991 - PCCB or PDCC or both

[Scott Parker]

As you will see from my other thread the spec i have at the moment is with PCCB but not the PDCC. Now although i can afford to add just a couple of extra thousand to have both i do feel a tad queasy with the car going to 103.5k for a carrera. I would like to hear as many views as possible with people that has experianced them both. I know they have great benefits but its the downsides im looking at.

With PCCB there is the worry of replacement/care of them, and the standard S brakes are ultimatley as powerful in stopping distances. I will probably do around 30000 miles in this car with a few track days. If im paying an extra 6k for brakes i do not want to be replacing them in this time (i could maybe suffer a pad change)

With the PDCC i can see that its a fantastic bit of kit but ultimate grip and lap times dont mean its a great handling car (speaking in general here)I want to feel the car, have fun in it, slide it around at track days. Will the PDCC take away some of this fun?

So obviously both is dream car choice but would you opt for one over the other?

[Blue62]

Haven't experienced PCCB Scott and I think I made my views on PDCC known previously. Whatever you choose you're in for a ball, had a great blast in mine earlier today, it is a bit PS3, but I love it and with PDCC it's an incredible car.

[BnB]

Your problem in asking this question, Scott, is that barely 3 members here have any experience of PDCC beyond a test drive. And I'd be mighty surprised if not one of them tells you to save your money and re-invest barely more than a third of the cost of PCCB in PDCC. Yes, you can easily find opinions that PDCC distances you from the car, but this will come from members with no personal experience of the technology, or at best a short test drive, and many an axe to grind.

My 991S cab was due to hit the UK from the factory over the weekend so I might be able to offer advice borne of legitimate experience in a week or so. Until then, I can only offer this:

Did I want to baby a set of PCCBs and crap myself with anxiety for the integrity of the discs every time a tyre is changed? No

Did I feel the 991 is all about the new technology? Yes.

So I ordered PDCC.

[535dBoy]

Surely PCCB is a bit over kill for occasional track use?

[Scott Parker]

535dBoy said:

Surely PCCB is a bit over kill for occasional track use?

Probably the oppposite, if i was doing more track use i would go for standard brake set-up. PCCB gains are in handling so felt over the B roads

[Scott Parker]

BnB said:

Your problem in asking this question, Scott, is that barely 3 members here have any experience of PDCC beyond a test drive. And I'd be mighty surprised if not one of them tells you to save your money and re-invest barely more than a third of the cost of PCCB in PDCC. Yes, you can easily find opinions that PDCC distances you from the car, but this will come from members with no personal experience of the technology, or at best a short test drive, and many an axe to grind.

My 991S cab was due to hit the UK from the factory over the weekend so I might be able to offer advice borne of legitimate experience in a week or so. Until then, I can only offer this:

Did I want to baby a set of PCCBs and crap myself with anxiety for the integrity of the discs every time a tyre is changed? No

Did I feel the 991 is all about the new technology? Yes.

So I ordered PDCC.

So maybe its the PCCB i have to be convinced on (here we go again)

[535dBoy]

Scott Parker said:

Probably the oppposite, if i was doing more track use i would go for standard brake set-up. PCCB gains are in handling so felt over the B roads

I thought one of the other benefits was the resistance to wear for repeated hard use

I didn't bother on my mrs 981 because it is an expensive option with little benefit I thought and I've been told that car is not going on track!

I've just ordered my rs4 and the forum people were saying I needed ceramics but with no obvious reasons why!

In the lotus world there are arguments over the light weight wheels and how transforms the handling. I have intermediate weight wheels (if that makes sense) on my exige and yes i can notice the difference yes but the ceramics at what £7k, I'm not sure it is that worth it On 911 that is typing over £100k!

It is however your money of course and enjoy

[Tony 1234]

Well I've had my 991S for just over 4 month's now and for me it's PDCC all the way, unless you're tracking the car a lot PCCB isn't worth the cash/hassle IMO

[J-P]

Hi Scott - do you have experience of driving previous gen 911s? If so, do you like the rear-engined feel? If so, I suspect that you'd get on better without PDCC. Manks has written some pretty in-depth findings on PDCC. I thought the 991 was awesome when I test drove one but it sounds to me that PDCC is something that grows on you as owners who have it, swear by it and nearly everybody who has tried it over a shorter period is a bit meh?

