That was fun :)
Discussion
When I get a new car I try to book a day at Drive limits at North Weald airfield, it’s run by Mark who is an instructor for Porsche at Silverstone.
For one reason or another (mostly because I am now a 5 hour drive away) I’ve not managed to get down there in the 993 until this week when myself and 3 friends attended a 4:1 coaching day.
I’ve been before in numerous cars (Elise, 410 Exige, 400 Evora, 2 x Aero 8, 981 Spyder) it’s a way to experience cars on the limit without jeopardy. On the road the 993 feels a bit Evora like. Particularly up here in Pembrokeshire where high banks alongside most roads means most corners are blind which limits the entry speed you can carry.
After a few braking drills which reduced my stopping distance from 70 mph by 15 metres or so, Mark set up a high speed 90 deg left hand bend with huge run off this is where the real fun starts as it allows you to get the car upto and past the limit, in the Lotus’s I was always struggling to control them past the limit as they swapped ends so quickly and I’m not talented enough to catch them, the 993 was a complete revelation in so much as it could be provoked into oversteer which was so benign that even a numpty like me could control it.
After a while the 3 lads decided to swap cars, a 400 bhp turbo Cayman, a V8 Jaguar F type and my C2, crikey the other cars were a handful compared to the 993, particularly the Jag which is a triumph of power over traction (which Mark demonstrated later in the day by smoking the rear tyres 30m up the short sprint course straight.
All commented on how planted and easy to drive the 993 was, from my point of view the only thing it lacked was about 50 bhp mmmm, now how do I remedy that?
For one reason or another (mostly because I am now a 5 hour drive away) I’ve not managed to get down there in the 993 until this week when myself and 3 friends attended a 4:1 coaching day.
I’ve been before in numerous cars (Elise, 410 Exige, 400 Evora, 2 x Aero 8, 981 Spyder) it’s a way to experience cars on the limit without jeopardy. On the road the 993 feels a bit Evora like. Particularly up here in Pembrokeshire where high banks alongside most roads means most corners are blind which limits the entry speed you can carry.
After a few braking drills which reduced my stopping distance from 70 mph by 15 metres or so, Mark set up a high speed 90 deg left hand bend with huge run off this is where the real fun starts as it allows you to get the car upto and past the limit, in the Lotus’s I was always struggling to control them past the limit as they swapped ends so quickly and I’m not talented enough to catch them, the 993 was a complete revelation in so much as it could be provoked into oversteer which was so benign that even a numpty like me could control it.
After a while the 3 lads decided to swap cars, a 400 bhp turbo Cayman, a V8 Jaguar F type and my C2, crikey the other cars were a handful compared to the 993, particularly the Jag which is a triumph of power over traction (which Mark demonstrated later in the day by smoking the rear tyres 30m up the short sprint course straight.
All commented on how planted and easy to drive the 993 was, from my point of view the only thing it lacked was about 50 bhp mmmm, now how do I remedy that?
I did this back when I had a GT86. I didn't quite get the assignment with the sharp 90 degree turn so until our instructor got round to me I was trying to perfect one big continuous skid until coming to a stop lol.
The main thing that stayed with me was about feeling what the car was doing via your thumbs on the inside horizontal part of the wheel rather than through your backside in the seat - if you're feeling yourself going in the latter way we were told it'd already be too late. Regularly remind myself not to grip the wheel so tightly that it prevents being able to feel feedback.
Can't remember our instructor's name but it was great to be a passenger in your own car and have it driven with so much control.
The main thing that stayed with me was about feeling what the car was doing via your thumbs on the inside horizontal part of the wheel rather than through your backside in the seat - if you're feeling yourself going in the latter way we were told it'd already be too late. Regularly remind myself not to grip the wheel so tightly that it prevents being able to feel feedback.
Can't remember our instructor's name but it was great to be a passenger in your own car and have it driven with so much control.
Ditto really interesting to hear actual back to back comparisons such as that.
Add a supercharger? The Americans were doing that 'back in the day' before the cars doubled in value (if kept 'original').
gareth h said:
...from my point of view the only thing it lacked was about 50 bhp mmmm, now how do I remedy that?
Remove loads of weight? Add a supercharger? The Americans were doing that 'back in the day' before the cars doubled in value (if kept 'original').
RiccardoG said:
Funnily enough one of the other guys on my day had a 968 (JSV 820, just found the pic). We also had an RS2 Audi (with steam coming off the brakes) and a 993.
Not me (that would have been too much of a coincidence ), it’ll be a sad day when it closes, there aren’t many places where you can explore a car at the limit.Gassing Station | Porsche Classics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff