Top mph speed on stock '88 3.2?

[jlex]

Anyone know what the factory says the top mph speed on a stock (US) 1988 3.2 is? If so, is it pretty accurate in the real world for an unmodified engine?

[Bob Kontak]

There was a thread on SC top speed in the last several months.

It was all over the map.

My guess before the fun begins is (without research) 143mph. A guess.

You want true/accurate? Check the SC thread and see how comfy you feel with the responses.

Finally, one or two of the big boys stepped in and chilled the crowd out.

[shadowjack1]

Factory spec is 149 My did 148 according to the GPS.

[megerian]

new goal - thanks!

[emcon5]

Car and Driver reported a tested at 149 in 1984.

https://members.rennlist.com/emcon5/84-911_C-N-D.pdf

[jlex]

Interesting. I bought a copy of the "Porsche 911 Perfection by Design" book (Leffingwell) and didn't really see anything about top speed for the late model 3.2's. Lots of other good information, though.

[pavegeno]

Had my US spec 1988 3.2 in Germany for three years. Winding it up to the bottom of the redline at 6200 RPM in 5th gear netted 135 mph through the speedometer showed a bit higher. Probably would peak in the low 140s going into the red band.

Two videos:

First is following a new 911 at about 135 mph.
https://youtu.be/QEU6AxmjNC8

Second is a run from the Austrian border at sunrise on A7 to A8 heading back to Stuttgart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk9QHLM9KYU

[porschenut]

Did you look on page 95 of your owner's manual?

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by porschenut

Did you look on page 95 of your owner's manual?

Does page 95 state what the speedo will say or GPS?

A bit unfair to ask, but Man, the speedo error in these cars is huge once you change into a new set of shoes.

[pavegeno]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Does page 95 state what the speedo will say or GPS?

A bit unfair to ask, but Man, the speedo error in these cars is huge once you change into a new set of shoes.

Yep...When I pushed the 88 hard right up to 6200 RPM, the speedo would read high 150s/low 160s, but GPS in low 140s.

[porschenut]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Does page 95 state what the speedo will say or GPS?

Of course not, but he specifically asked what the factory said the top speed was.

That info and the factory-spec'd 0-60 time is in the owners manual.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by porschenut

Of course not, but he specifically asked what the factory said the top speed was.

That info and the factory-spec'd 0-60 time is in the owners manual.

He also specifically asked if it was "pretty" accurate.

That leaves a little wiggle room.

[Duc Hunter]

I saw mine needle just over 160, just glanced quickly, when I was part of a closed freeway run. It took a while to get there. Prob what broke my headstuds too. �� Accuracy? My gps had died so no reference. That said do the gearing from a lower rpm in 5th. I think it runs out of gear at near 155.

Mine is a lowered 89, fab speed exhaust and headers, SW chip. So not stock.

[Peter M]

According to Tobia Aichelle, who collated the most factory data you could imagine in his book: "Porsche 911 - Forever Young", 245kph (roughly 152mph) was what the factory quoted for all versions of the C3.2 over it's lifetime. No info provided for the lower HP versions.


By comparison, all versions of the SC were quoted at 235kph

[Bill Verburg]

Top speed for any car will depend on the aero characteristics, transmission specs, tire specs, engine specs, and the specifics of how the car is setup.

Factory spec is 245kpm(152mph) for Carrera w/o cat and 240kph(149mph) for Carrera w/ cat, the ride height and tires can be assumed to be stock 225/50x16 but they don't specify the aero configuration.

These cars are going to be aero limited as the theoretical top speed at the redline 6500 is ~156+/-2 mph depending on the specifics of the tire and motor

[proporsche]

so all this makes my old 1977 911S doing 125m/h pretty good speed;-)

Ivan

[86 911 Targa]

^^^^^
Fresh out of the factory-On the Autobahn.

Don't know what happened to the last 700 RPM's........

Maybe headwinds?

A bit fuzzy as I was holding the camera,
and my wife had a firm grip on the dash ............

G.

[AG81]

Interesting topic..... my 88 coupe is extremely quick off the line and a bit lighter from stock. I am not at all interested in being near that speed inside it. As Bill said above the aero characteristics are going to be limited. It I am going to go that fast I want a full cage.

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by Bill Verburg

Top speed for any car will depend on the aero characteristics, transmission specs, tire specs, engine specs, and the specifics of how the car is setup.

Factory spec is 245kpm(152mph) for Carrera w/o cat and 240kph(149mph) for Carrera w/ cat, the ride height and tires can be assumed to be stock 225/50x16 but they don't specify the aero configuration.

These cars are going to be aero limited as the theoretical top speed at the redline 6500 is ~156+/-2 mph depending on the specifics of the tire and motor

This. We don’t see 3.2 racecars break 160 ever. We gear most of them to max out around 150mph because that’s about the reasonable limit of their power and aero.

[Bill Verburg]

another thing that I forgot to mention is that there were 3 different trans. depending on the market the car was built for
g50.00 for most of RoW has a theoretical top of 156mph +/-
g50.01 for US Can, J has a theoretical top of 151mph +/-
g50.02 for Switz. has a theoretical top of 156mph +/-