How Important Are These Performance Features?

[RAHRCR]

I'm buying a car that lack the following features:

Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control
Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV/Limited Slip Differential)
Rear Axle Steering

How important is the following features in making a decision of being a car?

I have all of them. None are critical but here is my view:
PDCC - I like it a lot. Provides the most range between comfort and near race car….in concert with the car’s settings.
PTV - I can’t specifically tell that it’s there.
RAS - Most interesting for parking lot maneuvers. Not that noticeable otherwise.

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[f1eng]

I found PDCC a little unnecessary at road speeds...plus it doesn't give that little bit of roll that indicates a tyre is about to let grip go. It is amazing though, but an expensive option IMO

With you on the other 2!

I wasn't going to choose it but the Porsche "ambassador" I know recommended it so I dropped the Racetex headlining instead.
I have only compared a car with all 3 to one without (or at least definitely without PDCC and torque vectoring, don't know if it had RWS) and the difference was marked on the roads around here.

 

[kempez]

I wasn't going to choose it but the Porsche "ambassador" I know recommended it so I dropped the Racetex headlining instead.
I have only compared a car with all 3 to one without (or at least definitely without PDCC and torque vectoring, don't know if it had RWS) and the difference was marked on the roads around here.

yeah I bet it was! It would be an interesting experiment to see the difference with and without just PDCC back to back - the Turbo on my track day had all 3 and the instructor said to me that PVT/RAS were must have’s but PDCC is really only needed on track use or if you’re pushing it to 90% which I know I’ve not done on the road. I haven’t missed it in mine but yeah I remember how flat that car cornered at Silverstone!

I wouldn’t spec one without PTV+ that’s for sure!

 

[j.w.s]

I'm buying a car that lack the following features:

Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control
Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV/Limited Slip Differential)
Rear Axle Steering

How important is the following features in making a decision of being a car?

Along with other considerations, I think it depends on which model you are starting with.

A GTS or Turbo that doesn't have all of the performance options is likely going to be considered a miss. But a base model WITH all of the performance options might be considered over-optioned.

 

[RAHRCR]

yeah I bet it was! It would be an interesting experiment to see the difference with and without just PDCC back to back - the Turbo on my track day had all 3 and the instructor said to me that PVT/RAS were must have’s but PDCC is really only needed on track use or if you’re pushing it to 90% which I know I’ve not done on the road. I haven’t missed it in mine but yeah I remember how flat that car cornered at Silverstone!

I wouldn’t spec one without PTV+ that’s for sure!

I believe that what this instructor fails to realize is that his feedback is only recognizing one end of the spectrum with PDCC, which is the sporty side. The other end of the spectrum provides a bit more comfort. If you are looking for an option that has a use case for both the track and the street, PDCC might be the box to tick. Won’t change your life but if suspension sophistication and capability is high on the OP’s list, then this is one to give some consideration.

 

[Fun TC Driving]

If you re looking for day to day elegance without your Taycan being “spiritedly exercised,” personally the only one of them I would get is RWS. But the way I drive enthusiastically when on isolated country, cornering roads, I deliberately want and would only own a Taycan with all three.

Depending on your usage case, will probably love your Taycan without it having any of them, Again, YMMV.

 

[Flying ace]

RAS is must for both slow speed and high speeds. PTV is also important, but moreso for snow/rain traction.

PDCC IMO is an option to consider not having. I believe PDCC has been retired for j1.2 and replaced with Active Ride

 

[StamStam]

PDCC equipped cars, when in Normal mode, are still completely flat in bends? Or only when you switch in Sport or Sport plus mode?

Thanks

 

[kempez]

I believe that what this instructor fails to realize is that his feedback is only recognizing one end of the spectrum with PDCC, which is the sporty side. The other end of the spectrum provides a bit more comfort. If you are looking for an option that has a use case for both the track and the street, PDCC might be the box to tick. Won’t change your life but if suspension sophistication and capability is high on the OP’s list, then this is one to give some consideration.

Having driven mine a lot (obviously), plus a PDCC equipped car as a 2 day loaner: I did not register/notice a marked difference in comfort (maybe others would). The air suspension alone is excellent. And our roads suck.

Cornering for sure though. But as I said - at the cost of my kids feeling quite sick. Which is not what I need! ?

 

[RAHRCR]

PDCC equipped cars, when in Normal mode, are still completely flat in bends? Or only when you switch in Sport or Sport plus mode?

Thanks

Not flat in the bends when in normal mode. Hard to describe but you get a controlled lean and as you go into the more sporty modes, you get even more of that control. It’s impressive if that is something you care about.

 

[W1NGE]

PDCC equipped cars, when in Normal mode, are still completely flat in bends? Or only when you switch in Sport or Sport plus mode?

Thanks

It's active all the time but settings will alter depending on driving mode and the react to how the car is being driven etc.

I had it on my Cayenne GTS - convinced myself that it was 'great' but actually I don't think I ever drove in a way to leverage its full potential.

 

[StamStam]

Thank you guys for the replies. Did anyone maybe try both PDCC and Active Ride to tell us the differences?

 

[f1eng]

Thank you guys for the replies. Did anyone maybe try both PDCC and Active Ride to tell us the differences?

They are quite different and PDCC is no longer available on the Taycan and afaik has never been on j1.2 so nobody other than Porsche test drivers and engineers will have experienced it.

Frankly, you are not likely to get definitive data from forum members anyway.
We probably have very limited experience and even if, like me, they have tried with and without PDCC on a Taycan and am a reasonably experienced chassis engineer - my opinion is still of limited use.

 

[W1NGE]

Thank you guys for the replies. Did anyone maybe try both PDCC and Active Ride to tell us the differences?

@ @f1eng says, PAR is a different more intelligent beast entirely AND highly desirable. Stupid pricing as always.

 

[f1eng]

@ @f1eng says, PAR is a different more intelligent beast entirely AND highly desirable. Stupid pricing as always.

I haven't looked at the detail of how the Porsche Active system works but here is an amusing little anecdote.

Peter Wright, who was the "father" of the Lotus active system in the 1980s - and this was the most sophisticated then - was asked to go to GM (who owned Lotus at the time iirc) and persuade them to use the system on their up market cars.
The demo car was very impressive, I drove it on a closed circuit with John Davis a very smart dynamics engineer, adjusting oversteer/understeer to surprise/scare me. Luckily he was in the car himself so didn't go too far.

Anyway the Detroit Chassis engineers were suitably impressed by the ride and handling but not the cost.
At that time they could buy bulk springs for 25c each and dampers for $1.00 each - I presume the manufacturer made all their profit from spares.
At that time the Moog servo-valves were $1000 each, and the Lotus system used 4 plus super high precision struts.

The Active suspension is expensive but may not have that big a markup compared to cosmetic and software integrated options like going up a model in power.

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