Sponsored

Turbo vs Turbo S

Archimedes

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2022
Threads
12
Messages
1,966
Reaction score
2,533
Location
Monterey
Vehicles
2022 Taycan 4S
Country flag
On a 911 or Cayman, I would always spec PCCBs, simply for pedal feel in high speed braking. On the Taycan, you’re rarely even using the physical brakes, so I didn’t see them as having much value on this car.
Sponsored

 

daveo4EV

Well-Known Member
First Name
David
Joined
Jan 28, 2019
Threads
192
Messages
7,003
Reaction score
10,473
Location
Santa Cruz
Vehicles
Cayenne Hybrid, 911(s) GT3/Convertable
Country flag
Ceramic brakes also cost big time to replace if you own the car long enough or something bad happens, like cracking a rotor. When I was in for a brake job on my BMW, the head mechanic was telling me I was fortunate not to have the ceramic brakes, because they had another M5 of the same year in and it was going to cost $30k in parts, and the rotors weren’t available from Germany for a while. It’s always amused me since that so many buyers try to score a used car with ceramic brakes, but they don’t realize what they’re getting into…
PCCB rotors from porsche are effectively lifetime unless you track the vehicle - they only 'wear' if you get them really really hot which requires extreme driving…

I can't see how street driving would wear PCCB's rotors such that they need replacing in any timeframe that is a concern …

they are however very very expensive to replace if damaged which can happen

here is my data from my 2018 GT3 911 and my track usage…

https://rennlist.com/forums/991-gt3...-wear-data-sharedo90-tracked-gt3-991-2-a.html
 

WuffvonTrips

Well-Known Member
First Name
Paul
Joined
Oct 24, 2021
Threads
37
Messages
2,043
Reaction score
2,363
Location
Up North
Vehicles
Taycan Turbo CT
Country flag
...I snapped this photo from a Porsche Taycan presenation last week in anticipation of this frequent topic - it documents how regen behaves in the various settings for Taycan - this porsche factory information and therefore not subject to debate :p
...

IMG_2131.jpeg
Thanks for sharing, it's an interesting example of hard data that Porsche apparently feel inappropriate to make easily available.
What leaps out from that slide for me is the 1.3 m/s^2 mark on those deceleration lines- the significance being that's the minimum rate of deceleration that the regulations stipulate that brake lights must be triggered. They also stipulate that they may optionally trigger from no less than 0.7 m/s^2. So Taycan with recup on should never trigger the lights, while Auto recup will only trigger them if Porsche has decided to apply them at less than the deceleration rate at which lights are mandated.

P.S. back on topic- I already stuck my neck out upthread with my opinion that PCCB's aren't of benefit for road use.
 

whitex

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2021
Threads
87
Messages
8,200
Reaction score
7,236
Location
WA, USA
Vehicles
2023 Taycan TCT, 2024 Q8 eTron P+
Country flag
It was a very noticeable difference to me. Turbo launch control is quick but the turbo s took my breath away.
Which only matters if you ever use launch control. Personally, I've had different cars with Launch Control, including my current Taycan. The only time I use it is some time before warranty expiration to make sure it still works. This is why I went for the Taycan Turbo over Turbo S. I also particularly did not want the electric charge port (blocks the air scarf vents, making them completely non-functional decoration, almost no different than a sticker vent some people put on their cars) and PCCB's - more susceptible to damage, expensive to repair, and require warmup before full effectiveness, which is even harder on daily commutes with EV recuperation. I did option RAS, I like it for parking lot maneuvering and u-turns (probably also useful for highway, but I cannot tell the difference, since I never had another Taycan without it).

PS> One of my pet peeves in the Taycan is the fact that Porsche locks the full motor power behind launch control which has to happen from a stand-still (vs. unleash the full power for highway passing speeds for example). IMO it should be available whenever the accelerator hits the floor. The only reason I can think of them doing it to limit its usage because it probably damages the battery ever so slightly every time a customer uses it, so Porsche would rather it was of limited use, to save on warranty claims. :( If full power was available without LC, I probably would have compromised and gotten a Turbo S.
 
