Automotive

patrick_y
[PuristSPro Moderator]
33553

• Show profile
• Show other posts

As an individual who used to drive a 997.1-generation 911 GT3 on racetracks, I can tell you that their lack of a double wishbone is a major detriment...

You're not wrong.  I was once in your shoes and I could not understand how a famous brand like Porsche could be inferior - I was in denial.
And to your point... As a road car, it's inferior for the price they charge and compared to its competitive segment. You said "road car." The 992 is perfectly capable for a road that is well made and safely made, with speed limits, and sensible driving.
BUT, most people never take the car to a racetrack, and roads are generally built well so the deficiency is hardly ever noticed. I used to be a Porsche fanatic where Porsche could do no wrong. But I noticed at Laguna Seca Raceway on turns 9 and 10, I was not doing very well, about a half second slower than the norm compared to turns 1-8, and turn 11. What separated turn 9 and turn 10? I spoke to my alignment specialist and I complained and showed him my telemetry. He said this was very normal because I was in a 911. And I said is it attributable to the rear engine? He said no, he said it had to do with the lack of a double wishbone. I didn't understand him fully - and one day, I see a more talented driver in a Porsche Cayenne SUV posting better times than me on turns 9 and 10. Yes, he was a better driver than me, but his turns 1-8, and 11 were mostly slower than me. So I investigated this more.
Carefully studying the topography of the road on turn 9 and turn 10, I realized the road crowns in the middle. This means that the negative camber Porsche suspensions are programmed with aren't optimizing their contact with the ground.
This is a highly technical discussion - one that cannot be presented clearly in such a manner. This is also a highly technical discussion that DOES NOT APPLY TO 99% OF PORSCHE CUSTOMERS, even the ones who think they're "sporting drivers." So with some humility, as a Porsche nut case, I had to learn this - and it was a bitter pill to swallow.
This is difficult to describe in such a text medium. But all I can say is that there's a reason why every other sports car brand uses Double Wishbone. Porsche is the only brand that does not on their 2 door cars. You may say Porsche has had many victories over the years... Porsche wins because they're reliable and the other brands are generally not reliable. As reliability has improved, Porsche has had to slowly transition their GT3 Cup cars to double wishbone set ups.