Hello, I have a question for those who have experience with rear axle steering. Is this option really worth it at $2K? Or is this just something else to need repair in the future?

 

Disclaimer - I have not owned a car with rear wheel steering. My thoughts - i think it totally depends on how you are going to use the vehicle. I have owned a few sports cars that handle well (C6 Vette, C7 Vette, 718 Cayman, now 992 C2) and I have NEVER felt a "need" to have a vehicle with rear wheel steering. The "base" configuration of the suspension / steering met my needs well. I don't track the car. I think if you're honest with yourself and capable of driving a vehicle at 10/10ths then maybe you'd benefit from it. My experience is two-fold: 1) most car in this realm are far more competent than the driver and 2) most drivers aren't as good as they think they are. I've done a fair amount of bicycle racing (TT, road, a few crits) so I understand competition and knowing your own skills and being honest with yourself.

 

There are quite a few threads about rear axle steering on this forum. I would recommend reading through the previous threads...

With that said, I personally enjoy RAS on my car. It's up to the individual to determine if it's worth the $2K in comparison with other options you may choose to forgo or whether to increase the overall budget of your car. I was torn btw adding RAS and FAL. I let my order lock with RAS and w/o FAL. I immediately regretted it and wished I went with FAL instead of RAS. However, now that I've had my car coming up on two months and 1500 miles, I really like the RAS and don't miss the FAL at all. The RAS allows for excellently tight turning radius, makes it super easy to back into parking stalls even when your car is not angled optimally, makes u-turns on tight roads a breeze and does impart a sense fo confidence when making quick, tight turns. Very fast lane changes were a bit of a surprise for me. I had a 300ZX TT with RAS that sort of did a sideways, very stable, crab walk when doing very quick lane changes and expected the 992 w/ RAS to behave the same. Instead, to me, the 992 feels more like it slithers when doing very quick lane changes at speed rather than a sideways crab walk (which is how the car should behave when the rear tires turn in the same direction as the fronts at higher speeds). The 992 does feel exceptionally stable when making fast lane changes though.

I'm sure it helps with handling as it is standard on the GT3s so Porsche thinks it's worth the added complexity for the performance to have it on their track weapon model.

With all that said, would I have missed RAS if I didn't have it? Probably not. Perhaps I'd regret not opting it when making those tight U-turns and backing into parking stalls, but it's not like the 992 w/o RAS has a huge turning radius anyway.

In terms of complexity and maintenance, it is a very basic electric RAS system used in other cars as well rather than a hydraulic system that is more complicated to repair. It also comes w/ a lithium ion battery which is lighter and should last longer than conventional batteries, but requires a LiON battery trickle charger if you are going to not drive the car for extended periods - like storing it for the winter.

Unlike other options RAS isn't something that you'd necessarily miss or has any detrimental impact on resale if you spec it or not.

 

It was worth it for me. I love it, especially at low speeds and parking (that’s just when the feature is most obvious to me on a daily basis).

The whole car is something to repair in the future, RAS is not that sophisticated.

 

If that is really your question, then the answer is yes.

At 2k, it's only something like 1.5% of the MSRP of an average 911 build (or ~150k).

So for 1.5% of your MSRP (which doesn't even include tax, title, registration, etc.), yes, it's absolutely worth it.

 

How is the reliability of the RAS system?

 

Common question re: reliability. No one seems to have an real answer based on actual data.

If you think about it, front axle steering is pretty reliable nowadays, so the rear axle steering should be pretty solid. There haven’t been too many complaints about RAS failures.

Is it worth it? Sure, why not. Some claim the car feels more “pure” without it, but these cars are so corrupted with technology nowadays, I’m not even sure what that means. Personally, I don’t really think there is a downside. Don’t expect miracles.

 

I can honestly say I didn’t notice it on the 2017 C4S I owned. I did not spec it on the 992 I may see some day. These are still small cars so I don’t get the “it’s good for parking” thing but to each their own.

 

I've had RAS on both my 991 GT3 and RS; no issues whatsoever in over 4 years of ownership.

Just anecdotal, of course, which is what I suppose the only type of evidence you're going to get asking on a forum.

 

If you want a classic 911 feel, skip RAS.
If you want the best possible nimble manners, include RAS.

It’s a relatively inexpensive option that impacts the performance and character of the car. Many owners will tell you that they can’t feel it, which tells you that RAS works very well.

IMHO, it’s not a must have. For me, I prefer the way that a 911 handles without it. When you really push the car, with RAS, it feels like you’re sacrificing a little communication with the backend of the car. Again, that’s just my personal relationship with the “feeling” of the car. Your experience may vary. RAS is/can be a matter of taste.

For those who like spec’ing their builds with the GT3 in mind, yes the GT3 street cars have RAS, but Porsche skips the feature on the Cup cars.

So, yeah, you can’t go wrong either way here. 😜

 

Exactly!

 

For a street (no track) car - I often question whether RAS on my 992 C2S is actually working or worth it. Yes it will pull a U-turn very tightly, but otherwise I have to question if it is doing anything. On 90 degree turns, if I take them very fast (for me), it does feel like the rear end "comes around" very very quickly - but my wife thinks the car is sliding - but since I can't hear or feel anything - I'll credit the RAS.

I have had one "RAS Disabled, continue driving" type warning which popped up then disappeared one morning - and since I was literally going to get it aligned they told me the rear was out of alignment but said nothing of the code. That was 5K miles ago and I've seen nothing else in my 8K miles on my 2020.

I would spec it again.

 

Plus, RAS is not exactly new tech.

Nissan debuted it in the Nissan R31 Skyline GT-R back in 1985.

Honda had it way back in 1988 in the Prelude (remember that car?).

So we're going on nearly 3 decades of this "technology." It's probably older than electric power assisted steering (EPAS), which is basically in 99% of the cars on the road.

 

Yes!! The Prelude Si 4WS. From the great Bubble economy era of Japanese tech. No budgets, no limits. Not gonna lie - that Prelude is partly why I like Porsche’s RWS.

The Prelude system was mechanical, but like most of those Japanese cars, reliable (from what I’ve heard anyway). Way more extreme than the Porsche version - you could really see the rear wheels move. That’s my favorite Prelude of all time - came out right around when I turned 12 and in the prime of my car obsessiveness. I’ve never had the chance to drive one, which is a bummer.

 

"It's good for parking" because, with RAS, these small cars need even less space to maneuver whilst parking. In tight spaces in the city that can be helpful and make things just a bit easier. Is it absolutely necessary? I guess not. Is it nice? is it "good"? Yeah.

EDIT: I totally support the "to each their own" mantra for any car option, but the practical appeal of RAS seems obvious.