supercup

Ok,

Here are some more photos for you all to enjoy. I was able to put some miles on my car today (140) and have some first impressions versus my 996 GT2.

RS - First Impressions.
Seats are big improvement over 996 sport seat. Stereo is a big improvement. Steering wheel is too big. The plastic on the steering wheel looks very poor. I have rattles in the steering column and the right rear interior panel (not good in a car with than 150 miles). Clutch is stiffer than GT2. Clutch engagement is quite easy for a single mass flywheel. Car sounds odd at idle. Rattle from singel mass flywheel when in neutral with the clutch out sound like pin ***** in a machine, instead of gears in a gear box. Car feels wide and heavy (this might be because my last 12 hours in a car were in my Cup car). No thoughts on sound yet since it doesn't wake up until 4,200 and I am trying to be nice to it for awhile.

RS vs GT2 - stock vs stock

GT2 is substanially faster and has a lot more squat when you nail the gas. Steering is lighter in the GT2, but the RS feels much more precise. RS is on rails, as is the GT2, but the RS is less sensitive to changes in throttle input. The GT2 will make immediate direction changes with throttle changes, the RS is a more settled.

The RS is much more civil, so may be better street car, although the GT2 is still a bit more exciting due to its raw acceleration.

RS vs GT2 modified (GIAC controller, EP II exhaust, DV's, moton's, steel brakes, intake etc...).

This is only relevant because I could not sell my 2003 GT2 with 8,000 miles with a lot of modifications at $120K. I did put back to stock and sell for $110K and sold off the parts for about $15k. The RS cost another $25k, so you could add a lot more mods to the GT2 with the added $25K.

All that being said if you want the fastest 911 car out there (this assumes you can drive like a pro) the GT2 with mods will hand the RS its lunch. On the track a well set up (this is hard to accomplish) well driven GT2 will be faster, but will have a lot more drama to get the most out of it. Going fast in a GT2 will be very/more rewarding.

My guess however is 90-95% of the population will be faster in an RS than a GT2. The RS seems much more sorted right out of the box and seems to stick like glue with absolutely no drama. I really need more time in it to have a true comparison, but these are my first impressions. Both are awesome cars.

I like the RS very much and as of today consider it an acceptable replacement to the GT2. But my guess is in 15 years those with GT2's will be very happy they have them. It is the last true "extreme drivers car" Porsche will ever build. GT2 is all about you and the car, you never get in and think I can just go hammer it without thinking about what you are doing. The RS feels more like you can hammer it with confidence. I will be watching the GT2 market and if I see something nice (2004 or 2005) my guess is I might just sneak another one the garage.

JCM

dmc90025

gotta say it is one beauty, great shots. I got to get one! Been kicking around the idea of a used GT2 but no time to invest learning its quirks. No one loves the blast of accelerating better than me though I have learned to appreciate other advantages these cars bring. Congratulations on your RS.

RJFabCab

Thanks for the early impressions. Beautiful car BTW... the deviated stitching looks terrific.

So, what will you rip out first? The seats?

You miss the sheer rush of the GT2, but I'm interested in what your track impressions are of the RS, especially since you know Cup cars.

Cheers

supercup

I will post track inpression once I get a chance to get there, but most likely won't be for awhile. I see it as a street car and will only track it a few times a year at the most.

JCM

icon

are you considering a 997gt2 john?

John Velasco

Is the black surround around the Nav a custom order or stock?
jv

magwheel

I am!!! da Mags

supercup

That is an exclusive option.

JCM

supercup

Not a new one for sure. After seeing the depreciation of the 996 GT2, I will sit that one out and buy a slightly used one if it fits my needs.

When the 996 GT2 was announce I put a deposit down, then the dealer returned it 9 months later saying they could not fill the order. A year after that they called and offered me a new one, but the depreciation had already begun and I was waiting to see if the RS would come our way. When we could not get that I went looking for a GT2 and found mine with 400 miles for about $70K off sticker.

My guess is the next GT2 will be similar in cost to the last and the depreciation will be big. So time will tell.

JCM

BobbyC

JCM - Beautiful car (of course ) and good write up. Thanks for your comparison with the GT2.

JJayB

John,
Great write up. So the question is Sofronas can run a 1:28 in a prepped GT2 at Big Willow, How close can you get in your RS? Hummm, I'll call you and we can discuss over lunch.

Joe S.

Beautiful car! Great write up too.

03-turbo911

Excellent write-up! You're right in that the RS is pretty sorted in factory specs.

richk

Beautiful car and great write up....I went for deviated stitching as well....2 more painful days until delivery.

NelsonF

Thanks for the write up. It's great validation for the previous GT2 for which I am partial. I appreciate my modded GT2 more each time I drive it and agree it's likely the last of the raw cars that we'll see from P. However, I suspect that the RS will grow on you with more time behind the wheel.