Just picked up a 4.0RS - Page 4 - 911/Carrera GT - PistonHeads UK

Hi, As the title reads, I feel extremely fortunate to have been able to source and agree a deal on a new 4.0RS. After looking for quite a few months for a RHD 3.8RS, and each time just missing a car as I was too slow to react, I thought it would make more sense to spend some more and buy the ltd edition 4.0 version even though it was to be in LHD. My calculation was that yes its a lot of money to lay out, but its the last of the manuel breed, so I could not forsee how I would lose out. As soon as I saw the ad on a european website, I picked up the phone and without viewing the car or knowing the dealer, I put an immediate deposit down. It was a risk to give a 10k deposit having not seen the car, however, it was Lucky I did so, as the dealer claimed that he was forced to remove the car off his website the same day and even though the the car was only on the internet for a few hours, he had received 5 other people that were ready to move on it asap. So it was Lucky I got there first! I then picked her up on Monday, the following week. So what is it like to drive? An absolute beast! I have never owned any form of GT3 before, my last Porsche 3 years ago was a 997GT2. The RS is just no comparisson in my opinion. I dont remember if the GT2 would be much quicker in a straight line, it probably is a tiny bit, but that is irrelevant, its that engine the noise and handling of the RS, its steering feel, the turn in that puts it on another level. No turbo could match such an engine; its far more racier much more drama! I am fortunate enough to own and have kept my Ferrari scuderia. The RS feels much more of a harder car than the scud; it is a proper mans car! Its stopping power is on another level all together. Yes the engine on the scud seems to scream louder and its extremely rapid gearbox are fantastic, but you dont sweat anywhere near as much in the Scud as you would in the RS. Even though I thought the scud was fairly raw, It now all of a sudden feels rather soft in comparisson, you need to fight through the RS's manuel gearbox to get the most out of it. F1 paddles and PDKs may improve the swiftness of a car, but driving a manuel gearbox again makes me realise how much ive missed it in the last couple of years, it makes you feel as much as a fighter as a driver. Both still phenomenal cars, RS is more extreme, you wrestle Inside it, whilst Scud is more of an all round, exceptional engine music Entertainment and more than enough power to keep you entertained. Which is quicker? I would say they are both about the same in a straight line (scud may even have the edge) but I would have no doubt the RS would leave the scud on a very twisty circuit. When driving the RS fast and that cage rattles, it all adds to the rawness and the buzz. I cant understand how some people would spec an RS without a cage, that is criminal! You feel so solid and protected, especially whilst the car being glued on the road, its almost like you have no fear of any speed. Its not so much about speed to me anymore though, 500 odd Bhp is largely sufficient. I used to own a stage 4.5 720hp GTR that would leave most cars for dead. However, I was always afraid to drive it on the road, I was either going to land myself in prison or hospital. Once you get used to the straight line speed, the car can also becomes boring. I cant see that happening in the RS, you feel involved in every single way. Im sure all RS's feel simalarly special, and as I said before never driven another one. All I can say all you owners are v Lucky and if anyone is thinking of doing it, just DO IT! So overall, feeling over the moon, as always when you discover a new car you seem to think "I cant see what I can ever replace her with"... However, this time I think its the truth...

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Congratulations - looks absolutely stunning! You are an extremely lucky man.

cool as funk!

snowley said: Congratulations - looks absolutely stunning! You are an extremely lucky man. Thank you, its still feels like im in a dream...

keep it lit said: cool as funk! Surprisingly thats exactly what the wife thinks... "Its the coolest car you've ever had"

Oh yes. Thanks for the write up.

Congratulations! Nice write up. Go hit the track - just amazing cars!

Very nice. (Lucky fecker!)

leeGT2 said: Hi, So what is it like to drive? An absolute beast! I have never owned any form of GT3 before, my last Porsche 3 years ago was a 997GT2. The RS is just no comparisson in my opinion. I dont remember if the GT2 would be much quicker in a straight line, it probably is a tiny bit, but that is irrelevant, its that engine the noise and handling of the RS, its steering feel, the turn in that puts it on another level. No turbo could match such an engine; its far more racier much more drama! Congrats, looks fantastic. And totally agree with all the above.

Excellent real world owners review. very good description of the extra dynamic and fun factor (fighting) as you say with a manual box. Its just more involvement with the car = added pleasure. There is so much nonsense posted on here these days, it is refreshing to read an excellent post! Not much is gonna take me away from the lambo brand but a gt3 rs will be considered when the time comes. Need to own a lp640 though first. Excellent post and insight.

