SleepRM3

Following up on my old thread https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...9&page=1&pp=15

I've been looking at '99 996es for awhile now, and VERY FEW '99 996es on the market come with LSD (limited slip differential).

Factory '99 996 LSD units are 20% lockup acceleration and 80% lockup deceleration, and GT3 LSD units are 40/60 (or 45/65?). Some say it's tough to differentiate between the 20/80 and 40/60, so for serious track work a 50/80-combo is the way (LSD from Guard Transmissions).

Questions:

1. For '99 996 owners who do NOT have LSD, and have never owned a car with LSD, how has life been with the car?

2, For '99 996 owners who do NOT have LSD, BUT had a true LSD (not the torque-sensing, or torque-biasing type, but clutch-pack type) in a previous sports car, how has life been with the non-LSD 996?

3. Is the Porsche factory LSD for '99 996 worth spending time looking for an LSD-optioned '99 996, or should I find a nice '99 996 without LSD and count on installing a 50/80 Guard LSD unit as my first mod (pricing seems to range between $2500 and $3500 installed).

I have 10 years of track experience with 5 of those years instructing with PCA and BMW CCA, so for me the LSD is an option I could use--but I want to read opinions from ACTUAL owners of these cars (with or without LSD)--in hopes that I might not miss the LSD afterall??

This a great forum for researching and buying Porsches. Keep up the great work.

-Manny Lozano
("Sharked" 1997 BMW M3/4-door+Dinan)

SleepRM3

There were character limitations on the Poll Title, so here is the complete title:

rleeq

[QUOTE=SleepRM3]Following up on my old thread https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...9&page=1&pp=15

I've been looking at '99 996es for awhile now, and VERY FEW '99 996es on the market come with LSD (limited slip differential).

I didn’t even realize that I had LSD on my car until I read your thread and decided to lookup the option codes on the sticker under my hood. That was a pleasant surprise! I did my first DE without knowing I had LSD. I know that my driving skills need to improve before I can drive the car close to its limits. I plan on improving my skills during the Lone Star Region’s DE in May.
Lee

SleepRM3

[QUOTE=rleeq]Great find! Does your car have the traction control package or the stand-alone LSD option 220. The TC package includes ABD (automatic brake differential) and ASR (anti-slip regulation) with the LSD diff. If you have traction control, you need to disable it every time you start on track, otherwise the TC will kick on, and not allow the LSD to function. Enjoy your car and be SAFE!

Dale Gribble

SleepR....i have option 220 which is the LSD as well as the traction control (no PSM just basic traction) and I love the car (with TC off that is)...i can't imagine owning a car with no LSD (I have some basis to compare but no to another porsche ATM)

rleeq

[QUOTE=SleepRM3]Yes my car does have TC. Thanks for the tip on disabling it for track days. It seems that TC is good for only stopping wheel spin on takeoff, not that I have a problem with controlling that. Does TC have any positive attributes?

Ray S

PM JimB about the necessity of and LSD on the 996. If memory serves he has extensive experience with and without. Additionally, he's one of the quickest 996 drivers out there.

Gator911

Not having LSD would not prevent me from buying a nice 996 given all other things right...

I mean it is nice to have an all but unless you're on the track I dont think its something REQUIRED.

You can always add it later as you said and by waiting for a factory LSD you are passing on probably many nice cars.

SleepRM3

[QUOTE=rleeq]Yes. For normal street driving in slippery conditions, TC is a good safety net--if your skills are still developing as a performance driver. For track TC slows the car a bit and prevents the drive torque from being well-applied at corner exit. Enjoy your 996 SAFELY!

MechanicalEng

I love my 911, but it bothers me that even a Mustang comes standard with a LSD and my car doesnt...

AudiOn19s

I looked long and hard to make sure my '99 had LSD when I bought it becuase I do track my cars.

However there is a school of thought that is of the impression that the factory unit is probably fairly well worn by now anyhow and nearing a need for a rebuild so if you find the right car without LSD it's not a huge deal to add later is you wish (though it could be $$$).

Andy

Paul 996

I have one with LSD and happy that it does because I am a car nut. But I would say that for autox having one makes a difference since the course is tight.

But for track DE events and those that run R compounds I would ask how many of you are breaking the rear end loose around corners at the track (when the car is driven properly that is) ??

Obviously having one is better than not but given the high grip rear end on our cars I suspect that those that don't have one don't notice wheel slip coming out of corners (we only have 300 hp). Now in the rain.. another story.

SleepRM3

Paul--I intend to track the 996 in the rain (see my avatar).

auto-xr

SleepRM3, I was in the same boat as you and passed on 996s w/o LSD. I finally found one and am very happy. I have the LSD w/traction control. When I AX or DE, I turn off TC. For normal driving it's on.

SleepRM3

I hear you, and the poll results are also agreeing with you, but this car is SO NICE

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?paId=224011358

I called about it. No runs, drips, and no LSD

Louisville's only 100 miles away, and I can have Bluegrass Motorsports Porsche do the PPI.

I've been reading posts from 996 track drivers about how the 20% locking factory LSD in the '99s aren't stout enough for serious track work; I'd end up wearing out the 20% locking LSD at the track--necessitating an upgrade to a 40/80 or 50/80 Guard LSD?

The 996 racers seem to like the higher %slips in an 80/80 combo LSD, but for me that's too much--as mine will see mostly public roads with only 4 to 5 DEs scheduled per season--thus a 40/80 or 50/80 LSD.