Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 9:16 pm Post subject: Nervous driving my first Porsche, what's the cure?
Hi guys, I have been reading this forum since earlier in the year and picked up a great deal of info and advise which helped me in buying my first Porsche which I took delivery of, Sept 1 this year. A 911s with PDK gear box, Turbo wheels, GT metalic silver with carrera leather interior. A lovely looking car.
Anyway the problem is I am having problems in overcoming my fear of the car and I am finding that I drive nervously. There are some superb roads for driving through where I live, very quiet twisty country roads and reasonably quiet A roads.
What's the secret, how do I get to feel more comfortable driving the Porsche?
I am a careful driver, no accidents for the past 12 years but I have never been a nervous driver and am not afraid of travelling at speed. I also have a BMW 320d and I find that I tear around the roads in it with no problems.
Grateful for any advise.
Maxie Yas Marina
Joined: 11 Mar 2007 Posts: 8386 Location: London
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 9:31 pm Post subject:
Hi Terence, welcome to 911uk! I think many of us have had this syndrome, me included. I believe it's the fact that you are driving something so precious to you culminating from the endeavours of such hard work that you possibly cannot bear to see anything harm your new pride and joy. The only way to overcome this is to go out and drive the thing more vigorously than the last time and gradually get used to it. That's what I did and I almost don't think about harming mine in anyway now; I've had mine for 20 months and the novelty still hasn't worn off. Enjoy!
~ Maxie _________________ Currently Porscheless, 2018 BMW 640d M Sport +
ResB Estoril
Joined: 30 Jan 2008 Posts: 3708 Location: North Yorkshire
Hi Terence, congrats on getting your self a superb car, and welcome to 911uk.
I had a few moments to start with but thats with the 993, your 997 is sublime when it comes to handling, safety and grip. What is your fear based on; is it too fast, is it fear of loss of grip, wet roads, damage by others?
As a new car did you get an experience day when you bought the car e.g. day at Millbrook or Silverstone Experience Centre? That is a great way to explore and build confidence. _________________ The Unique Wheel Refurb & Tyre Service with Loan Wheels
The zero hassle, comprehensive, uncompromising quality wheel & tyre service
In my yoof I had Loti (or should that be Lotuses?) and Alfas + did some autocross and formula ford, but then got married and spent many a year driving rubbish company cars. So when I bought an M3 five years ago I was surprised to be really nervous.
This lasted about 2 months and I put it down to the fact that it was probably the most expensive and most powerful car I had driven on the public road.
I didn't get the same feeling when I got my 911 and having recently participated in a "gentle" group drive over Beachy Head with the Chavley crew, I don't think nerves will ever be on the agenda again
Go for it Terence and start to enjoy
Clive _________________ Porsche Macan S Diesel
BMW i3 - the electric car for petrolheads
Cobalt Blue 997 Turbo (sold)
997 C2S (sold)
I felt exactly the same when I picked up my first ever 911 in Feb this year, in the rain too!!! I crawled along the M25 convinced I was going to spin off in a ball of fire
The cure?, well to borrow a well used phrase "Education education education"! Get some training, ideally 1 to 1 for a whole day, there a quite a few companies who do it, I used CAT. Did mine in March a few weeks after I got the car.
I had been driving since 1981 but I learned so much in that one day, it really shows you how good the 911 (mines a 993!) is especially in the wet (think I'm obsessed about driving in the rain now!) The payback is immediate you gain in confidence and it makes you want to really use your car, doesnt have to mean fast driving on public roads just general confidence.
The pic below shows how training helps! Last month at the Nurburgring. Fantastic! _________________ "They don't tell me nuthin"
Targa gone!!
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Terence Newbie
Joined: 13 Nov 2008 Posts: 5
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:08 pm Post subject:
Thanks for the replies, great to know it isn't just me. I still have my invite to Millbrook but it is a long way from where I am, just north of Liverpool. I have searched the net to find alternatives up here but came up blank.
I have read and heard so much about the 911 being unforgiving, "widow maker" is a term I have heard applied to it but I believe that the newer 911's are not like this. I will take the advice here to take it step by step and push a little harder each day.
