Porsche 911 GT3 RS driven

Get a bunch of Porsche fans together and they’ll argue until the cows come home about which is the best 911. For us, until now at least, there have been only two models in the reckoning; the basic £73,000 Carrera 2 and at the higher end of the scale, the outrageous GT3. Now, though, there’s the latest version of the outrageous GT3 RS.

Money well spent
At £104,841, the RS is a whopping £19,277 more than the standard GT3, but you can’t help feeling it’s money well spent. You get 444bhp instead of 429bhp, wider rear wheel arches, a plastic rear window, lighter engine internals, dynamic engine mounts (that minimise engine movement under heavy acceleration and high speed cornering), wider axles front and rear, and an overall weight saving of 25kg. Oh, and more attitude than a half-starved fighting dog.

At idle, the naturally aspirated 3.8-litre engine sounds like its gargling gravel, but get the revs beyond 4500 and the titanium sports exhaust starts to howl like a proper race pipe and begins to win the battle with the roar of ultra-wide rubber.

This is not a car to travel long distances in – it’s far better at taking you to a track day and spending many happy hours screaming round your favourite circuit.

Go straight to jail…
Acceleration is genuinely shocking, the top speed is well into ‘go straight to jail’ territory, and the ride is firm enough to reduce your stature by several centimetres, all of which gives the RS plenty of wow for your wonga. However it’s when the road turns twisty that the RS really gets interesting.

The deliciously weighted steering gives you proper, detailed feedback and the RS will keep gripping long after your brave glands have whimpered ‘enough’. You can drive the RS through corners at speeds that will make your ribs ache and you neck muscles yelp for mercy, and yet you’ll still always feel totally in control.

The looks will definitely split opinion, because the mammoth rear spoiler, super-low front splitter, lairy colour scheme and stripped-out interior are not exactly subtle.
Who cares? You’re here for a good time, not a long time, and the good times don’t get any better than when you’re behind the wheel of the best ever 911.
Peter.Tullin@whatcar.com

What car says?
Totally illogical, totally beguiling.


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