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Seriously, you don't 'need' RAS in a modern 911. Porsche themselves admit that by making it an option.
nobody frankly needs a 911 in the first place, but that argument floats for 95% of the options on the 911... you can build a 992 for $90K in the US or for $195K... how much of that is need and how much is WANT?
I wouldn't order a modern 911 without it. It's too useful and too capable to not have...and these cars are all numb or "anti" Porsche in many characteristics compared to a g body, 964 or even 996/7, so why not have it be optimal?? PDCC however...no way don't care for it on any car I've had it on...
I think people need to be cognizant of the fact that not all options on the list are good (for a particular buyer). Checking all the boxes does not necessarily result in a better car. In many cases, options make the car drive worse in my experience. Not specifically saying this about RAS, because I haven't done the due diligence to decide if I like it or not. But many experienced people I know prefer a 911 without PDCC, Power Steering Plus, AWD, PDK, etc.
This thread has been interesting. It's made me really think about whether to keep RAS on the build.
If the RAS was a zero cost option - would you pick it? For me - why not. There seems to be a benefit - though I suspect it's not as earth shattering as some posts make it out to be.
That said, I'm pretty sure if there was a car on the lot that had everything I wanted *but* RAS, I'd buy it and not think twice about it. So it's not a make or break thing for me.
We all have to draw the line somewhere with these things, but $2k shouldn't be make or break on a car like this. I'd cut the superficial stuff before performance on a 911.
A legit argument can be made that the feel of the car is different and one prefers the feel of the car without it. That's the point I struggle with since I can't compare cars locally. But enough people seem to endorse the benefit that I'm leaving it on the build. The fact that Porsche put it on the 911R carries weight for me too. That was their "back to basics" car and they still felt RAS was worth keeping. But nothing I've read has convinced me it's a "must have" option.
That said, I'm pretty sure if there was a car on the lot that had everything I wanted *but* RAS, I'd buy it and not think twice about it. So it's not a make or break thing for me.
I was faced with that decision and ended up getting a non-RAS dealer spec'd car despite configuring a custom build that had RAS/PDCC.
The dealer ordered car had literally everything else that was in my build. I haven't thought twice about it.
From the Porsche 992 press kit:
The steering on the 992 is 10% more direct vs the 991 for cars without RAS, and 6% more direct for cars with RAS.
I have RAS on my SPASM equipped 992 Carrera 2 S and really notice how it enhances maneuverability at lower speeds.
I drove both the 991.2 GTS and 992 C2S at PEC LA, the GTS was equipped with RAS, SPASM and PDCC, the 992 with RAS and SPASM only. Since you can’t turn RAS off, I cant really comment as to whether the car handles better with it, but the table above would seem to indicate that the improvement is small. However, in my opinion, since it “only” costs $2,090 to add this, I’d say its a worthwhile addition.
Now in the case of the PDCC, I was able to turn it on and off while driving and I could not tell the difference. This makes sense as the supposed benefit of PDCC is to reduce body roll, which on a 911 with the 10mm lowered sport PASM is pretty insignificant. Hence, with a cost of $3,170, I concluded it was not worthwhile adding
G650 - PDCC can't be turned off. It is deceiving, I know, because (at least in the 991), "PDCC" is on the chassis button of later model 991s. That is just to tell you that the car has PDCC. The button itself is not turning on or off the PDCC. It is only changing the chassis from normal to sport chassis setting.
I think the fact that it comes standard on both the GT3 and the GT3 RS speaks volumes of what the engineers in the GT division think of the option. If they were lukewarm on its performance benefits, they would throw it in the trash bin for the sake of weight savings.
I think the fact that it comes standard on both the GT3 and the GT3 RS speaks volumes of what the engineers in the GT division think of the option. If they were lukewarm on its performance benefits, they would throw it in the trash bin for the sake of weight savings.
So, is that why GT cars do not come with PDCC? Even as an option?
But more importantly, lots of people are speccing RAS not so much for performance but for convenience. As in, it makes it easier to park or maneuver in tight quarters versus I can shave some X tenths of a nanosecond off of my HPDE lap.
I think the fact that it comes standard on both the GT3 and the GT3 RS speaks volumes of what the engineers in the GT division think of the option. If they were lukewarm on its performance benefits, they would throw it in the trash bin for the sake of weight savings.
01-22-2020, 02:11 PM
