Dec 23, 2005 4:12:44 PM
- easy_rider911
- Rennteam VIP
-
- Loc: London , United Kingdom
- Posts: 22190, Gallery
- Registered on: Nov 8, 2004
Ongoing dilemma: -20mm sports suspension or PASM ???
Guys,
I'm planning to place my order for a 997S in February. I still can't decide whether to choose -20mm sports suspension or PASM.
People like RC, Carlos from Spain & Fanch have been kind enough to give me their thoughts already when I PM'd them.
I plan to drive the car on normal roads only. No track days. Probably 90% of my driving is in the city or on A roads in/around the city. Some motorway driving. I suspect day trips out of London (and maybe further afield) will increase when the new car comes. This will be my first 911. It will be the only car I use so it's a daily driver. Roads here in the UK can be appalling with bad potholes. The number of speedbumps alone is staggering.
I currently drive a BMW 328i with normal suspension and 18 inch wheels. I think my current tyres are Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position 225/40ZR18 front (8 inches wide) and 255/35ZR18 rear (8.5 inches wide). This is what I am used to. The springs, dampers etc are no doubt very soft compared to any 911 but the rubber feels thin so it can feel firm over bumps. There is plenty of body roll and I want a car that will roll much less and feel really flat in corners.
Very few -20mm sports suspension cars are sold in the UK. This makes resale more tricky. However, I plan to keep the car for a long time so this is less of a factor. Very few UK dealers have actually driven a -20mm car but they all feel 'qualified' to say that -20mm is too stiff. So I take their views with a pinch of salt.
GT Purely Porsche said some time back that they liked the -20mm sports suspension and the standard suspension on the base 997 but that they weren't impressed by PASM on the 997. Walter Rohrl too prefers the -20mm sports suspension set up.
The few people whom I know have driven -20mm all say that it is very stiff, not all particularly comfortable, but not unacceptable either.
This issue is made difficult by the fact that it is impossible in practice to try a -20mm car in the UK. None of the dealers have demo cars with -20mm.
The other major advantage is the rear mechanical locking differential.
I have also been reading with great interest the debate following Excellence magazine's recent review of the 2006 997S Club Coupe with X51. It is possible that Porsche has altered the rear bushings on 2006 PASM so that the rear lurch/sway phenomenon has now been addressed.
If so, this makes PASM less unattractive. However, I assume that the front end bobbing issue is still there though.
I gather that PASM in sports mode is very stiff. Some say that PASM sport mode is stiffer than -20mm sports suspension. Is this the case?
I would be really grateful for any feedback on 2006 997S cars with PASM as to whether the above 2 issues have now been resolved.
I would also be grateful for any further feedback on -20mm and its acceptability for day to day use.
I know that people in the USA can't get -20mm so they might yearn for what they can't get but maybe what they're yearning for is only suited to a small proportion of them.
I need to decide by February. Thanks guys.
I hope you have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Here'a poll for whether you think I should go for -20mm or PASM.
I'm planning to place my order for a 997S in February. I still can't decide whether to choose -20mm sports suspension or PASM.
People like RC, Carlos from Spain & Fanch have been kind enough to give me their thoughts already when I PM'd them.
I plan to drive the car on normal roads only. No track days. Probably 90% of my driving is in the city or on A roads in/around the city. Some motorway driving. I suspect day trips out of London (and maybe further afield) will increase when the new car comes. This will be my first 911. It will be the only car I use so it's a daily driver. Roads here in the UK can be appalling with bad potholes. The number of speedbumps alone is staggering.
I currently drive a BMW 328i with normal suspension and 18 inch wheels. I think my current tyres are Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position 225/40ZR18 front (8 inches wide) and 255/35ZR18 rear (8.5 inches wide). This is what I am used to. The springs, dampers etc are no doubt very soft compared to any 911 but the rubber feels thin so it can feel firm over bumps. There is plenty of body roll and I want a car that will roll much less and feel really flat in corners.
Very few -20mm sports suspension cars are sold in the UK. This makes resale more tricky. However, I plan to keep the car for a long time so this is less of a factor. Very few UK dealers have actually driven a -20mm car but they all feel 'qualified' to say that -20mm is too stiff. So I take their views with a pinch of salt.
GT Purely Porsche said some time back that they liked the -20mm sports suspension and the standard suspension on the base 997 but that they weren't impressed by PASM on the 997. Walter Rohrl too prefers the -20mm sports suspension set up.
The few people whom I know have driven -20mm all say that it is very stiff, not all particularly comfortable, but not unacceptable either.
This issue is made difficult by the fact that it is impossible in practice to try a -20mm car in the UK. None of the dealers have demo cars with -20mm.
The other major advantage is the rear mechanical locking differential.
I have also been reading with great interest the debate following Excellence magazine's recent review of the 2006 997S Club Coupe with X51. It is possible that Porsche has altered the rear bushings on 2006 PASM so that the rear lurch/sway phenomenon has now been addressed.
If so, this makes PASM less unattractive. However, I assume that the front end bobbing issue is still there though.
I gather that PASM in sports mode is very stiff. Some say that PASM sport mode is stiffer than -20mm sports suspension. Is this the case?
I would be really grateful for any feedback on 2006 997S cars with PASM as to whether the above 2 issues have now been resolved.
I would also be grateful for any further feedback on -20mm and its acceptability for day to day use.
I know that people in the USA can't get -20mm so they might yearn for what they can't get but maybe what they're yearning for is only suited to a small proportion of them.
I need to decide by February. Thanks guys.
I hope you have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Here'a poll for whether you think I should go for -20mm or PASM.
