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I have extensively read the recent myth buster thread on PASM. I found it most interesting, informative, and full of varying opinions. Using the premise that the graph given in that forum clearly speaks for itself, I have a final question relative to PASM-
During normal driving, the PASM normal mode would be softer than the non-PASM. However, the normal PASM adjusts to how the car is being driven and hence stiffens according to various criteria related to how aggressively the car is being driven. My question for those of you have used both PASM and non-PASM- During YOUR normal every day driving, do you find the PASM normal mode to give, on average, a stiffer or softer ride than the non-PASM?
I apologize to those of you who might find this a repetitive type of question and to those of you who think the question makes no sense since it is all dependent on the driver. Unfortunately, I am unable to locate a PASM car in my area to drive. Hence, that is why I ask.
THANKS!
Doobydarby
PASM - Porsche Active Suspension Management
This active damping system offers continuous adjustment of individual damping forces based on current road conditions and driving style.
The driver can choose from two setup modes, ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’, using a separate ‘damper’ button on the center console. ‘Normal’ mode is designed for general road driving and circuits with uneven tarmac. ‘Sport’ mode is intended for smoother track surfaces, where the harder settings help eliminate pitch and roll.
In either mode, PASM continuously evaluates the current conditions while automatically selecting the corresponding damper rates from the respective set of mapped values.
A range of sensors are used to monitor the movement of the body under acceleration, braking and cornering maneuvers, as well as on poor road surfaces. The PASM control unit then evaluates this data and modifies the damping force on each individual wheel in accordance with the selected mode. The result is a significant reduction in body movement as well as a better grip on the road.
For example: if ‘Sport’ mode is selected, the suspension is automatically set to a harder damper rating. If the quality of the track surface falls below a certain threshold, the system immediately changes to a softer rating within the ‘Sport’ setup range. When the quality of the tarmac improves once more, PASM automatically returns to the original, harder rating.
Need more information about PASM? Click this link: FAQ for PASM
I drive PASM every day, I haven't driven a non-PASM car in months, I think I'd have to own 2 Caymans and drive them a lot back to back to give you a solid answer. I have no complaints with PASM in either Normal or Sport mode. I like PASM a lot. My 2006 Cayman S with PASM is more comfortable than any of my prior Porsches in daily driving, including a 2005 Boxster S without PASM. Is it the chasis? the PASM, the tires? extra cushion on by butt? I don't know why, but again, no complaints with PASM here. In fact, do we have any PASM owners complaining about PASM?
PASM - Porsche Active Suspension Management
This active damping system offers continuous adjustment of individual damping forces based on current road conditions and driving style.
The driver can choose from two setup modes, ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’, using a separate ‘damper’ button on the center console. ‘Normal’ mode is designed for general road driving and circuits with uneven tarmac. ‘Sport’ mode is intended for smoother track surfaces, where the harder settings help eliminate pitch and roll.
In either mode, PASM continuously evaluates the current conditions while automatically selecting the corresponding damper rates from the respective set of mapped values.
A range of sensors are used to monitor the movement of the body under acceleration, braking and cornering maneuvers, as well as on poor road surfaces. The PASM control unit then evaluates this data and modifies the damping force on each individual wheel in accordance with the selected mode. The result is a significant reduction in body movement as well as a better grip on the road.
For example: if ‘Sport’ mode is selected, the suspension is automatically set to a harder damper rating. If the quality of the track surface falls below a certain threshold, the system immediately changes to a softer rating within the ‘Sport’ setup range. When the quality of the tarmac improves once more, PASM automatically returns to the original, harder rating.
Need more information about PASM? Click this link: FAQ for PASM
I spec'd my CS after test driving a PASM equipped car. At that time I understood (incorrectly it is now clear to me) that the base suspension was comparable to non-sport PASM. Since I did not at that time intend to track the car I decided I did not need PASM. I love my CS and the ride is perfectly fine with 18's and the base suspension. However, there is no question in my mind, even 9 months after that test drive, that the active suspension softens the impact of bad pavement, washboard, etc. and as a result gives a smoother ride. Again, the base suspension is certainly not bad, but PASM, at least in my opinion, is clearly more compliant. By way of reference, my previous cars were an M3 and a 993, so I am used to driving performance cars. If I had it to do over gain I would get PASM. I'd still skip the wort, but that is another discussion...:-)
Steve
PASM - Porsche Active Suspension Management
This active damping system offers continuous adjustment of individual damping forces based on current road conditions and driving style.
The driver can choose from two setup modes, ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’, using a separate ‘damper’ button on the center console. ‘Normal’ mode is designed for general road driving and circuits with uneven tarmac. ‘Sport’ mode is intended for smoother track surfaces, where the harder settings help eliminate pitch and roll.
