Ride on 20" wheels without PASM?
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Cincinnati, OH
Ride on 20" wheels without PASM?
For those of you with 3.4s, no PASM and 20" wheels - how is the ride? Ever have the opportunity to do a back to back comparison of 19" vs. 20"?
I am in the market for a C2 and want to determine how much PASM contributes to the ability to live daily with 20" wheels. I like the look of the 20s, but also understand unsprung weight and how short sidewalls can ruin ride/handling. Wondering if PASM is a must have in order to compensate. Thanks.
I am in the market for a C2 and want to determine how much PASM contributes to the ability to live daily with 20" wheels. I like the look of the 20s, but also understand unsprung weight and how short sidewalls can ruin ride/handling. Wondering if PASM is a must have in order to compensate. Thanks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,195
Likes: 8
For those of you with 3.4s, no PASM and 20" wheels - how is the ride? Ever have the opportunity to do a back to back comparison of 19" vs. 20"?
I am in the market for a C2 and want to determine how much PASM contributes to the ability to live daily with 20" wheels. I like the look of the 20s, but also understand unsprung weight and how short sidewalls can ruin ride/handling. Wondering if PASM is a must have in order to compensate. Thanks.
I am in the market for a C2 and want to determine how much PASM contributes to the ability to live daily with 20" wheels. I like the look of the 20s, but also understand unsprung weight and how short sidewalls can ruin ride/handling. Wondering if PASM is a must have in order to compensate. Thanks.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 287
From: Colorado/California
The ride is absolutely fine. My wife bought a 2016 C2 with the 20" wheels. It's one of her daily drivers. She drives a Tesla and Lexus for her other daily cars. She won't drive a car with a harsh ride. I drive her C2 all the time. Even with over inflated tires the ride is fine.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Cincinnati, OH
Either of you guys looking at lowering springs? One of the other negatives of the non-PASM suspension is the 4x4 ride height (visually unappealing).
I like the sway bars idea.
I like the sway bars idea.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,195
Likes: 8
If you're worried about ride discomfort I wouldn't lower the car with lowering springs. The dampers will be more wound up and the car could start skipping on the road. I will put coilovers (JRZ, or Moton) in be car and lower it another 1.5 inches. Then you'll need the aero lip that comes with the PASM Sport and a reprogram of the rear spoiler extended height.
The car is not very low, but it's not that high either. It's got the same height as the 987 Cayman and I think the 981 Cayman.
Once you hit 4300 RPM and the car start to have that high pitched F1 style exhaust sound you'll see what I mean when I say the base is fun as füçk. Get the manual, the 7 speed thing takes a bit of getting used to.
The car is not very low, but it's not that high either. It's got the same height as the 987 Cayman and I think the 981 Cayman.
Once you hit 4300 RPM and the car start to have that high pitched F1 style exhaust sound you'll see what I mean when I say the base is fun as füçk. Get the manual, the 7 speed thing takes a bit of getting used to.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Cincinnati, OH
You guys rock - I am certainly in the 3.4 camp. It took me a while since everyone seems predisposed to the bigger motor, but I think I am sold.
I absolutely plan on getting the lip. Honestly looking at two cars right now, one with PASM and one without. Just wanted to know how highly I should value PASM if I want to keep the 20s. Sounds like not much.
I absolutely plan on getting the lip. Honestly looking at two cars right now, one with PASM and one without. Just wanted to know how highly I should value PASM if I want to keep the 20s. Sounds like not much.
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Race Director
Joined: May 2015
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I suggest you really look at the car for a while before you go non-PASM/SPASM. There is definitely a wheel gap on the base suspension and it could start to bug you. And then you're gonna be left spending more money getting the drop right and you might not like the ride. SPASM is the bees knees and I wouldn't spec a car without it. The ride in normal mode is fantastic.
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Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Cincinnati, OH
Good point - I do like staying stock. So if I got the PASM car I would already be 10 mm lower than non-PASM and could potentially upgrade to SPASM (subject of an adjacent thread and the ability to retrofit SPASM) down the road for a complete OEM solution.
Decisions, decisions...
Decisions, decisions...
Race Director
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 13,163
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I would not retrofit anything. It always costs more than you think and is harder to get it right. Buy it right from the get go. In a Cayman, I'd get the X73 over PASM, but in a Carrera, I'd go SPASM if it were my car.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 142
Likes: 2
From: Minneapolis, MN
I have a '13 base 991 with steel spring suspension 20" CS wheels, coming from a base 997 with steel spring suspension and 18" wheels... the ride in the 991 is far smoother than the 997. So much that I switched from "comfort" mode to "normal" tire pressure, comfort mode felt too soft. Putting on my 19" winter wheels set soon (if it ever gets cold enough), will report back.
Thread Starter
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From: Cincinnati, OH
Archimedes - I agree with you if I were buying the car new, but I am buying used so my options are limited. Most 3.4s have the non-PASM suspension, but I found one that has PASM. I currently don't see a car with manual transmission and other options that I like with SPASM.
So maybe after all this my conclusion is that PASM is a nice to have, certainly not a need to have with 20" wheels.
So maybe after all this my conclusion is that PASM is a nice to have, certainly not a need to have with 20" wheels.