997.2 C4S On Track
05-25-2009, 01:17 PM
#1
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997.2 C4S On Track
Break-in finally finished, I took the 4S to the track this weekend. The car has Sport PASM, PSE, Sport Chrono Plus and PDK.
Steering is heavier than my RS but to my surprise the car does not understeer a lot. entry to slow corners meets the usual 911 resistance but accelerating out from the apex the car goes where it is pointed. I wonder if this is due to the AWD system? In any event, I was pleased with the box stock handling.
Note stock tires, alignment, brakes - i.e., as delivered.
With sport PASM set to firm, the car has little body roll, not quite as flat as the RS but stiff enough that quick transitions as in the 2nd gear esses did not unbalance the car at all!
The brakes held up perfectly, even after 4 half hour sessions, the pedal was firm. Note that I did not abuse the brakes, but I was turning fast laps.
As the tires got hotter, I was sliding in some of the high speed corners (90-100 MPH). The car is perfectly predictable and goes sideways evenly, i.e. a straight lateral movement. Drifting the corners was fun, but hell on the stock PS2s. In fact the tires suffered rounded shoulders due to the lack of negative camber. I was having so much fun that I ignored the mistreatment I was handing out.
PDK - in a word, wow! I began by shifting it myself. Note that the buttons are now perfectly intuitive and I love their placement - better than paddles behind the wheel I think. In sport or sport plus mode, the shifts are very quick, so fast that neither up nor downshifts upset the car. Exiting turn 6 (a fast left hand sweeper) I could upshift from 3rd to 4th as I was tracking out with no issues. Don't try that with a manual gear box!
Recalling some advice posted on this board, I then switched to fully automatic mode. So, sport chrono plus with the lever in "D". Apparently this is how the cars are driven at the Porsche School at Barber Motorsports.
WOW. Talk about a no brainier. The computer does indeed keep the engine in the meat of the power band - 4000 to redline RPM. It was aerie coming up to 14 (hairpin) and hearing the car blip down into 3rd and then second as I braked.
In this mode the transmission selected the same gear I was using in manual mode. All I had to do was steer and brake. Quite remarkable.
Note too that I did not burn any oil in spite of being on track over 4 hours!
While this is not and will not be my track car, anyone who wants to track one will not be disappointed. I am very impressed!
Best,
Steering is heavier than my RS but to my surprise the car does not understeer a lot. entry to slow corners meets the usual 911 resistance but accelerating out from the apex the car goes where it is pointed. I wonder if this is due to the AWD system? In any event, I was pleased with the box stock handling.
Note stock tires, alignment, brakes - i.e., as delivered.
With sport PASM set to firm, the car has little body roll, not quite as flat as the RS but stiff enough that quick transitions as in the 2nd gear esses did not unbalance the car at all!
The brakes held up perfectly, even after 4 half hour sessions, the pedal was firm. Note that I did not abuse the brakes, but I was turning fast laps.
As the tires got hotter, I was sliding in some of the high speed corners (90-100 MPH). The car is perfectly predictable and goes sideways evenly, i.e. a straight lateral movement. Drifting the corners was fun, but hell on the stock PS2s. In fact the tires suffered rounded shoulders due to the lack of negative camber. I was having so much fun that I ignored the mistreatment I was handing out.
PDK - in a word, wow! I began by shifting it myself. Note that the buttons are now perfectly intuitive and I love their placement - better than paddles behind the wheel I think. In sport or sport plus mode, the shifts are very quick, so fast that neither up nor downshifts upset the car. Exiting turn 6 (a fast left hand sweeper) I could upshift from 3rd to 4th as I was tracking out with no issues. Don't try that with a manual gear box!
Recalling some advice posted on this board, I then switched to fully automatic mode. So, sport chrono plus with the lever in "D". Apparently this is how the cars are driven at the Porsche School at Barber Motorsports.
WOW. Talk about a no brainier. The computer does indeed keep the engine in the meat of the power band - 4000 to redline RPM. It was aerie coming up to 14 (hairpin) and hearing the car blip down into 3rd and then second as I braked.
In this mode the transmission selected the same gear I was using in manual mode. All I had to do was steer and brake. Quite remarkable.
Note too that I did not burn any oil in spite of being on track over 4 hours!
While this is not and will not be my track car, anyone who wants to track one will not be disappointed. I am very impressed!
Best,
05-25-2009, 02:14 PM
#2
Rennlist Member
Hey Bob,
Thanks for the report. One thing I did with the PDK that I drove at PSDS (one session only) was to leave it in "D" as you said, but I would manually downshift only doing a pull-pull-pull under braking. Then again, our cars had the sport switch disabled.
Everything I've read about the PDK echoes what you are saying in terms of it 'knowing' which gear to downshift to while in track mode.
Hope to meet you at the PCA NER Mont Tremblant event in July.
Thanks for the report. One thing I did with the PDK that I drove at PSDS (one session only) was to leave it in "D" as you said, but I would manually downshift only doing a pull-pull-pull under braking. Then again, our cars had the sport switch disabled.
Everything I've read about the PDK echoes what you are saying in terms of it 'knowing' which gear to downshift to while in track mode.
Hope to meet you at the PCA NER Mont Tremblant event in July.
05-25-2009, 02:46 PM
#3
Race Director
Thanks Bob...wow someone who finally agrees with me about PDK on the track. I have a C2S PDK Sport PASM and 4 track days on it....2 more coming up this weekend. Stock brake pads and fluid would not last me though.
Anyway, people on this forum are not going to believe you about PDK and say how you and I are wrong even though they have either never driven PDK or they did a few minute test drive at the dealer.
take care, Mike
Anyway, people on this forum are not going to believe you about PDK and say how you and I are wrong even though they have either never driven PDK or they did a few minute test drive at the dealer.
take care, Mike
05-25-2009, 03:04 PM
#4
Nordschleife Master
Bob great report! It confirms what Mike had long told us.
05-25-2009, 03:17 PM
#5
Nordschleife Master
05-25-2009, 03:31 PM
#6
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Not as rounded as they are now
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05-25-2009, 07:16 PM
#8
Race Director
Bob did you try PDK out in SC+ mode and in auto?
05-25-2009, 07:23 PM
#9
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It is quite amazing...put it in D and floor it...perfect upshifts.
In M if you are not past the throttle detent, you will hit the limiter and cough just as with a 6 speed.
If you are past the detent it will upshift...interesting
Downshifts just click and you are there.
All you have to do is concentrate on where you want to go!
In M if you are not past the throttle detent, you will hit the limiter and cough just as with a 6 speed.
If you are past the detent it will upshift...interesting
Downshifts just click and you are there.
All you have to do is concentrate on where you want to go!
05-26-2009, 12:14 AM
#12
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05-26-2009, 09:38 AM
#14
Race Director
05-26-2009, 12:15 PM
#15
Three Wheelin'
Great report. Can I assume that you felt sufficiently "involved"?