rdean

Not a rant just some serious legitimate thought.
What can/should be done to objectively provide confirming evidence to the European brethren that an Porsche RSA is an "RS" member of the Porsche RS family.
It's name is factory given. It's specs are superior to the standard C2/C4. Vic Elford inspired, ect...

It a little frustrating to see in TOTAL 911 magazine that a 964 C2 has a higher rating than an RSA. One would think at least as equivalent.

Maybe a head to head "competition" against a C2, 3.2, 964 RS and 993. Settle it once and for all.
Maybe Total911 should do an interview with Keith of RSAmerica.net?
I'll offer up my RSA for the competition both dynamic and static perspectives.

Rdean

KaiB

Can I drive???

cobalt

Hate to say it but nothing. It is not a brother to the RS or a superior car to the C2.

The RSA was a PCNA marketing ploy and not Porsche AG inspired. It is a C2 with a manual steering rack and limited options. IMO the only RSA worth spending extra on is a car without the sunroof, radio or A/C options.

Both the RSA and C2 are great cars they have the same power output. Unless you have the Sunroof and A/C delete there is minimal weight savings and is no faster.

Nothing against the RSA but it should not command the premiums it is seeing over a similar C2. It was $10 k less when new and if anything should command a small premium over a comparable C2 if it is optioned properly just because it has its own VIN and is limited production. You are paying for name alone and to consider a brother to the RS is a mistake.

KaiB

Anthony, Anthony, Anthony....

You forgot the seam welding and the crinkled underhood paint...

cobalt

So my 93 has crinkled under hood paint and a factory RSA tail can I badge it as an RSA and sell it for twice as much? LOL

It has rolled fenders too.

KaiB

DANG!!!!

I forgot the rolled fenders.

Why THANK you.

(I still want to drive)

Jbarnes RS

If you have driven a real RS you would understand.

A few years ago an X Games rally racer buddy of mine drove my RSA and real RS back to back for over an hour. He is a Subaru guy with a street M3. He fell in love with the RS.......

His conclusion was they drove like totally different cars. No similarities what so ever. He was shocked that production cars that looked the same could drive so different. His first thought was why would a company ever make an RSA. Who would buy it after driving an RS?

Only difference to a C2 is the manual rack.

PCNA understands that most of there customers want to have a limited production car that will stand out at the local Cars and Coffee. They hit a home run with the RSA.

Vandit

RSAs selling for six-figures isn't enough recognition?

Mixter

The RSA was recently included in the Total 911 data file, and is given the same 2.5 out of 5 score as the C2. I'm guessing that you must be comparing the RS to RSA ratings which are 3.5 and 2.5 respectively.

I wouldn't take the Total 911 data file too seriously. They state that each model is rated according to their performance, handling, appearance and desirability. However, when you look at the ratings, for the most part they give high scores for low production #s, popularity trends, $ worth and for newer models (997, 991). I agree that the newer models will have better performance and handling, but appearance and desirability are personal traits that depend on the individual, so this is where Total 911 IMHO tends to give higher ratings to low production #s, popularity trends, $ worth models.

fizzledorf

Wondering how a properly built RSA or C2 would compare to a standard RS?

Suppose you get rid of the heavy RSA seats and replace them with any good racing seats, rebuild the 3.6 to closer to 300 whp, and upgrade the brakes, then potentially shed a few lbs here and there (my RSA is a non-sunroof option, so there's a few lbs). Throw a 1/2 cage and remove the weird speaker / storage box in the back.
Throw on some proper suspension / coilovers and RS sway bars.

I wonder if my FrankenRSA at some point will feel comparable to what a standard RS is like???

Need to drive an RS ASAP. Anyone feel like offering up there beautiful / rare / expensive aircooled car to other members to hoon around in?

cobalt

You just described my C2. What it lacks that the RS has is the seam welding. That is the critical aspect that gives the RS a superior feel. The C2 and RSA have far too much flex that the welding eliminates. Adding a full welded in roll cage would get you closer to the feel of an RS.

hockenheimr

What's with the crinkled underhood paint? I have that and I think I even have that in the fenders.....just thought it was part of the galvanizing process.

timothymoffat

Couldn't agree more.

fizzledorf

@cobalt

Have you compared your RS inspired build to that of a Standard RS? Can you say with certainty that it's the seam welding? I imagine 99% can be accomplished through proper suspension and chassis set-up

rdean

Ok. Lets be wary of "Franken-P cars". Lets say 2 reasonable modifications allowed, like suspension and exhaust or Chip and brakes or Chip and suspension. So the field may be a little narrower on performance basis. Or maybe just go completely factory stock for comparison, C2 vs RSA vs RS.
How to evaluate. A track would be best, maybe a public back road course, autocross course?
Run 3 individual laps, lowest cumulative time for the 3 cycles wins.
How else?
At the conclusion we write an article for publication to settle the discussion.