Benefits of rear engined P cars?

[mca]

I keep hearing how the weight in the rear of a 911 is so problematic - from those that don't have a 911 of course. I don't buy it so I came hear looking for some rebuttals.

So, my question ... what are the benefits to driving a rear engined vehicle?

[carnutzzz]

Well, actually it is a silly idea which is why you don't see it anywhere else. Porsche would have stopped a long time ago if it weren't for the die-hard 911 buyer who longs for "tradition".

The benefit is traction.

[ZOA NOM]

Let's see... cornering, cornering and cornering

easy to pull the motor
requires a "skilled" driver
unique
if you lose it in a turn, you probably won't see what you hit

[randywebb]

better traction

lighter steering effort & consequent feel

unstable cornering attitude can give faster cornering & dynamics (just like birds, which are aerodynamically unstable - humans were not able to copy this in airplanes until the F-22/23 protypes due to control systems complexity issues)

less dive when braking - there's a reason 911s are known for their braking

less anti-dive when accelerating - ever seena BMW CS leap like a hooked fish when theguy really gets on it? won't happen in a 911

major adv. in packaging - you get mega-storage or kid seats in a very small car

[mede8er]

One word:
Throttle Steering......you won't know till ya experience it......

[coloradoporsche]

I am a novice driver.

Last week I drove my 79 SC on a track with a wide variety of cars from vintage mustangs and Cobras to newer Ferraris and Corvettes.

I found that, following the direction of my PCA instructors (at prior DE’s on this track), I handled the more technical sections faster than most cars in my run group.

Fast enough to out-run many of the higher horsepower cars on a track with a 1/2 mile straightaway. I found that I could “out break” most of the cars on the track, too. Is that because of the instructors or the car?…I don’t know.

Again, I am a novice driver. But then again so were many of the other divers in big horsepower cars.

Bottom line: it was fun. The P-car is formidable. Cool to out-run a new Mustang Cobra in my 28 year-old car.

But no way I’m keeping up with 500 HP Corvettes (and Subarus!?) in my 180 HP car when they are driven well. For that, you will need a newer Porsche

[dentist90]

Originally posted by mede8er
One word:
Throttle Steering......you won't know till ya experience it......

Sometimes followed by a couple more words.. "Oh, *****!"

[anthony]

Again, I am a novice driver. But then again so were many of the other divers in big horsepower cars.

I see this a lot at Porsche only events as well. I call it new car owner syndrome. It seems that when owners have $50-100K wrapped up into a sports car they have a harder time putting the pedal to the metal.

The 911 may have some design "flaws" but those "flaws" can be used to your advantage when driving. The biggest knock against the 911 is probably throttle off oversteer. Go into a corner too fast, lift off the throttle, and you spin the car. If you know what you are doing you can lift mid-turn to make the car rotate even more and then get back on throttle. Once you learn it, it is a joyous thing.

Other flaws you can use to your advantage:

The weight transfer from the rear leads to some tremendous braking power.

This also leads to a tremendous amount of grip at our relatively skinny front tires. You can use this grip to brake later and then start your turn-in while you are still braking. Trail braking is an advanced technique but our 911s can do it well.

[paulgtr]

great traction, awesome braking and it is unlike any other car on the road.

[qlander]

Nothing feels like it. Period. I'm addicted to driving my P-var every day.

All of the above

Nothing like a beutiful rear end (lol).

Q

[craig001]

Fun!

[Huh]

As a novice driver, who thought he was good until a DE event, learning throttle steering it is phenomenal. I usually went through the turns keeping the throttle constant (used to front wheel drives that push). Once I learned that throttling through it really made the car come around....whoa momma. The cars do have a tendency to swing around really fast if you steer too hard into a turn....hehehehe