Advice on the 993 RS

Advice on the 993 RS

Author
Discussion

Macca993

Original Poster:

532 posts

266 months

Monday 19th May 2003
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Hi Guys,

Im from New Zealand. I am an avid Porsche enthusiast. I have been driving a 993 C2 for the last few years and hanging out on the rennlist board. I also have an Audi RS2....
Anyway, shortly to pick up my 993 RS (the C2 will be finding a new home). The car is RHD with 68,000km. It has been used for commuting in the last few years, but has been regularly maintained (I have all bills). The valve/timing covers are showing some signs of leaking (seems like these have been replaced before).

I am concerned the mileage is high and was hoping a fellow 993 RS owner could help me. I would like to know as much as possible on these cars. I have the 993 RS Service Information Technik 1996 and have done around 100+ hours looking at info on the web.

Granted I have yet to drive my new purchase (long distance transaction), but I would like to know what I should be looking for in maintenance and care? I have a set of GT3 wheels, should I be replacing the speedlines? They seem a bit fragile. etc etc

Thanks in advance guys. Like the style around here. The US site gets a bit anal/PC these days and theres nothing like a bit of creative colourful prose, like that I have red on this forum!!!

Cheers

Macca

clubsport

7,371 posts

273 months

Monday 19th May 2003
quotequote all
Congratusltions on your purchase...the Speedlines are worth keeping as they are so hard to find.I am sure with the cars mileage they will either have been refurbed or needing it.flexing around the allen bolts,splits the lacquer,leading to corrosion etc..
The thing with the GT3 wheels is the width,I thought they were slightly wider on GT3,you have to get the same offset as any size diffrenece can cause problems with the ABS system.I would definitely run other wheels for regular use.
9M is a font of knowledge on these,the other guy it would be worth checking with is paul Howells who is the register secretary of 993RS at the Porsche club GB.

A websire www.993RS.com is being set up for info,but don't think it is live yet.

Macca993

Original Poster:

532 posts

266 months

Monday 19th May 2003
quotequote all
Thanks Clubsport,

The wheels have not yet been refurbished and they are starting to show signs of aging as you mentioned. Frankly there are few pwople here (NZ) I would entrust with this work.......the GT3 wheels I have are the same offset (52/65). The front rim is 7.5J (vs 8J) for the speedlines and the rears are the same at 10J. I am pretty sure they will fit without any issues. I will keep the speedlines for provedence value!

Wiring loom has been replaced. The car has had an 'off track excursion in the past, but the repaire work appears to be A1. My concerns centre around the mechanical - not sure if its recommended to rebuild these engines regularly, and I hope not! The car only did a handful of track days but has been a daily driver for most of its 7 years (42000 miles).

Do you have the Porsche Club GB website address?

Cheers

Macca

dazren

22,612 posts

276 months

Monday 19th May 2003
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randeria

77 posts

299 months

Monday 19th May 2003
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Macca

Good purchase - don't worry about the mileage. I bought my 993RS in Germany, and it now has something like 85000 kms. Despite this "high mileage" (which isn't really high at all) it had no probs doing 400 miles today, of which 150 miles were round Castle Combe race track (in the west of England) or 200 miles round Goodwood (South coast)a couple of weeks ago.

The 993RS is designed to be driven. Service it well, spend more money on it than you would a normal C2, but drive it hard and you will be rewarded with one of the most awesome drives ever. These cars grow with you - just when you think you know how to drive them, they show you something new. Last year a whole load of car people (engineers, drivers, journos etc) got together with Autocar and voted it the second best car of all time - after the Maclaren F1 - for good reason too! I love my RS and can not see myself ever selling it.

Good luck with the new purchase, and put a post on this forum to let us know how you get along.

Zubin

johnny senna

4,073 posts

287 months

Monday 19th May 2003
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randeria said: Macca

Last year a whole load of car people (engineers, drivers, journos etc) got together with Autocar and voted it the second best car of all time - after the Maclaren F1 - for good reason too!
Zubin


That is cool. Have you got any details on this survey? Was it about the RS model specifically, or all 993's?

