C2S does it lose the PASM with the sport suspension free option?

[Monty2]

Hi
Might be in the process of swopping my 987S and my Cayenne S for a few months old 997 C2S. Its fairly highly specced but was told in addition to Ceramic brakes it also has sports suspension with rear diff lock oh and sports seats. I'm trying to fathom out from the 911 book/brochure if the sprts sus. option deleted the standard PASM.
Q2 If it is deleted with the 19" wheels and sports seats on my normal A1 commute journey will I need a back massage or my eyeballs reseating by the time I get to work?

I don't actually get to see and try the 997 until tuesday but would value any thoughts on seats and suspension from the 997 community.

Thanks

Paul

ps its a long story why I would wish to swop 2 for 1 but basically need a Porsche and need a 60mpg runabout after last months £1000 fuel bill!

 

[robert997]

Hi Paul, Sport suspension DOES delete PASM, so may not be ideal for a regular commuter car. You'll have to try it and see for yourself as I haven't been in one like that for a while. Geoff997 has one so I'm sure he'll provide some advice, but there are an awful lot of 997's available so don't compromise make sure you get what you want. And Enjoy !

 

[YvesD]

Yep, 'sports suspension' is in lieu of 'PASM' and has no electonic damping gizzmo's.

I haven't driven a C2S with sports suspension so cant comment personally how firm it is but have seen pleanty of 'media' reports where it comes in for a bit of criticism for being a bit harsh for our poorly maintained UK roads.

Have driven a 'normal' C2 on standard suspension and 18's and the ride was nice and compliant on that, slightly more compliant than a C2S PASM equipped car ( ie mine ) on 19's. This could be as much down to the deeper shoulder on the 18 inch tyres as anything else.

As for the 60mpg runabout. May I recommend a Renault Clio 1.5dci diesel ? I have been running one for over a year and it never drops below 60mpg. If I avoid town driving and get her on a run, mid 70's mpg is the norm ! Dog slow though !!

Yves

 

[Monty2]

Thanks for the heads up guys, I'm now looking through the past years Porsche mags to find any reports on the 997 sports suspension. I have slight trepidation that with Ceramic brakes, sports sus. and sports seats this may have been purchased for and then used on the track a bit. I may have to speak to some other OPCs to see what deal they could put together but I have had really good experience with Cambridge OPC thus far so hope they source me the right car.

Yves, well the runabout could be a new mini cooper as it showing mpg in the right bracket and my previous Cooper S was highly entertaining on the back roads.

Will miss the Cayenne S though as its the bees knees but will be able to slum it in the Wife's tardy Touareg.

Paul

 

[YvesD]

Monty, take it the Mini is an oil burner ?

Couple more personal thoughts for you.

Sports seats are excellent and probably more comfortable on longer runs than the standard item due to the extra support/huggyness ( I know thats not a real word ! ).

I have driven ceramic brake equipped 911's and in terms of braking effort, could not distinguish between these and the steel set up. No noticable difference in fade either for 'normal' use. The big thing to have in mind I think is that only a computer can tell if they stop quicker than steel, seat of the pants cant tell.

Yves

 

[mbrands]

My first ever drive in a 997 was with the regular PASM suspension. I found it unsettlingly wobbly and immediately dialled in the firmer setting. That turned out to be too harsh, so I took a gamble and specced my car with sports suspension and LSD.

I loved it and was pleased I had made the right choice. It is firmer than the regular setting on PASM, so on very bad surfaces it can be a bit bumpy, but never bouncy (like PASM in firm mode) or crashy. Most road surfaces aren't that apalling, however, which means the rest of the time the car just feels slightly more visceral and planted than a PASM car - even as a daily driver to commute in. Plus the LSD is an added bonus and can be quite entertaining if you want to try your hand at the occasional drift [].

It also looks better, because the car sits lower and there is less of a gap between the wheel and wheel arch.

When it came to selling the car, some of the traders I contacted were a bit apprehensive of a car with sports suspension (or maybe they were just pretending to be), but given that the outfit I sold it to managed to sell the car on within a week, it suggests to me that rarity probably helps in this case and there is nothing to worry about when it comes to selling the car on when the time comes.

As you can tell, I am clearly biased towards the sports suspension, but in terms of advice, I can only echo Princer2's suggestion to try it and see for yourself. Don't be put off by it out of principle. If it turns out you don't like it, there are always plenty of other 997s around to choose from.

Good luck. Let us know how you get on.

 

[Geoff_Fields]

I think Marc's comments just about sum up my views as well. In addition to the above mentioned differences the sport suspension also has thicker anti-roll bars. Other peoples opinions will always be biased to what they spent their money on. Either way I don't think you will be dissapointed, it's horses for courses.

 

[Monty2]

Many thanks for the additional comments, it proves again that the Porsche forum community is great for getting real world feedback. I shall post again after tuesdays C2S test drive.

On the economical fun runabout front, took a new mini cooper 1600cc petrol out for a decent test drive today confirmed 55 to 60 mpg is possible at 70mph on the A1, the 6th gear is quite long legged so hills impact speed or mpg quite rapidly. Overall quite a decent motorway drive and very able on the bendy stuff.

Paul

 

[Monty2]

ORIGINAL: Monty2

Many thanks for the additional comments, it proves again that the Porsche forum community is great for getting real world feedback. I shall post again after tuesdays C2S test drive.

Well to get some perspective I drove my 987S over to Cambs OPC from Bedford this afternoon.
Had my test drive in the 997C2S with sport suspension as mentioned before, all I can say is what a smooth ride it is compared to my Boxster and I'm not complaining about that ride either.
M11 was stuffed so spent most of the test drive on the back roads (lots of pot holes, mud, fog and -2) with all that and my occasional bursts of accel out of bends I'd say the car is great and on that note Cambs OPC will shortly ie within days be having a CayenneS and a Boxster S on the forecourt and I'll have a fantastic C2S in my hands.
So please can I join you sub forum.

Paul

 

[Geoff_Fields]

Congratulations, enjoy![]

 

[mbrands]

Congratulations ! It sounds like a great spec with ceramic breaks as well !

 

[Chris5150]

Very interesting thread, I too bought one with the sports suspension. To be honest I didnt even really have much choice as I wanted a C4S with the Powerkit & when I looked around the OPC's there was only one for sale second hand, so decision made really. I think it does look better sitting that bit lower too.
Why this thread is interesting to me is beacuse I wasnt sure what happened when you pressed the sport button..ie if that had some effect on the suspension as well as the throttle/exhaust. I can see from this thread it doesnt!..and funnily I experimented going in & out of sports mode on the road and I thought it firmed up a bit more in sports mode...so obviously now I know Im wrong!!...must have picked smoother bits of road when I disengaged sports mode, because I really did think it felt slightly softer. Still overall I think the ride is totally liveable day to day for me...I also have the adaptive sports seats which I think are great!

 

[Guest]

Hi Chris,

There certainly is a difference to the suspension when you press the Sports Button, but only if you have the PASM option (I think they tend to go hand in hand). The ride is firmer, but not recommended for "commuting".

I tend to drive mine with the Sports Button illuminated (better throttle response and nicer tune from the sports exhaust), but with the PASM set to normal

 

[Maxamillion01]

When the AM V8 came out the 997S press car was equipped with the sports suspension and did the rounds of all the mags, and Top Gear took it to the Isle of Man. No one complained about the ride.