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Thanks for all the feedback. Positive or negative. This is one of those things that is very subjective and down to personal taste.
To the person who asked "why do it?".
Same reason many people add the GTS, Aerokit or Speedster front lip to their front bumpers; for appearance as it looks more aggressive.
The trouble is that none of those lips can be fitted on the standard 997.2 bumper.
When Porsche made the 991 they made 2 lip options for the standard front bumper (who knows, maybe because they saw just how many people complained about the lack of an alternate, more pronounced lip for the 997.2)
See below 991 pics courtesy of Suncoast Parts.
Does it do anything to aerodynamics? Probably... because it is different to the stock config.
Is it the effect good or bad? I can't really say for sure, as I may be an engineer, but not in aerodynamics
If I had to guess, I would expect more air resistance and probably better downforce at the front. As an example the basic architecture/principle has some similarities with the 991 Active lip at full extension (performance mode).
I'm not saying this is definitive, just an assumption and would welcome comments or opinions from others. Of course, even if this is true it could have adverse effects at the rear of the car without an additional rear spoiler...
Fortunately or unfortunately I don't get to drive the car at the speeds where I think any of this will have any real impact (as also mentioned in some responses in this thread), but it certainly makes for interesting discussion.
So as I said in the beginning, it is more about personal taste. If I had anything but the stock bumper, I could choose from some great OEM lips for the 997.2. Since I have a stock bumper, this to me turned out to be the next best thing and I personally love the look - the photos don't really do it justice.
Nice job! Kudos to you for taking matters into your own hands to create a great looking front lip for a 997.2. I think it looks great and shows great ingenuity!
I love the look and disagree with those that think it looks out of place. It looks as out of place as the front spoiler on an 80's 911 or the same part on a 991.1. That means I don't think it looks out of place at all.
I love the look and disagree with those that think it looks out of place. It looks as out of place as the front spoiler on an 80's 911 or the same part on a 991.1. That means I don't think it looks out of place at all.
I think the spoiler looks great! Great job making something out of nothing. I applaud your efforts.
As for the aerodynamic questions/comments, a few thoughts. Understand that my perspective is based on being from the U.S. (where the majority of my driving experience comes from), and now living in Germany, which has given me a good appreciation of high-speed driving and the needs and differences in equipment between U.S. driving and autobahn driving.
First, I'm not an aero expert, but based on my current experiences good aero in the U.S. is unimportant for normal street driving. I'd be shocked if it made a measurable difference to an engineer (at sub 80mph speeds); I caveat that statement biased toward performance vice efficiency where aero can make a meaningful contribution even at lower speeds.
I've driven 997's with standard front/rear spoilers and my current 997 with Techart front/rear spoilers/wings/diffuser. Below 115mph I can't tell the difference. Above 115 I begin to notice the aero equipped car's enhanced stability. Certainly at 130-150mph and beyond the added aero makes handling feel more planted. At speeds faster than 150mph even more so. But at those speeds it just feels really fast and scary.
Ultimately I think balance and good aero is critical on cars like these here in Germany. I would never add untested aero to one of my cars here in Germany. Nor would I add unbalanced aero in Germany, for example adding something in the rear but not the front and visa versa.
Conversely, in the U.S. I am hard pressed to think that any of it matters in the slightest. My opinion on these requirements run the gamut from aerodynamics, tires, and brakes. For example, I've always had a special lust for PCCBs, but now sadly I don't see the point of them in the U.S. (other than cool factor or track useage). But here in Germany I see the purpose of PCCBs very clearly in normal autobahn driving.
Even stateside track driving tends to be lower speed than autobahn. Touching 115mph on a straightaway for 1 second is vastly different than driving for hours on end at 125-150mph on the autobhan. Your track may be faster so please use good judgement.
All in all, these are just my experiences and should be taken with a grain of salt. To sum it up, I think good aero looks cool, and is functionally critical on autobahns and high-speed tracks, etc.
Finally, front spoilers are much more simple in aero-design. They are not wings like rear spoilers, rather, they are designed to restrict airflow beneath the car and thus reduce lift by lowering pressure beneath the car. I mention this because I'd expect that the 991 spoiler on the 997 succeeds at doing this. The bigger question is does the spoiler change the airflow pattern in a way that is detrimental to the brake cooling, etc.
11-23-2015, 08:22 PM
I think it looks AWESOME, and will probably try to undertake this project in the spring!!! EMC2, you'll probably get a PM from me when it's time...
