1980SC

I'll just add that I have a 2010 Base 2.9L Cayman 6 speed with a Sprint Booster and I can notice no differerence when the A/C is on. I tend to use the "A/C off" button a lot, so I often have it completely off. This is in North Carolina and it's very humid!

nicetheory

I’m late to the party, but I wanted to add I also don’t notice much of a difference in power with AC auto vs Off. I drive a 2009 987.2 base M6. No sport mode or sprintbooster.

That said I still turn off the AC when I anticipate gunning it so I can squeeze every last bit of power from this engine.

Aussie skypig

So the consensus is: some can’t detect it, some can, slightly.
And one finds it “terrible” - potentially some other issue?

XuTVJet

The issue with my 2011 Base 6MT is the ECU doesn't like the A/C on, Sport mode on, and the Sprint Booster on. With the A/C on, the ECU compensates by adjusting the throttle sensitivity a bit to make up for the throttle lag causes by the A/C compressor drag. If I turn Sport mode off, then it runs far better and is easier to drive smoothly. I still notice some throttle lag in the lower rpms when starting out, but otherwise, it's much better.

Now if y'all tell me you don't feel any acceleration and throttle differences with your cars between a hot and humid 80+ degree days and a crisp low humidity 50 degree day, well then, either you lollygag your cars or you need a butt dyno adjustment Density altitude is a very real thing, especially with naturally aspirated cars.

nicetheory

My car felt like it lost 50whp+ when over 8600ft elevation. Ran a calculator, turns out I underestimated because it had lost even more.

scootr

2011 3.4 motor 6MT with sprint boost set at 5 ... what AC?
The booster gives the throttle response I felt the car should have had from the factory with and without the AC on.

Keith Guidus

Our 2006 base Boxster runs the same with AC on............

XuTVJet

Back in my drag racing days, my naturally aspirated cars were typically 0.4 to 0.5 seconds and 3-4mph slower in the 1/4 mile when running in 80+ degree humid weather vs running on a 50 degree day. Same car, tires, launch rpm, 60', shift rpm, mods, etc. The only difference being the weather itself. The elevation at the track was 1000' above sea level and on those hot days, the calculated density altitude was 5000-6000 feet above sea level. That weather was sucking out some serious power. My turbo cars weren't as affected as they'd generate more boost naturally to account for the lack of oxygen in the air. There was just a bit more lag thus requiring more launch rpm but once under full boost, they were much better than my NA cars. They were affected maybe 30% as much. In cold weather, turbos really thrive.

XuTVJet

The SB and similar devices are a must for these cars. SB teamed with Sport mode can be stupid aggressive if you want it to be. Almost feels like you added a super light flywheel. More difficult to drive smoothly too just like having a lighter flywheel

scootr

I was disappointed in the 2011 BS with PASM, LSD, PSE, MT initially. The Sprint Booster and DSC suspension module made the car what I had expected from Porsche. Without these 2 plug and play addons I probably would have sold the car, now she's a keeper.

fatmike

OK - I definitely noticed a difference driving the 2010 Cayman S today with the AC on in a very hot humid day. Dew point sitting around 78 degrees.

The car doesn't noticeably lose power, but it's very difficult to drive smoothly. I think describing it as a flywheel that twice as heavy is a good description. Most obvious when shifting from 1st to 2nd.

Turn off the AC, and the feel changes completely. I've never noticed this before, so maybe it has something to do with the amount of work the AC compressor is doing. Today it was working hard!

I am running the sprint booster (sport 3).

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