Collin Chapin

I don't even know how to word this question without seeming like an idiot but i'm going to try anyways...

When driving a 997 is there a major issue with pushing the car close to redline? I have been test driving a few different cars as I get closer to buying and almost every time the salesman has urged me to be careful with how hard I push it.

I understand they are trying to protect the car and I also recognize that I am a fairly aggressive driver, but I just want to make sure that when I do get mine I will be able to drive it this way.

I'm not talking about hitting the rev limiter or pushing it to the brink of redline over and over... but I do like to get it up there quite regularly and have not had any problem on previous cars so far.

LexVan

You're fine. Just make sure oil is up to full operating temp before going over 4,000 RPM.

Collin Chapin

Thank you for the quick response! That's kind of what I figured but i've had two different sales guys make comments about it so I wanted to double check.

Collin Chapin

Another question for you just to see how much info I can leech from you

There was a gauge all the way to the right of the steering wheel that went from 1-5. I thought it might be some kind of pressure gauge or something?

Where should it be under "heavy acceleration" circumstances? It went all the way up to 5 when I was driving and the guy told me it was normal.

Fahrer

That's the oil pressure gauge. As said previously, one should let the oil get up to operating temperature ( ~200F) before getting the whip out.

Collin Chapin

I understand about letting the oil heat up but how does the oil pressure relate? I'm not challenging your answer I just dont understand.

Thanks in advance

swordsmn

Idling ...it'll be midrange, under any serious throttle it'll pop up to 5.
Re: your hi rev dealer driving: Perhaps a brief moment of spirited, but thrashing that which is not yours seems inappropriate. I say that because two salesmen said the same thing to ya. You may be overdoin it a bit. No offense intended. Just a thought.

Hella-Buggin'

+1

Imagine how many guys walk in and try and drive the fast in a Porsche. Some guy revs the snot out of it, misses a shift and game over.

SecretAsianMan

When test driving I always ask the salesman "I'd like to test the acceleration here, is that ok?" Or braking, or cornering, or whatever. They NEVER say no. It's just a courtesy for driving a car that isn't yours. If I were selling my car privately I'd want the buyer to do this.

Sometimes you get a salesman that eggs you on and encourages you to drive it like you stole it. But I think beating on a car is something you need permission for.

That said, these cars were built to deal with it. They can take aggressive driving and being held at the top end of the rev range for a prolonged period of time. If it starts to become a problem (1) I'm impressed and (2) it'll tell you via the temperature gauge.

malexgcab

OP: Salesman is protecting the car that you don't own. It's great they said something to you so the next unsuspecting owner doesn't get stuck with over rev/dme counts during hard test drives.

No offense intended.

beden1

I agree with not not "thrashing" a car during a test drive, especially since you don't own it and someone else will, let alone the OP appears to have revved the RPMs up before the car had warmed up properly.

Collin Chapin

I appreciate all the replies. For what its worth I definitely ask the salesman to take me somewhere I can open up the throttle.

They expect it which is why I asked the question... It was surprising to me to still get the comment about not revving too high.

mattyf

Agreed. People obsess on overrevs, so if the car has a clean DME they wouldn't want you mucking it up.

helispud

It's very easy, especially in 1st and 2nd gears, to hit the rev limiter and produce some minor over revs. As mattyf said, buyers obsess over dme reports that show over revs. On this forum there have been many threads concerning this over the past years.

Buddhamonk

so wait, you go for a test drive at a dealership and you're surprised they tell you to take it easy when you keep hitting the rev limiter...maybe they're telling you this because it's not YOUR car...