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[img]/fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/MWPX/teeth_smile.gif[/img]Well, I had the test drive today, and it is great ! I am no expert and have not owned a Porsche before (moving from a 350z) but here are my thoughts:
The car was in Cobalt, andwas standard save forfull leather , PCM and Bose. Unfortunately the drive was all too brief and the roads were not great - damp and freezing with potential black ice and a convoy of three police vans in front of me for a while !!!
Despite that I loved it. It feels very refined, and under 50mph is very civilsed to drive - not too noisy and easy on the driver (and I'm 6'3'). Once opened up above 4500 rpm it really does sing and hasgreat torque. The exhaust note is quite subdued in the cabin until the higher revs are reached, but once up to 5000rpm you really hear it in the cabin - a lovely deep note. With the weather conditions I didnt push it too hard, but it felt very well planted and the ride was very good (no PASM, 18' alloys).
The power delivery is very different to my 350z. It gets stronger much higher in the rev range and really sings between 4k and 7k rpm (NB dont buy an ex-demo from Guildford OPC - 'what run in period' !!! ). The Z is stronger between 2.5k and 4.5k so I'm going to have to change my driving style to suit the car.
Unfortunately it was over too soon, and just makes the wait 'til 1st March even harder (actually may only wait til mid Jan if it arrives early !)
Tony
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
So the 350 actually felt stronger between 2.5k and 4.5k than the Cayman, or just that the 350 has more of ITS kick in that range rather than higher up? Don't know if I explained that too well.
I meant that the Zed has mostof its kick in the lower range. I'm not sure that the Zed felt stronger, but it is a bit wilder andless refined, and it makes more noise which kind of fools the senses. The 0-60 times are nearly 1 sec behind the Cayman, so I'm not worried. I think I just need more than 30 minutes in the car to get used to using the higher rev range more.
The ride quality was very good, again more refined than the Z. There was nice positive feedback through the car, without it being at all jolty or harsh.
I remember when I got my 350, a friend who had a C4S told me he really liked the Z because you could have so much fun without speeding into 3 figures, whereas the C4s was so controlled and truly quick, he kept finding himself doing silly speeds ! Now I understand what he means - the Cayman just feels so much more controlled.
I really liked it, and might have another test drive next week, with a slightly different driving style! As I said, I am no expert so its quite hard to find out too much about this level of sports car within 30 minutes of getting into it, especially when the road conditions arent great.
It's always amazing to me how much more a Porsche is than a bunch of numbers in a magazine.......I have found this to be true on every one I have owned. There is indeed a lot of truth to the 'There is no substitute.' phrase.
My own observations .... bear in mind this was my second time ever drivinga rear-wheel drive car.
1.Driving position... (I'm 6'3') pulling steering wheel out as far as it comes and pushing seat fully back gives enough legroom and an ok driving position.
2. Seats are LOW - didn't notice so much when sitting into a parked car, but climbing back into my Alfa 166 afterwardsthe seating position in that felt like I was in a Range Rover !! One possible negative for tall people is you are forced into a very upright driving position .... no slouching for long motorway cruises allowed here.
3 Engine Noise- OK, I must first admit to Bias here - I bought the Alfa Romeo simply because the noise off the Alfa V6 is <u>fabulous</u> - I just fell in love with it, so maybe I have a weakness for engine noise, but the Porsche sounds great - comes to life as the rev's rise until you have a very metallic roar all around you. Interestingly it sounds nothing like the alfa growl/roar I'm used too, but very impressive nevertheless!!
4. Brakes - again, comparing to the saloon I climbed out of and straight back into afterwards this was the most significant difference. I was unable to do anything too excessive but the brakes feel phenomenally good. A near Emergency-Stop caused by a VERY rapidly approaching speed camera was absolutely and completely boring. I cannot give higher praise than that :-) ... the car went from probably about 90 to 35 without seeming to notice, no twitching, no drama, NOTHING.
5. Torque? (I don't know if this is plain old torque or some voodoo of VarioCam) but as a test i slowed down to about 15-20 in sixth gear at the bottom of a hill and just pulled from there ... the car showed no hesitation and I wasn't able to see where I would have ended up but if porsche tell me it's 171mph I believe them!
6. Ride and PASM - our american friends will know all about the regular thump-thump-thump as you go across the joins between section of concrete on a concrete-built motorway (freeway?) - With PASM in sport modeeven those started to cause me toworry about the cost of my chiropractic bills - PASM in sport mode is HARD. Normal mode however seemed to take the edges off these without taking any of the feel out of the steering.A deliberate excursion onto the rumble-strip with PASM on and off gave very different feels in the seat of the pants (and the spine) but almost no difference through the steering .. I was unconvinced before but now happy that I've ordered PASM.
7. Handling - Wish I'd been able to test the handling at more length but apart from a few darts at the occasional roundabout (traffic circle) I was restricted to mostly motorway driving. It is <u>quick</u>, but I don't have the experience to say how quick compared to other cars.
For me however, it was my first time driving a Porsche, and Oh Boy did I leave the dealership with a grin on my face!
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've just got back after my first drive. Car had PASM, Sports Chrono & 19s. Normal setting on PASM very comfortable. Sport is very much harder and the throttle response noticeably sharper. Very easy to notice the extra surge when the variocam kicks in. Great noise too. Colm, the seats are low but I used to have an Elise and it's not as low as that and easy to get in and out. Sports seats and sterring wheel great. The steeing feels very like an elise with a bit more control and less skittish. A BMW 5 series driver nearly broke his neck trying to look at the car. Overall it exceeded expectations. Pity it was a bit foggy and slippery but traction is great. Bi-Xenons give gret light too.
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
Sport Chrono and Chrono Plus
This optional package is a valuable addition for trackday use. Available in conjunction with the CDR-24 CD radio, it includes a swivel-mounted analog and digital timer unit which is centrally located on the dashboard. All functions are easily accessible via the control stalk for the on-board computer. Analog dials measure hours, minutes and seconds, while a separate digital field displays whole seconds, tenths and one hundredths of a second. A second digital display runs in parallel in the instrument cluster. Click this Link to visit the FAQ entry for Sport Chrono.
Discussion for members in the UK & Ireland, local events, etc.
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