leslie

I have been toying with the idea of swapping my 993 RS for a 993 TT.
The logic behind the excercise is that I would gain 100 hp and enjoy the creature comforts (sound insulation, rear seats, 4 wheel drive, central locking, powered seats etc) of the 993tt at the expense of the intimateness and immediacy of the 993 rs experience. I felt that the rest of the family would be able to enjoy the 993 experience much more with a less extreme 993.
However, the one thing I was certain I wanted to change about a standard 993 tt would be the suspension.

Today, I had the opportunity to sample a 96 993tt in Speed Yellow which has a newly fitted techart suspension kit.

The additional power was addictive but I just couldn't get used to the relatively more vague clutch, gearshift as well as the overall 'detatchment' of the driving experience. Another aspect of the 993 tt that came out in the test drive was the obvious bulk of the car as compared to the 993 rs.

Don't get me wrong! I think the 993 tt is an awesome driving experience but after living with the 993 rs as a daily driver for the last year, I think that it is really hard to change into anything else. I have decided that I shall stick to the rs for the time being. Am I doing the right thing?

WillBank

I have been thinking about what it would be like to do the same thing in reverse... It is a shame that you are in Singapore because I would loan you my car for a weekend if you would allow me to sample the RS for more than the 5 miles that I have ever been out in one.

Personally, I love the TT's comfort factor as it is much easier on those members of the family who are not quite so Pcar obsessed. But that is hardly the point is it

Keep us posted on what you do - and have fun. Best, W

TB993tt

Leslie
The hydraulic actuation of the tt clutch gives it the vagueness you describe. When you have a GT2/RS flywheel on the 993tt it makes it even worse
The realtive detatchment you describe, I feel is down to the various bushings used in the tt which are much softer than the RS and IMHO a bit squishy. I have GT2 road suspension on which uses similar set up to your RS and the car "feels" much taughter and less bulky than stock. You'll never get away from the fact that the tt weighs some 250kg more than an RS though.
Have you considered turbocharging or supercharging your RS. Gemballa produced his wild 600 GTR a few years back which was based on 993RS with even lighter bodypanels and 570hp twin turbo RS motor

993RS

Leslie,
I know what you mean. I have been gradually approaching RS specs. Next week I am installing monoball front and rear. The tighter the better for my taste. Still I will weigh about 100 kilos more than a real RS, but do not mind, because I have sound proofing, rear seats, A/C, central locking. (even a sun roof...)
I find all other stock 993s and 996s (turbos included) feel loose in curves.
I like the tubo kick, but do not like the turbo lag (small, but still there); my car, with the single mass flywheel responds immediately.

Mr Michael B

"...I have decided that I shall stick to the RS for the time being. Am I doing the right thing?.."

Leslie,

You are doing the right thing.

The TT is a fine machine w/o a doubt, however it is obviously best suited for the masses - than for a Sportscar extremist (like an RS owner, or myself perhaps).

I found the weight of a TT over my "basic" '95 to be overwhelming. The TT is certainly more powerful, but it lacks the "total package" that I seem to gravitate too. I think the TT is a GRAND - grand tourer, but the sportscar has been diluted within its content.

I came from the turbo ranks before I landed in my 993 (441 dynoed HP 930, then a Parade concours winning Big HP C2T), they too of course felt heavy/big. I sold them both in search of a "real sportscar." I found what I was looking for in my 1995 (I can only imagine your RS is even that much better).

Your a lucky man. Enjoy your true sportscar.

Joe@Fabspeed

Both cars are great. The 993 RS is really unique and rare......a rare sight in Singapore.

Basically, if you want a 993TT to feel like a 2800lb 993RS you'll have the make the simple "bolt-on" 993 RS suspension modifications to any 993TT to get that same "feel" of the 993 RS. Its doable. The hard thing to achieve is some weight loss.

The ultimate option is to ship RUF Germany your engine or have them fly 2 mechanics over and convert your 993RS to RUF RCT 993 and have 430-450HP. I am contemplating this myself ......as you'll basically have a narrowbody GT2 - 2 wheel drive, bigbrakes, lightweight, A/C, and outrageous power with an easy to service engine and transmission. Atleast in the shortterm youre cruising Singapore in an RS. Life is good.

Mr Michael B

"...if you want a 993TT to feel like a 2800lb 993RS you'll have the make the simple "bolt-on" 993 RS suspension modifications to any 993TT to get that same "feel" of the 993 RS..."

I truly doubt that a 3300+ lb TT will ever feel like a 2800 lb RS. No matter how "simple" the bolt on suspension. I think the original poster even mentioned that the TT he drove had the "techart" suspension package, yet of course still felt the "obvious bulk."

Not to be argumentative, but the TT is just a grand tourer. Your RUF conversion idea on a RS has much more merit (albiet expensive). However I think that even the RUF package may still take away from the "ultimate sportscar package" that the RS has so clearly already perfected.

Just my opinion.

Yellow

Leslie,
You're certainly enjoying a high-class problem to have in Singapore. I must hook up with you with I do return for a vacation.

TB993tt

Michael B wrote:
I truly doubt that a 3300+ lb TT will ever feel like a 2800 lb RS. No matter how "simple" the bolt on suspension. I think the original poster even mentioned that the TT he drove had the "techart" suspension package, yet of course still felt the "obvious bulk."

