Porsche RS America

I am currently in the process of buying a RS America. How does that relate to Ferrari? Well, I almost turned my 512TR into a track car after one day on the track. Then I started to get sane, looked at a 348 Challenge, a 360 Challenge and then landed on the RS America. I am not even a Porsche fan!

Why, you might say? Well, I believe that I want to actually buy a race car, however, I feel that this was an easy way in, to buy a street/track car that appeals to a broader market on resale. This way, if I decide I truly want to race, it is a fairly easy sell, as the RS America is sought after. If not racing, it would be nice to have another street car to chase around in when I cannot find anyone to drive with me (you know when you are willing to loan someone a car for the day for a drive, the line forms quick).

Any one have any opinions on the RS America? This one has brand new JRZ suspension as well as full cage and five points wrapped around Sparco seats, and a cat bypass system. Well balanced and fully sorted, I have driven it at Thunderhill and was quite impressed. I would like to know if any F car owners have owned or driven an RSA and what their impressions were and a comparable (if any) streetable Ferrari.

Rod

 

Challenge I went to buy, and Porsche I did buy. I too am amazed at the resale on these things, however, many, many people would say the same thing about Ferraris. Funny thing is, the Challenge car owner also has the Porshce (actually 17 Porsches and 6 Ferraris, amongst others) and he is the one who recommended the RSA. On the day I was there, he was by far the fastest car on the track in the Challenge, but he was also second fastest in the RSA (slower by about 4 seconds), smoking every purpose built Viper, Panoz and Porsche out there. Made a believer out of me.
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Will, perhaps "smoking" is a bit of an overstatement. It would be better to say that in open testing none of the other cars could hold him off. Of course I cannot comment on the skills of the other drivers, however Joe is quite good, and he had an associate that raced Formula Atlantic that drove the RS even faster.

The reason I posted this was probably to help me define my intent. First, I "think" I want a race car. I raced motorcycles professionally for many many years, and still ride weekly for recreation. One day on the track in the Ferrari and I was convinced that having a race car was the way to go. However, being conservative in nature, I wanted to begin with a car that is readily marketable should I decide it is not for me. And the Ferrari is only going to hit the track on club days (which are not many her in the PNW) so it was suggested that I look to Porsche which has far more events. After I called on the 360 Challenge, I was invited down to CA to do a comparison between it and the RSA. No question the 360 was faster, but beleive it or not the RSA handle far better, being able to maintain momemtum through the turns effortlessy. I arrived on a day that the RSA was being set up for an endurance race with the new suspension, and each time out the car got faster and faster.

As I stated before, I do not much like Porsches. This is not to say I hate em', I just have no passion for them. I do, however, respect their reputation on the track. This particluar car has been dialed in and handles well, yet is still streetable, so my logic tells me that it will provide hours of enjyment on PCA days and D/E days, yet will have a ready market should I decide to sell and move up to a full blown race car (and all that comes with that) or should I decide that racing is not for me.

BTW, I have no idea why, other than limited production, whey the RSA's go for so much money. Again, I am not a Porsche guy, but they seem little different than any other 911 out there to my eyes.

Rod

 

Will, I am quite sure I will not be happy for long with D/E and PSA events. When I took the F-car to the track, it was as if a light switch was thrown in my head, all the comepetive urges returned with a vengeance. That is why I looked at the 360 Challenge.

However, I also would like to try and share my passion with my daughters (I have two, 22 and 16) and I knew that they would never even attempt a track event in a full race car. Further, I need to confirm that I actually want to get into competition again, as the committment, as you know, can be huge, both financially and with time.

I did look into the Lease a race car program, but decided that I should probably invest in a car and hope to come out even money (absent any major breaks or crashes) and still take some street cruises with my girls. Again, for reasons I do not understand, the RS America seems to be steady or appreciating. Not being a Porsche guy, it confounds me why these cars go from the high 30K to the high 50K and well beyond in race trim, however the market is what it is. I almost pulled the trigger earlier on the 348 Challenge, but with some hohnest advice from a Ferrari Factory guy I declined, as the dollars were the same as the RSA yet the 348 was (naturally) far more money to campaign.

Thanks for your input, it was good to hear from a former owner. If someone could help me to truly understand whey these things are worth so much, I would be grateful.