[Scott Parker]

Hi JP, no the 991 was the first Porsche i have managed to drive so i have nothing to gauge against

[Geneve]

Scott Parker said:

535dBoy said:

Surely PCCB is a bit over kill for occasional track use?

Probably the oppposite, if i was doing more track use i would go for standard brake set-up. PCCB gains are in handling so felt over the B roads

That tends to be the general consensus. PCCBs are perfect for road or track, but IMO the track benefits are more questionable. On the road you will get the benefits of huge longevity (discs), no brake dust, no corrosion. They weigh considerably less, improving ride and handling, and Porsche claim superior performance.

Cynics say the latter claims are debatable, but converts, myself included, will tell you that the whole package of benefits make them a really worthwhile asset for road use.

Of course it's personal choice. Anyone speccing up a 991 will gulp at the cost of the options. But, having done over 60k mls on PCCBs in three different 911s, if I was spending £100k(ish)on any performance car I would definitely want ceramics.

Can't comment on PDCC.

[mollytherocker]

I havent driven a 991 yet, but I am fairly confident I would prefer it with neither.

Pair your options right back and save your money. You will not get it back at resale.

Just spec what you really need, not what you think you need.

MTR

[Blue62]

mollytherocker said:

I havent driven a 991 yet, but I am fairly confident I would prefer it with neither.

Pair your options right back and save your money. You will not get it back at resale.

Just spec what you really need, not what you think you need.

MTR

I wasn't a million miles away from your position MTR when I first set out, but I am convinced that the 991 is made for PDK, PDCC and PSE, for me the three key ingredients. I honestly never thought I would say that as I've always been a manual/keep it basic owner in the past (with the exception of PSE), but this car is all the better for those options.

[anonymous-user]

Some people swear by ceramic brakes and frankly it would be hard not to after spending a load of money on them. There are certainly pros and certainly cons other than the obvious cost. Your best bet would be a blind test if possible. Remember the placebo effect is quite real.

If it was my money, I'd stick with steel brakes, they are more than adequate for serious road or track use.

[J-P]

Scott Parker said:

Hi JP, no the 991 was the first Porsche i have managed to drive so i have nothing to gauge against

In which case you might as well get PDCC.

I like the ceramic brakes and as others here have said, I think they have the most benefit for road use. Std set-up is far from underbraked but you do get the benefit of reduced weight with PCCB in the right place. Not to mention incredible longevity and no brake dust! It does (pretty much) mean OPC only tyre changes though (for peace of mind).

If you are going to do a lot of track days, I'd stick with the steel set-up. The cost of replacing the discs is eye-watering and heavy track use is likely to wear the brakes sufficiently for at least one change!

[NorthDave]

I drove a 991 at the silverstone driving experience with ceramics and loved it. Surely your dealer could organise for you to go and have a play there and make your own mind up?

You are already a customer and thinking of spending more on options so he has nothing to lose?

[535dBoy]

NorthDave said:

I drove a 991 at the silverstone driving experience with ceramics and loved it. Surely your dealer could organise for you to go and have a play there and make your own mind up?

You are already a customer and thinking of spending more on options so he has nothing to lose?

Worth a try!

[Scott Parker]

NorthDave said:

I drove a 991 at the silverstone driving experience with ceramics and loved it. Surely your dealer could organise for you to go and have a play there and make your own mind up?

You are already a customer and thinking of spending more on options so he has nothing to lose?

Im already booked in for Friday...... I have a lot to try in the few hours im there PDCC, PCCB, with and without

[BnB]

Scott Parker said:

Im already booked in for Friday...... I have a lot to try in the few hours im there PDCC, PCCB, with and without

Have a great day. If you can contrive to test both options with and without, back to back and "blind", as someone has already suggested, I imagine you'll become the forum guru!!

[anonymous-user]

Scott Parker said:

Im already booked in for Friday...... I have a lot to try in the few hours im there PDCC, PCCB, with and without

Make sure you do the tests blind so you know your conclusion is not influenced by perceived value. Remember that it's a sales exercise for these guys.