Drive it like a Porsche...
 

"drive it like it should be driven", etc. I hear this kind of statements made all the time, but would like to understand what it means. I am, obviously I suppose, a new Porsche owner. I have had competition type motorcycles that actually did "need" to be thrashed in order to keep them healthy.

So, what does this mean for a 996? Keeping foot flat on peddle all the time, max revs in every gear? Screaming around town at 6000? Constant hard accelleration and decel? I'm sure its not that extreme in all seriousness, but would like to have a better feel for what is a healthy rev range and cruising revs

Irrespective of what I hear, I usually take it easy - less than 3K RPM - until the water temp is up and the oil pressure is below 2 at idle which tells me the oil temp is up to temp as well. Then I do get into the 5K range occasionally but I don't try deliberately to beat the sh*t out of my car. Also, I keep in mind that torque and power begin to plateau somewhat after about 5K RPM so there is no need to keep punching it. But that's just me.

After warm up per above, at least one redline per outing and RPMs always above 2500.

Danger - you will soon be warned about lugging your engine. Regrettably, nobody actually knows what this means, so we just repeat it and nod knowingly.

Terms that have caused similar confusion in the past include "female orgasm," "moderate liberal," "fiscal conservative," and most of the words that correspond to the letters "LBGT" - but only when used in that order.

After extensive research, I determined that "lugging" generally means berating your engine - in front of other cars - for disappointing you due to lackluster performance, reliability, or any combination thereof.

You may remember the "Don't LUG your car...HUG it!" bumper stickers that were becoming popular in late March 1987. Unfortunately, the terrible shoot-out at Lug, New Mexico in April of that same year - caused by an unfortunate misunderstanding between three off-duty and highly intoxicated state troopers whose wives were all coincidentally and tragically named Rhonda - led to a Congressional ban on any sticker using "lug" or any derivative term. There was some concern amongst the various phonetically similar enthusiast groups (including but not limited to pug, slug, rug, and Dig Dug) that this ban would lead to more sweeping legislation against other "_ug" terms, but this never came to pass. The Beach Boys, in a rare gesture of goodwill toward New Mexicans, penned their melancholy tune "Help me Rhonda" as a tribute to those who died during the "Three Rhondas of Lug" massacre.

I'll have what schnell is having.

just like your bikes, ride it to the limit of your skills and experience @ track. then adjust accordingly when off track.

Careful! It may be a 420.

Drive it like a Porsche...
 

I would love to be inside schnells head for a day to see what goes on in there

I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill us.

Seems like its more fun to observe from outside :biggulp:

I am a proponent of the good warm up. In fact I try to not even pull out of the driveway till fast idle cuts back. Again, years of carburated two stroke bkes have taught me to fear a cold engine. I am also careful not to load the engine at low rpms when cold too, as "lugging" puts brutal loads on an engine.

Right now i try to avoid low rpm/high throttle and keep revs between 2k and 4k most of the time, commonly cruising at 3k range. Is it best to be upwards of 3k, or maybe more, before big throttle inputs?

Motor feels like it really likes revs and never feels like its screaming, like many, so I find it easy to find myself cruising along at 4k+ without being aware.

So motor peaks HP and torque around 5K? Mine feels like its really coming to life at 5K.

I know what you mean. My engine really becomes alive at 4500 or so, and that sound and acceleration rush is so addictive that every shift (after a proper warm up) is well above that. Of course on the track the engine spends most of its time in the upper rev range, with shifts consistently around (or just above) 7K.

Back to your original topic. To me, "drive it lie a Porsche" means having fun in the twisties - that's what these cars are really meant for, IMHO.

Drive it like you stole it

or you can be like KK and never drive it, just constantly do maintenance on it

Drive it like a Porsche...
 

Try all linear combinations of buttons - Sport, Sport Plus, PASM, spoiler up/down, radio on/off, windows up/down, etc. - until you find the combo that puts the biggest smile on your face. Then do that every drive thereafter. Congrats on the new car...T