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In your EQ example, if the high end system has superior EQ tuning, then even with your crap system you likely improved it. Even if only slightly, its still better.
I can see why you might think that, but the EQ would boost and cut in the wrong places. Your cheap speakers will be unusually loud at some frequencies and unusually quiet at others. You're going to end up with a peaky, jagged frequency response that's far from any house curve.
Originally Posted by nhnguy12
right now the points you're making are mostly conjecture
That is true of every argument, for or against, the modification. Like I said in my original post, I'll happily conceed that the calibration makes the steering feel "different" but skeptical that it is "better" or somehow closer to what Porsche was targeting.
I was surprised that the Launch X431 let me change this on my 2014 Cayman S. Unfortunately I've only had my Cayman since April of this, but I do love the Gt3 program . I felt the OEM program felt a little digital, the GT3 program feels much more like a hydrolic rack. I'm pretty happy with the change. I tracked the car 2 weeks ago and loved the feedback the steering gave me.
Its not an assumption. The first picture in this thread is a drop-down that lets you select the calibration based on the specific model.
Agreed. But "config exists" doesn't mean it's optimized in any way. If it is, then the question remains as to what the settings have been optimised for: The steering geometry? To the model line, which has to keep a distance to higher-priced models? On the customers to be expected?
Porsche felt the need to create different steering calibrations between the C2 991 and C4 991. Both of those are closer to the GT3 than the 981. [...]
It depends on what you are looking at. The entire front axle beam is identical on the 991 and 981. The wishbones are special for the GT3 but interchangeable. The damping does not show any differences that are not also possible within a/the model line - depending on the equipment (standard suspension / PASM / X73). etc. etc. etc. Well, surprise, surprise: The steering rack is identical, too. So those Carreras maybe "closer" in terms of model line, but they are not in terms of technical base of the front axle. Compared with the C2(S) the C4(S) has an additional front axis drive shaft for the steering which, according to Evo magazine, improves steering feel and performance (2m56s onwards in the video) - but that was just a guess in the vid as far as I understood it:
Anyhow: The only real differences I could feel from the more or less "numb" 991/981 steering was the upgraded 991 Turbo and the GT3 (both of which have rear-axle steering, and which I originally attributed the differences to). But maybe that's a European thing. I don't know, how those cars were equipped (software side) in the US.
I was surprised that the Launch X431 let me change this on my 2014 Cayman S. Unfortunately I've only had my Cayman since April of this, but I do love the Gt3 program . I felt the OEM program felt a little digital, the GT3 program feels much more like a hydrolic rack. I'm pretty happy with the change. I tracked the car 2 weeks ago and loved the feedback the steering gave me.
Good to hear do you have the regular one or the pro?
Last edited by CarAholic; Sep 1, 2023 at 11:37 AM.
(1) I have a 2016 981 Spyder. The tires are Pirelli P Zeros in the OEM size of 235f/265r and are about 3 years from date of manufacture, with probably 5k miles on them. The wheels are stock OEM with the X73 sport suspension (no PASM) and carbon/ceramic brakes. It also has the quicker rack from the 991.1 Turbo S, which I understand is standard on all 981 Spyders. I have not yet changed any EPS software, though we have hooked it up to PIWIS, so I can see that the alternative steering calibration available for the 981 Spyder is noted as "GT3RS." A calibration for "GT3" is NOT listed.
(2) I owned a 2015 991.1GTS coupe (RWD) for about three years and drove it just under 14K miles. I have to say that I was not very happy with the steering feel, though it was certainly very precise. I changed to adjustable stabilizer bars and four much better drop links. This car had regular PASM, not Sport PASM. After these changes, some hole adjustments, and the addition of the TPC suspension software, I subjectively felt that the steering had just a little better feedback. It was still unsatisfactory, especially compared with my '12 Cayman R and '96 993 RWD coupe. Of course, both of those cars had hydraulic steering racks. I clearly recall being told by the Porsche dealer that there was no software upgrade available for the 991.1 GTS.
(3) My opinion is that the EPS in the 981 Spyder is far better than that in the 991.1 GTS, stock, or modified as above, but this is not a perfect comparison. The 991.1 GTS did not have the 991.1 Turbo S rack, which is noticeably quicker than the standard 991.1 rack. The 991.1 GTS also had regular PASM with TPC suspension software, while the Spyder has the non-adjustable X73 suspension and carbon/ceramic brakes.