In either mode, PASM continuously evaluates the current conditions while automatically selecting the corresponding damper rates from the respective set of mapped values.
A range of sensors are used to monitor the movement of the body under acceleration, braking and cornering maneuvers, as well as on poor road surfaces. The PASM control unit then evaluates this data and modifies the damping force on each individual wheel in accordance with the selected mode. The result is a significant reduction in body movement as well as a better grip on the road.
For example: if ‘Sport’ mode is selected, the suspension is automatically set to a harder damper rating. If the quality of the track surface falls below a certain threshold, the system immediately changes to a softer rating within the ‘Sport’ setup range. When the quality of the tarmac improves once more, PASM automatically returns to the original, harder rating.
Need more information about PASM? Click this link: FAQ for PASM
I don't have PASM, but have driven several cars with and without.
PASM in normal mode does give a softer ride for the street......but it is a little too soft for my tastes for the type of street driving I do. Yes it does stiffen up when you start to push the car......but for me that limit is too high. I would want for the suspension to stiffen up in the 30, 40, 50 mph range......but I didn't (and still don't) find that it stiffens up to a level I like until past the 60/70 mph range. The sport mode IMO is pretty much for the track......I found it pretty harsh for all around street driving.
If you want the most compliant ride for the street and don't mind parting with $2k to get it......PASM could be right for you. If you want a great all around suspension that does just about everything well......except give you the very softest/hardest ends of the suspension envelope.....the non-PASM susp. is tough to beat.
PASM - Porsche Active Suspension Management
This active damping system offers continuous adjustment of individual damping forces based on current road conditions and driving style.
The driver can choose from two setup modes, ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’, using a separate ‘damper’ button on the center console. ‘Normal’ mode is designed for general road driving and circuits with uneven tarmac. ‘Sport’ mode is intended for smoother track surfaces, where the harder settings help eliminate pitch and roll.
In either mode, PASM continuously evaluates the current conditions while automatically selecting the corresponding damper rates from the respective set of mapped values.
A range of sensors are used to monitor the movement of the body under acceleration, braking and cornering maneuvers, as well as on poor road surfaces. The PASM control unit then evaluates this data and modifies the damping force on each individual wheel in accordance with the selected mode. The result is a significant reduction in body movement as well as a better grip on the road.
For example: if ‘Sport’ mode is selected, the suspension is automatically set to a harder damper rating. If the quality of the track surface falls below a certain threshold, the system immediately changes to a softer rating within the ‘Sport’ setup range. When the quality of the tarmac improves once more, PASM automatically returns to the original, harder rating.
Need more information about PASM? Click this link: FAQ for PASM
During normal driving, the PASM normal mode would be softer than the non-PASM. However, the normal PASM adjusts to how the car is being driven and hence stiffens according to various criteria related to how aggressively the car is being driven.
Doobydarby
Dooby - Let me first clear up one problem with your premise. The active suspension not only reacts to driver input (aggressive/non-aggressive driving and speed) but also - and very, very importantly - road surface condition and road surface elevation changes. Let's say you're driving in non-aggressive mode, but the road surface gets bad, or you're crossing railroad tracks - the sensors read the ride-height changes and suspension travel, and automatically adjusts the damping rate to compensate for the extra suspension travel and ride-height changes, thus softening the impact of such things. Think of PASM as being a sort of "noise cancelling headphones" for the road surface, if you will, that has nothing to do with how aggressively you're driving the car. As I said in that other thread, I think a lot of people are missing this huge point of having an adaptive suspension by thinking it's only for the track, or smooth surfaces or sensing aggressive driving.
That out of the way, I have only driven non-PASM Cayman Ss on the track or AX courses so I can't really say what they're like on the street. I will say this, after a year and a little more than 20k miles of driving with the PASM suspension under every imaginable street and "race" condition (sorry if this is a repeat for some who have read the other thread) I can't imagine not having the car equipped with it. While the speed of the car is a factor, I have to very much disagree with Atlas_Croc (a rarity, to be sure)... I feel it tighten up at much slower speeds than he indicates - it very much depends on road surface, steering angle, and throttle angle, as well as speed. I also drive fully-prepared race cars on the track (now that's bone-jarring) and I have to say, I don't find the PASM normal to be "too soft" for the street.
brad
PASM - Porsche Active Suspension Management
This active damping system offers continuous adjustment of individual damping forces based on current road conditions and driving style.
The driver can choose from two setup modes, ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’, using a separate ‘damper’ button on the center console. ‘Normal’ mode is designed for general road driving and circuits with uneven tarmac. ‘Sport’ mode is intended for smoother track surfaces, where the harder settings help eliminate pitch and roll.
