I have just got back from the experience day in the new RS and I am blooming knackered. That car is so bloody demanding compared to the CSL , the concentration needed has taken all the energy out of me! Bloody thing was specced with no air con or radio and was bloody hot in today’s sunshine, needed the window down to keep cool.

So why was it so demanding:

I knew it would be demanding but assumed this would be because of the clutch, gearbox and this thing called heel and toe. I was sort of right but actually found myself heel and toe’ing to an ok level almost straight away. I have tried before in low powered Manuel cars but it never really did anything as the engine doesn’t spin up to the level you need it to. What I found myself doing was letting off the clutch at the same time as I blipped. This of course didn’t work and took a lot of concentration to focus on letting the revs settle a tad before I pulled up the clutch. I think with a bit of practice and some more suited shoes I will pick this up quite quickly.

What made the car demanding was the balance and weight transfer being so totally different to the CSL. The CSL is chuck in, grip and accelerate as you straighten up. Try this in the RS and ok you are going a fair bit faster but you will under steer off the track. Couldn’t believe how much under steer this thing induces. I was also made aware of what happens if you lift off halfway through a corner, the nose settles and grips. The trick, I am led to believe is to trail brake through the corner pushing the weight to the front and then smoothing the power on early. Again so totally different. Its like learning another language!

Half a day was enough to see me certainly improve and get used to the car and its capabilities, however I really do need some time with it to get to the bottom of how she wants to be treated. What I did learn however is when you get it right, fook me its sweet!

Other bits:

The car sounded awesome from the moment you push the clutch and turn the key. The single mass flywheel chatters and vibrates making you feel like your in a race car. Good start. Rag the tits off her and she sings all the way to the rev line with a shove akin to our old F430, but actually more so. Its defiantly faster and the engine is a peach – I have never driven anything so butch and linier, there is simply no flatspot.

How easy is the car to drift? I thought the CSL was supposed to be the king of the sideways tango. Not so, the RS was a natural stepping out of line with a prod, then having the most easily controllable throttle to help sweep you round the corners. The pendulum effect the car has when going sideways allows you to lift off while still sliding. Do this in the CSL and the slide will instantly catch. A doddle

Both the steering and the clutch is on the heavy side, however you realise the point of this when you get moving on track. On the road I am yet to see how it is to live with. The suspension on the other hand is so well damped in all settings it makes the intrax seem rather caveman. Nothing un-phased the chassis, broke my spine or gave scuttle shake. The car just stayed flat as a pancake and did what I told it.

Getting back in the CSL highlighted all the differences once more however also helped cement in my mind what a good car it is. Its very different to the RS in character as it handles so differently, but achieves the same. The very fact I am paying 3 times the price for the RS puzzles me. The RS is not worth 3 times the cost, simply isn’t. It is however the better, more demanding car that is never going to get boring and always want to make me the better driver. The CSL due to its easy, helpful nature offers a different package. The decision now is do I need both in my life?

 

and the pics are where ??

J/k thanks for sharing, great write-up!

 

pics were rubbish but happy to share:

 

Great writeup! Is this your RS that you took delivery of already or just a dealer car you got to drive?

 

You are one lucky guy, great write up.

 

Its the dealers 'pre-production' RS. My one comes off the line in 10 days. Hopefully will be driving it like that end of the month

 

Great write up, found it very informative. And to answer your question, of course you need them both

 

I don't have much head knowledge about the csl, and by your review it must be a spectactular car, but you have to realize back when the csl was released it had just as large as an msrp as the rs, and as you stated the rs is a more rewarding car, i think that is your answer

 

Nice write up and thanks for the pics

 

nice nice nice. did you order yours with lightweight bucket seat or standard sports bucket ? I sat on both and found the standard sports bucket more comfortable. seat height same except lightweight bucket seat more hugging especially shoulder area.