Very nice indeed, you never win anything unless you take a risk now and then. A sure fire investment classic. it will have ''appreciated'' already !

lambo666 said: Need to own a lp640 though first. Excellent post and insight. Thanks for your comments. Never driven an lp640 although hâve sat in one. So low, so wide, limited visibility and so damn loud... I'm sure that should equal massive satisfaction!

Congrats Lee, an amazing car indeed! Great write up as well!

nice.

I see you got a full cage as well. You going to keep it or remove front half?

mm450exc said: I see you got a full cage as well. You going to keep it or remove front half? Not something I would have specked, but in hindsight I think I'm going to keep it. It all adds to the drama and atmosphere.

Make sure you wear a helmet at all times then and the harness...

mm450exc said: Make sure you wear a helmet at all times then and the harness... I do wear the harness rather tightly. Is the helmet really necessary?

I think there's some advice that a Hans device is also required if you wear a harness - stop your head carrying on when your body's held tight. Or just take out the front cage so your head can't bang it and use normal seat belts on the road.

leeGT2 said: mm450exc said: Make sure you wear a helmet at all times then and the harness... I do wear the harness rather tightly. Is the helmet really necessary? You bet! The cage is very close to your head. If you have to hit the brakes for whatever reason or bump into something you will hit the cage with your head. I was thinking about full cage but saver without. Unless it's a 100% track car.

Wicked car Lee. That sure is a keeper. Pocty

pocty said: Wicked car Lee. That sure is a keeper. Pocty That is the plan! I just hope im not going to be tempted by the money in a couple of years the way things are going up at the moment...

great pick mate .... rs/gt3's are the real deal

Great story. We hear you All the GT3 / RSs are great. However, the 4.0RS is something special!

Btw, I find the front cage is a bit of a pain on a LHD in the UK. It has a double shaft at each A pillar which makes the passenger side wing mirror particularly difficult to see (you end up having to crane you neck to see it clearly). In a LHD that is a key mirror and therefore I think safer to take out the front cage. Happy to give some pointers on how to do it if helpful.

It's a pretty awesome car congrats and while biased i genuinely like the lhd seating position on Porsches generally over rhd. Wish i could decide what to do with mine though as i ended up buying a really low mileage one and am rather ashamed to admit it is quite a strong temptation to pack it away given the mileage....

The lhd/rhd topic has been discussed to death on this forum but if you are tall (i'm 6:3) the fit in a lhd car is better for me as otherwise my left foot needs to be tucked under the clutch pedal when not in use. On a lhd you stem your left foot against the wheel arch when you go round corners.

hornbaek said: Congratulations on your GT3 RS 4.0. Its an awesome car. I took mine out yesterday for a little spin and when the revs hit 4000 rpm hell brakes loose. It is a phenomenal car. I would take the front cage out as driving with harnesses on public roads is a pain. You can't lean forward when you want to go out of junctions and it can become dangerous - especiallly in a lhd in the UK. What else are in the barns?!

Congrats! Enjoyed your write up. One question though, do all 4.0 RS come with a Manuel? I agree with the others; whilst thankfully the chances of an accident are very slim, the front cage could quite easily kill you in a low speed impact; heads and scaffolding don't go that well together. It's for this reason you won't find a front cage in almost all RS cars.

Congratulations - great review. I am really envious. Enjoy

Thanks for all the comments. It's true that the cage does get slightly in the way towards the right hand side wing mirror. I went in the car today and tightened my safe tightly using the harnesses. My head was far from hitting the front cage. I can see how using the normal seatbelt it would be possible though. May still take it off though, but not for now. The other advantage with the LHD is the 90L fuel tank. If I'm going to do about 1000miles per year, that should equate to about 3 full tanks of fuel. Not bad...

It's lovely, I'm envious, but for the love of God. USE. IT. MORE!

ellroy said: It's lovely, I'm envious, but for the love of God. USE. IT. MORE! I'm sure I will. My target is 1000 miles but I've already done 500 miles in her driving back from Germany (was too anxious to drive the car rather than having it shipped back). So knowing myself I'll probably end up doing 3 times as much...

Did not get in a few laps of the Ring ........... Oh dear times have changed ..

leeGT2 said: When driving the RS fast and that cage rattles, Really? Usual rattles are bits of the belts (either the sliders on the inertia reels or the buckles on the harnesses) against the cage or seat backs. Creaking generally the seats/mounts. I've not hear of the cage itself making noise... ?

