Explain to me what Torque-Vectoring is….

[W1NGE]

Is the option worth the cost. I’m not too keen on paying $2000 extra to “get around the corners“ better. The car should be engineered to get around the corners as is.
Just seems gimmicky.

Its been an option on Porsche cars for many years - I had it on my 981 Boxster S of 12 years.

Has adverse weather benefits too in terms of traction.

Not a gimmick by a country mile.

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[f1eng]

Seems like traction control is enough. Everything else is just added weight and trickery.

I think it replaces a limited slip diff in a way, but isn't one, it is a software controlled way of adjusting the relative speed of the rear wheels depending on conditions.

It weighs little if anything since it pulses the inner brake using software. It is much more sophisticated than a limited slip diff. Not sure there is any extra hardware involved but there won't need to be much.

We used it in Formula 1 until it was banned, now a more complex but probably less effective system is used on F1 cars to try to get the same effect.

It probably depends on how you drive and on what type of roads.
It was one of the first options I chose.

For me, on the twisty undulating roads around here it is the chassis options which are worthwhile, not power.
I chose a CT4S over a CT4 because it wasn't much more money here but probably only get very rare benefit from the extra power, OTOH I immediately chose torque vectoring and also rear wheel steer and active anti roll bars for it.

I could feel that my car handles noticably better than a loan car without at least some of these despite me being a driver of limited talent.

 

[f1eng]

Is the option worth the cost. I’m not too keen on paying $2000 extra to “get around the corners“ better. The car should be engineered to get around the corners as is.
Just seems gimmicky.

It is person and road condition dependant whether it is worth it.
If you mainly drive on straight roads and rarely push the grip limit it won't be worth the money to you.
For me the GTS, turbo and turbo S aren't worth the money since they offer absolutely zero benefit on the roads around here but PTV+ is worth every penny.

There is nothing gimmicky about it.
IMO gimmicks are pointless carbon fibre embellishments and other cosmetic bollox

 

[WuffvonTrips]

Is the option worth the cost. I’m not too keen on paying $2000 extra to “get around the corners“ better. The car should be engineered to get around the corners as is.
Just seems gimmicky.

Compare that to the cost of failing to get round the corner (or even just unintentionally drifting in to the oncoming lane). As mentioned by others, it compensates somewhat when grip is compromised by surface quality, weather, undulations in the road and such. On the relative benefits of the 3 handling system options, I reckon it's way ahead of RAS (I've not had opportunity to experience PDCC and non-PDCC cars in comparable circumstances).

 

[d00d]

I thought PTV+ was software braking on the 911 and 718. Specifically on the Taycan, I thought the PTV+ was the LSD equipped with the clutch packs.

The manual 981/781 PTV is also mechanical, from 2016-Cayman-GT4-Technik-Introduction.pdf;
4.9 Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV)
The new Cayman GT4 also features Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) as standard with a mechanical rear-differential lock and selective braking of the right or left rear wheel.
This system allows high traction on varying road surfaces, increased lateral dynamics, as well as more precise cornering and improved driving stability.

Stock LSD will wear out, recommended is replacement with Guard LSD;
https://rennlist.com/forums/gt4-spyder/966568-guards-lsd.html

 

[Tooney]

IMO gimmicks are pointless carbon fibre embellishments and other cosmetic bollox

I'm glad you didn't include adaptive cruise control on gimmick list.

 

[ShiftyWolf]

Mine came used without PTV and I wanted the Taycan enough to buy it, but I would have preferred if it was there and would option into the price of a new car.

In my Audi, I only felt their version of it a few times on the road but it was pretty cool to feel the rear tighten and control the car through a tight corner.

 

[TDinDC]

Is the option worth the cost. I’m not too keen on paying $2000 extra to “get around the corners“ better. The car should be engineered to get around the corners as is.
Just seems gimmicky.

It is not gimmicky in any sense of the word. It is an elegant engineering solution to an issue that affects all vehicles when cornering.

It is not necessary by any means since the car will still turn without it. Unless you can compare the exact same models with identical options apart from it, I'm not sure you would be able to "detect" when it is working (or at least you should not be able to detect when it is working), but the vehicle would simply handle better and maybe you would get better (i.e., less) tire wear. Whether you want It depends upon your personal priorities and budget.

For me, I opted for all handling options, PCCBs to reduce unsprung weight, etc. while I did not opt for the fastest version (i.e., Turbo S), because handling is the reason why I personally like Porsche, not straight-line speed. And no, I have not driven my model without all of these options, so I cannot tell you whether I can "perceive" the benefits for my $$$, and no, I am not driving "at the limit" on public streets and I do not take my car to the track, but I know I would wonder if I had not chosen the options.

I am comfortable with my choices and would not change a thing.

 

[sufcrusher]

I’m not too keen on paying $2000 extra to “get around the corners“ better.

You must be American.

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

 

[MissionE]

My GTS has both Rear Wheel Steering and PTV and it corners like a hot knife slicing through butter. You are buying a Porsche for the handling capability, I would option it. You are already spending a pretty penny on the car.

But it should handle well without needing option add-ons.

 

[Yaibal]

But it should handle well without needing option add-ons.

I test drove a GTS equips with RAS. No PTV+ or PDCC. It handled incredibly well. But it’s still a 2300 Kg car. If you want to increase performance you have to get creative. Even if it may seem unnecessary. I like having PDCC and PTV+. I can tell they are there but I’d postulate that many Taycan drivers can’t tell or won’t push the car hard enough to ever benefit from these options.

 

[f1eng]

But it should handle well without needing option add-ons.

It does.

It definitely doesn’t need them but does benefit from them on some sorts of roads.

I bet a pound to a penny most drivers on normal roads won’t tell the difference which is why they are optional. I didn’t expect the difference to be as big as it was on my favourite country road though.

 

[kmcdonal]

I drove my Taycan a lot on very snowy / icy roads and optioned torque vectoring to give me an extra edge in those conditions. Hard to know what the car would have been like without torque vectoring, but the car was very good even in very sketchy winter conditions.

 

[MissionE]

It does.

It definitely doesn’t need them but does benefit from them on some sorts of roads.

I bet a pound to a penny most drivers on normal roads won’t tell the difference which is why they are optional. I didn’t expect the difference to be as big as it was on my favourite country road though.

English roads are definitely a breed apart

 

[f1eng]

English roads are definitely a breed apart

Probably most of the British Isles, Europe and Scandinavia have similarities but different to the majority of US and Australian roads.

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