If the bolt on suspension is not so "simple" but a complete Porsche developed GT2 road package specifically for the 993tt costing $12000 at retail + fitting and included every suspension component you could think of - then yes a 3300lb 993tt can "feel" like a GT2/RS <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

ZCAT3

Michael - now you tell me. I sold my 95 993 to buy my 96 TT and now you tell me I had it right before! What is a "pure sportscar" is of course a matter of opinion. Both the N/A 993 and the 993TT are pretty cushy in my opinion. My wife and I drove our TT from Dallas to SF in a few days and it was a very comfortable trip (even with the lowered suspension on my car) - so I get the touring aspect you are referring to. We also took a one day 900 mile drive through California one day last summer in our 95 993 and that was very comfortable as well. I think the best "pure" sports car I have owned was my 87 911 (which I traded in for the 95 993).

But Leslie's question was whether the 993TT is something his family could better enjoy with him. I think the answer to that is definitely yes. The 993TT is the height of Porsche air-cooled technology and does everthing a regular 911 does better. I have never driven an RS, but imagine it handles crisper and transmits much more of the road to the cabin than a stock 993 or 993TT. You would lose some of this with the TT, but wasn't that the point of the question - is the 993TT more suitable for my family to enjoy the car with me.

Joe@Fabspeed

A couple more factors to consider for our friend in Singapore. The 993RS is as fast if not faster than a 993TT in virtually all conditions. Perhaps at the dragstrip or at topspeed you be slightly slower in a 993TT or TT"S". Unless modified heavily or when driven by an excellent driver a 993TT wont runaway from a 993RS.

In Singapore with crowded streets.....the driveability of the 3.8L engine and the rarity of a 993RS would have me leaning towards the RS. It rides like a creampuff on its doublesprings and monoballs. If you have A/C and other creature comforts on your RS.....you wont gain anything in terms of "easier living" with a 993TT.

The only thing that could possibly lessen taking the family out for a ride in the 993RS would be if you have REcaro SPG seats and the behind the seats rollbar. If you dont have any of these parts.......youll most likely end up intsalling them on the 993TT and trying to strip out 200-250lbs to get the TT to fell more like the RS.

What color 993RS do you have.......any photos.

Have a great day!
<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Mr Michael B

Zcat (Bill),

Your 100% correct about the "pure sportscar" concept you note. And of course my 1995 is only a "real sportscar" in comparison to a heavy 993TT or 996TT for that matter (no matter how much I admire either of them).

Of course I meant that the 993RS was the "true sportscar," and that my 1995 "basic" was just the right amount - for little 'ol me.

If I had to place the label on a true sportscar I think I would say "Lotus Elise" or '73 Carrera, the 993RS, maybe a 914 2.0, etc, etc. Again, not saying anything is wrong w/ a TT, just that from my point of view (pro racer) the TT (stock or modded) feels/is much too heavy. However, with that said, it is a great car for the family (or a long highway cruise). Just not for me (but again, I do like them).

I would gather that the 993RS owner feels the same way as I do, that is after reading his report of his test drives in the TT's he has experienced.

I have a very sensitive back side. My hands & arms are also sensitive. I feel the weight differential as an extreme. I did not ask for it to be that way, it is just so.

Call me crazy.

Joe (?) "Clubsport" brought up some good points too. But your right, the TT is best suited for family use over an RS.

leslie

Firstly, thank you everyone for all your valuable inputs. As usual, the quality of this community is fantastic. <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

I agree 100% with the observation that life is currently very good for me and this is one of those dilemmas that you look back upon later and reflect how sweet life can be.

Thank you for all the input about modifying/turbo charging/supercharging the RS but it is not a route that I want to explore because of two reasons. Firstly, this car is rare ( 1 of approx 100 right hand drive 993RS made) and I am quite happy to be 'burdened' with the responsibility of keeping it as stock as possible. Secondly, one aspect about the 993 rs love affair that I have is the ability to have plenty of fun in this car at relatively lower speeds due to the intimateness of the driving experience. The sometimes overwhelming barrage of feedback you get when driving an RS is a key aspect of it's specialness. Although very different in total package terms, the Lotus Elise is similar in this aspect.

A little bit about my car. It is a 95 Midnight blue RHD 993 RS touring (i.e. a/c, airbags, powered windows,sports seats&lt;not the fixed back ones&gt;, no roll cage).
Here are a couple of photos.



ZCAT3: I fully agree with you about the family being much more comfortable in the 993tt but I need to balance the needs of the family and mine. I was hoping that the overall package of the 993tt would be able to substitute the current package that I have in the 993rs. Namely, the additional power, creature comforts and civility of the tt would make up for the loss of, principally, the intimateness of the rs experience. One factor that bugged me a little about the speed yellow car I tried was that I had the nagging suspicision that the car was slightly neglected and thus at only 85%-type of condition. This I think detracted a little from the overall impressions when taking the car for a test drive.

I had a long discussion with another 993 tt owner yesterday and we came to the conclusion that perhaps the car I tried was not the best example and there is another 993tt for sale that I should go and try out (silver 97 car with a lot less mileage(7500 miles!)). Whatever the outcome of that, I will keep the board posted.

As pointed out earlier, thanks folks for all the inputs. <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" /> <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" /> <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

scott watkins

Leslie,

I will make you a deal you cannot refuse. I will trade you my '00 996 in sy. Your family will love the comfort, and I will take care of shipping from the states.

Scott

leslie

Scott,

We drive on the 'wrong' side of the road here! But thanks anyways for the offer.


On a unrelated note, managed to dig out an old copy of Evo (Jan 1999) where there was a short write up of a roadtrip involving a 993 GT2 and a Viper GTS-R. Just looking at the pictures and reading the article gives me a real rush! Does anyone know how much the RHD GT2 are being sold for in the UK?