One thing I have learned though since taking delivery of this car is that I am madly in love with it. I was tempted by the BMW M6 and the Audi R8 before I chose the 911, thank god I listened to my heart, I will be a 911 man for life now, totally addicted to it.
Now if I could just stop the damn radio coming on everytime I turn on the ignition
Get to Millbrook. It is awesome, worth the journey!
Half a day at Millbrook will teach you just how strong and stable your car is!!
I am going on an airfield day in a couple of weeks. One on one with an instructor. 4 cars per day. £200.00. It's not a track day so won't be close to another car. Plenty of run off and will be exploring the car to its limits.
Jay T Barcelona
Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Posts: 1334 Location: Out West
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 11:17 am Post subject:
Terence, that's a fantastic handling car you have there.
I borrowed a first gen 997 S for the day a little while back. It was absolutely tipping it down the entire time I drove it. Took it up to the Cotswolds onto the twisty A roads and it handled like an absolute dream. I'm no nut case driver, but was spirited enough to see that it takes a lot more effort than I'm willing to put in to get out of shape in one of these.
Enjoy
Evil_C Suzuka
Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 1033 Location: SE London/Kent border
Terence, that's a fantastic handling car you have there.
I borrowed a first gen 997 S for the day a little while back. It was absolutely tipping it down the entire time I drove it. Took it up to the Cotswolds onto the twisty A roads and it handled like an absolute dream. I'm no nut case driver, but was spirited enough to see that it takes a lot more effort than I'm willing to put in to get out of shape in one of these.
Enjoy
Totally agree, the capabilitiess of either generation 997 are way beyond the average driver and unless you are a total nutter or totally incompetent, you'll run out of bottle long before the car lets go.
If you want some driver training Terence, check out http://www.bespokedrivertraining.co.uk/
Mark Kendrick who runs Bespoke Driver Training is one of the instructors on the Porsche driving courses and I did a couple of days with him in my M3. He is based in Malvern which is still quite a schlepp for you, probably about 150 miles, but there are some reasonable hotels there for an overnight stay and Mark can give you a great days driving, both on road and track.
Clive _________________ Porsche Macan S Diesel
BMW i3 - the electric car for petrolheads
Cobalt Blue 997 Turbo (sold)
997 C2S (sold)
nineoneone Spa-Francorchamps
Joined: 06 Nov 2006 Posts: 305 Location: Yorkshire
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:35 pm Post subject:
Terence - 997's are great cars and really, really forgiving. They are a completely different beast to earlier 911's and there is nothing to fear from them so long as you are sensible.
They take a while to get used to because they move around a lot when you are pressing on and it can be a little unnerving at first.
If you want to learn about how safe your car is and get used to its feel can I suggest you do a trackday at Elvington. It's near York and there is miles of space so there is very little chance of damaging your car even if it does go all wrong!
Pete Hadfield Suzuka
Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 1147 Location: 25 miles north of Manchester
I've had my car a month now, 997 C2S, and when safe to do so tried on a dry road to flick the back end out by flooring it around tight corners. I just haven't been anywhere near losing it which just shows the amount of grip it has. When going fast, say 60 and coming up to a bend (you can see round ), at first I found myself slowing or chickening out and cutting the corner even knowing that I could have stayed in the middle of the lane at the same speed. I'm getting more brave as I learn the nuances of how the car reacts and the steering feels especially when the wife isn't with me. I could do and will at some point have a track tuition day as only then when you know there isn't a kerb or another car coming the other way if things go wrong, , can you really learn how much the car is better than you. My brother learned this on a motorbike. You always pull out before the machine loses grip etc.
Having said all this "you canny change the laws of physics captain" so I'm sure the time to be aware is when there is too much confidence.
Pete _________________ Pete,
997 C2S, no longer a 'Ring virgin
j8fbr Barcelona
Joined: 25 Apr 2008 Posts: 1305 Location: Surrey
Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 5:54 pm Post subject:
Terence !
Like the others mention, I bought mine in April and when I first got in it I was the same.
It's so easy to drive now that I might even let the Mrs drive it
out of the drive
enjoy it and some instruction or Novice trackday is a must _________________ José
Actually after reading the advice on here I have really settled into it now and I am a lot more comfortable.
One thing I have done is to only drive it in manual mode using the paddles. This has given me far more feel for the car and is infinitely more fun than driving in Auto.
