How good is the 996TT's AWD compared to other AWD cars. Not sure what to use as a benchmark, but perhaps something like an Audi Quattro or Mercedes 4matic.

Is the system in the 996 C4S identical to the 996TT? How about the 997TT - similar or different system? Hypothetical situation - if the rear wheels have no traction at all (say they are hanging of the edge of a cliff .. bear with me here!), will the front wheels be able to pull the car forward?

 

I don't know the specific answer of the Hypothetical (and I'm not going to go try it), but I know the AWD with decent snow tires is amazing. It can outclimb my Explorer on an ice and snow covered hill.

 

The car is basically rear wheel drive with minimal torque going to the front only if the rears slip. If you look up 996 turbo in the snow on you tube, you will hard pressed to see the front tires spinning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGaSN...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETG1x...eature=related

It is enough to keep the car glued to the road a bit better and keep you from getting stuck, but will likely not get you un-stuck.

 

in the second video the owner writing this :

" freyahel :
this wasn't an electronic failure.
the driveshaft between rear and front was broken "

 

Aha!

Still, The TT doesn't spin the front tires in the dry by any stretch of the imagination. It's basically RWD with some front assist when needed. Not that I mind. That's how it's supposed to be.

 

[Quote/] if the rear wheels have no traction at all (say they are hanging of the edge of a cliff .. bear with me here!), will the front wheels be able to pull the car forward?[/QUOTE]

if you got 1 half of the car hanging off a cliff, you better pray to your maker it's the front end... bc that *** is way too heavy...

 

it basically sends just enough power to the front to save your live, just ask D33PBLUE

 

I think we need to perform an experiment here

The tricky thing will be to figure out how to limit the traction in the rear wheels while maximizing that in the front wheels.

 

I guess I do notice the AWD in my car, but I don't think it's a "life saving" asset, like maybe a 4WD truck with locking hubs? I do plan on a LSD in the future, but I will STAY AWD as well. IMO and my experience, I think the front grabs just enough to not be a hindurance.

 

The AWD is superb. In snow. In rain. AND for my needs, on dry roads.

My awd range rover beast (ebay 1993) does deep snow. But, the 996 tt pre-beast was amazing.

JB

 

I need to test my AWD in the next storm. I just missed the last one.

 

It shifts 90% of the weight to the Rear wheels when you punch the car, just like a RWD car. It is amazing on the drag strip how it grabs. Not to divert from this subject but best launch control i've seen was with the new Skyline GTR's, WOW, it was insane.

 

the awd in my car nearly killed me when i got it sideways at about 50 mph and it would rotate the car nearly 180 degrees after trying to correct


im rwd now and i love it

 

I remember reading promotion material from Porsche saying that "in emergency situation a maximum of 40% of the torque will be transferred to the front wheels"

 

Was PSM on or off?