sportscarfanatic

It's not PASM, it's PSM (Porsche Stability Management) The other one is " Porsche Active Suspension Management"

Henry964

Sorry then I meant PSM, I get lost with all those different names for stability control

PV

Lets not confuse ourselves. Every car is difficult to drive fast. You need to be on top of your game if you like to find the limits and even if the road is smooth a mistake at 160 MPH can be vital. I take it you haven't been driving on the Autobahn. Make sure you set your rearview and sidemirrors correct and look in them often. Driving 160, 170 MPH is not a guarantee that nobody is passing you!! Don't stay on the left lane if there is no need. I'm not surprised that somebody is reporting 310 kph. In particular if you drive fast, more and more people will be around you driving fast too. Yes, you can do 140 miles in one hour, no problem, but stay alert.

Regarding stability: mine is as stable as a rock on flat roads, rough roads, curving roads, hairpins, u-bends. However, everything is relative to your expectation. Don't asume the P-car is doing everything for you. It gives great feedback, but need different driving behaviour than any other car so far. That doesn't say it is instable or so, it is different and at the end of the day faster. The only thing I don't have under control are the non perpendicular dips across a full lane and deeper than a few inches and longer than say a foot. The suspension has the tendency to closely feedback the road surface, and the driver has to be careful to judge those deeper/longer dips and not overreact. I always ask the people what speed we are going, and they are by default 30 MPH off .

Good luck and stay safe both on and off the track.

Henry964

PV:
Your answer is wellcome!! I'll try to be safe (no excess beer before driving ) and no german girls in the car (Even I don't believe that one)
I'm 52 and I´ve done a lot of driving in different cars and in different roads I am known in the local Porsche Club for my aggressive driving but also for not having the kind of money you need to buy a new P car.

PV

You will have a great time on the Autobahn. I have been there many many times. The golden rule is to stay on the right side. If you look in your mirror and don't see anybody coming it is not a guarantee that 30 seconds later somebody is sitting at you bumper. The speeds are so much different.

I haven't found a speed yet at which my P-car is getting instable.

Hope for good weather and take it easy the first half hour.

TitanL9

I've had my 996 over 140mph and it's smooth as silk... Just make sure you know what to do if something unforeseen happens... like a forceful cross wind.

texas911

I find my 997 difficult NOT to drive fast! Must resist until 2000miles!

aj02996tt

Well, I've driven fast in alot of cars, and relevant to this discussion, 997S, 996 Turbo and Turbo S, 996, and 986. I never felt squirrely or nervous at speed in a Porsche, but then again, I have a fair amount of street and track time on motorcycles, so nervous is a relative term.

PV hit the nail on the head. ANY CAR must obey the laws of Physics. Porsche invests alot of time and effort into "air management" and chassis/suspension development, such that their cars are among the most stable in the world at high speeds. Set up your corners correctly so that you are not lifting off the throttle and braking as you pass through the apex of the corner- PSM saves pretty much all of the spins from such errors, but it isn't 100% idiot-proof. Drive within your skills- and never forget that you will be driving in a country where some folks drive 300+kph every day, so don't expect to be as experienced as them, and stay out of their way!

How fast can you drive a 997? As fast as you want, as long as you can control the car and be 100% aware of your surroundings at all times.

Chip McCoy

Just picked up my 997S at the factory 10 days ago, six speed. Hockenheim will be fun, hopefully the track will be closed for your event. If it is not there can be everything from motor bikes to old Citroens to Ferraris out there and it is a little unnerving. If you have time, A81 north of Heilbronn, northbound autobahn out of Stuttgart, is really smooth and underused Best day is always Sunday--no trucks on Autobahn. I've had my old '97 C4s up to 175 mph indicated on that stretch. Still breaking in my 997S but have had it up to 150. Factory break in advice is a little more liberal then in the US manual; under 5k RPM first 300 KM then gradually use full tachometer through 3000 km. No hard revving, and always warm it up well under 4200 for first five minutes. Car does great at high speed, better than my C4S on less than perfect Autobahn

Henry964

hello Chip !!!

Thanks for your advice!!!

I will be staying at "le Meridien" Hotel and the car will be in my hands from saturday morning to tuesday afternoon.
The race track education is sunday and monday (all day) and I hope to get some real quality time with "my" 997 S

PV

Any news from the Autobahn front??

I was out of teh country for a while, so maybe missed the stories. Like to hear the experiences!!!

boolala

Hey PV, where about is "H-town"?

PV

It is West of New York and East of LA and South of Denver and even South of Dallas.

It is the Bayou city, hosting the Astros, Rockets and Johnson Space Center.

Houston, TX.

texas911

Houston, the 4th largest city in the US, with the largest international Port and the most international based companies only second to New York! Houston is quite the international city with the second highest number of consulates second only to Washington DC.

PV

Exactly, and the weather is always great.

Does anybody knows if kike924 reported back with his Autobahn experiences?