I will now definitely look to have a track day, hopefully before Christmas.
Cheers,
Pete Hadfield Suzuka
Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 1147 Location: 25 miles north of Manchester
Joined: 21 Dec 2008 Posts: 8 Location: US - NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL
Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 6:41 am Post subject: Re: Nervous driving my first Porsche, what's the cure?
Terence wrote:
Hi guys, I have been reading this forum since earlier in the year and picked up a great deal of info and advise which helped me in buying my first Porsche which I took delivery of, Sept 1 this year. A 911s with PDK gear box, Turbo wheels, GT metalic silver with carrera leather interior. A lovely looking car.
Anyway the problem is I am having problems in overcoming my fear of the car and I am finding that I drive nervously. There are some superb roads for driving through where I live, very quiet twisty country roads and reasonably quiet A roads.
What's the secret, how do I get to feel more comfortable driving the Porsche?
I am a careful driver, no accidents for the past 12 years but I have never been a nervous driver and am not afraid of travelling at speed. I also have a BMW 320d and I find that I tear around the roads in it with no problems.
Grateful for any advise.
I HAVE HAD MY C4S 997 FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. I AM STILL NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING IT AS WELL. I WISHED I'D GONE 993 BEFORE THIS ONE, JUST TO GET A FEEL AND USED TO A 911, BUT I HAD TO SWING FOR THE FENCES WITH THIS ONE. I GET NERVOUS GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS, PARALLEL PARKING, STALLING OUT, AND PICKING UP GIRLS. I DONT KNOW THAT THERE IS A CURE. ITS JUST THAT THE CAR SMOKES EVERYONE AND PEOPLE LOOK AT YOU, SO I FOUND ITS BEST TO TAKE YOUR TIME AND NOT SHOW OFF. _________________ On persons: 116710LN, 16710 (given to father), 997 4S
Actively targeting: 116410GV, 11610LV, 116520 (white face), 911 Turbo
Proenca Monza
Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 234 Location: Lisbon // Portugal
Enjoy your car - again, trying not to repeat what others have said, education is the key.
I was myself like you when I picked my first Porsche and to be honest, my first true sports car - I had good cars in the past but my first Porsche was a long dream that came true with my car - Porsche 911 Turbo.
So , manhood aside, I too was carefull with it in my first times.
A good thing that REALLY helped me out was taking it to a trackday, I did Snetterton - PLENTYYYYYY of runoff, so if you trying to discover the limits of your car, you wont damage anything ( apart from your ego > ).
I took a few instruction laps and that showed me the absolute BONKERS grip levels of the car.
To be honest I did try and the instructor was pushing it, but the turbo was just not letting it go.
I was grabbing the thing by the scruff of the neck and I swear that I could see the turbo looking at me everytime I passed the finishing line with a smile saying "is that the best you can do mate ?.... ".
The 997 is a very very good car with fantastic handling that is beyond, like someone said, the average driver.
Unless you drive it like an arse , it wouldnt pose any problems.
Give it a bit more time and it will get better ( you ! ) and I do recommend a couple of track days ( begginer trackdays are ideal, everyone is new to trackdays and there isnt a huge crowd either with powerfull cars eager to lap you ).
Go to MSV website, check for begginner trackdays.
Book at least two instructors and enjoy - start with bedford or snetterton, plenty of runoff and you will discover the limits of your car in perfect safety.
Enjoy the beast ! I got mine for a year and it still tickles when I put the key in the ignition and blast the thing !
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The only way to overcome this is to go out and drive the thing more vigorously than the last time and gradually get used to it. That's what I did and I almost don't think about harming mine in anyway now; I've had mine for 20 months and the novelty still hasn't worn off. Enjoy!
Not many of us 997 folk on here. 
), at first I found myself slowing or chickening out and cutting the corner even knowing that I could have stayed in the middle of the lane at the same speed. I'm getting more brave as I learn the nuances of how the car reacts and the steering feels especially when the wife isn't with me. I could do and will at some point have a track tuition day as only then when you know there isn't a kerb or another car coming the other way if things go wrong, 
, can you really learn how much the car is better than you. My brother learned this on a motorbike. You always pull out before the machine loses grip etc.
