When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hello my name is Nam and I have a PIWIS addiction. Below is my latest discovery:
From what I understand, when you select the ‘PTV’ option on a build from factory it adds both a mechanical clutch-style LSD and the PTV software. However, the LSD hardware and PTV software are separate entities that simply work alongside each other (https://www.porschefremont.com/porsc...que-vectoring/). The PTV software works through the PSM system to apply a small amount of braking to the inner rear wheel in order to improve to turn-in on corner entry. Whereas the primary job of the LSD is to distribute power on corner exit.
Now I’m not really sure whether you should or shouldn’t activate the PTV software in the absence of a mechanical LSD, and I was hoping to get feedback from experienced drivers. I have seen a few instances of people wanting to disable PTV with concerns of excessive rear pad wear. So at the very least this might offer a solution for those people. This could also be of interest for people who have installed LSDs on cars that came from the factory with open-differentials and wish to add the PTV capability as well.
I’m not sure whether or not I’ll keep PTV enabled because I don’t like the idea of adding additional computer assistance to my driving experience. However, I believe all 991/981 to present GT-products come with PTV as standard and I don’t think I’ve seen much feedback saying that PTV interferes with the driving experience. I will test this out on some twisty roads this weekend and report back. Wish me luck!
Went with a friend to our favorite twisty road late last night and (allegedly) got some quick driving in with the new PTV settings. I brought my PIWIS laptop to toggle the setting on/off between runs to get some back-to-back comparisons. I also had my friend drive with and without PTV turned on so that we could compare notes. For context, he owns a GR86 and accompanies me often on spirited drives.
I wasn’t expecting the difference to be very noticeable especially considering my car already has quite a few modifications to improve turn-in and overall cornering behavior to my liking (Ohlins, stiffer rear sway bar, semi-solid transmission mounts & GT3 steering calibration). But on my drive to work the day after turning on PTV I could tell that it was already making a small difference with day-to-day street driving. Once we got the car onto some tight twisty roads both me and my friend both noticed significant improvements with the activation of the PTV software.
On initial turn-in the car rotates much more quickly than it had without PTV. Both me and my friend commented on separate occasions that for the first few corners we had to readjust our lines because the car turned in more quickly than we had expected it to. Mid corner behavior on steady throttle was improved as well. It felt like there was less understeer and the car had more overall grip available in general. The tighter the bend the more prominent these effects were. We both noted that the Cayman now feels equally or more agile than the smaller GR86 on extremely tight corners.
Powering out of corners didn’t feel too different with PTV turn on. I assume this is why Porsche combines the PTV software with a mechanical LSD. However, these cars don’t have a ton of torque to put down so I don’t necessarily miss having an LSD in most situations. It’s still on my list to get installed eventually but it’s not needed to install an LSD to benefit from the PTV software.
Warning: subjective ramblings incoming. I had previously mentioned whether I wanted to keep PTV activated on my “drivers” car. I’ve now decided to leave it activated and I seriously doubt I’ll ever look back. These Porsche engineers are really good at knocking purists off their soapboxes. You can’t feel the PTV programming nibbling away at the rear brakes or really know its there in general. PTV doesn’t save you from bad habits or step in to correct mistakes like PSM/TC might do. The car turns in and rotates better but it just feels like the chassis is more capable rather than software trickery interfering with your inputs.
I would love to see others activate PTV on their cars and post about their experiences as well. Happy driving everyone!
I think I'm going to give it a try. Coming from a ND Miata before with a mechanical LSD, I really like the sound of making the Cayman feeling more agile on extremely tight corners. I know nothing is a substitute for being down ~500+ lbs. in weight, and powering out of tight corners is really the only time I feel like I miss having an LSD (which it sounds like this won't really change), but it still sounds like a win!
I think I'm going to give it a try. Coming from a ND Miata before with a mechanical LSD, I really like the sound of making the Cayman feeling more agile on extremely tight corners. I know nothing is a substitute for being down ~500+ lbs. in weight, and powering out of tight corners is really the only time I feel like I miss having an LSD (which it sounds like this won't really change), but it still sounds like a win!
I'm curious to hear what you think of the changes after PTV in the context of owning an ND previously.
My friend actually has a brother that owned an ND2. Going to let him have a go in my car next time he comes on a drive with me.
Warning: subjective ramblings incoming. I had previously mentioned whether I wanted to keep PTV activated on my “drivers” car. I’ve now decided to leave it activated and I seriously doubt I’ll ever look back. These Porsche engineers are really good at knocking purists off their soapboxes. You can’t feel the PTV programming nibbling away at the rear brakes or really know its there in general. PTV doesn’t save you from bad habits or step in to correct mistakes like PSM/TC might do. The car turns in and rotates better but it just feels like the chassis is more capable rather than software trickery interfering with your inputs.
I would love to see others activate PTV on their cars and post about their experiences as well. Happy driving everyone!
Great reading. Also good to hear favorable comments on the PTV effects. I have factory PTV, so maybe that's why I like the way this car turns in so much. LOL. I'm assuming that the diff is the only extra hardware then when PTV is factory ordered. From my experience, I don't see an issue with excessive rear brake wear. Yes, more than a regular street car, but my car is 40K miles into the originals and still not requiring replacement. Not a bad trade in cost for the extra handling IMHO.
I'm curious to hear what you think of the changes after PTV in the context of owning an ND previously.
My friend actually has a brother that owned an ND2. Going to let him have a go in my car next time he comes on a drive with me.
You might end up getting better data than me, as I haven't had an ND for over a year and a half now (and between that and my Cayman, drove a boring crossover for about 6 months). Regardless I'm looking forward to giving it a try even if I can't really say much other than “I like it”.
You might end up getting better data than me, as I haven't had an ND for over a year and a half now (and between that and my Cayman, drove a boring crossover for about 6 months). Regardless I'm looking forward to giving it a try even if I can't really say much other than “I like it”.
Be sure to try it out on a spirited drive to get the full effect. I think you'll like the changes with PTV if you liked the GT3 steering calibration.
Activated PTV as well... Not sure if it is confirmation bias, feel better in tight corner turn in. I think I can actually feel it kicking in (hear a slight noise from the back on turn in).
Activated PTV as well... Not sure if it is confirmation bias, feel better in tight corner turn in. I think I can actually feel it kicking in (hear a slight noise from the back on turn in).
sounds like brake noise, almost like ABS, very fast on/off brake. So PTV is definitely working.
This is like 40-50mph into a 90 degree turn...
Interesting. I've never heard anything in the ~10k miles or so since activating PTV. The effects of PTV are most evident the tighter the bend and the harder you push the car. Really great for tight technical mountain roads. Enjoy!
04-14-2023, 01:54 AM
PIWIS: PTV activation/deactivation