Last edited:


Archimedes

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2022
Threads
12
Messages
1,966
Reaction score
2,533
Location
Monterey
Vehicles
2022 Taycan 4S
Country flag
No, I completely agree with you. ;)
The only place carbon/ceramics may be better is a race track.
I disagree with that statement for one reason, at least at it relates to Porsche’s PCCBs. In my experience, owning multiple Porsches simultaneously, some with iron rotors and some with PCCBs, I found the feel of the PCCBs much better when trying set corner entry speed in the mountains from high speeds (ie dropping from 85-100 down to 25-40). I could be very precise in how much speed I scrubbed off with the PCCBs, much less so with the iron rotors. Additionally, once on a trip through the epic central/Southern California mountain loop, the iron rotors in my Spyder faded badly. Never ever had that issue with carbons.
 

f1eng

Well-Known Member
First Name
Frank
Joined
Aug 19, 2021
Threads
48
Messages
4,765
Reaction score
8,335
Location
Oxfordshire, UK
Vehicles
Taycan CT4S, Ferrari 355, Merc 500E, Prius PHV
Country flag
I disagree with that statement for one reason, at least at it relates to Porsche’s PCCBs. In my experience, owning multiple Porsches simultaneously, some with iron rotors and some with PCCBs, I found the feel of the PCCBs much better when trying set corner entry speed in the mountains from high speeds (ie dropping from 85-100 down to 25-40). I could be very precise in how much speed I scrubbed off with the PCCBs, much less so with the iron rotors. Additionally, once on a trip through the epic central/Southern California mountain loop, the iron rotors in my Spyder faded badly. Never ever had that issue with carbons.
I am not familiar with how good or bad road car composite brakes are but I was a pioneer of composite brakes in Formula 1 starting in 1982 and the development to get them good enough was hard and long!
Even when I retired nearly 30 years later we were using different brake material for different circuits and driver preference. Consistent on the limit they weren't.

Obviously road cars are a much less demanding environment and not limited by “the rules” but I wouldn’t bother with them on a road car myself.

I am surprised Porsche’s iron discs weren’t that precise. On the Formula 1 cars they were always better for consistency if properly cooled but heavy and with 10kg = 0.35 secs per lap and the difficulty of getting down to the weight limit we stuck with the composite ones.
 


Jm13rs

Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2023
Threads
1
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
Location
United Kingdom
Vehicles
Taycan Turbo CT, M4 CSL, V12 Vantage S, Honda NSX
Country flag
Interesting responses, I am on the other fence, I would never have a car without Ceramic brakes. The PCCB's are fantastic on my Turbo CT. I had a Taycan turbo Saloon with the regular brakes and felt they were very naff and struggled to stop such a heavy car. I have them on all my cars, I feel the Aston martin ones are a step further & love them on my vantage V12S. Fortunately I have never had any rotor issues or big bills, the rear pads on the Vantage were £1100 mind you but when you have Ceramics you know the pads will be expensive!

Th BMW Cermics are sublime, I have only had PCCB on the Taycan though and I am sure on a lighter car they could be better still.
 

blame.latitude

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2022
Threads
7
Messages
124
Reaction score
199
Location
Vancouver, Canada
Vehicles
F150 Hybrid, 23 GTS ST
Country flag
On my GTS, I did not option coated brakes for reasons aligned to the general discussion points here. The Taycan uses regen in most road driving conditions, so it is an unnecessary cost.

However my GTS is in the shop and I am driving a 4s loaner which has optioned the coated brakes. I must say I underestimated the visual 'wow' effect of these brakes. They are absolutely gorgeous with their mirror finish and lack of dust. Especially with an aggressive wheel like the GTS 21s or the mission Es. I feel like this isnt something you pick up on at first glance, or visible in the configurator or in pictures. Gotta see it in real life. For that reason alone, I would consider them for my next car.
 

