first time owner, driving tips?

[jfw834]

Hey guys, just joined the board. I've been reading rennlist and pelican for about a year now and will likely purchase a 911 in the next few months. I have much appreciated all the information available here!

My first question.... I haven't owned any true sports cars and certainly none like a 911. I know they're known for being tricky to drive, but what advice can you give a first-time owner? With a car this ass-heavy I'm sure there are certain tips and basic driving techniques that can help me avoid parking my new porsche around a telephone pole cause I was a little too excited! I'm not looking to track the car, jut looking for some good safety tips.

Thanks,

-Jeff

p.s. I'm sure there are some good stories about almost losing it in a 911 out there!

[emcon5]

Don't lift.

Tom

[D Hanson]

Don't drive fast in a heavy down pour.

[Jim Richards]

Originally posted by emcon5
Don't lift.

Tom

Right. First get used to the dynamics of a rear engined car before you push hard thru the twisties. Once you get a 911, I would recommend that you sign up for a Driver's Ed event in your area. It will be a safer environment to learn what your car and can't do, as well as what you as the driver can and can't do. Good luck with your car search and when you strike paydirt, let us know!

[mwildt]

Join the PCA and go for a couple of DE's (Driver Events). It's well worth the $$.

Michael

[Zeke]

5 minutes in a wet parking lot with no light posts and parking bumpers will show you a lot.

Why can't I find such a place? Oh, I see you're in SoCal too. Well, what they said, DE. It never rains here.

[Bob's Flat-Six]

Originally posted by D Hanson
Don't drive fast in a heavy down pour.

[Jack Olsen]

Avoid learning car control in the vicinity of fixed objects.

[aigel]

Sorry guys, DE is the wrong answer. Autocross is what's on order. DE is for people that already have good car control. You learn car control in AX. If you can AX first, then DE.

Even if you aren't going to track the car, a few Autocrosses will be fun and give you a good feel for the car and it's behaviour at and over the limit. AX has speeds up to 60+mph, so it isn't like you are going slow... Also, AX needs no special equipment, and a helmet is usually available as a loaner and it is cheap. DE is MUCH more moolah. I recommend an AX school if your local club offers it.

That all said, unless you drive fast, the car behaves very normal. Only when you try to find it's limit or in slippery conditions as others mentioned, the tail happyness may get you.

Hope this helps, George

[jmohn]

All the previous posts have good advice, but, while it's wise to be aware of the rear engine idiosyncrasies, don't worry about it too much. These cars are so much more capable than the average vehicle you REALLY have to push them hard to find the limit. If you drive it like you've driven your other cars you'll never have a problem. What you will find, after you've had one for a while, is corners and curves you used to slow down for you now just drive through. I've only had mine for about three years (last sports cars I had driven was a 356 in 1968 and I had a 951 just previous to my SC) so I'm no expert but, even when I crowd it on the corners I've never had the tail get loose. Keep in mind that while that tail-happy characteristic will always be there in a rear engine car, it was much more pronounced in the earlier, SWB cars than in the later models.

Good hunting,

Jerry M
'78 SC

[rbcsaver]

Repeated Autocross events is by far the best way to learn your limits, your car's and how to improve upon them, I second aigel's statements.
regards,
Steve

[Bill Douglas]

I'm with Jerry on this. Ya gotta be going pretty fast to crash them, they are nice handlers and at regular speeds (or even slightly fast) they have perfect manners.

[dotorg]

I drive the piss out of my car, and I've yet to find it behave unpredictably. Bill and Jerry are right, under even pretty heavy-handed spirited driving on the streets, I just don't think you'll push the car hard enough (at least in the dry) for the dynamics of the rear engine location to really matter.

But as others said, if you're at 10/10ths, never ever ever lift in a turn.

I don't know about later 911's, but at least the early 901 cars, the trickiest thing is shifting... the wishy-washy shift pattern and need to shift smoother and do better rev matching makes it a handful sometimes.

[porcupine911]

go to an autocross. take a look at solo2.com for socal autox info. feel free to ask people for help.

[Matt Smith]

Dotorg- remember the mantra:

It's not if (you'll spin) but when.

For me it didn't happen when I was driving fast, because I always concentrate then. Try a little bit of rain and a little complacency all at the end of a long, tiring day at work.

Aside from that, just don't lift!

[Victor]

Never drive faster than it takes chicks on the sidewalk to check you out.

[jfw834]

wow......thanks guys.....i'm gonna check out AX in socal once I get a car....i'm sure that will get me going......

i am absolutely dying to meet you guys and have some people to actually talk about porsches with. I'm so sick of acting all excited about some 930 i saw in a parking lot, or a concours I went to on the weekend, and having my friends stare back at me like i'm retarded. (or worse yet, my girlfriend getting pissy and telling me to talk about something worthwhile) I grew up in Detroit and people there can talk about cars 24/7 like it's the only thing that makes a difference in this world!

as far as the comments, it's good to know that the 911 can be pushed pretty far before it becomes squeemish....i'm not a very aggressive driver, but when I head out to those canyon roads i'm sure i'll be more inspired than in my 850!

i also might take up that parking lot idea.....anyone know of a good location? guess i'd have to wait until it rains though....that might be another year the way it's goin these days in LA!

cheers,

-Jeff

p.s. anyone ever done any of the Porsche Driving Schools at the porsche track? they are damn expensive but probably a great weekend?

[hgray]

I am a long way from being an expert.... in fact, I fall into the newbie side!! I also live where there is lots of rain, so even as a newbie, I have had a chance to observe forward motion through the side windows (in horror).

I have driven sports cars most of my life. Out of all the vehicles I have driven hard, the 911 is the most rewarding, but also requires the most attention to make it work right. I find that I 'drive' the rear end (with the throttle) more than any of my other cars. If the weight transfer (thru the throttle) comes in the right place in a turn, the car feels very stable. If not applied correctly, (or simply traveling too fast) the rear end weight can be felt stepping out. In the rain, or if you lift abruptly, the 'stepping out' can be closer to 'snapping around' - hence the caution to not lift.

I agree with the above - go to the track to find the limits; and don't lift!!

[sundaypunch]

Originally posted by Zeke
5 minutes in a wet parking lot with no light posts and parking bumpers will show you a lot.

This is the best advice. You need to learn where the limits of the car are. Wet pavement is helpful as is gravel to keep your speeds down. I've found a dry lot is equally as useful if you can find one big enough. You want to take hard turns under accelleration and progressively lift more on each one until you feel the back end break free. You can do this a little at a time and give it throttle to catch the rear end as soon as it starts to spin. 20 minutes of this and you'll probably be comfortable enough to do this in a controlled manner on the road as a way of occasionally steering the rear with the throttle around a tight corner (not that I would recommend that).

[stuartj]

Originally posted by Victor
Never drive faster than it takes chicks on the sidewalk to check you out.

Word. Follow Victor, and observe the Master.

stuart