Aug 8, 2006 4:23:21 PM
- Alex_997TT
- Rennteam Master
-
- Loc: Reading , United Kingdom
- Posts: 3320, Gallery
- Registered on: Nov 20, 2005
Test Drive Plus: another fun day out with PDE
This one I did today was a 'Test Drive Plus' in the old testing facility at Longcross Surrey. The 2 hour event consisted of the following at the track in the C4S Cab Tip I had to play with:
* Public roads - driving to and from the track 15 mins each way
* Circuit - high speed laps using the racing line
* Circuit - Emergency 70mph brake test
* Handling pad - keeping within tight circle at speed and then release throttle to show the car then goes into the circle with the same lock as speed decreases...to show understeer. Repeat with PSM off to show that the balance of the car is not affected.
* Handling pad - keeping within outer circles at higher speeds and then doing an emergency stop...to show that the car doesn't become unbalanced and still keeps within same circle in a very controllable manner.
* Skid pad - open area with metal plates at one side. You drive in a circle over the plates and then hit the accelerator which invokes a slide. You do this with PSM on and off to show what PSM does to stop you spinning.
Overall it really does defy belief just how much grip these 997s have. I was also massively surprised about the ability to brake hard when going around a corner and the PSM keeps you going exactly where you want the car to go. Well it's more ABS I suppose than PSM.
Lastly, the C4S Tiptronic - just my opinion here but my C2S manual is SUCH a better driving experience. My steering is lighter and more precise (C2 vs C4), and the Tiptronic is slow changing down and even in manual mode the car feels slow and laborious. My car also goes like a rocket in comparison and has much better throttle response when you want to balance the car in corners. As such I think I will be keeping my C2S Cab for much longer than I originally planned.
I would thoroughly recommend these days as they really do teach you a lot about your car and how it behaves when you come up against something 'unseen' on the public roads. Next one for me is the PDE Performance day!
* Public roads - driving to and from the track 15 mins each way
* Circuit - high speed laps using the racing line
* Circuit - Emergency 70mph brake test
* Handling pad - keeping within tight circle at speed and then release throttle to show the car then goes into the circle with the same lock as speed decreases...to show understeer. Repeat with PSM off to show that the balance of the car is not affected.
* Handling pad - keeping within outer circles at higher speeds and then doing an emergency stop...to show that the car doesn't become unbalanced and still keeps within same circle in a very controllable manner.
* Skid pad - open area with metal plates at one side. You drive in a circle over the plates and then hit the accelerator which invokes a slide. You do this with PSM on and off to show what PSM does to stop you spinning.
Overall it really does defy belief just how much grip these 997s have. I was also massively surprised about the ability to brake hard when going around a corner and the PSM keeps you going exactly where you want the car to go. Well it's more ABS I suppose than PSM.
Lastly, the C4S Tiptronic - just my opinion here but my C2S manual is SUCH a better driving experience. My steering is lighter and more precise (C2 vs C4), and the Tiptronic is slow changing down and even in manual mode the car feels slow and laborious. My car also goes like a rocket in comparison and has much better throttle response when you want to balance the car in corners. As such I think I will be keeping my C2S Cab for much longer than I originally planned.
I would thoroughly recommend these days as they really do teach you a lot about your car and how it behaves when you come up against something 'unseen' on the public roads. Next one for me is the PDE Performance day!
