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eclou said:
I think it would be foolish to blindly assume each of our cars has the correct optimal alignment from the factory, especially considering the WIDE range - there is no one "OPTIMAL". Would you agree?
I FULLY agree with you, I know enough 911 owners who got their cars not only with a pretty "conservative" alignment setup out of the factory but even with a faulty one.
Adjusting alignment settings? Again I fully agree. Using parts from other Porsche models like the GT3 or GT3RS for the 997 Turbo? I would NEVER do that. Most people seem to overlook the fact that even the GT3 isn't a real race car, for pro motorsport or even Cup racing only, Porsche Motorsport offers special parts for their customers, incl. private customers (not only racing teams). Some tuners unfortunately use these parts to PROVE to customers that their tuning is better than others because they're using original Porsche parts. This is CRAP. These parts have been designed and developped for SPECIFIC models in the Porsche model range, you just can't take a GT3 swaybar and add it to a 997 Turbo, this is simply ridiculous.
Adjusting swaybar settings is OK but don't forget one thing: the settings Porsche is choosing are for street driving. Also don't forget that the swaybar settings have to be individually adjusted (same with chassis) for different tracks, same applies to tire pressure for example.
Another thing and I really don't want you guys to get me wrong: the 997 Turbo is no race car, it isn't even a very good track car in it's original state. Yes, you can do some very fast rounds, maybe five or six or maybe even 10. Due to the weight, the tires sooner or later will be a serious problem, even if the car is equipped with the Cup tires.
There are various options to tweak a 997 Turbo to be a good (not perfect!) track car for amateur drivers, no doubt about it. For all other stuff, the GT3 can drive circles around the 997 Turbo, especially in the hands of a pro driver. Ask one of our editors who owns a Carrera GT and who track races the car on a regular basis. He drives VERY well but he encountered one or twice a 997 GT3RS on the race track which busted his a.. .
Of course driven by a pro driver. I hope you get my point.
If people still can't resist, do it right: remove weight from the Turbo, reducing it by 50 kg or more are easily achievable. Get a coilover kit from H&R for example and adjust this kit INDIVIDUALLY (incl. height and alignment settings) to the tracks you're driving on. Use the Michelin Cup tires and a very aggressive alignment setting. This still doesn't make a race car out of the 997 Turbo but it improves handling a lot, of course comfort will be almost gone completely.
I know that many people believe the Porsche ads that their 911 models are actually race cars for the streets. This is ADVERTISEMENT and MARKETING, they're NOT. Look at the 997 Carrera with the M97 engine, this car isn't even supposed to be driven on slicks due to possible serious problems with engine oil distribution. ALL Porsche cars are made for street driving, with the exception of the Cup models, etc. which are prepared at Porsche Motorsport. Right now, the sportiest model in the Porsche model range is the GT3RS, with the right knowledge, you can tweak this little baby to a real track monster but only if you know how to drive and if you're willing to sacrifice comfort and maybe also a set of tires each track event.
Regarding the time Walter Röhrl achieved in a PRE-SERIES 997 Turbo: 1. Walter Röhrl is a Porsche testdriver, he works in development, he knows the cars he is driving VERY well. 2. Walter Röhrl knows the Nordschleife like his own backyard. 3. the 997 Turbo he was driving was PERFECTLY adjusted (tires, chassis, etc.) to the Nordschleife. 4. nobody really knows if this car was stock since it was a PRE-SERIES car.
Meaning: yes, I believe WR might have done 7:40 on the Nordschleife in a 997 Turbo but for me, this doesn't really count since there is no official independent confirmation and we also don't know anything about the technical specs of the 997 Turbo he was driving. I AM a Porsche nut but I'm also a person with an almost pathological need for fairness.
It would be unfair towards other car manufacturers or even withing the Porsche model range to use this 7:40 time for comparison. Just my personal opinion, nobody has to agree.
Btw, regarding opinions and agreeing with them or not: I NEVER deleted a post because somebody had a different opinion. I also NEVER made fun of anybody who had a different opinion. There is however a point where I have to be blunt and frank with my words and this is when it comes to SAFETY: modding your 911 is a nice thing to do, I love tweaking things too. The 997 Turbo however is a hightech sportscar and tweaking it requires a lot of knowledge, a lot of skills and a lot of INSIDE information from development. I'd say that right NOW, only three or four tuners really have what is required and none of them is originating from a country outside Germany. Of course they pass on their experience and products but usually ONLY to their reps in other countries, not other companies who are in competition with them. Just a little hint.
I'm really sorry if I offended somebody but sometimes I get the feeling that some people are more occupated with "tweaking" their cars than actually driving them. Because IF they would really drive them at the limit, they would learn and understand where the weak points are and that these cars actually don't need much tweaking. 50 HP more, a coilover kit (H&R or a comparable very high quality product) and the 997 Turbo is the perfect fun car, with the right tires and chassis settings even for the track.
Everything else should be considered "cosmetic" (20'' wheels, lowering, bling bling stuff, etc.) or "crazy" (700 HP engine, etc.). Everyone is free to do what he wants with his money but sometimes the need for "individualism" not only looks ridiculous, it may also be dangerous at some point. Guys, I'm not your enemy, even if I sound like an arrogant bastard.
Please do not quote W.R.(he is employed by Porsche not Porsches customers). 