DiscoColin said: leeGT2 said: When driving the RS fast and that cage rattles, Really? Usual rattles are bits of the belts (either the sliders on the inertia reels or the buckles on the harnesses) against the cage or seat backs. Creaking generally the seats/mounts. I've not hear of the cage itself making noise... ? Whatever it is, it sounds great!

Jamie git! That is lovely, your OT must have good taste in cars too as girls often don't understand proper Porsche's. Enjoy sir

The exhaust note from these 4.0's is glorious....I'd happily settle for a 'regular' 997 gt3 3.8 in Riviera Blue, also did you ever see better looking alloy wheels on any 911 model? these 'forked' rims are the icing on the cake....

Took mine out yesterday...glorious drive! So much noise, poise, power...yet can be civilised if you really want it to be. There is torque in every gear...I get the car squirming under full power even in third...probably 4th if the roads are wet / greasy. I have not taken it to a track yet, but taken enthusiastically around roundabouts and high speed slip roads, the front end seems to have a huge amount of turn in grip...or atleast the limits are a further away than earlier iterations of RS. As I have a 996 GT3 which allows me to live closer to the edge of its limits...it is interesting to have a contrast to a 4RS at the other end of the spectrum Pic from Sunday...

Great to see it is being used!

hondansx said: Great to see it is being used! It's not, it is sitting in a car park

DMC2 said: hondansx said: Great to see it is being used! It's not, it is sitting in a car park Yep. Scotty beamed me down...

Congrats on what is a very special car. It's amazing how many people have a scud and an RS of some sort in their garage.

LaSource said: Took mine out yesterday...glorious drive! So much noise, poise, power...yet can be civilised if you really want it to be. There is torque in every gear...I get the car squirming under full power even in third...probably 4th if the roads are wet / greasy. I have not taken it to a track yet, but taken enthusiastically around roundabouts and high speed slip roads, the front end seems to have a huge amount of turn in grip...or atleast the limits are a further away than earlier iterations of RS. As I have a 996 GT3 which allows me to live closer to the edge of its limits...it is interesting to have a contrast to a 4RS at the other end of the spectrum Pic from Sunday... Looking good!

Congrats Lee, great decision to go the whole hog and get a 4.0! Deserves a trip to the Ring - will amaze you.....

slodge said: LaSource said: Took mine out yesterday...glorious drive! So much noise, poise, power...yet can be civilised if you really want it to be. There is torque in every gear...I get the car squirming under full power even in third...probably 4th if the roads are wet / greasy. I have not taken it to a track yet, but taken enthusiastically around roundabouts and high speed slip roads, the front end seems to have a huge amount of turn in grip...or atleast the limits are a further away than earlier iterations of RS. As I have a 996 GT3 which allows me to live closer to the edge of its limits...it is interesting to have a contrast to a 4RS at the other end of the spectrum Pic from Sunday... Looking good! S, Cheers.

Batster said: Congrats Lee, great decision to go the whole hog and get a 4.0! Deserves a trip to the Ring - will amaze you..... Congrats to you too on the GT! Will you be taking that to the ring?

Lee Might take to Ring once I feel I know the car a little better - am fortunate to have a 3.8 RS which I took this year (DN) which was so well suited to the Ring that it begs to be taken again (or to Spa). A friend took his 4.0 and another his GT3 so we had a proper little GT convoy- all cars performed beyond our expectations. B

Why aren't we planning a 4.0 track day at Spa for next spring. ?

hornbaek said: Why aren't we planning a 4.0 track day at Spa for next spring. ? I could be tempted...

Lets see how many we could get together and then take it from there: Track day Spa for 4.0 (Spring '15) 1. Hornbaek 2. La Source

hornbaek said: Lets see how many we could get together and then take it from there: Track day Spa for 4.0 (Spring '15) 1. Hornbaek 2. La Source 3. Leegt2 (I will be taking it easy)

Batster said: Lee Might take to Ring once I feel I know the car a little better B I'm sure you'll get to know it "a little better" very soon. No excuses not to join us at Spa spring 2015 if the trip goes ahead...

leeGT2 said: hornbaek said: Lets see how many we could get together and then take it from there: Track day Spa for 4.0 (Spring '15) 1. Hornbaek 2. La Source 3. Leegt2 (I will be taking it easy) 4. isaldiri (can't promise but will definitely try to make it)

perhaps you can open it upto mere 3.8 owners as well ...?!