In either mode, PASM continuously evaluates the current conditions while automatically selecting the corresponding damper rates from the respective set of mapped values.
A range of sensors are used to monitor the movement of the body under acceleration, braking and cornering maneuvers, as well as on poor road surfaces. The PASM control unit then evaluates this data and modifies the damping force on each individual wheel in accordance with the selected mode. The result is a significant reduction in body movement as well as a better grip on the road.
For example: if ‘Sport’ mode is selected, the suspension is automatically set to a harder damper rating. If the quality of the track surface falls below a certain threshold, the system immediately changes to a softer rating within the ‘Sport’ setup range. When the quality of the tarmac improves once more, PASM automatically returns to the original, harder rating.
Need more information about PASM? Click this link: FAQ for PASM
I don't have PASM, but have driven several cars with and without.
PASM in normal mode does give a softer ride for the street......but it is a little too soft for my tastes for the type of street driving I do. Yes it does stiffen up when you start to push the car......but for me that limit is too high. I would want for the suspension to stiffen up in the 30, 40, 50 mph range......but I didn't (and still don't) find that it stiffens up to a level I like until past the 60/70 mph range. The sport mode IMO is pretty much for the track......I found it pretty harsh for all around street driving.
If you want the most compliant ride for the street and don't mind parting with $2k to get it......PASM could be right for you. If you want a great all around suspension that does just about everything well......except give you the very softest/hardest ends of the suspension envelope.....the non-PASM susp. is tough to beat.
I’m not sure if and how much PASM stiffen up the suspension when you go faster. Not even sure if that is desirable. I think the most useful function of PASM is it will stiffen up when you do hard cornering.
PASM - Porsche Active Suspension Management
This active damping system offers continuous adjustment of individual damping forces based on current road conditions and driving style.
The driver can choose from two setup modes, ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’, using a separate ‘damper’ button on the center console. ‘Normal’ mode is designed for general road driving and circuits with uneven tarmac. ‘Sport’ mode is intended for smoother track surfaces, where the harder settings help eliminate pitch and roll.
In either mode, PASM continuously evaluates the current conditions while automatically selecting the corresponding damper rates from the respective set of mapped values.
A range of sensors are used to monitor the movement of the body under acceleration, braking and cornering maneuvers, as well as on poor road surfaces. The PASM control unit then evaluates this data and modifies the damping force on each individual wheel in accordance with the selected mode. The result is a significant reduction in body movement as well as a better grip on the road.
For example: if ‘Sport’ mode is selected, the suspension is automatically set to a harder damper rating. If the quality of the track surface falls below a certain threshold, the system immediately changes to a softer rating within the ‘Sport’ setup range. When the quality of the tarmac improves once more, PASM automatically returns to the original, harder rating.
Need more information about PASM? Click this link: FAQ for PASM
I swtich back and forth between a PASM-equipped Boxster and a standard suspension Cayman. Both are 2006 models and both have 19" wheels. The Boxster has a more supple/softer ride than the Cayman in everyday driving which is the only kind of driving I have done with both cars. The Cayman is not harsh or undercontrolled by any means though. Both are enjoyable. I like PASM, but for my kind of driving I would probably be just as happy with standard dampers and 18" wheels.
-James
PASM - Porsche Active Suspension Management
This active damping system offers continuous adjustment of individual damping forces based on current road conditions and driving style.
The driver can choose from two setup modes, ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’, using a separate ‘damper’ button on the center console. ‘Normal’ mode is designed for general road driving and circuits with uneven tarmac. ‘Sport’ mode is intended for smoother track surfaces, where the harder settings help eliminate pitch and roll.
In either mode, PASM continuously evaluates the current conditions while automatically selecting the corresponding damper rates from the respective set of mapped values.
A range of sensors are used to monitor the movement of the body under acceleration, braking and cornering maneuvers, as well as on poor road surfaces. The PASM control unit then evaluates this data and modifies the damping force on each individual wheel in accordance with the selected mode. The result is a significant reduction in body movement as well as a better grip on the road.
For example: if ‘Sport’ mode is selected, the suspension is automatically set to a harder damper rating. If the quality of the track surface falls below a certain threshold, the system immediately changes to a softer rating within the ‘Sport’ setup range. When the quality of the tarmac improves once more, PASM automatically returns to the original, harder rating.
Need more information about PASM? Click this link: FAQ for PASM
brad- I was aware of what you were saying about how the PASM system reacts to road surface/elevation conditions. That feature is what really interests me, as the quality of the ride would not deteriorate too badly in very poor road conditions. That is a real plus to me.
Atlas_Croc- Your previous posts (and a couple of others) were really what prompted my question. The PASM proponents seem to see no real downside with