(4) It has been far too long since I last drove a 981 Cayman or Boxster, so I am not able to make any meaningful comparison between those cars and the Spyder. I am providing this information simply to inform guys about my opinions with respect to driving the systems I have stated above.
Has anybody done the PIWIS EPS software change on a 981 Spyder to the 991.1 GT3RS. software coding?I can try this myself this October/November when my Spyder will have the 8 years/80,000 miles service, though it has only 19,000 miles on the odometer. I'm not having this done by the Porsche dealer for a few reasons: 1. It is far too expensive for me to have this service done at Porsche dealer shop rates, and 2. I want to do this service with the help of my Indy shop so we can make certain that everything is done thoroughly and correctly, along with installing heat shields and changing to Amsoil 5w50 synthetic oil. I also plan to change the diff/gearbox fluids as well. I do not have any particular reason to distrust the Porsche dealer. I simply want to see everything under the car myself and know absolutely what has been done.
I've been telling people that there probably isn't a lot to be gained given that the GT4 and Spyder were developed at the same time. But that of course is pure speculation. Let us know how it goes if you give it a try for yourself!
This is the main advantage you get with the GT3 steering calibration in my opinion. The steering loads up much more progressively than stock,
[…]
I'd recommend giving it a try before arguing with people that have had real-world experience.
Got the calibration/config set today. Works very nice (as advertised). My Cayman didn’t morph into a Lotus Elise. But it‘s closer now. (As far as steering is concerned. ) I don‘t look back … not a second. The limousine is gone.
I have a PIWIS 3 and the coding options I have are different from what others are sharing in this thread with their PIWIS 2. While I have access to all the 911 options, there are variations. Specifically, I have GT3 Strasse (Street) and GT3 Cup options, and I am missing the 918 option.
Correction to an earlier post I made. The reason I was getting different options was because I selected "Manual coding" instead of "Manual coding without coding rules (development)" The latter allows you to change the "class" of vehicle to GT3, whereas the "Manual Coding" allows you to select between the 2 different GT3 options.
Options under "Manual coding without coding rules (development)"
Correction to an earlier post I made. The reason I was getting different options was because I selected "Manual coding" instead of "Manual coding without coding rules (development)" The latter allows you to change the "class" of vehicle to GT3, whereas the "Manual Coding" allows you to select between the 2 different GT3 options.
Options under "Manual coding without coding rules (development)"
Options under "Manual coding"
How interesting. I'm guessing the plain 'GT3' option is equivalent to 'GT3 strasse' based off your description of the on-center lightness. Going to see if GT3 cup is an option for me and test it out.
I went for a spin and I couldn't really tell a difference between 'Strasse' and 'Cup'. I even switched back to stock for a few minutes but was quickly reminded why I never looked back. I was wondering if I was missing something so I dug a bit deeper:
Switching between 'Strasse' & 'Cup' generates this message, which translates to "no changes". So it seems like the steering rack coding between a "regular" GT3 and a GT3 cup car are the same, at least with PIWIS 2.
If I go from GT3 Strasse to GT3 Cup, I receive the same "no changes" message. However, if I go from the stock file to GT3 Cup, I get a message that reads "Coding value: Coding of vehicle classes" = "GT3." It appears that if the vehicle is already coded as a GT3 class, it does not detect any changes and therefore does not try to write any new coding. You could try to code back to the stock file using both manual coding menus and then try the process again using just the "manual coding" menu.
Also, I enabled servotronic which is an option when doing these codings, and it feels just like the Power Steering Plus I had in my old 13BS. Reduced steering effort at low speeds. However, I noticed that it only functions under the stock file, not under the GT3 files. Looks like Porsche charges $370 plus tax for this. Boxster / Cayman (981) Power Steering Plus
I also attempted to enable the 918 class, but it resulted in an error coding message. Similarly, I tried the TOP class, but it ended up feeling identical to the stock file.
Just ordered PIWIS 2. Once I get familiar with and do GT3 and PTV, I can help others in the NYNJ area. I’ll keep you updated. Thanks everyone for all the input and costing me more money.
For some reason on my VXDAS Piwis2 and Panasonic Tough Book, I also have the GT3 RS option as well as the GT3 steering option and I prefer the RS version it is somewhere in between in terms of movement weight off-center but then becomes very quick
It depends on the rack/control module. PIWIS will just show the options present. What‘s your exact car model?
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) I don‘t look back … not a second. The limousine is gone.
