S2 or RS2

[Si Blythe]

A friend and myself have been discussing the merits of the RS2 and the S2. He thinks it is better and cheaper to buy an S2 and upgrade it to RS2 spec and I think it is cheaper to just buy an RS2.

Once you have purchased a new turbo, IC, injectors, cam, EM and remap you are going to be sort of a few notes and then you have to uprate the brakes, shocks and role bars and it still isn't an actual RS2 are my thoughts.

Matt's thoughts are you can do it so much cheaper and you can specify the driving characteristics etc etc.

what do you guys think?

[Dan]

Certainly one advantage would be spreading the cost out - you can buy an S2, which you'll have and be able to use until you decide to spend a bit more money and RS2-spec it. You can then buy the bits as and when you fancy instead of all at once.

That said, it's a fair bit of work to really turn it into an RS2, so the easier option is to just buy an RS2.

I guess the question is: do you want a project? Or an RS2, now?

Obviously those of us that prefer our cars in the non-family-friendly format don't have much choice in the matter

[Keeper of The Kitten]

If it's sticking to RS2 specification, I think it's fair to say that most insurers would offer a lower premium for a standard RS2 as opposed to an S2 modified to RS2 power output. If you want more then both types would be modified.

[Key Walshe]

Or, buy a Nothelle for half the cost of an RS2 with the same performance

[Si Blythe]

Fair comment, they are very rare though aren't they.

[rj scotty]

Horses for courses but S2 avant is 3/4 of the car for 1/4 of the price

[psiconauta911]

You should also consider that an RS2 will always worth more than an S2 (avant) and as a future classic what you spend more in the begining you´ll get back when you sell it, and also remember that usualy a tuned car usualy dosen´t have the same buyer appeal as a original one

[Rusty]

RS2 is something special, upgrading a car from one spec to another gives you the driving experience but it'll never be the car you want it to be.

Simply put & IMO, for driving hard, start with the cheapest option and upgrade, for high days and holidays, get the model you've always wanted.

[mcandmar]

IMO if you want the performance buy an S2 and convert. If you want the looks / interior buy an RS2. Or to put it another way buying the bumpers, mirrors, trim and interior will cost way more than just buying the oily bits.

[pixsaudisex2]

Well im not alone on here in doing both.. starting with an s2 ending up with it looking like an rs2 but in the back of your mind you just know its an s2.
Like you say though an s2 is better value but it only takes a few upgrades to bump up the insurance way past an rs2..

[Si Blythe]

It all boils down to the moneey doesn't it. Like all material things in life, it is only worth what somebody is willing to pay. There are a growing number of top dollar RS2's on PH that haven't sold!

My current S2 has had a remap by MRC, and whilst at 280 bhp it isn't my RS, it is a bloody good drive and plenty quick enough especially on the UK roads. My car has an RS2 interior, 330mm brakes, 3" SS exhaust, nice 17" RS4 reps and a cracking sound system and all for 3k.

I paid 14k for my RS2 and whilst it was a great car, I struggled to sell it as it is such a specialist car. Don't get me wrong I would love another one but they are big money and the 11k price difference for a very good one is no small amount of cash, especially in the current climate.

[Error404]

if you're prepared to do a lot of work on the car, I'd get a ropy RS2 and restore it
As said above, you can get an S2 to RS2 spec with some work and expense, but it'll never really be an RS2

[Ross]

Having had both... the S2 is a damn good buy. Especially if you pick up a £5k bargain like my RS2-in-every-way-but-performance S2 just sold... cheap insurance, 280+bhp, RS2 interior and exterior and suspension, 996's etc etc.

But if your starting out from scratch @ 3k once you've added up all the parts you'll be pushing close to RS2 money - especially if you go for the performance mods too. And you'll never get it back.

I do have to agree 100% with Rusty's comments. As more of a family wagon the RS2 is well suited. Has the extra performance I wanted, with the creature comforts as well - for a comprimise it's a damn good one! If you want to mod it and fully unleash the beast within may as well start with an S2.

If I could have kept both, it would have been wagner kit and big turbo under the bonnet of the S2 and stripped out some weight, with the RS2 for daily use.

[macspring]

Imho,

If you have the money buy a silver RS2, if not buy a nice S2 Avant in silver, or dark blue and chip it with a few other inexpensive mods, but like all S2 owners it's hard to stop wanting to mod.

Let the budget be the deciding factor and act accordingly, the main thing is it's great to have the choice of buying one or the other. Either one is great.

All of the previous posts are very relevant in the decision mix.

Let us know what he does.

Kind regards.