Advice On Pushing The Limits Of The GT

[Black GT]

Oh and on the 911 end. I think the newer cars are night and day from the old 911s. I can push mine right to the edge and back. On a track. Look at what cars are raced the most and wins the most. It is the 911!

 

[timcantwell]

Gentlemen,

I am certainly not an expert driver and the only mid-engine cars I have extensive experience in are the Lotus Turbo Esprit and the Ford GT. But to me, the closer the engine gets to the rear of the car, the more unpredictable it gets at the limit, and the faster it'll get away from you when it goes.

The Porsche 911 and all of its derivatives are the cars that make me the most uncomfortable. I have not driven any of the latest versions and perhaps their electronic nannies have done away with the unpredictable nature of that car at its limit. I have twice had a 911 get away from me in a stunningly sudden manner. The Lotus Esprit and Ford GT both have no electronic stability control or traction control. They don't swap ends as quickly as the 911, but they are certainly harder for me to control at the limit than a Corvette or Viper.

Except for those rare occasions when I'm on a track I don't push the limits much anymore. But if I did, especially on public roads, I would rather tempt fate in a Corvette or Viper than I would in a Ford GT or a 911. JMO

Chip

I agree with Chip. I have lots of track experience in Porsche 911's, Ferraris, etc. When they let loose, they LET LOOSE FAST!!! My advise is find a HUGE parking lot and try to drift it! Seriously, test the limits in a controlled setting, not on the street.

 

[GTViperman]

I really am a big fan of the parking lot drift. It is a great way to get to know a car. Unfortuantly there is not a large parking lot within 100 miles from were I live. I will not push the car to quickly, I was just looking for some good advice from experienced owners. Thanks again for all of your comments,
GTViperman

 

[Fast Freddy]

I agree with Chip. I have lots of track experience in Porsche 911's, Ferraris, etc. When they let loose, they LET LOOSE FAST!!! My advise is find a HUGE parking lot and try to drift it! Seriously, test the limits in a controlled setting, not on the street.

i can powerslide my corvette all day long but i have spun my viper out twice on Firebirds road course because when she lets loose she lets loose fast. i saved one of those slides but when she shot back the other way there was just no saving that :eek

 

[roketman]

The 911 is a wonderful car .The different derivatives of the model years give all of them there own unique personalities.Haven driven and raced them for years ,I must say I do love them .But the love and passion for my GT is second to none.
I am currently having a tough time deciding on a 2nd Gt or a 997 gt3.
I do have a 964 cup car for sale if anyone is interested..1 of 260.Finished 9th in the German Carrera cup in 1992.

 

[KJRGT]

Give the Jim Russell Driving School a call and sign up for their program that allows you to take your GT on the track for a day with an instructor at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma. Or, as suggested, sign up for a GT School at Willow Springs.

 

[t32b]

I agree with Chip as well, though with a bit of a different spin. It seems to me that the further you move the engine forward, the more damping the car provides to your steering input. Moving that big lump in the front off of a straight is resisted by inertia that softens the effects of attempts to change direction. Since this is the model that most people are used to, everything else seems edgy.
In general, mid-engine designs are the most balanced (which is not the same as the most 'damped') designs. You can induce over- and under-steer depending on g's, brake and throttle settings. You have to pay close attention but there is a lot of margin to play with - using all of the controls at hand (or at foot). I must admit that I haven't explored the margins in my GT, but I have with other mid-engined cars.
Re the modern P-cars, they are totally dominated by the e-nannies. I have a 997S and said nannies make it possible to drive the car very aggressively while maintaining some margin of error, and I frequently do. OTOH, it isn't a very natural experience. Hard driving with the big mass in the aft end requires the electronics to intervene in an attempt to defy physics quite often, and you can get a sense of the intervention when pushing the car. Non-linear pitching and yawing and a bit of odd lateral rocking are all part of the experience when hustling the car. But it's still a hoot.

Gentlemen,

I am certainly not an expert driver and the only mid-engine cars I have extensive experience in are the Lotus Turbo Esprit and the Ford GT. But to me, the closer the engine gets to the rear of the car, the more unpredictable it gets at the limit, and the faster it'll get away from you when it goes.

The Porsche 911 and all of its derivatives are the cars that make me the most uncomfortable. I have not driven any of the latest versions and perhaps their electronic nannies have done away with the unpredictable nature of that car at its limit. I have twice had a 911 get away from me in a stunningly sudden manner. The Lotus Esprit and Ford GT both have no electronic stability control or traction control. They don't swap ends as quickly as the 911, but they are certainly harder for me to control at the limit than a Corvette or Viper.

Except for those rare occasions when I'm on a track I don't push the limits much anymore. But if I did, especially on public roads, I would rather tempt fate in a Corvette or Viper than I would in a Ford GT or a 911. JMO

Chip

 

[GTViperman]

Give the Jim Russell Driving School a call and sign up for their program that allows you to take your GT on the track for a day with an instructor at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma. Or, as suggested, sign up for a GT School at Willow Springs.

I will track the car, but it will probably be towards the end of the Summer. I will keep Jim Russell Driving School in mind. Thanks for the tip.