A Drive on the Wild Side — Ruf BTR2

Written by: Matt Parker

I think most people around my age originally discovered RUF when playing Gran Turismo as kids, purely because it was your only way to drive anything resembling a Porsche on the game back then. If you aren't a '90s kid, then it was probably the famous video of the iconic CTR Yellowbird on the ragged edge around the Nurburgring that brought RUF to your attention. Either way, RUF is an undeniably cool brand, and more than being just a tuning house, they're really a bespoke manufacturer of seriously high-performance cars based around Porsches.

And before we go any further, let's clear something up. It's not R.U.F, it's RUF (pronounced 'roof') after Alois Ruf who founded the company in 1939. The company is still in the family to this day too, headed up by Alois' son, Alois Ruf Jnr.

I've driven my fair share of old Porsches now, and as a self-confessed Porsche nut, I've loved them all. There's something even more cool and elusive about a RUF though. Firstly, you just don't see them, plus they bring up thoughts of that tail-happy Nurburgring lap and bring with them an air of danger you get with the likes of old GT2s and F40s.

Today's subject and my first toe in the RUF waters is the BTR2, a turbocharged monster based on the 993 Carrera, and before I go any further, I must thank Car-Iconics whose unit is always packed with the most interesting machinery both modern and classic — it's like an Aladdin's cave for the geeky petrolhead! They're a great team who are as enthusiastic about these cars as we are, and to be given the opportunity to drive something with such a combination of rarity, value and old-fashioned brute power on a cold, greasy December day is a slightly daunting but seriously exciting prospect.

After a chat with the guys and an obligatory browse, focus turned to the BTR2, and it's just achingly cool. It's subtle in silver with gold. decals to match the super-simple five-spoke gold wheels which have become instantly recognisable as RUF. Being based on the 993 Carrera, it has the standard, and again, subtle narrow body rather than the wider arches of Porsche's turbocharged models, so on the road, despite the whale tail on the rear deck, the BTR strikes a modest stance that could fool most passersby, but a car enthusiast would go wild at the sight of it, and as you'll know if you've read my ramblings before, I love that in a car.

The cool thing about the BTR2 is that, being released in 1993, Ruf actually beat Porsche to turbocharging the 993 by two years, so if you wanted the latest model but had a screw loose, this was your only choice.

Despite the narrow body and understated appearance, the BTR2 is packing much more firepower than it likes to suggest. The 993's 3.6-litre flat-six has had a great big turbocharger strapped to it, so instead of the standard 272bhp, this has 420, and it's all going through the rear wheels. That means that, on paper at least, this is pretty much like the GT2 that earned the widowmaker moniker.

That brings me onto the fact that there are very few cars I've been given a talking to about before driving them, by which I of course mean, "Be careful!". The F12 TDF was the last one, to give you an idea of what we're dealing with, and before we headed out, Dan from Car-Iconics added this to the list, suggesting you can get wheelspin through third and fourth gear — yikes!

Steady does it to start with then, and while I'm convincing the car to go easy on me, now would be a good time to get to know it a little more. There's more to it than just a big turbo; the engine has different profile camshafts, additional oil cooling and a bespoke exhaust so it's the complete package rather than a highly-strung ticking time bomb. It'll hit 60 in four seconds and pull all the way to 191, which must have been pretty bonkers in 1993.

To keep all that firepower in check, it has a limited-slip diff, bigger brakes and 30mm lower suspension, stiffer anti-roll bars and the most discreet integrated roll cage, but nothing in the way of an electronic safety net, ego protection, whatever you want to call it, so I'd better keep my right foot in check — smoothly does it today!

Dan had warned me that the throttle likes to be wide open and the engine can be a little lumpy otherwise. In fact, when the car underwent an extensive overhaul at Ruf last year, they mentioned this and the response was simply that this is normal and they're proud of that. The fact is, these cars are made to be driven flat out or switched off.

Despite that though, I actually found the car to be perfectly docile at low speeds. There's no power steering, but the weighting is spot on. The floor-hinged pedals take some getting used to as they do in any pre-996 911, but they're perfectly placed for heel-and-toe. RUF's own strengthened six-speed gearbox takes a solid shove, but it's not clunky, the engine sound isn't intrusive and even the ride isn't overly firm. It all contributes to a surprisingly usable thing, but as the makers themselves say, that's not what it's for, so it's time to grow a pair and see what the BTR2 is like when used as intended, although I'm not sure the intended surface is a greasy British Broad!

Much like the 993 Turbo S I drove in a previous issue, not a lot happens until 4,000rpm, then the hellfire switch is flicked as if Satan himself is catapulting you down the road. I recall the similarly-powered Turbo S had a tendency to spin all four wheels if it was damp underfoot, so you can imagine what this is like powering the rears alone when all the power comes in one big sucker punch — it sure keeps you on your toes!

Also, forget 420bhp and forget 0-60 in four seconds — the BTR2 is so ferocious that those figures just don't do it justice. It's a wild ride, but a controllable one. It's intimidating at first and you always have to be awake to drive it fast, but it's one of those cars you gel with as you go along. Your confidence grows, you get in a groove and the pace builds as long as you keep your inputs smooth.

If you're careful with your right foot, the rest of the inputs are easy to keep smooth too. The unassisted steering is just a joy to use with the thicker RUF steering wheel and the grip levels are unbelievable for an older narrow-bodied 911. Even on greasy roads, the front end gave no suggestion of pushing like you might expect, but yep, you guessed it, just make sure you're dead straight before you wake up that turbo!

The upgraded brakes do a great job of settling down the madness, and over a road, it's super stable for an old rear-driven 911. I didn't think I'd be saying this earlier in the day, but it actually gives you oodles of confidence. With 590Nm torque on tap, you hardly need to use the manual box but it's a great-feeling, fairly hefty shift, and every time you let off to change, you get a fantastic wastegate flutter.

It is believed that anything up to 13 BTR2s were produced, although Mrs Ruf can only recall nine herself. Whatever the total figure, what we know for sure is that this car is one of just three right-hand-drive examples. This car was registered new in 1998 and cared for by its original owner, Peter, for 20 years, believe it or not with hand controls and RUF's electronic gear selector. Peter kept a detailed, handwritten log of all major events, servicing and costs incurred during his ownership, so the car has an incredibly complete and personal history.

The hand controls and electronic gear selector were removed in favour of the six-speed manual I've been using today when the car returned to RUF in 2019 where the engine was stripped, checked and rebuilt. It had a new turbo fitted, belts and ancillary items along with new brake discs and pads. There is a detailed RUF invoice supporting the work, and together with all the previous RUF receipts for servicing and maintenance, R2 BTR is the only UK car that Mr and Mrs Ruf have serviced and supported since its build.

Couple that rarity and history with a price tag north of £200,000, and I'm sure you'll forgive me for being careful with this one. The value didn't stop me enjoying the car though, because Porsches are driver's cars at their heart and this is no different, it has just enhanced the experience with savage performance. There's no wailing V12 or even a high-revving screamer of a flat-six like you'd find in a modern GT3, but I've hardly ever reached the end of a road so exhilarated. This is a true driver's car.

I think the guys at Car-Iconics sum this car up perfectly by saying it's somehow more than the sum of its parts, and you can really tell it was built by people with a passion for performance, engineering and quality — it certainly doesn't feel like a tuner special. My favourite quote I'm going to steal from Car-Iconics to finish is that, once you own a RUF, you become part of a small privileged family, and to me, it's worth every penny.