Carrera true top speed plus misc..
 

A couple weekends ago, after fixing the massive exhaust leak on my new to me (two months) Euro '84, I decided to take it out on the autobahn and see how it runs and feels.

I probably have permanent hearing damage due to the lack of sound pad at the time and Fabspeed muffler along with cat bypass (which didn't belong there anyways!) but it got up to just over 150 mph, both indicated and according to gearing charts (6100rpms IIRC). Wow, is all I could say. I guess the motor is still plenty strong at 140K, and rapidly increasing, miles. Rock solid stable as well, zero wandering at high sub-sonic speeds.

It wasn't done pulling, but the long straight stretch was coming to an end so I backed out. What IS the top speed of a Carrera, one place (Last of the Evolution) says 152, but I swear I heard 159 somewhere else.

I'm pretty sure I have at least one worn ball joint, as there's a chirp during quick side to side transitions and when the passenger side goes onto an incline/decline. Is a (not severely) worn ball joint even felt during driving? What about other suspension components, do they give warning signs when slightly worn, or only when completely shot? This was the other reason of the high speed drive, to really try and feel if there was anything else wrong with the car.

I have maintenance records from the last 20K miles or so, and it doesn't appear than any suspension work had been done. Still had the same rear tires as when the PO got it, and lemme tell you, they're fun on cold wet days.

Usually you want to find these things out before driving fast. when they go bad at speed - usually they go bad in a big way

A ball joint won't generally 'chirp' like that. At the age of the car I would be worried that the front a-arm bushings are worn/distorted and what you are hearing is the torsion bar rubbing on the tube of the a-arm. If so it can cause the t-bar to fail which is quite exciting at speed.
("Hey look at that smoking piece of tin foil with the Porsche emblem on it!")

I would get it looked at and if it is rubbing and there is any visible wear on the torsion bar then it must be replaced.

Shouldn't it also squeak when bouncing the suspension?

and as a general disclaimer, I usually don't drive much over 90. Mileage goes to complete crap and usually too much traffic anyways.

At least for American spec 3.2 Carreras of that era....with their gearing...the car would top out at about 149-152 MPH at redline in 5th. I believe with all the jinxing the factory did with gearing...I think the overall ratio for 5th gear is close to being the same for USA or Euro...so this same top speed should apply to both versions. You're RPM limited in top...a rather nice thing....since the car can actually hit top speed and be at redline in 5th gear.

Not many "emissions" cars of that era could do that. With their economy gearing they may have a theoretical top speed much higher...maybe 200 mph....but could never get up "on the power" in top gear. Oftentimes top speed for these other cars was reached in the next-from-top gear.

High speed runs are fun. Limit them. When things go wrong at that speed, MEGA ***** happens. FAST.

wj