911rox:
RC:
wurlie:
The benefits of the CL system on 997.2 platform are not clear at all. Given the procedure to torque/ re-torque the nuts with the wheels off the ground, greasing procedure, and the maintenance of the nut itself, for an amateur track driver it is easier to use the five lugs.
Of course using the five lugs is easier for an amateur driver but people had a choice here on the 997.2 Carrera. Owners could complaint to Porsche that they failed to communicate the maintenance implications but Porsche didn't seem to have a clue at that time, which is unfortunate, I agree.
It kind of reminds me of the early PCCB track issues. At some point owners realized that track racing the PCCB brake would be very expensive since it didn't last as long as Porsche promised, simply because track racing took a toll on the PCCB discs and the steel brake discs proved to be less expensive, even if you had to exchange them more often.
Furthermore, the CL assembly including the CL wheels is actually heavier than equivalent 5 lug hub assembly. I know, I have a car with the CL.
Not valid for the 991 according to Preuninger.
Finally, new preventative hub replacement procedure is applicable for the track driving - not racing.
Well, it is actually for track racing, not track driving. I consider track driving the occasional track fun with a driver ed class or a club. Whoever does 50 or more rounds on a track on a single day is track racing, not just track driving. I agree however that there is a thin line here, so Porsche should actually communicate more precisely when the extended maintenance procedures are necessary.
Porsche is asking the 997.2 CL owners to pay for a deficient technology with no technical benefit. I understand that the factory has been generous in case of failures, however, I am not sure that the new time-out schedule is fair.
Best, w
Well, this is a different story. On the other hand, the street driving maintenance procedure stays the same, so if you do not track race your car...
Porsche has a communication problem here, not only regarding CL but also regarding their street cars: They are not race cars, not even the GT3. So Porsche needs to avoid telling people that they can drive to work and then to the track in the same car. Actually they can but the track fun can have serious consequences, not only regarding maintenance procedures but also regarding the warranty. This is something Porsche needs to make more clear to customers.
Still misinforming everyone about CLs I see RC... FYI, the FACT is that there is no distinction for various types of track driving or racing as you put it! Per the motorsport engineering department at PAG whom I had many discussions with via the local importer, any use on track whether it be 5 laps at 75% or 100 laps at 100% must be logged... Whether you do 7000km at 50% or 100% on the track your hubs must be replaced. It would help to get your facts straight...
Let me stress this as you may have missed it over the 10 pages of arguing on the other thread when you were proven wrong, over and over again, its 7000km of 'track use', not track racing... There is no way a customer could determine what driving is and isn't putting stress on the CL system...
Some good points here, and obviously some tounge in cheek.
A few thoughts. I dont think a manual 991 GT3 would be as quick as the 4.0RS. It has a tad more torque, a bit more horsepower (arguable as to exactly how much but lets agree maybe 20 bhp) and it weights a good 70kg less than the 991 GT3.
Anyway, that's not important. I guess Porsche decided it would only have one transmission option. MT or PDK-S. It chose PDK-S as the cost to benefit analysis obviously proved in favour of the PDK. AP says his team took this decision based on a number of factors. At this time we have to give some credence to what he says as none of us have driven the car yet.
I think it would have been a perfect solution to have had both choices. However economics for such a small production run vehicle obviously did not fall in favour of the MT enthusiasts amongst us. Im a 991 GT3 customer and my biggest fear was to be given a choice and I have been secretely hankering for try of this PDK technology for a while now (since a few road race guys I know have spoken highly of it) so the PDK only option worked in my favour (i.e. I have my hand forced). I would have been just as happy if they had have made it MT only - infact I may have been happiest of all (as PDK only gets better as generations go on and there is plenty of time to own a PDK car in the future afterall).
For those that will never own an automated gearbox GT car I can only say, in your defence and favour, look at this as a positive. You no longer have to ride the rat race of "latest and greatest" GT cars suffering depreciation and always clamouring to upgrade every 3-4 years. You can now have a rest, keep yyour MT GT3 knowing it was the last of the breed and spend your money enhancing it and making it a better car. Over time you will form an even stronger bond with the car and perhaps never let it go.
This is what happened for me when porsche went watercooled. I just couldnt "love" the 996 (I tried and even owned a 996.1 GT3). The watercooled cars just lost their charm for me (IMHO ugly design, not as well built, not the sound or pretty engine of the air cooled etc). So I kept the 993 I owned, payed with a 993RS and others and 13 years on I still have a air cooled 911 and just love it to bits (will never sell it). Its now had much improvement (suspension, interior, handling,and engine etc) and when the 991 GT3 is been and gone the 993 will still have a place in the garage.
I think Porsche have just given the enthusiast world a gift. They have stopped time. You no longer need to work so hard to finance the next new Porsche and you now have the finest MT GT Porsche ever made in your garage...
For the few of us willing to give the new generation, new technology, new era GT3 a go, only time will tell if it is actually a better solution than the MT only option it replaced. As always it will probably be a stonking good car and alot of fun to own. Some of us may continue the journey with the GT3RS and onwards and some of us may revert back to an "old skool" 3.8GT3 MT. Who knows....