Rod

 

Oh no Will, this is why I posted. I want to understand the RS America and you are correct, I have an exit strategy when buying. I could have bought something far more exotic, and faster, yet those things combined seem to narrow the resale market so dramatically I was not willing to commit (to, say, a cup car).

I am sure that is where I will land in short order (cup car), however, this is a "toes wet" kind of move for me. The 360 Challenge meant I was "all in", and I am not secure about that at this time. I also almost bought a Z06 Vette, from about 500 to choose from (02'-05) but realized the depreciation curve would slide another 10-15K in the next two years, thus adding one more cost to the "fun budget" that makes no sense.

Much on this forum, as well as others, lament the end of the air cooled Porsche motors. Some say that this is what is contributing to the price resurgance on the early to late 70's P-cars. Do you agree? I know that I am extremely comfortable with motor pulls and repairs on my 512TR, was well as this RSA, but when you get into $15K F-1 pumps and $17K carbon fiber brake systems, I tend to blanch. There is a limit to my willingess to campaign a car, and the Porsche seems to fit the bill. I think the Chevrolet would also work well, but the depreciation curve stinks, plus, I had Vette's in the past and "been there done that" applies".

I am surprised no one jumped in and suggested a 355 Challenge. I think this would be a fine track car (there were two at Thunderhill the day I was there and yes, the RSA passed them too) however, the friggin parts cost will drive me insane. After putting a main shaft into my 512TR that Ferrari wanted 3K for, I decided that perhaps racing a Ferrari was not the best idea. Lets face it, you push them until they break, and the F-Cars just cost so much to repair that I cannot see myself owning one as a track car.

(However, I am on the lookout for an F40, just to add to the stable for grins. I see your avatar is an F40, do you own one?) Anyway, I hope you see my logic (if any) here. I think I want to race, and lord knows that once that cycle begins, it will be the same as motorcycles. I would use up 3-4 bikes per year, we ran them so hard. And those costs were peanuts compared to the automobile world. However, I do expect far less in the way of Hosptial bills;-)

I appreciate your input and advice. Look for an RS America for sale in about 6 months, then you will know which way I am leaning.

Rod

 

Got a little off track, wanted to ask you about the cost (and value) of the car being set up for track use. It is still registered as s treet car (very important to me for resale) however, the owner was in the midst of setting it up for endurance. Sounds like you have set a car or two up in the past, so where I saw the value was in the suspension mods, which were 8K in parts alone, plus the dial in time by a professional (this is what they were doing on the day I was there), the Recaro's, five points, cage and brake upgrade would all have been necessary for safe tracking anyway. Plus, the 3.8 wing and stainless header/cat bypass I think are expensive also. All parts are new. Yet he is asking the same as a stock street car (which range from 35K up to 50K) and my thought was, why spend the money when he alrady has.

(If you are wondering why they did not continue the build up, I entered the scene, got to know the owner, said I was interested and he said he would rather not continue the build on such a nice street car. So, he bought an already fully built RSA for 70K for the 25 hour endurace race at Thunderhill, which I attended. Within 4 hours of the race start, they had built up a 4 lap lead in front all of the other entries, factory cars included. I went to bed and returned at 5:00 AM the next morning, no RSA in the lead anymore. What happened? Totaled the car less than one hour after I left the track, flipped it ass end backwards, twice. Joe's comment to me that morning was "still want to race cars?" Big gulp, said yes I still do)

Myabe I am fooling myself, but these add ons are not necessarily value added, but the certainly would not detract from the value of the car, would they?

Any input is appreciated.

Rod

 

Between 35K and 50K, mileage and condition dependent. Bit outrageous, no?

Rod

 

Check out this link, that will give you some idea what they go for. Like I said, makes no real sense to me but they really appear to not only hold their value but actually appreciate over time. Going for more than turbo's of the same vintage. Go figure!

http://www.rsamerica.net/market/vehicles/index.htm

Rod

 

I considered building a reguar C2, but after looking into the aquisition cost (25 - 27K) and then the suspension adds, seats, harnesses, exhaust, brakes etc. on the car I am thinking of purchasing, I realized I would be pushing the same dollars as an RS, however no way to realize the resale on the parts. The reason I have settled on the RS is the exit strategy mentioned above. These cars are actually sought after, just not by me. Hope I am not making a goof here.

Rod