Rik_CT4s

Well-Known Member
First Name
Rik
Joined
Aug 6, 2022
Threads
19
Messages
394
Reaction score
262
Location
Netherlands
Vehicles
Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo MY22
Country flag
Which only matters if you ever use launch control. Personally, I've had different cars with Launch Control, including my current Taycan. The only time I use it is some time before warranty expiration to make sure it still works. This is why I went for the Taycan Turbo over Turbo S. I also particularly did not want the electric charge port (blocks the air scarf vents, making them completely non-functional decoration, almost no different than a sticker vent some people put on their cars) and PCCB's - more susceptible to damage, expensive to repair, and require warmup before full effectiveness, which is even harder on daily commutes with EV recuperation. I did option RAS, I like it for parking lot maneuvering and u-turns (probably also useful for highway, but I cannot tell the difference, since I never had another Taycan without it).

PS> One of my pet peeves in the Taycan is the fact that Porsche locks the full motor power behind launch control which has to happen from a stand-still (vs. unleash the full power for highway passing speeds for example). IMO it should be available whenever the accelerator hits the floor. The only reason I can think of them doing it to limit its usage because it probably damages the battery ever so slightly every time a customer uses it, so Porsche would rather it was of limited use, to save on warranty claims. :( If full power was available without LC, I probably would have compromised and gotten a Turbo S.
Maybe good news coming. At my German dealership the tech guy mentioned that there may be a power boost coming soon (paid service via Porsche). Seems legit to me as aftermarket tuners also take this on, so why not Porsche within their control and making them some extra €.
He mentioned it will apply for the Turbo. I asked how about the TS (since I traded my 4s CT for the current TS CT), but that was not clear. My thought was *wishful thinking* well if the Turbo gets full power (perhaps behind the sport chrono steer control), then surely they will give a paid option for the TS....let's see.

On the brakes...i agree and disagree. I like to drive the car hard at times with hard breaking and immediate acceleration thereafter....say from 120kmu to 30kmu and then back on the accelerator ..lovely feel of some G-forces when done well. With that in mind and the experience I had with the brakes on my 4s CT, there is a night and day diff on the stopping power between the iron brakes versus the CC setup. I am seriously impressed by what these brakes can handle, even I do not track this car. For me, the CC brakes are worth it as it does add to my overall driving pleasure when the need is there, which is rather often, eventhough for nornal daily driving these are not necessary (Totally agreed). But boy...they look so good.

Off topic:
Just got my set Vossen 22 inch HF5 in, to be installed next week, along with yellow wheelcaps....this to me is already worth the CC brake setup, even if it would be for the looks only.
Porsche Taycan Turbo vs Turbo S IMG-20231103-WA0035
Porsche Taycan Turbo vs Turbo S 20231102_140059
 

whitex

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2021
Threads
87
Messages
8,200
Reaction score
7,236
Location
WA, USA
Vehicles
2023 Taycan TCT, 2024 Q8 eTron P+
Country flag
aybe good news coming. At my German dealership the tech guy mentioned that there may be a power boost coming soon (paid service via Porsche). Seems legit to me as aftermarket tuners also take this on, so why not Porsche within their control and making them some extra €.
He mentioned it will apply for the Turbo. I asked how about the TS (since I traded my 4s CT for the current TS CT), but that was not clear. My thought was *wishful thinking* well if the Turbo gets full power (perhaps behind the sport chrono steer control), then surely they will give a paid option for the TS....let's see.
I wouldn't pay for any extra power in LC. Might be tempted to give Porsche some money for unlocking LC power as boost power any time, depending how much they asked. Honestly though, I think they should provide it for free for all trims - convert it to Audi etron boost like implementation - up to so many seconds of boost power available any time.

