Discussion
I test drove a 981 S yesterday and came away disappointed.
It was extremely brittle, incredibly hard and tiring to drive - so tiring I noticed it on a short test drive on back roads. Potholes made the entire car shudder and rattle.
I want the car for European road trips and I was left with the impression that a Cayman would be a bad choice. I far prefer my 987 Boxster.
Am I looking at the wrong car? Will I get used to the ride? Are they all that noisy and do they all rattle?
This car has no PSE, 20” wheels and no PASM. Was it the wrong spec?
I really wanted to like it, but it felt really inappropriate for the purpose to which I wished to put it. Constructive input most welcome!
It was extremely brittle, incredibly hard and tiring to drive - so tiring I noticed it on a short test drive on back roads. Potholes made the entire car shudder and rattle.
I want the car for European road trips and I was left with the impression that a Cayman would be a bad choice. I far prefer my 987 Boxster.
Am I looking at the wrong car? Will I get used to the ride? Are they all that noisy and do they all rattle?
This car has no PSE, 20” wheels and no PASM. Was it the wrong spec?
I really wanted to like it, but it felt really inappropriate for the purpose to which I wished to put it. Constructive input most welcome!
Sounds like you tested a dog in need of some suspension work.
They’re brilliant for long trips. Firm, but not overly so, and certainly not crashy.
I do several hours in mine on our pock-marked uk roads with none of the above.
Mine is on 20s with PASM. I flit between the two PASM modes depending on my mood and the road. In its former setting, it is stiff but not crashy.
PASM is excellent - but I’ve limited experience of passive dampers on 981s. I personally would want it, along with PSE, sport chrono and PTV.
They’re brilliant for long trips. Firm, but not overly so, and certainly not crashy.
I do several hours in mine on our pock-marked uk roads with none of the above.
Mine is on 20s with PASM. I flit between the two PASM modes depending on my mood and the road. In its former setting, it is stiff but not crashy.
PASM is excellent - but I’ve limited experience of passive dampers on 981s. I personally would want it, along with PSE, sport chrono and PTV.
Edited by Royal Jelly on Sunday 16th April 08:07
Doesn’t sound quite right.
Owned and driven several 981s and I would say the ride is well judged.
Assume it was standard and unmodified?
If so, sounds like a poor example. Could be old tyres, and the X73 Sports Suspension isn’t to everyone’s taste.
The best handling/riding 981 I ever drove had PASM, 19” wheels and GY F1s.
However, the biggest issue may well be the terrible state of our decaying UK roads. I think they are in the worst condition I can ever recall, with no prospect of improvement - just patching up.
Fortunately European roads are much better, which is the whole point of owning a Porsche and doing Euro-tours.
Owned and driven several 981s and I would say the ride is well judged.
Assume it was standard and unmodified?
If so, sounds like a poor example. Could be old tyres, and the X73 Sports Suspension isn’t to everyone’s taste.
The best handling/riding 981 I ever drove had PASM, 19” wheels and GY F1s.
However, the biggest issue may well be the terrible state of our decaying UK roads. I think they are in the worst condition I can ever recall, with no prospect of improvement - just patching up.
Fortunately European roads are much better, which is the whole point of owning a Porsche and doing Euro-tours.
My 987 on 19's didn't have PASM and was fine.
My 981 on 20's has PASM and is fine too.
I think seat height can make a difference though - try raising it and lowering it to see if you feel more or less.
Agree with others you could try another to be sure, but don't think having PASM is going to make much difference.
My 981 on 20's has PASM and is fine too.
I think seat height can make a difference though - try raising it and lowering it to see if you feel more or less.
Agree with others you could try another to be sure, but don't think having PASM is going to make much difference.
Yep, sounds like the car may have had a problem. Our 981 is on 19" without PASM and 718 is on 20" with PASM and I can drive both for several hours without issue. Contrast that with my old 987 on 18" without PASM which in the end gave a bad back after anything more that 2 hours driving.
What tyres did it have and how old were they from the date stamp as that can make a lot of difference.
I got some 20” wheels which had N rated P Zeros with loads of tread but the tyres were 6+ years old and i found the ride hard, crashing and heavy steering and got the Ackerman effect a lot.
A new set of N rated Michelin PS4S made a world of difference and now the ride is far far better, the heavy steering gone and rides over bumps much nicer. Ackerman effect has gone too. No PASM btw.
I got some 20” wheels which had N rated P Zeros with loads of tread but the tyres were 6+ years old and i found the ride hard, crashing and heavy steering and got the Ackerman effect a lot.
A new set of N rated Michelin PS4S made a world of difference and now the ride is far far better, the heavy steering gone and rides over bumps much nicer. Ackerman effect has gone too. No PASM btw.
stabilio said:
What tyres did it have and how old were they from the date stamp as that can make a lot of difference.
I got some 20” wheels which had N rated P Zeros with loads of tread but the tyres were 6+ years old and i found the ride hard, crashing and heavy steering and got the Ackerman effect a lot.
A new set of N rated Michelin PS4S made a world of difference and now the ride is far far better, the heavy steering gone and rides over bumps much nicer. Ackerman effect has gone too. No PASM btw.
Interesting. They were, indeed, P. Zeros; quite worn but not particularly old.I got some 20” wheels which had N rated P Zeros with loads of tread but the tyres were 6+ years old and i found the ride hard, crashing and heavy steering and got the Ackerman effect a lot.
A new set of N rated Michelin PS4S made a world of difference and now the ride is far far better, the heavy steering gone and rides over bumps much nicer. Ackerman effect has gone too. No PASM btw.
I’m also happy to agree that Michelins are always a good answer.
Don’t think you’ve mentioned the age or mileage of the car you drove - if it’s an early car it could be over 10 years old now so maybe due a suspension refresh.
My money though would be on tyres; either old, incorrectly inflated or possibly even the wrong sidewall spec for a mid engined car.
My Spyder is on the widely derided (20”) Pirelli N1s with passive suspension and rides brilliantly IMHO - N0 version not great but unlikely the car you drove would still be on those.
Tyre age really does make a difference, more so than manufacturer in my experience - you can feel the squidge in a new set.
My money though would be on tyres; either old, incorrectly inflated or possibly even the wrong sidewall spec for a mid engined car.
My Spyder is on the widely derided (20”) Pirelli N1s with passive suspension and rides brilliantly IMHO - N0 version not great but unlikely the car you drove would still be on those.
Tyre age really does make a difference, more so than manufacturer in my experience - you can feel the squidge in a new set.
elisered said:
Don’t think you’ve mentioned the age or mileage of the car you drove - if it’s an early car it could be over 10 years old now so maybe due a suspension refresh.
My money though would be on tyres; either old, incorrectly inflated or possibly even the wrong sidewall spec for a mid engined car.
My Spyder is on the widely derided (20”) Pirelli N1s with passive suspension and rides brilliantly IMHO - N0 version not great but unlikely the car you drove would still be on those.
Tyre age really does make a difference, more so than manufacturer in my experience - you can feel the squidge in a new set.
13 plate, 60k, coincidentally the same mileage as my 2010 Boxster.My money though would be on tyres; either old, incorrectly inflated or possibly even the wrong sidewall spec for a mid engined car.
My Spyder is on the widely derided (20”) Pirelli N1s with passive suspension and rides brilliantly IMHO - N0 version not great but unlikely the car you drove would still be on those.
Tyre age really does make a difference, more so than manufacturer in my experience - you can feel the squidge in a new set.
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