911 Turbo, my favorite private vehicle
Your driving is regarded as being very composed and under control. What would you say about it if you had to?
really simple. My strategy is to direct sparingly, gently, and early. Open up the steering as you approach the curve. When you are focused on the work at hand, driving keeps you psychologically fit as well.
Rallies are something you still do as a Porsche ambassador. There, consistency and complete control of the vehicle are the goals, not speed. How far has your ambition gotten away from you in this case?
You have consistently pushed the 1970 Porsche 911 ST to its physical limits while remaining in complete control. What was crucial when you started this car’s high-speed drift?
At high speeds, it was always crucial to sense every movement of the vehicle, countersteer at the proper angle, and time the opening of the steering. Control must be maintained in order to easily exit the drift and enter the straightaway in the rain. It’s either something you get or you don’t.
Your preferred 911 was a 1967 911 2.0 S rally car that you drove in the Bavaria Rally in the 1970s. Why was it your preferred 911?
That it exerted all of its force entirely on the ground. Additionally, it was difficult to maneuver due to its small wheelbase.
a healthy dose of deference and a readiness to always maintain attention on the subject at hand.
Respect is still due, but notably for the high speeds that can now be attained with such ease and are no longer audible because the 911 is so flawless.
In This Article...
Racing
Our top-notch instructors at the Porsche Track Experience, the official US driving school of Porsche, place a high focus on hands-on instruction. Each program is tailored to the demands and skill levels of our customers, and you can achieve your SCCA full competition license by enrolling in Precision, Performance, or even Advanced courses. To get more enjoyment out of every journey, hone your driving skills in the Porsche model of your choice.
What should I know before I drive a Porsche?
The 911 demands a unique method when braking for the curves due to its rear-engine design. Wayne Flynn is the photographer.
ABS Approach:
You might have antilock brakes if you drive a late-model, street-based 911 or a 996 Cup car. If you know how to make the most of them, this isn’t a bad thing.
In Germany, I used to race in the Super Cup and Carrera Cup, and I learned that a little ABS engagement is okay. Here is my primary guiding principle: When braking hard, it’s good to feel a small amount of ABS pulsating through the steering wheel; if you feel ABS through the brake pedal, however, you’re probably applying too much pressure and losing the last 10 to 20 percent of bite.
It’s a fine line, but you should maintain pressure and go further into your hairpins and tight bends if the ABS isn’t kicking back through the pedal. You may be able to extend the previous straight further than you initially believed.
Absent ABS, no issue
Avoid tricking yourself into thinking you have too much forward bias in non-ABS vehicles. Remember that when you turn in, the front of the car will begin to roll, making the inside-front tire very light and vulnerable to locking. To keep that tire spinning as you turn in, practice trailing off the brakes. The driver may need to adjust his approach and driving style to achieve the optimal setup adjustments.
Using the Clutch to Downshift:
I tend to use the clutch for all downshifts on all gearboxes. It’s controversial, but I think using the clutch stabilizes the chassis and lengthens the life of the gearbox.
Also, whether I’m using a conventional gearbox or a sequential one, I’ve never seen a reason to skip gears. I believe it is inefficient and detrimental to the engine to hold down the clutch while slamming through the gears. Additionally, I believe shifting through each gear keeps the platform neutral, which improves handling and braking.
Of course, correct throttle blipping is required with all of this downshifting. If downshifting requires you to blip the throttle to match the revs, your pedal box has to be updated or modified. Borrowing a manual car and spending the day figuring out what it takes is an additional alternative.
It’s absurd, but there are racing professionals out there who are incapable of performing a heel-and-toe downshift. Many of these negative behaviors are caused by excessive left-foot braking; if that describes your driving style, keep in mind that the 911 prefers matched revs on downshifts.
Taking on hairpins
A track’s corners won’t all be quick, and in hairpins the late, hard braker will always prevail. Use the aerodynamics of the high speeds to aid increase brake bite as you first enter the brake pedal.
It’s crucial to concentrate on bleeding off the brakes as you approach the corner to prevent the tires from locking up. Leaning into the tight turns with a little trail-braking pressure will also help the car rotate at the apex. Additionally, it will keep the rear agile and light. Depending on your setup, you should trail brake to a certain extent when entering a hairpin in a 911.
What age must you be to operate a Porsche?
Each participant in any Porsche driving activity must be at least 21 years old and in possession of a valid driver’s license. Be aware that prerequisites could be necessary for some of the advanced driving programs at the Porsche Experience Center and Porsche Track Experience.
Are Porsches simple to operate?
While the vehicles necessitate “somewhat different driving skills,” according to Porsche spokesman Nick Twork, they are “just as safe as any other automobiles on the road.” When driving them, you must be mindful of your actions.
What is the cost of operating a Porsche?
Regular retail drive experiences with a dedicated Porsche Drive Coach cost between $365 and $1,000 per person for a 90-minute driving session. Prices depend on the experience with the chosen car or type.
