93 RS America Coupe??

[Frambo]

Looking at purchasing a93 RS America Coupe for $23k. The car has 90k miles and appears to be in excellent shape. I am planning on having a PPI performed before purchase. I do have a couple of questions.

What are the typical problems associated with the 93 964?

How can I check to see if the upgrades have been performed to correct the issues?

Does the $23k price appear to fair?

Is there a downside/upside to the RS America version?

Great web site/forum and thanks for the help!

Jim

[ChristianR]

If it's a true RS than that's a steal. Buy it.

Christian

[Chuck Grieb]

The RS America is more rare (I think 700-800 were made?) than the 964 C2 it is based upon. 23K sounds like a great deal. Check out www.rsamerica.net for more info.

Effectively the RS America was a C2 that came with the M030 Sport Suspension and cloth Sports seats as standard fitment, non-power steering, and I think no rear seats. Options, I believe, were limited to AC, Metallic Paint, LSD, and a stereo. When new, the RS America cost about $10k less than the C2 and weighed about 70lbs less. These days they tend to go for about $5-10k more than a comparable 964 C2.

[Chuck Grieb]

BTW, the only issue I can think of would be to check to see that the distributor belt is vented. This is an inexpensive modification that impacts the life of the belt that drives the dual distributor arrangement. Hopefully the PO of the car you are looking at has done so.

Porsche made the change very late in 964 production. My 1994 C2 did not have the distributor vented from Porxche, though I understand that later 1994 model year cars did.

[rching]

I was looking into doing the vent kit on my 94 C4 but it was already done from the factory.

[Chuck Grieb]

One other difference. The RS America came with a fixed spoiler-the standard C2 a smaller spoiler that rises from the bodywork at about 50 MPH.

be sure to get a PPI before buying.

[Frambo]

After further research (thanks to this web site) I do not believe that it is an actual RS. The car does not have the fixed wing or any other RS options.

I originally thought it was a RS because the CAR FAX report stated that it was a "RS America" model. Does anyone suspect foul play? Is it possible that it is still a RS America? The car has leather, power everything, standard door handles, etc.

Thanks,

Jim

[Chuck Grieb]

Sounds like a standard C2 to me. I've heard of Carfax making that mistake on standard C2s before.

The C2 is still a great car-the differences aren't that great between the two.

If you are specifically looking for the RS America model, than I would move on.

[catnmouse]

This item is currently listed on Ebay 4607387072, as an RS America, yet it has a c2 badge on the rear and retractable spoiler, and power this and that, ....questions to the seller imply that Carfax listed it as a RS america, whats up with that, is there something in the vin that specifies this, how would carfax know that?

[Frambo]

Strange. That is exactly what this other car located in California was listed as in CarFax. A RS America. The car is optioned like a regular C2.

[catnmouse]

a MORON

[StanAE86]

Yeah, that sounds like a standard C2...the price is appropriate for it as well. I think the seller might be "playing dumb" and attempting to use the incorrect CarFAX to his advantage and against the unsuspecting buyer...that's too bad.

Look here:

http://www.rsamerica.net/faqs/index.htm

That gives a lot of information, specifically on the RSA. It also lists what the VIN should be on a true RSA. The fact that it has leather seats, power everything and regular door panels is enough to tell me it's not some stupid PO who retro-fitted his RSA with regular C2 stuff, but a true C2. The auto spoiler is another no-no on a true RSA. Key differences that are easy to see or check for:

Fixed whale tail
No power steering
Cloth seats
Manual outside mirrors
No rear seats
Flat door panels with no arm rests and only a door pull

Most high mileage RSAs (over 100k miles) still garner left or right of $30k for a clean title...

Good luck!

[trader220]

ITs not and RSA and I have seen many car fax's say RSA for 1993 and 1994 regular C2's. ITs a local car elt me know, if you like I may be able to see it tomorrow ( sat ). Bid it sup to 17.2 My guess is it goes for a lot more.