Tuesday 17th September 2013

Build your own CSR

Cherry pick your own 911 upgrades as part of RPM's CSR programme

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Like the look of the RPM Technik CSR but can't escape the fact that the man maths calculator adds used 997 Carrera to the c. £20K conversion cost and equals full fat 997 GT3?

Carbon ducktail to make your 911 stand out

Certainly in RPM's own showroom you could reach that conclusion, the guys there having recently sold a Carrera 2 S that would have been a good base for the CSR conversion for just over £30K (seemingly the going rate in the PH classifieds) while beside it is a 2007 GT3 up for just over £50K.

In response to this and demand from Porsche owners looking to pick and choose CSR upgrades according to need and budget RPM is offering individual components off the shelf. So if you fancy a bit more zing to your flat-six you could go for the lightweight clutch and flywheel, with or without the custom exhaust, or instead for a more suspension based package with the Ohlins dampers.

Or maybe you just fancy the carbon ducktail and be done with it.

That GT3 still appeals from a purist perspective and its investment potential. But if you've already got a 997 or just want a couple of choice upgrades there is at least the option of cherry picking the bits that matter to you, rather than pulling the pin on the full £20K CSR package, tempting as that may be. Here's the full list of upgrades and prices:

Part	Supply only	Fitted price
Short shifter kit	£235.00	£365.00
Wavetrac differential	£1,020.00	£1,702.50
Carbon ducktail with rear light	£1,552.45	£1,747.45
Ohlins suspension kit	£2,340.00	£2,730.00
ARB Upgrade	£355.00	£517.50
Lightweight clutch and flywheel	£600.00	£1,055.00
CSR Sports exhaust	£1,450.00	£1,645.00
OZ wheel option (Without tyres)	£1,350.00	N/A
Geometry & Corner weight setup	N/A	£550.00
Sports steering wheel	£885.32	£950.32

[P1H]

I thought it was clear from the previous article that you could pick and choose what upgrades you want (as you can from nearly all tuning companies I imagine).

So is the purpose of this to article just to emphasise the point you'd have to be insane to buy a stock 997 and have the full CSR upgrade and not a GT3 instead?

[jamespink]

I don't have a spare £50k but however good the CSR mods are (I am sure they are brilliant) nothing would dissuade me from buying a proper GT3 for similar money. Spank it for 20 years and end up with a car worth 10 times the CSR...

[lerd]

Ditto James and p1

[lerd]

Ditto James and p1

[Evo]

Don't see the point of it, surely the whole point of a 997 GT3 is a sharper handling and more focussed car that will always be a GT3 and something rather special to hold on to.

Id rather have a 996 Turbo with some nice Ohlins and still have £20k in my back pocket than the CSR.

I know we can't really comment unless you've driven it in person but it can't be any better than a proper GT3 can it??

[theturbs]

Reading this and the previous road test of the CSR I don't think they are trying to compete with the 997 GT3. I personally think it fits a nice niche in between the regular 997 Carrera S and the 996 GT3. Some of these parts do look really nice. I would personally take an entry level 997 Carrera S with tired suspension etc and turn it into something special with these parts.

[HorneyMX5]

911's look so damn right with a ducktail.

[Thermonuclear]

From what I can see they are offering nothing that the likes of Tech9, Ninemeister, Parr et al haven't already been offering for years anyway.

With regards to OZ wheels, why would you not just go directly to Demon Tweeks or one of the other internet suppliers and save a load of cash??

[slodge]

theturbs said:

Reading this and the previous road test of the CSR I don't think they are trying to compete with the 997 GT3. I personally think it fits a nice niche in between the regular 997 Carrera S and the 996 GT3. Some of these parts do look really nice. I would personally take an entry level 997 Carrera S with tired suspension etc and turn it into something special with these parts.