On the brakes...i agree and disagree. I like to drive the car hard at times with hard breaking and immediate acceleration thereafter....say from 120kmu to 30kmu and then back on the accelerator ..lovely feel of some G-forces when done well. With that in mind and the experience I had with the brakes on my 4s CT, there is a night and day diff on the stopping power between the iron brakes versus the CC setup. I am seriously impressed by what these brakes can handle, even I do not track this car. For me, the CC brakes are worth it as it does add to my overall driving pleasure when the need is there, which is rather often, eventhough for nornal daily driving these are not necessary (Totally agreed). But boy...they look so good.
I'd be curious if anyone has done any head to head comparison on a Taycan, same tires, same suspension, different brakes. I can see PCCB's having a bit more stopping power in an emergency due it its larger size, but PSCB's have the same size. I'd think on cold brakes, PSCB's might actually brake faster from 120km/h to 30km/h than PCCB's. PCCB's will probably do a bit better when warmed up, and be able to take more repeated heavy abuse before fading. I've taken my Taycan with PSCB's on spirited drives with occasional hard braking, no complaints about he brakes.
 
Last edited:

WuffvonTrips

Well-Known Member
First Name
Paul
Joined
Oct 24, 2021
Threads
37
Messages
2,043
Reaction score
2,363
Location
Up North
Vehicles
Taycan Turbo CT
Country flag
I'd be curious if anyone has done any head to head comparison on a Taycan, same tires, same suspension, different brakes.
Me too. I assume that, once ABS intervenes, the limiting factor is the tyres rather than the brakes.
EDIT- what I'm trying to say is- more generally, deceleration is limited by tyre grip rather than braking force, assuming a minimum adequate level of braking capability.
 
Last edited:

f1eng

Well-Known Member
First Name
Frank
Joined
Aug 19, 2021
Threads
48
Messages
4,765
Reaction score
8,335
Location
Oxfordshire, UK
Vehicles
Taycan CT4S, Ferrari 355, Merc 500E, Prius PHV
Country flag
Me too. I assume that, once ABS intervenes, the limiting factor is the tyres rather than the brakes.
EDIT- what I'm trying to say is- more generally, deceleration is limited by tyre grip rather than braking force, assuming a minimum adequate level of braking capability.
Also brake consistency when going fast for a long time is, IME, influenced very much by cooling efficiency and whilst Porsche brake cooling is way more advanced than some makers it won’t be a high priority bit of engineering where it influences cost and styling.

We also shouldn’t forget “expectation bias”, very effective in all marketing at making sense an improvement of expensive things.

OTOH the composite and the coated brakes definitely look nicer, so well worth having for that if you feel the cost is worthwhile.
 

daveo4EV

Well-Known Member
First Name
David
Joined
Jan 28, 2019
Threads
192
Messages
7,003
Reaction score
10,473
Location
Santa Cruz
Vehicles
Cayenne Hybrid, 911(s) GT3/Convertable
Country flag
comparing braking effectiveness without normalizing tires is pointless - as far as braking power is concerned PCCB's vs. other brakes should have virtually no differences - because tires the the overwhelming factor in braking deceleration rates and ultimately distance - with ABS intervention normalizing the performance (i.e. you can't stop faster than ABS lets you because it will release the brakes when the tire at maximum grip level to reduce lock up)…

with the Taycan in particular any perception of braking improvement of cast-iron-base, PCSB, or PCCB is likely confirmation bias and not actual performance differences - the physics of the situation dictate that… (regen and blended braking means the "peddle" feel is very likely a software induced illusion)

tire grip is _ALL_ the matters for stopping power & distance

to test brakes and actuall find a difference you need:
  • deceleration measurements
  • distance measurements
  • identical tires (size & compound)
  • identical wheels
  • road surface temps
  • ambient temps
  • brake temps
  • pad wear
  • consistent speed
  • pedal pressure applied
  • and in case of Taycan battery SOC and regen status (sometimes Taycan will or will not invoke regen depending on circumstances)
  • brake fluid age/brand/rating
if you normalize all the factors above there is no difference in braking performance for a single trial

you may see differences between trials if you do not cool the brakes between trials - a significantly large number of trials with limited/no cooling between trials PCCB's _WILL_ be the superior brakes due to their excellent thermal capacity/endurance.

