Drive by wire

Wwas this on the C4 Millenium Edition?

All 996 C4's are electronic gas throttle (E-gas) since the start.

Now that we have e-throttles, why can't we have a cruise control system that "backs off" if I simply, even slightly, depress the accelerator? And then "resumes" ("resets") when I remove my foot. I really like using cruise control except entering tight curves, especially in the mountainous terrain have throughout this part of the country. I find myself becoming a bit queasy entering a curve "at speed" and not being "in control". I often find myself even driving through the curve above the "set" speed, after killing the cruise and assuming "control". The few other Porsche drivers I have talked to seem to feel the same way. Anyone else want to weight in? Does the Porsche cruise system become automatically disabled below 35F OAT or if the PSM activates, as it should? Anyone know? Does anyone know of a way to prevent the ABS from activating unless PSM indicates it would be useful?

e-gas? does that mean they do have drive by wire?

Yes, E-gas is one of the especific names used for the type of drive-by-wire (electro-mechanical mechanism) for the accelerator actuation (that are used in cars, aircrafts, etc) that replaces purely mechanical accelerators for reasons of greater responsiveness, milage, PSM control, etc.

WillWest, I don�t think any cruise control can be made ergonimic enough for mountainous roads and would take all the fun out of the curves. I think what you want is a jet fighter's type throttle joistick next to the gear lever <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> I just use mine when I want to cruise back from work in the highway and listen to the stereo, I set it to around 100mph and relax...works great for that.

Taking fun out of curves... First of all, if my primary purpose is to get from point A to point B, say Seattle to Lewistown MT, about 800 miles, I usually want to use cruise control as much as reasonably possible. On the other hand if I'm out for a Sunday drive, to truly enjoy just what the C4 can/will do, say from Goldendale WA alongside Mt Adams down to the Columbia, I'd likely NEVER engage the cruise. So, it's the former case wherein an automatic and seemless/transparent over-ride capability of the cruise control would be a real asset and really helpful. Ergonomic enough... All it would need do is sense that the throttle (footfeed) is not in the neutral position and thereby disengage/disable the cruise servomotor. So if I see a curve upcoming that I am not quite comfortable taking "at speed" all I would need do is apply pressure to the footfeed, slight pressure if I really want to "back off" or heavier if I only want to back off slightly. Obviously the cruise could/would resume control once I lifted my foot from the pedal. How many times have YOU had that same queasy feeling I'm talking about and your only option is to quickly turn the cruise off manually or tap the brakes lightly. I usually op for the brake tap.

Yes, I have had that "queasy" feeling too I agree, but its not a problem since, if I reach a tight curve I just gently pull back the cruise control lever to disengage it (which is already next to my hand on the steering wheel), use the pedals freely, and when I achieve the desired speed after the curve again I push it foward to set the speed for the cruise control back. Thats even easier/faster than using the brake/accel pedals to disengage the cruise control. I guess car manufactures have agreed that most "users" don�t want to disengage de cruise control in most situations in which they are accelerating, and only when braking. But then again, Porsche owners aren't "users", we are "drivers" <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Missed an important point, maybe. The capability I descibed is only possible (I think) with e-throttle, something having only recently arrived on the "public" scene. Story. Last year at the 24 hours of Daytona we sponsored two Saleens. Just a very few minutes before the race was to start one of the cars was finally "ready to go". Except the onboard computer needed to be calibrated, it didn't yet know where the e-throttle idle positon vs WOT throttle was, nor did it know the actual engine throttle opening servomotors feedback sensor position(s). So here's the Saleen factory guy, white shirt and tie, one foot planted firmly on each side of the rear of the engine (exhaust manifold, I think), laptop computer laying in front of him on top of the cockpit. Someone push the footfeed WOT, got it, now release it to idle, got it. Then he reaches down and forces the 8 intakes to WOT, "tells" the onboard computer, then releases to idle and tells the computer. Off to the races. What is the world coming to??

Lawyer: So tell me why you ran off the road again? Plaintiff: I was shutting off cruise control Lawyer: Why would that cause you to run off the road? Plaintiff: Well, to do that, you depress the gas pedal... Dave

Lawyer: So tell me why you ran off the road again? Plaintiff: The cruise control was on when I suddenly realized I was entering the corner too fast. Lawyer: So why didn't you simply turn it off? Plaintiff: In order to do that I must remove one hand from the steering wheel momentarily and as I was already entering the corner, as I said, I felt "too fast", I felt I would need both hands on the wheel. Lawyer: Then why not just tap the brake pedal lightly to kill the cruise control? Plaintiff: Does that work?

I think if I were on the jury, I'd be thinking "uh, yeah brake=slow down, on pretty much any car on the planet". Actually I'd be thinking "gee, braking as he turns in to the corner, this ought to be interesting. I bet he'd have been better off just holding steady on the gas" - but that's just me. Dave

Corner braking... Didn't mean to imply actual braking. Rather than use the "stalk" I almost always tap the brake pedal even so slightly, just enough to open/close the microswitch that kills the cruise control. So if you see an Ocean Blue 996 between Memphis and Daytona next week and the brake lights "flash" just briefly that's me. Even think about how much your PANIC stopping distance is increased due to the fact that on "cruise" the accelerator remains "at speed" until you apply the brakes, vs having had your foot on the accelerator at the beginning?

I thought the MY99s didn't have e-gas?

99/e-gas... Missed your point....

I think it was only 99 C2's that didn't have e-gas. But C4's have it since the start.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by willwest: <strong>So if you see an Ocean Blue 996 between Memphis and Daytona next week and the brake lights "flash" just briefly that's me.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Oh I'm on your side on this discussion, I think it's a better way to work the cruise. I was just trying to give an example of why I didn't think a car manufacturer would pick up on the idea. Dave