OK...so I notice that most people here don't like the stock 997 suspension. If it is so bad:

1) Why would Porsche use bad parts on their flagship 911?

2) Why do all of the reviews rave about the cars performance? Many people say it is one of the best handling cars on the market?

I want to lower my car, but the forum has convinced me to save for coilovers. Is stock really that bad?

Nick

 

I think that the OEM suspension is good, it is more then most people will ever want. As for lowering the car, CO's are IMO the best system to use. I have had springs and fell the car is so much more responsive with CO's then Springs, as well the shocks may fail with after market springs and Porsche will tell you to take a hike on the warranty problem (I had that happen with my first car).

 

Nick,

Having had many cars over the years and modifying a good many of them for track work, I'd have to say out-of-the-box my base 997 C2 is as good a handling car as I've owned. Standard setup (no PASM, 18" wheels, no Sport etc.).

It can however definitely be improved but that does not mean Porsche have used "bad" parts or the handling is "bad". Quite the opposite - compared with most manufacturers the parts are "good" and the handling "excellent".

In fact you could easily argue that whereas other manufacturers spend lots of R&D $'s on comfort and convenience items (nav, ergonomics, etc) Porsche weight their R&D much more on the driving.

 

The stock suspension was good, but the Bilstein damptronics are great! We have to remember that the Carrera and Carrera S are the road/street oriented cars and are supposed to be much softer than the GT3.

 

I too did not feel that the stock suspension is bad. It's tuned extremely well and offers a relatively good ride quality given the cars out of box handling capabilities.

From a purely aesthetics point of view, I would have preferred an ROW ride height over US/North American spec ride height though.

 

Get a good alignment the day you pick up your car, they are rarely dialed in right. Makes quite a difference from my personal experience.

 

Nick, what's your basis for saying it 'stinks', or Porsche using 'bad parts'.
The 911 suspension is designed for what it is...and marries to the car pretty well.
Porsche takes suspension design fairly serious.

That said.....it is not the GT3 suspension, not the Turbo or GT2 suspension.
If ride height is your main issue, keep in mind that your friends in Washington at DOT are protecting you and your dog with what they feel are appropriate bumper height and headlamp beam angles.

Anyone who's stood and watched the line at Zuffenfausen will tell you it's not difficult picking out the cars destined for the U.S. market.

 

The stock suspension is great. Some people just want to tinker with it. Some know what they are doing and improve it for their purpose, others ruin it.

 

You probably don't need a better suspension, more likely you need to get to PSDS and learn to fully exercise the one you got.

 

Greg,
I just bought my first 997...and I really like the stock suspension. The title of the thread simply references what I found by reading old suspension threads. I read (on a few occasions) that the suspension was the 'weakest link' on this car. It seems that everyone is in a hurry to upgrade the coilovers! I think it feels great...I just want to lower the car about an inch

Nick

 

Until you can go around a tight bender at 180mph the suspension will always be the weakest link.

Nonetheless it is outstanding. Many people choose to change to lower the car for looks/cg.

 

i have the pasm and think it rocks. i run it in normal mode most of the time because the sport is too stiff for some situations.

i dont know if you have the pasm option but pasm rides and controls the car better in normal mode than a non pasm car.

 

1) Why would Porsche use bad parts on their flagship 911?
They are not bad parts . The quality is quite good for a street car . On the 997S the car's weight to power actually accepts the springs a lot better than the Turbo .

2) Why do all of the reviews rave about the cars performance? Many people say it is one of the best handling cars on the market?

It is a great handling car . That does not mean it can't be improved .

I want to lower my car, but the forum has convinced me to save for coilovers. Is stock really that bad?

I bought the Techart springs and now they will sit in my garage because the Bilsteins are that much better . The coils are the way to go .

 

Nick....I understand.....point taken.
Only an inch?

 

if i replace my c2 springs with pasm springs, will my car ride 10mm lower? Will it fit?