U.S. bound cars have always (well at least back through 993) been higher than ROW......and I mean like-model for like-model (say a C4S w/PASM vs same Euro)......both supposedly 10mm lower than non PASM but I think that's where the similarity ends....as I know I've seen current Euro 997s (same model & suspension) lower than the pic below.

The DOT involvement in the U.S. bound car heights originally had as much to do with the headlamp beam-angle as it did bumper height. At least that was my understanding back when.....may be dif today.

 

GreggT,

Thanks for the information and the picture. That gap is what my car looked like when I got it and I didn't like the look. As I stated earlier, it was amazing to me that the gap was bigger than my wife's BMW 3 series sedan, my previous MB AMG, and even my dad's Lexus ES sedan.

 

I was terrified to drop my Turbo and add the Techart lip . I got over it though and just recently I repainted the lip after 2.5 years.

I am less than 4in I can place my car key and 2 fingers to the highest point. The lowest won't fit the key. Thsese informal measurements were done while side by side with a Gt3. The Gt3 is higher (stock) but the curb angle of attack with the center being low is more complex.

 

I had this exact answer explained to me in 1995 (when I had my 993) and I don't remember it . There is a reason though and that i do remember . I will try and find out next time I am in the shop unless someone posts it and it refreshes my memory.

One thing I do remember is that when I had my 993 Turbo I did order the german spec Porsche springs and had the car aligned to euro spec as well. I was able to see the two springs side by side and they looked identical except for the height.

 

Hey Joe,

I agree the wheel gap stock is insanely large...I too had to drop the car just based on looks(ok, handling too)....

Finally got the damptronics put on after spending almost 2 wks at Matrix(long story)...car is dropped 25mm's front and back now.

As soon as I take some pics I'll do a review post with some pics if you want to see how mine is compared to your car now.

 

I don't think I'd jump to "it is true" from one indefinite response. I don't know either, but what I do remember hearing is that Porsche management decided to drop the notion of configuring cars for different market areas some years ago. The 80's perhaps. No real memory to be honest, but you can see the examples easily if you look around the car closely. Most notoriously, We get cars here that meet the noise standards of Switzerland and the Netherlands, which are tougher than any U.S. state or federal standard.

I can see arguments both ways on giving us a higher standard ride height, but I would be a little surprised if someone has definite information that they do that. Besides all those management considerations, ride height is not primarily a fashion issue. I've read a couple of technical articles noting that the cars intentionally have a good gap in the rear to allow for squat under acceleration.

Anti-squat in the geometry would seem to take care of that, but it cannot do more than ameliorate the effect. This isn't a muscle car remember. Its design doesn't end at the stoplight grand prix. It is supposed to accommodate fast road driving on up to road racing. So it must deal with the acceleration squat being combined with a high cornering load and even a significant vertical movement. All at the same time. You really want to blend the two gracefully, but that doesn't mean every driver will succeed. So suppose you have a lowered car and you are exiting a corner like five at Willow with the ground rising sharply while you're still under cornering load. Now if you roll in throttle a little too briskly, you can hit the limit stops. "Hitting the stops" is one of those six easy ways to induce a snap spin.

That doesn't sound like a reason peculiar to the U.S. market.

Gary

 

Attached a picture of my european car. It does have the sports suspension though so it's 10mm lower compard to PASM cars.

 

Thanks for the picture. That definitely looks lower than when my car was stock. After my 15mm drop, my car looks like yours now.

 

Hey, glad to hear you got your car back. Look forward to seeing it and hearing what your thoughts are on the change. Sorry to hear about how long it took and wonder what happened

 

My car is stock 997.2S PASM. The gap around the wheel fits the fender just fine. Lowering it would squash it against the wheel. I bet lowered suspensions will crash on the twisty mountain roads with fast elevation changes.

 

I thought the ride height was due to the U.S. bumper / pedestrian safety guidelines set by NHTSA...

I'm lowering my 997 but will not add any lip whatsoever as it would rub on everything. I'd rather have my car sit lower for wheel gap reduction than the front lip or body kit. Everyone's different though...



Jet

 

+1

 

If you take the car off of AWD/4WD mode it will lower the car at least 10mm. Apparently Porsche thought that we needed the ground clearance of our Surburban and Expedition counterparts.


j/k
I lowereed my car with Damptronics as well. If I had to do it again, I
d just get the GMG springs though....

 

Assume a bit of humor here?......or are you saying an 'S' is lower than a 'C4S' ?

 

see the very bottom of my post. J/k!
BTW, in stock form, the car does resemble an SUV, at least to me. Spent a lot of time lowering the car with Damptronics, now I have the dreaded clunk/knock....