AV7
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Had a truly exceptional opportunity to experience both a Taycan Turbo S and a 911 Turbo S back to back at PEC LA and WOW! what an experience. I really wanted to experience the similarities and more importantly the differences between an EV and ICE sports cars first hand and honestly in my opinion these are the 2 cars to do it in!
The experience center has plenty of Porsche chargers and there were no issues initiating a charge when I arrived. The trip was about 90 miles from San Diego to Carson.
The parking area had plenty of new Taycans and other models I am assuming waiting for their collection day to arrive
The check in process is very efficient and everyone is really very friendly. Here are a couple of interesting facts about PEC LA (as per my instructor):
- 53 acres in total
- Opened in 2016
- is a purpose built track owned by Porsche AG and not involved directly in sales (although its clear this track is here to sell the cars!)
- the only facility on the west coast that owners from around the world send their cars to get fixed (not your regular dealer sold cars)
- On display 1 of only 3000 in the world, absolutlely stunning 911 Sport Classic which is a Turbo and a manual!
- My daugher absolutely loved this Taycan!
Formula E
Taycan Turbo S v 911 Turbo S
The excitment of driving these 2 cars back to back was beyond me. I would have the opportunity to test these cars on 4 different courses (insturctor let me try a 5th with the TTS.
- The Acceleration Straight - The Acceleration Straight provides a safe and controlled environment to fully explore how a Porsche accelerates using launch control with an added twist. Near the end of the nearly 3/4 mile straight, a replica of the Karussell (Carousel), the famous banked curve on the Nordschleife (North Loop) of the Nürburgring
- Low Friction Circle - learn how to control the car on extremely slippery roads
- Kick Plate - The Kick Plate is a computer-controlled hydraulic plate, set flush to the road surface, designed to induce loss of rear wheel traction, putting the car into a skid or spin. The driver will be taught the correct technique to ‘catch’ the slide and bring the car under control.
- 1.6 mile handling circuit - combining the Eastern and Western Loop, is designed to mimic a country road with a number of corners.
- Ice Hill - (with TTS) - The Ice Hill simulates an icy mountain road where a driver is likely to lose control up or down the hill. Ice Hill has a 7% slope, computer-controlled water jets and a low friction surface
TTS
911 TS
Both cars were the same color (in the Taycan for what ever reason Sports Sound was not optioned! - it was the only TTS on the track that did not have that option even thought it is a standard feature on the car)
Comparison (obviously my opinions only)
- EXTERIOR: Asthetically from the outside both cars are absolutely gorgeous but there is something about the ionic 911 shape that is so appealing, however the Taycan lines also follow the 911s, more than any other Porsche, the Taycan captures the famous 911 roof profile, side glass shape, downward sloping nose and solidly planted stance - Verdict: DRAW
- INTERIOR: The interior perspetive was interesting. When I first saw the interior of a Taycan and when I got mine I was in love with the futuristic simplistic button-less lines. It looked so modern but after being in the 911TS, I have the admit that the 911TS interior looks and feels far more superior than the TTS's.
The pictures tell it all, the 911 interior here just looks and feels alot better (not sure if the car had any interior options) - VERDICT: 911
- LAUNCH CONTROL: - I was really looking forward to this This is done on the Acceleration Straight portion of the experience. Both cars have a listed 2.6s 0-60 time. Surprising activating launch control is slightly different on the 911 than on the TTS. I was in the TTS first but my instructor was absolutely amazing and he allowed me to have numerous launch controls so that I could get comfortable and really take the car to its limits. This is where I really wanted to experience the sports sound but for whatever really this particular TTS did not have this option. The instructor went throught all the options but it just could not be turned on and it was confirmed by another instructor that this car just did not have it. This was disappointing as I really wanted to expeirence the sports sound at speed.
