The argument for RAS

[goofysurfer]

Another argument for RAS, which may be subjective, but apparently, with RAS, the steering rack is tighter.

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[wurzitup]

I second all the OP's points...... I have the RAS and do agree its a great feature to have. Somewhat of a gamechanger with such a big car. Makes turning and maneuvering in parking lots so much easier. High speed lane changes on the highway above 70mph are harder to quantify, but I have a feeling it makes just as much a difference.
I think an even bigger impact is the air suspension. The ability to raise the car going into parking lots is great, lowering for even better aero in range mode, etc. I love both these features.
I feel if you didn't opt them, you're still driving a fantastic car. Its a real world livability compared back to back with a car without them.

 

[powderpc]

I've been on some other threads advising future owners on the benefits of Rear Axle Steering (and seeing pushback from others), so I thought I'd summarize here all the reasons its a game changer for me. I live in SoCal where our roads are probably much wider than in Europe so take this advice and multiply by 2 if you live there or other more mature communities.

1. Unlike some other features that don't impact performance or are not used often (great example: fake noise, sport chrono clock, any cosmetics), and unless you are driving in circles to show off your new ride, you will use RAS, literally every time you take out the car. Parking is easier in tight places. The chance of curbs grinding your wheels is slightly diminished.

2. You can turn the car like its a spinning top in tight places. Good example: If you are parking at spots that are angled to the curb, you can pull out, turn the wheel the other way, and return in the direction from whence you came.

3. Its a big car and if you are coming from a smaller Porsche, like a 911, you'll appreciate the feature. If you are in a parking lot, did not find a space in the lane you went down, you can turn around without doing a 3-pt turn. I think I can turn in tighter spaces with this car than I could in my 911.

4. In the US, RAS requires air suspension (no idea why, anybody know?). You'll be glad you bought that too, the ride is amazingly smooth. I won't get into the manual raising and lowering benefit here which strikes me a bit gimmicky.

5. When on the freeway, I am able to jet out of tight traffic, changing lanes quickly as if the other cars are standing still. This may be my imagination, but I attribute it to RAS. Again, coming off a 911S my expectations of a sport car driving experience were high. The car is meeting them.

6. Finally, this is a future-proofing feature. I expect more cars will boast RAS. You are paying a premium for a great driving experience. You are a dime and dollar short (compared to the MSRP overall) by not including this in your spec

Go ahead, tell me I am right or I am wrong!

Please tell me you did not add RAS and PASM to a base Taycan.

 

[Archimedes]

Yes indeed. I am surprised how many "didn't miss it" comments when the owner did not spec it.

Par for the course on Porsche forums. The people who didn't choose an option and have never owned a car with it are typically the most opinionated about said option. RAS has nothing on PCCBs in this regard.

 

[JacobDK]

I don’t have it - and rarely miss it. I haven’t found my self in a daily driving situation where it was important.

I guess it will add some ease to the driving which some will apriciate, however the risk of it being faulty at some point made me not choose it.

I guess it woyld however make sense if you track the car. My car was having a hard time turning in in tighter turns when I had it on track, and the weight of the Taycan shows. For the more nimble driving experience I guess it would make a positive difference. Anyway I only took my car to the track once just for fun and not planning on doing so again, so I have zero regrets not getting RAS..

 

[4thPcar]

"Don't have it, rarely miss it" - if buyers were guided by this then nobody would spec the feature, and I feel sorry for those people! Just sayin....

All due respect, you cannot miss what you've never had.

 

[NoobTaycan]

Great to know, thank you for the detailed info. I did spec it on mine due to the prevalence of tighter, older roads here in Massachusetts, esp in the surrounding small towns and older parts of downtown.

While I doubt it's "required" by any means, figured I'm spending the money anyways, may as well go for it. Sounds like I made the right choice and it'll come in handy. ?

 

[Ross]

I've been on some other threads advising future owners on the benefits of Rear Axle Steering (and seeing pushback from others), so I thought I'd summarize here all the reasons its a game changer for me. I live in SoCal where our roads are probably much wider than in Europe so take this advice and multiply by 2 if you live there or other more mature communities.

1. Unlike some other features that don't impact performance or are not used often (great example: fake noise, sport chrono clock, any cosmetics), and unless you are driving in circles to show off your new ride, you will use RAS, literally every time you take out the car. Parking is easier in tight places. The chance of curbs grinding your wheels is slightly diminished.

