flyjets

981 with P zero tires.

Took my wifes car for a spirited drive the other day.

I have commented to her and my other friends how much nicer it is then my 997 Turbo. It's on a higher level with sound and handling with regard to initial turn in.

But and it's a big but the 981 doesn't have close to the level of grip that the 997 or 991 has. The 981 on 35mph sweepers back end brakes loose without much warning very easy to control but doesn't have anywhere close to the grip of the rear engines 997 or 991.

Bottom line for me the 981 is a fantastic platform and for most situations better then the 997 or 981 but on tight circuits the more weight and larger rear tires of the 997 & 991 are superior.

Ian

golfnutintib

nothing hunkers down and powers out like a 997/991 on sticky tires on a dry track

its what makes that driving experience absolutely magical and so unique

Zeus993

I experienced that same thing, going from rear-engine 997's (C2S and TT) to the mid-engined, narrow-tire'd Spyder. Each has it's merits but I noticed tire spin on to heavy acceleration out of the gate.
I wonder what the GT4's are like?

enzotcat

Interesting. I'm still getting used to my 981 CGTS - previous car was an Audi S4. It had stupendous levels of grip and was very confidence-inspiring in that regard (but has, compared to the CGTS at least, severe understeer).

What I've found is that I'm still much more cautious taking the Cayman around sweepers - I keep worrying that the back end is going to break loose. It's probably my imagination and relative unfamiliarity with it (2,000 miles vs 40,000+ miles in the S4), but it's definitely taking some getting used to.

Underblu

If the back end of your 981 breaks loose at 35 mph around a sweeper there is something wrong with the car and/or the tires.

I've driven my 981S hard and drive my Spyder hard and I never felt the loss of traction on dry pavement except in the most extreme cases where you are trying to kick the end out a bit. Certainly not 35 around a sweeper. Not even 35 around something closer to a hairpin.

flyjets

Underblu

I race open wheel cars as a hobby and own several nothing wrong with the wifes car it's a matter of G load in the corners.

Ian

H82BL8

I was questioning the OP statements myself. I own a 981 GTS and a 991 gt3. I feel the boxster GTS has an amazing chassis and road holding capability. Yes the tires are narrower but it does not "oversteer" easily. The balance of the mid engine platform has the potential to handle better than rear engine.

NBTBRV8

Also the P Zeros on the 981 aren't regarded as a good tyre nowadays too, especially in the wet. I think you'd find the chassis would perform better on something like MPSS (non N rated though) or maybe the brand new P-Zero PZ4.

Also don't forget on the 997 Turbo you are running something like 295 or 305 tires, whereas the 981 on 20s runs 265.

Underblu

You can race F1 professionally and my response would still be the same. If you are loosing traction going 35 around a sweeper in a 981 Spyder as you claim there is something wrong with the car or the tires: unbless you are doing something purposefully to upset the balance

The Spyder has very high levels of grip. Is it as buttoned down as a 991 GT3? no. but it still provides outstanding handling

Underblu

I agree. I mean I love the 991 GT3. It is a truly a remarkable car any way you slice it. And the 991 series is really more rear-mid engine than previous 911s. Not to mention Porsche has had 50 years to refine the chassis to near perfection where the old trailing throttle snap oversteer is a thing of the past.

With that said, since it's inception, the Boxster/Cayman have had a near perfect chassis and exceptional handling dynamics. The 981 series is really the culmination of everything good about the platform an for me provides a near super car feel, without the the HP of course. Even the 981 Spyder's 375 HP is not enough to make the car particularly dangerous.

You want to see a scary car with great numbers. Drive a C7 Z06. Now that car is a gee, I went too heavy on the gas mid turn now I'm a stones throw away from hitting the wall. The 981 Spyder, even with the crummy P Zeros, not even close.

randr

The Fig 8 tests tell a different story...........

Car-------time-s------g(avg)----lateral g
918---------22.2-----1.06----------1.12
991GT3-----22.8-----0.96---------1.11
911GT2-----22.9-----0.90----------NA
991T4S-----23.0-----0.93---------1.04
997GT3RS--23.4-----0.92---------1.08
981GT4-----23.5-----NA-----------NA Cayman GT4
981GTS-----23.8----0.94---------1.04 Cayman GTS
9914S-------23.9-----NA------------NA
981S--------24.1----0.83---------1.04 Cayman S
991S--------24.1-----0.82---------1.03
997GT3----24.2-----0.81---------1.02
981---------24.3-----0.80--------1.06 Cayman Base
997GTS----24.4-----0.79---------1.00
987R-----24.5------0.82--------1.01

You have to keep in mind the 981 chassis, particularly in Cayman guise, is very rigid ~ 40,000Nm per degree of flex - this is more than the 991 chassis which is about 30,000Nm per degree of flex and that grip and traction reflects the interplay of power, suspension geometry, tires and chassis.

Zeus993

Don't worry about the sweepers. Give it some gas. The car is INCREDIBLY stable in corners, in fact, sometimes almost TOO easy to drive! I find the grip is questionable ONLY out or the gate. Once you are up and running, tires warm etc... it is almost perfect.

christallon

I agree with others here...The mid engined platform in both the 981 and 987.2 and others is extremely well balanced. You should not be feeling any uneasiness driving the 981 as you describe. There must be another issue at play.

I also own a 996 GT3 and find that car much more "thought provoking" in the sweepers at speed. Keeps me very focused on the chassis dynamics when pushing hard. The 987.2 on the other hand is almost too easy to push hard. It's level of grip and the confidence is exceptional. I feel I can drive the Spyder faster and harder in the mountains than the GT3, in any conditions. I understand the chassis is stiffer on the 981, and that may play a minor role in the experience you are having. Hope you figure it out. The Spyders are incredible machines, truly fine!

christallon

Is there any data on the 987.2 Spyder?

flyjets

Am I getting my #s wrong wife's car is a 981 which I thought was a Boxster S Gen 3 car?

Next thing I am stating that the turn in is excellent but once in the turn the back is easy to break loose by just applying throttle or over G the car. Based on my experience which is considerable on P cars and racing the 997 and 991 series have more grip that's all I was stating.

Ian