The sheer speed that the TTS launches at is just unbelievable, it pushes you right back into your seat and you can feel the car keep on gaining momentum. No wheel spin because of all the safety mechanisms working. It is difficult to put down in words all the emotions you go through. The car felt totally grounded and there was no steering shake at high speed, I was told I nearly hit 130 mph although I had no way of veryfying this as I was told to keep my eyes glued on the road!
The 911 is just another animal and had the added benefit of that amazing engine sound when you launch. It is clear that this IS missing in the TTS (maybe if it had the sports sound it would make me think differently BUT can that sound really be replicated? I dont think so). I felt alot more emotional in the 911, there was more noise, more feedback it just felt right! Clearly the extra weight in the TTS (5,101 lb) compared to the 911 (3,636 lb) dampens the feedback you get from the car, although both have a 2.6s 0-60 the 911 feels faster. - VERDICT: 911
- HANDLING CIRCUIT: - Here you can really test the car through cornering, straight line speed, braking and trying to replicate what your insturctor is doing in his car ahead of you. In terms of handling both cars were on par and absolutely amazing. I was in Sports Plus in the TTS and the instructor had told me that he preferred to drive the 911 in Sports (which I did, I should have egged him to find out why but during the moment I just followed what he said). During the initial laps your instructor who is in the car in front of you is telling you what you should do via the walkie talkie that is strapped in your car but after a few laps he says he will keep quite now and just follow him. During this time I often found myself screaming in joy because of the sheer ability of these cars! Again the engine sound of the 911 with the bubbling and the high note when you put your foot down is something the TTS does not have. The TTS also has no 'lag' when compared to the 911 which I mentioned to my instructor and he said that the Porsche engineers would not have liked what I said, apparently they dont use the word 'lag' - VERDICT: DRAW
The 911 also had another driving option 'WET" which the TTS does not have. When driving on the wet sections of the experience the display would say that I should put the car in 'WET' driving mode.
After a hard 2 hours:
Final Verdict: 911TS For me personally I absolutely loved the 911TS and I am an avid EV person. Maybe its a track thing, in real life the TTS makes much more sense, 4 doors and 4 seats and still all the power but Porsche really has their work cut out for them if they trully want to replicate what you feel in an ICE car in an EV.
The experience center has plenty of Porsche chargers and there were no issues initiating a charge when I arrived. The trip was about 90 miles from San Diego to Carson.
The parking area had plenty of new Taycans and other models I am assuming waiting for their collection day to arrive
The check in process is very efficient and everyone is really very friendly. Here are a couple of interesting facts about PEC LA (as per my instructor):
- 53 acres in total
- Opened in 2016
- is a purpose built track owned by Porsche AG and not involved directly in sales (although its clear this track is here to sell the cars!)
- the only facility on the west coast that owners from around the world send their cars to get fixed (not your regular dealer sold cars)
- On display 1 of only 3000 in the world, absolutlely stunning 911 Sport Classic which is a Turbo and a manual!
- My daugher absolutely loved this Taycan!
Formula E
Taycan Turbo S v 911 Turbo S
The excitment of driving these 2 cars back to back was beyond me. I would have the opportunity to test these cars on 4 different courses (insturctor let me try a 5th with the TTS.
- The Acceleration Straight - The Acceleration Straight provides a safe and controlled environment to fully explore how a Porsche accelerates using launch control with an added twist. Near the end of the nearly 3/4 mile straight, a replica of the Karussell (Carousel), the famous banked curve on the Nordschleife (North Loop) of the Nürburgring
- Low Friction Circle - learn how to control the car on extremely slippery roads
- Kick Plate - The Kick Plate is a computer-controlled hydraulic plate, set flush to the road surface, designed to induce loss of rear wheel traction, putting the car into a skid or spin. The driver will be taught the correct technique to ‘catch’ the slide and bring the car under control.
- 1.6 mile handling circuit - combining the Eastern and Western Loop, is designed to mimic a country road with a number of corners.