peddle feel is also subjective and not mechanically influenced on Taycan and largely a simulation - it has to be that way because of blended braking - pedal feel on Taycan is mostly a synthetic affair/illusion provided by Prosche's excellent software modulating pedal resistance and "feel" - the computer controlls actual regen & hydraulic pressures and your pedal input (and the resistance you feel) is purely a user interface _NOT_ an actual pressure actuator…

if you're happy with your PCCB's great - I love mine on my Turbo…but will not order these cosmetic accessories again…

any perception of "better" braking with out normalizing the factors listed above is purely confirmation bias … outside of brake fade conditions which can happen in extreme endurance applications with cast-iron/PCSB's…

no manufacturer of PCCB's claims in writing that PCCB's offer improved stopping distances

they simply claim PCCB's are "better/best" - which is true, but they do not quantify in what aspect they are 'better/best' - I know of 5 areas in which PCCB's are "better/best"
  1. thermal endurance (unnecessary in _ANY_ street driving circumstance and only need after 25 min. of full pace track driving)
  2. weight - unsprung rotational mass is a huge win for handling and "feel" - although inconsequential on a 5,100 lbs 4 door sports sedan
  3. appearance (but I believe this to be a conditioned response)
  4. brake dust
  5. superior resistance to rust and harsh winter road conditions in terms of rotor surface wear/tear due to salts
on track in heavy braking my 2020 Taycan Turbo achieves 1.1 maximum g's in forward deceleration coming into turn 2 off the front straight - this single factor _IS_ braking distance/time/power/effectiveness - it has nothing to do with the composition of the brake rotors/pads - it has everything to do with the the tire sizes and compound and is entirely dominant in how fast and how long it takes to bring the 5,100 lbs Taycan down to corner entry speed…repeated attempts at this corner will heat the brakes and in a 1:4x lap time it takes about 24 laps in my GT3 to induce brake fade into Porsche's excellent cast-iron steel rotors in my 2018 911 GT3…after 25 laps or so you begin to have brake fade with cast-iron brakes but no fade with PCCB's.

if I switch my 2018 911 GT3 to hoosiers or slicks (greater tire grip levels) my maximum deceleration g's jump from about 1.2 g's to 1.8g's - and consequently stop time/distance drops like a rock - same brakes, different tires make a HUGE difference -in fact the only difference…

my Taycan @ laguna seca w/PCCB's
  • laps 1-3 braking distance and maximum g's are about 0.9 - 1.1 g's forward deceleration rates
  • laps 3-5 braking distance enlongates maximum g's rarely achieve greater than 0.9 g's - often times (0.8) - street tires are now Overheated on a 5,100 lbs and subsequently the the maximum grip levels are dropping off and braking distance is degraded
    • same brakes - but car's braking power is "reduced" because tires now suck
  • laps 6 and above Taycan's battery is overheated (132F) and Porsche's battery management software has reduced maximum throttle power to lower maximum discharge rates on the battery reducing discharge induced thermal heating
    • subsequently tops spees are reduced (less acceration)
    • less braking is required from lower top speeds
    • normally battery power is down to 50% from previous 6+ laps of full pace driving
  • Taycan needs to be brought in for about 30 minute rest to get battery thermals back to normal - but going back out again is dicy because you're below 50% battery SOC and there is no fast charging at the track…
  • brakes were never "taxed" or overheated - and you've run out of:
    • battery thermal capacity
    • battery kwh's capacity
    • and your street tires have overheated trying to track a 5,100 lbs sedand with instant torque and 500 or more AWD horse power
      • it's hoot until it all reaches capacities
there is no braking performance difference between various brakes Porsche sells if you equalize all the factors

normally PCCB equipped vehicles come with better and more grippy performance tires…which WILL improve braking performance by quite a bit.

simply chaging from 255mm fronts to 275mm fronts and 365mm rears from 355mm rears on my GT3 DRAMATICALLY improved braking performance (more rubber on the track surface equals better braking performance)

the g meter in your Taycan will demonstrate your maximum braking performance in terms of forward maximum g's - change your tires you'll change this number and your braking performance will be affected…change your brakes but keep the tires the same - there will be no statistically signficiant difference in maximum g's or deceleration rate - there can't be.
Sponsored

 
Last edited:
 








Top