2. You can turn the car like its a spinning top in tight places. Good example: If you are parking at spots that are angled to the curb, you can pull out, turn the wheel the other way, and return in the direction from whence you came.

3. Its a big car and if you are coming from a smaller Porsche, like a 911, you'll appreciate the feature. If you are in a parking lot, did not find a space in the lane you went down, you can turn around without doing a 3-pt turn. I think I can turn in tighter spaces with this car than I could in my 911.

4. In the US, RAS requires air suspension (no idea why, anybody know?). You'll be glad you bought that too, the ride is amazingly smooth. I won't get into the manual raising and lowering benefit here which strikes me a bit gimmicky.

5. When on the freeway, I am able to jet out of tight traffic, changing lanes quickly as if the other cars are standing still. This may be my imagination, but I attribute it to RAS. Again, coming off a 911S my expectations of a sport car driving experience were high. The car is meeting them.

6. Finally, this is a future-proofing feature. I expect more cars will boast RAS. You are paying a premium for a great driving experience. You are a dime and dollar short (compared to the MSRP overall) by not including this in your spec

Go ahead, tell me I am right or I am wrong!

Why I love this forum!
A detailed, accurate and passionate argument for a single option out of 100s.
I have ordered 2Taycans neither with RAS but I may regret it as the new one has 21” wheels. I think RAS helps MORE than ‘slightly’ with avoiding curbs.

The Air suspension necessity must be due to mechanical incompatibility but it’s no problem as if you can only afford 1 option on a RWD Taycan it MUST be Air suspension!
Then RAS?!
Wanting springs the same as wanting a manual gearbox with V8 ICE.
(NOT available, before anyone asks!)

just watched an Ozzie review of RWD Taycan with LOADS of extras (obviously as it’s a press car) but no Air Suspension!

Streuth cobber! Nobody wants to hoon around in that!

Gday mates

 

[4thPcar]

Why I love this forum!
A detailed, accurate and passionate argument for a single option out of 100s.
I have ordered 2Taycans neither with RAS but I may regret it as the new one has 21” wheels. I think RAS helps MORE than ‘slightly’ with avoiding curbs.

The Air suspension necessity must be due to mechanical incompatibility but it’s no problem as if you can only afford 1 option on a RWD Taycan it MUST be Air suspension!
Then RAS?!
Wanting springs the same as wanting a manual gearbox with V8 ICE.
(NOT available, before anyone asks!)

just watched an Ozzie review of RWD Taycan with LOADS of extras (obviously as it’s a press car) but no Air Suspension!

Streuth cobber! Nobody wants to hoon around in that!

Gday mates

Thank you! even though I understood about half what you said!

 

[B61]

Thank you! even though I understood about half what you said!

good…i’m not the only one, scratching my head when reading @Ross

 

[Ross]

good…i’m not the only one, scratching my head when reading @Ross

??
Where is SI?
I am a Pom now living back in UK but lived in Sydney for a few years so speak a bit of Strine!
English or Murrican (or other?!) translation available on request.

 

[B61]

??
Where is SI?
I am a Pom now living back in UK but lived in Sydney for a few years so speak a bit of Strine!
English or Murrican (or other?!) translation available on request.

When you wrote “gday mates”, I knew that you are from down-under
btw: SI stands for Slovenia…. and I prefer Australian English when I have to listen.

 

[AyTifosi]

The Taycan is a big car - sure you can manuver it like any other car - my 4S without RAS works just fine. Like many of you I'm sure, navigating tight places is no problem. However, a key reason I'm ording a GTS with RAS is that if my wife drives the car, it will make it way easier for her. That it will be easier to drive around town, manage tight parking lots and parallel park are a bonus. The air suspension is silky smooth too. For sure, that would be a must.

 

[JacobDK]

"Don't have it, rarely miss it" - if buyers were guided by this then nobody would spec the feature, and I feel sorry for those people! Just sayin....

All due respect, you cannot miss what you've never had.

Did try it out on the tester before buying and know what im missing out on..

 

[Ross]

When you wrote “gday mates”, I knew that you are from down-under
btw: SI stands for Slovenia…. and I prefer Australian English when I have to listen.

I was trying to think of an American State with the acronym SI.
You saved me looking!
I speak a little Croatian!
Dobar Dan Kako Ste?
but no Slovenian!
My apologies.
I have happy memories of Ljubljana and the beautiful Postonja caves on a family holiday in 1979 when it was still Yugoslavia!
Not many English around at that time!

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