Batster said: perhaps you can open it upto mere 3.8 owners as well ...?! I'm sure hornbaek wouldn't mind if you take the CGT....!

Interesting that the 4.0 came with standard red calipers not the ceramic yellows, I assume some owners prefer steel discs?

fullleather said: Interesting that the 4.0 came with standard red calipers not the ceramic yellows, I assume some owners prefer steel discs? It came with whichever the buyer ordered. Hit the search function. Ceramics are very unpopular with Porsche owners who do significant amounts of track work. They wear out after not that much more use than steel and cost roughly as much as a new Ford Focus to replace. It has been rehashed all over the place so best no to relight the blue touch paper here though.

isaldiri said: leeGT2 said: hornbaek said: Lets see how many we could get together and then take it from there: Track day Spa for 4.0 (Spring '15) 1. Hornbaek 2. La Source 3. Leegt2 (I will be taking it easy) 4. isaldiri (can't promise but will definitely try to make it) 5. mep59 - if the dates match.... (Actually taking mine to Spa next week - a bit late in the season, but it looks like we might actually get some half-decent weather :-))

are we 4.0 liters only? or willing to allow the 3.8 RS in on the gig?

I don't see why not... Just trying to prise out the 4.0s from their carcoons! Track day Spa for 4.0 cars and their siblings (Spring '15) 4.0: 1. Hornbaek 2. LaSource 3. Leegt2 (I will be taking it easy) 4. isaldiri (can't promise but will definitely try to make it) 5. mep59 - if the dates match.... 3.8: 1. BMCG

Count me in (3.8). Always at SPA in March!

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[quote=LaSource]I don't see why not... Just trying to prise out the 4.0s from their carcoons! Absolutely!

My dream car, absolutely stunning!

I reckon my slower 3.8 would be interested

ruebdo said: I reckon my slower 3.8 would be interested Maybe you will get a head start? Rs day is March...

ttdan said: Maybe you will get a head start? Rs day is March... Can the poor relation 3.6 RS owners come along and promise to park out the way

ttdan said: Maybe you will get a head start? Rs day is March... Looking forward to it :-)

I luv spa - epic track... 4.0: 1. Hornbaek 2. LaSource 3. Leegt2 (I will be taking it easy) 4. isaldiri (can't promise but will definitely try to make it) 5. mep59 - if the dates match.... 6. Kidhaa 3.8: 1. BMCG

I have the fab speed bypass on mine - sounds awesome especially when unplugged

Kidhaa said: I have the fab speed bypass on mine - sounds awesome especially when unplugged Interesting. I've had one with an exhaust flap bypass switch - OEM exhaust but the flap can be switched open all the time...sounds loud! Is yours something similar or a separate bypass pipe/back box? (PS: did you have a black 996 GT3 many years ago? I may have had it sometime after you....gone now)

LaSource said: Interesting. I've had one with an exhaust flap bypass switch - OEM exhaust but the flap can be switched open all the time...sounds loud! Is yours something similar or a separate bypass pipe/back box? (PS: did you have a black 996 GT3 many years ago? I may have had it sometime after you....gone now) Mine is just a bypass for the rear box, but no bypass switch. With the fabspeed bypass on its around 110db just under 5k revs. I have black 997gt3 which i keep as a daily , never owned a 996gt3

Kidhaa said: I have the fab speed bypass on mine - sounds awesome especially when unplugged I vouch for that!

911Thrasher said: I vouch for that! Mate i miss that white rs of yours....why did u sell!

LaSource said: I don't see why not... Just trying to prise out the 4.0s from their carcoons! Track day Spa for 4.0 cars and their siblings (Spring '15) 4.0: 1. Hornbaek 2. LaSource 3. Leegt2 (I will be taking it easy) 4. isaldiri (can't promise but will definitely try to make it) 5. mep59 - if the dates match.... 3.8: 1. BMCG what about GT2's?

Kidhaa said: 911Thrasher said: I vouch for that! Mate i miss that white rs of yours....why did u sell! to buy the Stradale, and then the 64RS (which was stolen)...all were fun note: indeed the 7.1RS was the best track tool I've ever had, the most reliable and cheapest to run! what an amazing car, do actually miss it now that I've tested several other toys: it was the most practical toy by far! Superb at Spa, easy daily hack as well. Edited by 911Thrasher on Tuesday 4th November 11:07