, etc? <hr></blockquote>
Could be, Your 944 should give you ALOT more feedback than a civic and it does come in the form of noise and vibration, to some extent anyway. Have you given the odometer a workout yet, or are you still in the early stages of getting a feel for the car. (BTW, NNJR Car Control Clinic is 6/15, It's a good chance to learn about what your car can do/ what you can do with your car. I just sent in my form)
Front end shimmy seems to be one of the little 944 weaknesses/headaches that rears it's ugly head every now and then. It can be caused by something big like ball joints or wheel bearings, or something minor like tire preasure or the location of the wheel lock, which should be opposite the valve stem. I actually had quite a bit of it on the last cruise on Rt 78. Just adjusting my tire preasure almost completely solved the problem.

ram_one

If you want to feel how fast you're going, try driving a Tahoe. I fear for my life going anywhere near 75 in that thing.
In my 16 year old 944, however, I feel perfectly comfortable and in control. Control is the key. I think we often equate speed with lack of control and feel.
There was one night I was running with a friend of mine on the nj turnpike. We got up to about 110mph for a short stretch. My car felt tight and I was in complete control. I feel I could have driven safely at that speed all day. My buddy in his Nissan Sentra later confessed to being utterly terrified. No control or comfort. If he had to perform any movement that deviated from a straight line he would have lost it. That's the difference.

Lemon Yellow 87 n/a

I have found myself doing 60+mph in the city on numerous occasions!

Kyle

When I first bought my 944 I felt like I was going 10 mph when driving at 30 in the residential areas of Gilroy. Maybe it's because they car I had before my Porsche was a '78 toyota Hi Lux longbed pickup truck.

It really depends what type of road I am driving on, whether it's bumpy or smooth, wide or narrow, etc...

Robby

A brand new Civic should be smoother and quiter than a ~15yr old 944 and should be every bit as decieving (turbo's & 968's included)- at least somewhere in the 60-90mph range.

Silverbullet- what year Civic? I can't imagine it feeling THAT bad at 100mph- I had my '89 Integra (may she rest in peace) above 120mph MANY times (even 130 down STEEP hills) and it never really felt like it was straining to keep up...

It's really ALL relative- I seem to find myself going ~10mph faster on longer straight roads in my Turbo S than in my Integra- on curvy roads, when I want to DRIVE, it's the opposite- my Integra would just simply out-hang my 951, and was usually more forgiveable. If you were to ride in, say, a late '60's Camaro at 80mph for a few minutes, and then, do the same in your 944, the 944 would feel a lot more composed, quiet, etc, so you wouldn't notice the speed NEARLY as much. It wouldn't even compare to, say, a newer BMW. Ex: a '00 540i would feel slower at 120mph than a 951 at 80, actually, the ones I've been in, are quieter at 110+ than my Turbo S at idle. New M5's are queiter too (I've diven 2), and are MUCH MORE LIKELY to get you a speeding ticket than a 944 (almost as smooth as 540i). One great thing about our cars is the on-center steering feel- I actually like the OVERALL steering feel of our cars better than the M5's- it's much more linear- it COULD be a little less power assisted and could have slightly faster reflexes...