Macca993

Original Poster:

532 posts

266 months

Tuesday 20th May 2003
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Thanks Guys for all your help.

How many people on this board have a 993RS? I see lots written about them but not sure who the owners are?

Do many use them as daily transport?

Kind Regards

Macca

murray

413 posts

298 months

Tuesday 20th May 2003
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I've got one which I bought after a passenger ride with Zubin at Llandow last year. Not used as a daily driver, mainly use it for trackdays, particularly on the continent. I've done about 6,500 miles in the last year with no problems whatsoever with the car, still feels brand new with a level of build quality you just don't seem to get anymore. Can't see what Porsche I'd ever replace it with.

Jim

GuyR

2,452 posts

297 months

Tuesday 20th May 2003
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Yep - i've got a 993 RS in black.

It is just such a quality pure sports car, feels like you could drive it to the moon with no problems and do a trackday when you are there.......

Macca993

Original Poster:

532 posts

266 months

Tuesday 20th May 2003
quotequote all
Thanks Jina and GUYR. Thats just doubled the number of people who I know of with the cars!

Is there anything I should look for when the RS arrives? Is there anywhere I should be looking for information on these cars? It appears there isnt much to be found in the way of books/literature on the web or otherwise.

My car is RHD comfort spec with electric windows, air con and air bags. The seats are not bucket but they are sport (non electric). The car is in Midnight Metallic Blue and is Vin no. XXXXXXXXX0436. I am thinking of replacing valve and timing cover seals early on and possibly have a full engine "refresh". The car has travelled much of the last 20Km in traffic conditions.

Really value your guys feeback. Thanks.

Cheers

Macca the Kiwi

TEE

141 posts

282 months

Tuesday 20th May 2003
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What is the going rate for a well maintained, unmodified LHD/RHD car with less than 40,000 miles?

domster

8,431 posts

285 months

Tuesday 20th May 2003
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Roughly speaking:

45k LHD

60k RHD

if you weren't fussed about mileage/condition, you could probably knock 10k off each figure at best

In the long term, this has meant that the 993RS has held its value better than any other 993.


ninemeister

1,146 posts

273 months

Tuesday 20th May 2003
quotequote all
Been there, done that, wearin' the T-shirt; mine's a Speed Yella Clubsport

I thrash the bo**ocks off mine on regular occasions, and apart from regular discs, pads and routine servicing, the only expensive bits have been 2 clutches, a top end rebuild (after a friend(!) buzzed it on a track day) and a rebuild of the limited slip diff to sort out the odd squirm from the back end. Four sets of tyres have been consumed in 28,000km, the car having 12,000 on it when I aquired it.

A couple of minor oil leaks are present, but given the thrashing it takes I'm not complaining, besides it gives me the perfect excuse to take the engine out soon an put together the first 993RS Motec +1 package.

Definitely the best car I will ever own, period.

TEE

141 posts

282 months

Tuesday 20th May 2003
quotequote all
Thanks for the guidance.

How much is a set of track tyres, clutch or pads replacement? Or differently if I do 10 trackdays assuming normal wear and tear what should my running cost be? Not much in additional road mileage other then to and from the track.

Cheers

GuyR

2,452 posts

297 months

Tuesday 20th May 2003
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Ninemeister,

Any update on the +1 package for the 993RS?

I just keep thinking that 350bhp naturally aspirated would push along 1270kg really nicely.......

Guy

ninemeister

1,146 posts

273 months

Tuesday 20th May 2003
quotequote all
The cylinder heads are in the production line for porting soon, once these are prepped I'm whippin' me engine out and clopping them on the top of the standard barrels, the 9m cams/springs/retainers are in stock, as is a Motec ecu and wiring harness. The Variocram will be going into the spares pile as well. The target is to get 352bhp & 440Nm which is the pro-rata increase on what we achieved with the 964RS M+1 at 339/322. Keeping the hydraulic followers and standard pistons seems the logical way to go for the first package, although the heads will have to be replaced with our specials as the intake port design is just plain wrong.