- Ice Hill - (with TTS) - The Ice Hill simulates an icy mountain road where a driver is likely to lose control up or down the hill. Ice Hill has a 7% slope, computer-controlled water jets and a low friction surface
TTS
911 TS
Both cars were the same color (in the Taycan for what ever reason Sports Sound was not optioned! - it was the only TTS on the track that did not have that option even thought it is a standard feature on the car)
Comparison (obviously my opinions only)
- EXTERIOR: Asthetically from the outside both cars are absolutely gorgeous but there is something about the ionic 911 shape that is so appealing, however the Taycan lines also follow the 911s, more than any other Porsche, the Taycan captures the famous 911 roof profile, side glass shape, downward sloping nose and solidly planted stance - Verdict: DRAW
- INTERIOR: The interior perspetive was interesting. When I first saw the interior of a Taycan and when I got mine I was in love with the futuristic simplistic button-less lines. It looked so modern but after being in the 911TS, I have the admit that the 911TS interior looks and feels far more superior than the TTS's.
The pictures tell it all, the 911 interior here just looks and feels alot better (not sure if the car had any interior options) - VERDICT: 911
- LAUNCH CONTROL: - I was really looking forward to this This is done on the Acceleration Straight portion of the experience. Both cars have a listed 2.6s 0-60 time. Surprising activating launch control is slightly different on the 911 than on the TTS. I was in the TTS first but my instructor was absolutely amazing and he allowed me to have numerous launch controls so that I could get comfortable and really take the car to its limits. This is where I really wanted to experience the sports sound but for whatever really this particular TTS did not have this option. The instructor went throught all the options but it just could not be turned on and it was confirmed by another instructor that this car just did not have it. This was disappointing as I really wanted to expeirence the sports sound at speed.
The sheer speed that the TTS launches at is just unbelievable, it pushes you right back into your seat and you can feel the car keep on gaining momentum. No wheel spin because of all the safety mechanisms working. It is difficult to put down in words all the emotions you go through. The car felt totally grounded and there was no steering shake at high speed, I was told I nearly hit 130 mph although I had no way of veryfying this as I was told to keep my eyes glued on the road!
The 911 is just another animal and had the added benefit of that amazing engine sound when you launch. It is clear that this IS missing in the TTS (maybe if it had the sports sound it would make me think differently BUT can that sound really be replicated? I dont think so). I felt alot more emotional in the 911, there was more noise, more feedback it just felt right! Clearly the extra weight in the TTS (5,101 lb) compared to the 911 (3,636 lb) dampens the feedback you get from the car, although both have a 2.6s 0-60 the 911 feels faster. - VERDICT: 911
- HANDLING CIRCUIT: - Here you can really test the car through cornering, straight line speed, braking and trying to replicate what your insturctor is doing in his car ahead of you. In terms of handling both cars were on par and absolutely amazing. I was in Sports Plus in the TTS and the instructor had told me that he preferred to drive the 911 in Sports (which I did, I should have egged him to find out why but during the moment I just followed what he said). During the initial laps your instructor who is in the car in front of you is telling you what you should do via the walkie talkie that is strapped in your car but after a few laps he says he will keep quite now and just follow him. During this time I often found myself screaming in joy because of the sheer ability of these cars! Again the engine sound of the 911 with the bubbling and the high note when you put your foot down is something the TTS does not have. The TTS also has no 'lag' when compared to the 911 which I mentioned to my instructor and he said that the Porsche engineers would not have liked what I said, apparently they dont use the word 'lag' - VERDICT: DRAW
The 911 also had another driving option 'WET" which the TTS does not have. When driving on the wet sections of the experience the display would say that I should put the car in 'WET' driving mode.
After a hard 2 hours:
Final Verdict: 911TS For me personally I absolutely loved the 911TS and I am an avid EV person. Maybe its a track thing, in real life the TTS makes much more sense, 4 doors and 4 seats and still all the power but Porsche really has their work cut out for them if they trully want to replicate what you feel in an ICE car in an EV.
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