I agree and that was the take Evo had when they tested it. You likely wouldn't do absolutely everything that this car has on it (it's a show platform after all) so the logical comparison is more with the 996 GT3. Depends what you want from a car I guess, you could argue this does it all. Happily run the kids to school, drive to work, drive to Spa and spank it for 2 days and come home in comfort. It will also appeal to those people who fancy a 'menu priced' project you can add to over time. As with any car well worth seeing and driving it to get what the fuss is about. Oh and hearing it - sounds like a flipping Cup car!

Cheers

Slodge

[MNut]

Having seen RPMs CSR at a couple of trackdays and been in it, it is a VERY impressive car.

The point of this car is to make it a much better all rounder that can be used on track and without GT3 running costs.

If you want a GT3 then BUY ONE! If there wasn't a market for a car like this then I am sure RPM wouldn't be bothering.

I for one will be scratching this itch when the time comes as I have friends with GT3s who actually have weeped when unexpected repair bills have come in. I'd rather have a car I can use regularly on road and track something many GT3 owners will not for fear of racking up the miles and affecting their value.

[mr pg]

Would love a GT3 but want the rear seats, which is why I'm considering a 996 CSR next. Have had a brief drive in the 997 version, and it feels so much more alive than my 996t.
I don't think you'd start off with a £30k 997 (as suggested in the article), so comparing it with a £50k GT3 I don't think the right approach. I think you'd be looking at low £20's as a base car, and maybe less if you came across one with bore score/IMS issues.
They won't hold money like a GT3, but as stated, they do fill a gap in between Carrera and GT3.

[subaqua]

Wasn't it a CSR that spent two days of Goldtrack at Spa in June with the bonnet (boot) up on axle stands???

[T5Andy]

mr pg said:

Would love a GT3 but want the rear seats

You are kidding aren't you, you want a 911 for the rear seats?????????? What have you got-a couple of garden gnomes to shift?


LMFAO

[mattyc69]

P1H said:

I thought it was clear from the previous article that you could pick and choose what upgrades you want (as you can from nearly all tuning companies I imagine).

So is the purpose of this to article just to emphasise the point you'd have to be insane to buy a stock 997 and have the full CSR upgrade and not a GT3 instead?

Porscheheads I mean pistonheads get paid to advertise CSR on the news feed. P1H is correct was stated before on the last article.

Edited by mattyc69 on Wednesday 18th September 07:16

[smilo996]

How much does it cost to put the engine in the correct place.

[Evo]

smilo996 said:

How much does it cost to put the engine in the correct place.

Nothing if you drive in reverse

[mattspark]

I am fortunate enough to have driven this car at spa where myself and a few other seasoned 911 racers were asked for feedback. The complete package is great, the wave trac diff is superb and totally transforms the drive. I personally would concentrate on the mechanicals rather than the cosmetic element of the csr development but I guess that's the whole point of the option list.

I believe the car sits between 997 Carrera S and a 996 gt3. With the practicalities and usability of the csr ( something that I have to justify ) I believe there is a place in the market for such a project car.

[j911]

T5Andy said:

mr pg said:

Would love a GT3 but want the rear seats

You are kidding aren't you, you want a 911 for the rear seats?????????? What have you got-a couple of garden gnomes to shift?


LMFAO

My 2 kids aged 10 and 8 (and not small lads) fit comfortably in the back of my 911. Theres more room that most people imagine, in fact I have taken 2 mates in their forties in the back of mine once, it was a short journey but they did fit! I want a 997 GT3 Gen II next and I will have rear seats retro fitted. Plenty have done it, just look at the Porsche forum.

[Lungauer]

This is something I'm interested in. Not the cosmetic stuff, but when the warranty runs out on my GTS 2 manual, adding the Wavetrac LSD and a couple of other select mechanical mods could make a good car better.

[Rrroro]

It's a great concept, for a start it fits right in with the Hotrod scene. People have and always will want to mod 911's, and its something that will continue as long as the 911 exists (ie forever lol). Good luck to them I say. Magnus does it with 40 year old 911's, no reason why it shouldn't continue with the newer 911's. Just my 2 cents...