The tyres last me a season of speed events and trackdays, or around 2000 miles on the back and 3500 on the front. I currently have Pirelli P zero C all round, 245 front and 285 rear on Cargraphic 8.5 & 10" rims, although we have really stretched the rear arches to get them to cover these boots. If anyone wants a set of C's I have one spare set left at £170+VAT per corner, once these are gone I will probably put on the new Corsa.

Macca993

Original Poster:

532 posts

266 months

Tuesday 20th May 2003
quotequote all
9M,

Thanks for the info. Are the LSD's a problem on these cars? I hear lots of stories about LSD's no longer worling etc.

What are the symptoms.

Cheers

TEE

141 posts

282 months

Thursday 22nd May 2003
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I am currently looking at a couple cars and have a few questions:

1. Should I be looking at the clubsport (prefer the looks of the standard RS)? Does the spoiler package add alot?

2. How difficult and costly is it to add cage?

3. Most cars I have seen sem to have the comfort seats. How much are a pair of bucket seats for the car?

4. Some claim that the have sport suspension. Would that mean they made chances over the original factory set-up?

5. Do the breaks need upgrading?

6. Do the standard rims need replacing for heavy track use? I remember reading at verious times that the Speedline wheels are not the best.

7. Anything else I should be cautious of?

thanks in advance.

ninemeister

1,146 posts

273 months

Thursday 22nd May 2003
quotequote all
1. Should I be looking at the clubsport (prefer the looks of the standard RS)? Does the spoiler package add alot?

It all comes down to personnal choice. I have a CS so I'm biased, but if you want a safe ultimate track toy then buy the clubbie and fit carpets or wear earplugs. If you want a quiet, pretty road car that is safe on the track, buy the standard and fit a cage.

2. How difficult and costly is it to add cage?

You should budget for around £1000-1500 for a decent cage, fitted with a harness bar and a set of harnesses. Don't expect to get any use out of the back seats though, you won't even get a briefcase behind the seat, I struggle getting the kit bag with helmet into the back of the CS.

3. Most cars I have seen sem to have the comfort seats. How much are a pair of bucket seats for the car?

Buy a car with Recaro buckets or walk away, a pair of SPG's with all the goodies will end up at £1500 or more.

4. Some claim that the have sport suspension. Would that mean they made chances over the original factory set-up?

All 993RS's have the same basic suspension.

5. Do the breaks need upgrading?

The brakes are fine but will need pads for ultimate track use, and ultimate pads wear out discs. You can tell a well driven car by the colour of the calipers, try hard and the paint turns a dark orange colour with brown lettering. Not sure what breaks though.

6. Do the standard rims need replacing for heavy track use? I remember reading at verious times that the Speedline wheels are not the best.

The speedlines are fine for track use but do not expect them to last forever. I have Cargraphics on mine which have been ok but are a little tired now after 3 years abuse, some of the rim edges have suffered but they are all still round. The lightest I have seen are the US Fikse (Fiske?) 3 piece wheels which have forged centres and are good and strong. Check out the BBS mag racing wheel as well, along with Dymags possibly if money is no object.

7. Anything else I should be cautious of?

The lim slip plates wear quickly, characterised by a nervous back end, showing little or no locking effect when the wheels are lifted and turned by hand. A new set is around £500 fitted, and expect to replace them frequently if tracking the car.

Finally all 993RS's are alarmingly sensitive to steering inputs when set up to factory specifications but a straightforward geometry reset to alternative settings will sort the "sneeze and I'm in the slow lane" tendencies. And no, I'm not telling you what my settings are.

TEE

141 posts

282 months

Thursday 22nd May 2003
quotequote all
ninemeister

As always helpful and much apprechiated comments.

Cheers


TEE