Who are the drivers of Porsches?
Porsche drivers aspire to stand out from the crowd. In Germany, it’s common knowledge that men over the age of 50 drive Porsches, but the news is constantly reporting on inebriated 20-year-old Porsche drivers who cause major accidents at high speeds in the city center.
Do you require a brand-new Porsche to run?
A new vehicle needs to be driven to break in its moving parts. The first 2,000 miles (3,000 km) are necessary for the parts for this reason. During this time, the use of oil and fuel could be a little more than usual.
Which Porsche makes driving the most enjoyable?
Driving the 718 Spyder is always enjoyable, as it is with any Porsche. Porsche often gets the driving position and interior ergonomics just right. In both the GT4 and the Spyder, everything you need to see is immediately in front of you, and overall vision is good. As previously noted, Porsche offers a variety of seating options, but we advise customers to choose the folding buckets over the fixed 918 buckets since they are more comfortable and practical. A good hi-fi is included, and Apple CarPlay takes care of infotainment.
The 718 Spyder has the best driving performance of any sports vehicle to date because it is built on the same platform as the Cayman GT4. With lots of feedback, the steering is really precise. It’s as simple to park the automobile as it is to butter a piece of bread. Even though the car isn’t as powerful as its fellow German competitors, we believe the 718 or GT4 would completely destroy their opponents on a closed track. The adjustable dampers provided as standard installation contribute to its excellent handling.
Can a Porsche be used every day?
If you need a car that can transport more than one more passenger, golf bags, or building equipment, the Cayman is not a feasible choice. The Cayman is surprisingly useful other from that. The trunk has adequate room for groceries, briefcases, and the majority of other items you would wish to bring along in your sports vehicle.
If you don’t reside in a place that receives a lot of snow each year, you might not need to worry about driving safety in the Cayman in most climates. The Cayman’s sportier, firmer suspension makes it more difficult to drive than some high-end luxury vehicles, but it isn’t so uncomfortable that you’ll become irritable. Considering how low the Cayman sits to the ground, you probably shouldn’t drive it after a storm, but if you’re concerned about rust, you won’t be taking your fine Porsche sports car out in the snow either.
The Porsche Cayman is cozy and useful enough to serve as an excellent daily vehicle. They have a reputation for being largely dependable, hold up well over time, and can turn your daily commute to work into an exciting adventure.
Is owning a Porsche a sign of wealth?
Depending on the model, you need to make between $120,000 and $400,000 after taxes annually to properly buy a new Porsche. You might now assume that this proves that all of your friends and the social media influencers who drive expensive automobiles are wealthy, but some of them are undoubtedly overspending. In this essay, we’ll clarify the following for you:
- How should your automobile budget be set up?
- What kind of car can you afford?
Here is a video version of this story; for more information, read the full text.
Who purchases Porsches?
The car industry undergoes what seems like limitless amounts of research every year, much like any other retail business. Some of that research focused on the Porsche brand, and market data was compiled to determine the typical age of Porsche buyers and owners. The answer varies based on the model rather than being a single, obvious number. Customers of the popular Porsche 911 model are typically between the ages of 46 and 65, with 52 being the average age. Contrarily, people who are 47 years old or between the ages of 36 and 55 are more likely to purchase a Porsche Boxster.
What Porsche do you drive every day?
The famous German sports car has always managed to strike the ideal mix between performance and general usability.
The Porsche 911, which debuted in September 1964, has demonstrated extraordinary resistance to shifting fads for more than five decades; although it has been progressively improved over the years, the fundamentals remain the same.
According to J.D. Power, the Porsche 911 model is the second-best premium sports car. The most recent model provides additional comfort and cutting-edge technology, but performance is unaffected. The Porsche 911 of 2022 is more practical while being faster, sharper, and more agile.
So let’s look at the reasons why we think the Porsche 911 is the greatest supercar for daily driving and evaluate its rivals.
Are Porsches decent vehicles?
Macan is the market leader in its segment, while Porsche moves up to second position overall in the survey.
According to the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), which was just issued, the Porsche 911 is the model with the best ownership experience. The Macan was rated as the most trustworthy Premium Compact SUV, and Porsche improved across all model lines to take second place in the yearly assessment. The 911 won the top spot among all models for the second time in three years.
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. President and CEO Kjell Gruner stated that the company “strives to make our clients’ sports car dreams come true.” It is satisfying to watch how our famous 911 and Macan represent our dedication to creating, constructing, and maintaining thrilling Porsche vehicles.
The 32-year-old study counts the problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) that three-year-old automobiles’ original owners encountered during the course of the previous year. A lower rating indicates greater dependability. The study conducted this year used automobiles from the 2018 model year.
In the most recent assessment, American consumers reported 18 fewer PP100 for the Porsche brand, resulting in a score of 86 PP100 overall as opposed to this year’s luxury average of 118. In the prior research, Porsche came in fourth place. The Porsche 911 had the fewest PP100 of any model across the entire automobile industry with 57.