Buffeting (not Jimmy)
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I run my car at the track around 2-4 times per month and have experienced the buffeting. Here is my take. Note my car does not have moonroof so I cannot use that to vent. Up to around 70mph car is OK with windows down. Starting around 75-80mph a violent buffeting begins. This gets much worse as the speed gets higher. I have had it up to around 140mph with the windows open and it's unbearable. To put it into perspective I'm not sure "buffeting" really conveys the sensation properly. To me buffeting has always meant excessive wind noise and some turbulence of the airflow around the car. With the 991 there is an oscillating pressure wave that you feel in your ears and head that is both uncomfortable and annoying as you get into triple digit speeds. You actually feel it more than you hear it. The first time it happened I lifted off the throttle in a "WTF is that" moment. Rolling the windows partially up does help but the effect is still present.
I've been in MANY cars on the track at speed and this is the only car I have ever experienced it in. It really is a big OOPS on Porsche's part. Not sure how/why this snuck through their extensive testing. It's a simple thing that just shouldn't be this way.
That being said, I really do love this car and have enjoyed it both on/off track immensely. Fortunately my home track will let me run with windows fully up so problem solved for most of my use. I'm going to Sebring this coming Saturday and I know it will be windows down. Should be interesting, hope my eardrums don't pop...
I've been in MANY cars on the track at speed and this is the only car I have ever experienced it in. It really is a big OOPS on Porsche's part. Not sure how/why this snuck through their extensive testing. It's a simple thing that just shouldn't be this way.
That being said, I really do love this car and have enjoyed it both on/off track immensely. Fortunately my home track will let me run with windows fully up so problem solved for most of my use. I'm going to Sebring this coming Saturday and I know it will be windows down. Should be interesting, hope my eardrums don't pop...
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Front spoilers, etc. are not going to make a difference. It's a cabin acoustics problem.
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Suspect you're right, just working out what exactly may be causing it and can mitigate it (other than the sunroof).
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No, it is a little funny.
My dealer has my car now and I asked my salesman, who does DE quite a lot (was at Lime Rock last week) to drive it fast as well (he is a former cop so he can get away with it). I should know what he thinks later.
My dealer has my car now and I asked my salesman, who does DE quite a lot (was at Lime Rock last week) to drive it fast as well (he is a former cop so he can get away with it). I should know what he thinks later.
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I got my car back - they fixed the speaker in the driver's door (needed some padding and tightening, swapped in the clear side markers, (they look great), dealt with the dent (thank g-d, it looks great), did an oil change (probably not needed after 750 miles, but it could not hurt) and then my salesman drove my car.
He drove one of the test vehicles in Cali at 140mph prior to the launch and had no problem. He thought I was just mental. Said he tried both windows down, the passenger down, and nothing. Then he got it over 88 mph with the drivers side up and the passenger side window down and - to quote someone else in the thread - "WTF". He got it big time. He did not want to take my car up to high in speed and it was getting later in the day, but he said he would try it again tomorrow with a demo car (sorry, please don't tell that guy who started the thread after buying a demo). If memory serves, I had the same result, at about the same speed, but with the passenger window up and the driver's side window down. At least he did hear and feel it so he can report it up the chain.
Can anyone think why this would be a problem with some cars and not others - I assume that the reason we are not hearing more about this is that a lot of people have not experienced this yet - it has been winter/spring so lots of people will keep the windows closed or at most cracked. The same is true for a lot of people who have no tolerance for wind noise and generally drive with the windows closed. And, while it is almost a crime, some people buy these cars for their looks and never drive them fast enough for this to be an issue (I know, there are scary people out there - you just have to get used to it).
On the other hand, my salesman drove an S at high speeds and never had the problem before. given the tight specs. that I am sure apply to these cars, it is difficult to think it could be some car-to-car variation in body or construction?
It is a puzzle to say the least. I will let you know as I learn more. But if you have any thoughts or insights, I would appreciate reading them.
Thanks all
He drove one of the test vehicles in Cali at 140mph prior to the launch and had no problem. He thought I was just mental. Said he tried both windows down, the passenger down, and nothing. Then he got it over 88 mph with the drivers side up and the passenger side window down and - to quote someone else in the thread - "WTF". He got it big time. He did not want to take my car up to high in speed and it was getting later in the day, but he said he would try it again tomorrow with a demo car (sorry, please don't tell that guy who started the thread after buying a demo). If memory serves, I had the same result, at about the same speed, but with the passenger window up and the driver's side window down. At least he did hear and feel it so he can report it up the chain.
Can anyone think why this would be a problem with some cars and not others - I assume that the reason we are not hearing more about this is that a lot of people have not experienced this yet - it has been winter/spring so lots of people will keep the windows closed or at most cracked. The same is true for a lot of people who have no tolerance for wind noise and generally drive with the windows closed. And, while it is almost a crime, some people buy these cars for their looks and never drive them fast enough for this to be an issue (I know, there are scary people out there - you just have to get used to it).
On the other hand, my salesman drove an S at high speeds and never had the problem before. given the tight specs. that I am sure apply to these cars, it is difficult to think it could be some car-to-car variation in body or construction?
It is a puzzle to say the least. I will let you know as I learn more. But if you have any thoughts or insights, I would appreciate reading them.
Thanks all
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I'm going to the track May 9th, so I will be interested to see if I have this problem too. I'm worried about the effect of opening the moonroof on the downward force at the rear. If the air doesn't go over the rear of the car and spoiler the same way, it could cause a loose of grip (or maybe improve it - who knows)....
Last edited by rdalcanto; Apr 17, 2012 at 08:12 PM.
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I'm going to the track May 9th, so I will be interested to see if I have this problem too. I'm worried about the effect of opening the moonroof on the downward force at the rear. If the air doesn't go over the rear of the car and spoiler the same way, it could cause a loose of grip (or maybe improve who it - who knows)....
As for the moonroof, it is my understanding that you can not run with it open generally. But if you can, I think the angle of the spoiler adjusts if the roof is open - at least I think I read that somewhere.
Good luck, enjoy and be safe!
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Thanks. I will be looking forward to your report. But you will probably know there is an issue just by going a little quickly on the highway with various windows up or down.
As for the moonroof, it is my understanding that you can not run with it open generally. But if you can, I think the angle of the spoiler adjusts if the roof is open - at least I think I read that somewhere.
Good luck, enjoy and be safe!
As for the moonroof, it is my understanding that you can not run with it open generally. But if you can, I think the angle of the spoiler adjusts if the roof is open - at least I think I read that somewhere.
Good luck, enjoy and be safe!
ChuckJ
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I tried
Tried this out on track tonight and no difference in effect.
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Can you rate this on a scale of 1-10. With 10 being unbearable.
I assume you made all your track runs.
Thanks
I assume you made all your track runs.
Thanks
