Alan Smithee

I'm quite sure we'll see an M030-type option on the 997, 997S, and upcoming Boxsters as well. It's always been offered in the past. While not enormously popular, there will always be a market for it, and since it doesn't cost Porsche anything, it is a source for more profit.

The 997 has only been out for a few months...give them some time to fully ramp up, and we'll see more model variations, options, and colors.

SkipSauls

Before you guys write-off a PASM-equipped car, you should drive one. I've driven a number of Porsches with street, track, and full-race setups, and was quite impressed with the 997 S with PASM in sport mode. The car corners very flat, reminding me of a 993 or 996 equipped with an aftermarket suspension such as PSS9s. The difference is that the same car can be driven home in relative comfort with the push of a button, with no need to jack it up, goof around with the shock settings, and so on.

Le Chef

Legal minimum height of the front bumper and headlight height are the reasons I was told why the P17 option is not available in the US. It would make the car illegal as it would be too low.

Alan Smithee

It's not a legal issue. The GT2 and GT3 are legal here with European-spec suspensions, and are lower still than a 997S -20mm (3/4 inch).

jcnesq

FYI, Gert has PSS9 for 997's on his site now (doesn't work with PASM).

Carlos from Spain

I heard the same thing but doesn't make sense to me still. The GT3 and GT2 are very low voluma models so you could say that they can get by due to the low production numbers, but didn't Porsche offer the X74 sport suspension on the 996 carreras in the US? it blowered the 996 by -30mm! and the X73 on the C4S and 996TT also achieved the same thing. Those were even lower than the 997 -20mm yet they were/are offered in the US.

Le Chef

But I was told it was the height of the bumper and headlight that are the issue, not by how much the car has been lowered.

So is the height of the headlight and bumper of a GT2 lower than the height of the same on a 997 with P17?

Sobe

What about the CGT that thing looks ultra low and somehow it is legal ...

Carlos from Spain

I would say yes, I saw my car (M030 996) next to a 997 with standard suspension and the front bumper height difference was not even funny. So a -20mm 997 is not going to be significantly lower than my M030 996 if its just lowered by -20mm, much less a GT3/GT2.

And on top of it, the type 997 is even overall 5mm higher than the type 996, and doesn't look like the 997 lights or bumper are designed or placed lower than in the 996 either.

Maybe the law changed between the 996 to the 997 and now a -20mm 997 would not be leagal but it still smells fishy.

zoltan

Guys, the PASM works brilliantly.
I had a lot of concern about it and i was afraid that the car would be a little soft even in Sport Mode but i was wrong.
The car copes perfeclty with the awfull streets here in Greece (lot of bumps, potholes) and have no regrets. The sport suspension is very stiff for roads like these.
If there is something i would like to have it's the L.S.D. -just for the occasion you wanna deactivate PSM and have some long sideways action.

dealmaker

Guys,

Zoltan, and Skip are right - don't underestimate the PASM system - a lot of $$$ and development has gone into it and I can concur that it is a fantastic system that gives the best of both worlds (bear in mind that a PASM equipped 997 S is within 1% of the Nurburgring lap time of a GT3 Mk2 ! - yet gives compliant and comfortable ride on "normal" roads).

I made the mistake of ordering my last 996 (Facelift) with the Sports Suspension/Slippery diff option available here in Europe - car was fine on the track but a complete dog on the roads - in fact worse on the road than a GT3 - it was so bad that I sold it after 10 weeks - I tried a -20mm suspension 997S a few weeks ago and it was just like my 996 i.e virtually undriveable on the mediocre roads I commute on. Leave it well alone.

So guys if you want a firm "sports" ride - and want ultimate performance and that last 1% of feedback on the track - then take it from me - buy a GT3 - it's the real deal. If on the other hand you want a car which gives you fantastic ride and handling on the road and gets to 99% of the GT3 performance with the flick of a switch then stick with the PASM.

Don't try and turn the 997 into a track car - wait for the 997 GT3 for that!

MetalSolid

Porsche obviously did their homework. The Sports Suspension -20mm option would be too extreme for the general market here in the US, where the average owner doesn't track or drive particularly hard.

930man

can the base 997 suspension be altered with aftermarket shocks and springs?

elfer4s

Please check out the PCNA web site. Under the Carrera S "suspension", the sports suspension is listed as an option. It even shows the car lowered by 20 mm with it.

Last week, I asked my dealer if I could change my 997S order to include the Sports Suspension. I'm still awaiting an answer.

Alan Smithee

"Can the base 997 suspension be altered with aftermarket shocks and springs?"

Yes...read post #20 in this thread.