OP, you have plenty of time and other cars to enjoy... these will only get cheaper, and still be CPO =) I think there were some sales numbers posted recently that show the base C2 doing great compared to how the previous generation base did.

 

I went with this kit from H&R for our 991.2 GTS track build. I like the idea of maintaining the PASM shocks and tuning it with the DSC controller. I am going to try this out this weekend but our car has upgraded sway bars and all monoball suspension so it's a bit more rigid. I do feel that these springs might be a bit soft still but i want to try them first before i make a decision. I will report back after this weekend.

H&R VTF Kit for PAMS COIL OVERS

 

Interesting... Would love to hear feedback once they are in and tested.

Haven't seen adjustable coil-over conversion sleeves for quite a while. Last time I used them was in 2000 when I put Ground Control conversion sleeves on my first-year Honda S2000... It saw quite a few track days.

 

I just picked up a .2 base CPO with 7k miles on the clock and have driven it extensively on twisty back roads for the last 5 weeks. I find the suspension to be an amazing fit for this kind of driving since our back roads can get pretty bumpy and very steep in the turns. It is firm, but not jarring over the bumps and always feels planted even at high speed over bumpy surfaces. I have toyed with dropping it a bit to eliminate some of the wheel gap, but already scrape the wheel flaps in some of the steep turns. I think I will leave the factory setup for a few months and see how it goes. Brakes are wonderful, but I haven't tracked the car so I can't tell you if they would stand up to track-level abuse.

 

^ No question the Carrera is less firm and has more compliance than, say, a GT4—as it should. Fwiw, I feel it's essentially perfect for its intended use on the street, and frankly surprisingly firm for its intended (and far more mainstream) audience. It feels to me like a car the (enthusiast) engineers slipped by with a setup that normal folks will put up with and enthusiasts will rave about. I think it's perfect for the street, and certainly good enough for the occasional track day (1-2 a year). If I was going to track the car more, I might look into other springs, dampers, ARBs, an LSD etc...in other words, throwing away a very well done factory "system" for another system. So I might look at a different 911 in the first place, either a GTS or a GT3 before spending that money.

As is, it's a very good chassis as Carreras go, and maybe the best yet (next best for me would be 997 GTS, which I might like a bit more). In fact, the only thing I don't like about the base Carrera's setup is the ride height, which is a purely visual thing albeit a big one for me since I like a car to look right and the way it sits is a big part of that (for me). So I lowered my 2018 Carrera on TechArt springs just before Rennsport, and can confirm what some have said: If anything, it rides a bit better (most of the time). This makes sense and only underlines the fact that the stock setup isn't soft; the progressing springs are softer initially, ridding the car of some of that rocking motion I noticed with the stock springs in certain situations, and then firm up as the car leans into them. The only downside I've noticed so far is a slight "porpoising" motion, as if the PASM dampers can't quite keep up with the oscillations introduced by the higher spring rates as the TechArt springs are compressed further. It isn't horrible by any means, but it is there—about 3-8%~ of the time vs the improvement in ride, which is enjoyed 20-60% of the time.

I'm curious to try DSC with the springs and will do so, but it is an older box and this car has nose lift, so I'd like to check in with TPC about that before I try it.

YMMV!

 

Pete, could you show a picture of your lowered car? I've see many of the 991.1 lowered with TecArt springs, but not the 991.2 base.

Cheers, -Peter

 

That is almost the same spec as my 2017, except no sport exhaust.

I'm a first time Porsche owner, so take that this for what its worth. I find the suspension a bit soft in normal mode, but still firm enough that it tracks perfectly when running 7/10. But driving more aggressively I find in normal mode it is a bit loose. But in sport mode, that changes and it tightens up nicely and I find I can drive it harder and feel confident in the twisties. I did take it on a track event this summer and found in sport mode was just about right. Would I have wanted it stiffer for the track, yes, but for everyday driving and spirited runs, I find the normal and sport mode just about right for me.

The only P-car I can compare it to that I have experience in is a 997 GTS, which handles better than my 991.2 base. A bit of apples and oranges, but just a comparison.

 

Sure...though it probably isn't much different than an S or a GTS? Thing I have noticed is some variation in heights depending on who installed the springs. These were installed by Sharkwerks. I've noted it is hard to get enough angles of ride height (and wheel offset) to get a real sense for the car, so I've attached a few images. The stuff in the shade is right after the install and a short test drive with 5mm spacers all around, the stuff in the sun is after 100-200 miles with 5mm spacers up front only (will probably reinstall the rears).

Need to get some better pics, but hopefully these are helpful!

 

You can get a sweet deal on a Carrera T if you don't mind Yellow

 

Thanks for posting those Pete, much appreciated. You car looks great, you have the SPASM front spoiler as well I see. Any noticeable difference in ride with that?

Cheers, -Peter

 

Great info on the techart springs... Sounds like a very decent option if I want to reduce wheel gap or am not happy with base spring handling.

Couldn't easily find info on the Techart lowering springs for a 2017 911, so I'm reposting some of it here for convenience.
About $625/set. Plus installation, alignment...

991.2 Carrera Base, S, 4, 42, T: #091.200.180.009
991.2 Carrera GTS, GTS4, Targa 4, Targa 4S: 091.200.160.009

 

On the Porsche PET diagrams for a 2017 911, I only see two permutations of PASM shocks and springs. One standard (pasm) and one lowered (spasm).

I know these aren't always correct, but anyone have better info?

 

We've got the updated version DSC for 991.2 w/ nose lift and sunroof. And we have DSC map for base model tested at VIR to run faster laps. Mike L will contact you.

 

I agree. I bought my C2 for road duty, both long distance and local "entertaining" driving. It will probably never see a track, and maybe not even an autocross course. I have done plenty of both, including SCCA, PCA, and other racing, and in both modified production cars and single seat tube frame racers. Maybe others (and maybe a younger me) could enjoy driving long distances in a car set up for track performance, but I would rather do several hundred miles per day, over multiple days, in something that balances performance (still important) and (some) comfort.

 

Is the standard .2 C2 suspension different than that of the base?

My experience in the .2 base was similar. I felt it was too soft, actually way too soft. However, very compliant and balanced. It felt confident and like it can handle corners very well, but the sensation and feeling it gave was a bit too disconnected and smooth/soft compared to my .1 with PASM, H&R's and PTV+, which just feels stiffer (though still plenty soft during normal driving as 991's in general are) and more "direct" to the road. It makes me wonder which will actually technically handle better on backroads, as .2's obviously have chassis tweaks to refine it overall, be it handling and comfort, but lacks the PTV+ and lower center of gravity/what I assume is stiffer spring rate. The .2 definitely felt more compliant, but not as sporty.

Porsche actually doesn't break models within the 911 range down by sales, and a lot of newer 911 sales are GT3's (and GT2's trickling in there now). In U.S market, it's selling better than last year, but still not better than the .1. If you're talking about the 997 gen, then yeah the 991 as a whole is selling better (but the 997 was hampered by the recession, so not really a fair comparison).