Rear axle steering
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 271
Likes: 30
From: Long Island, NY
Rear axle steering
How substantial is it for handling? Not concerned about parallel parking, more so feel around the Twisties.
(Apologies if this is an exhausted topic, I tried to search it and came up with nothing)
(Apologies if this is an exhausted topic, I tried to search it and came up with nothing)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,248
Likes: 892
From: Liberty Hill, TX
It gets discussed a lot. But it comes down to what you want….
For me, it totally makes the car better. More stable at speed, more planted, more agile and confidence inspiring. Some people don’t like the ‘artificiality’ of the feel. You will definitely feel it adjusting the rear end at times, and that is what it’s supposed to do. I also appreciate the smaller radius slow speed turns.
For me, very glad I have it and prefer it. I’ve never felt that I’m missing out on ‘classic 911’ handling with it, and can still get plenty of rear end slip when I want to.
Good luck!
ß
For me, it totally makes the car better. More stable at speed, more planted, more agile and confidence inspiring. Some people don’t like the ‘artificiality’ of the feel. You will definitely feel it adjusting the rear end at times, and that is what it’s supposed to do. I also appreciate the smaller radius slow speed turns.
For me, very glad I have it and prefer it. I’ve never felt that I’m missing out on ‘classic 911’ handling with it, and can still get plenty of rear end slip when I want to.
Good luck!
ß
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 271
Likes: 30
From: Long Island, NY
[QUOTE=S S;18586139]It gets discussed a lot. But it comes down to what you want….
For me, it totally makes the car better. More stable at speed, more planted, more agile and confidence inspiring. Some people don’t like the ‘artificiality’ of the feel. You will definitely feel it adjusting the rear end at times, and that is what it’s supposed to do. I also appreciate the smaller radius slow speed turns.
For me, very glad I have it and prefer it. I’ve never felt that I’m missing out on ‘classic 911’ handling with it, and can still get plenty of rear end slip when I want to.
Good luck!
So in essence if you did not have it you would miss it.
Thank you for the feedback
For me, it totally makes the car better. More stable at speed, more planted, more agile and confidence inspiring. Some people don’t like the ‘artificiality’ of the feel. You will definitely feel it adjusting the rear end at times, and that is what it’s supposed to do. I also appreciate the smaller radius slow speed turns.
For me, very glad I have it and prefer it. I’ve never felt that I’m missing out on ‘classic 911’ handling with it, and can still get plenty of rear end slip when I want to.
Good luck!
So in essence if you did not have it you would miss it.
Thank you for the feedback
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 548
Likes: 650
From: Colorado USA
When I decided to buy a 991 I drove cars with and without RAS. I immediately felt the difference and much preferred the ones with RAS. To me, it makes the car feel much smaller. It makes the 991 feel almost Cayman-like, or like older, smaller 911s but without the detriment of the engine behind the rear axle.
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 271
Likes: 30
From: Long Island, NY
When I decided to buy a 991 I drove cars with and without RAS. I immediately felt the difference and much preferred the ones with RAS. To me, it makes the car feel much smaller. It makes the 991 feel almost Cayman-like, or like older, smaller 911s but without the detriment of the engine behind the rear axle.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 89
Likes: 2
From: NoCal
I can't comment on "without" but will say that yes my 991.2 Carrera S feels a lot on track like my 2002 996 with sport suspension (030), very "light" on track and 100% responsive to driver input. Credit to Porsche engineers for making a ~3200lb car feel lighter than it is.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,248
Likes: 892
From: Liberty Hill, TX
Yes. Since you appear to be contemplating moving from the Cayman, as I did, you will definitely appreciate RAS. It will pretty much insure you don't miss your Cayman at all, in fact. Other than a slightly larger cabin feel, the car will definitely feel just as small on the road, as pointed out above.
Last edited by S S; Jan 22, 2023 at 11:42 AM.
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,957
Likes: 455
I have it on my 2019 C4S and like it. I sort of had to calibrate my brain to realize it’s going to turn quicker than a car that size normally would. Long ago and far away my 300Z Twin Turbo had a similar but cruder system as well. I think Honda Prelude Type S, long ago and far away, had it too.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 104
Likes: 43
I have it on my 2019 C4S and like it. I sort of had to calibrate my brain to realize it’s going to turn quicker than a car that size normally would. Long ago and far away my 300Z Twin Turbo had a similar but cruder system as well. I think Honda Prelude Type S, long ago and far away, had it too.
oeraonally it sounds to me like something else to break and need bushings etc replaced….
RL Community Team
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From: Doylestown, PA
You can't go wrong either way...
A car without RAS delivers a classic 911 driving experience like its forebears. The GT3 Cup cars don't have RAS.
A RAS equipped 911 turns quicker/sharper. It does give up just a little rear end feel compared to a non-RAS car. It's a fair compromise, but a compromise nonetheless.
The thing that people forget to tell you about... most RAS 911s are equipped with Porsche's Lithium battery which provides more consistent voltage over the battery's state of charge. Replacement costs of the Porsche Lithium battery are not inconsequential and there's no easy path for retrofit given how it connects to the car. It's not going to bankrupt anyone buying a 911, but the replacement cost is about 5-10x the standard battery cost. Not a negative per se, but an important FYI.
A car without RAS delivers a classic 911 driving experience like its forebears. The GT3 Cup cars don't have RAS.
A RAS equipped 911 turns quicker/sharper. It does give up just a little rear end feel compared to a non-RAS car. It's a fair compromise, but a compromise nonetheless.
The thing that people forget to tell you about... most RAS 911s are equipped with Porsche's Lithium battery which provides more consistent voltage over the battery's state of charge. Replacement costs of the Porsche Lithium battery are not inconsequential and there's no easy path for retrofit given how it connects to the car. It's not going to bankrupt anyone buying a 911, but the replacement cost is about 5-10x the standard battery cost. Not a negative per se, but an important FYI.