992 Porsche 911 GT3 RS: 6 Pros and Cons

Good and Bad

It goes without saying that the newest version of the beloved 911 GT3 RS is an amazing machine, one that's capable of performing like few other road-legal cars out there, whether that be on the street or the track. However, as is also the case with everything in life, the 992 911 GT2 RS isn't without its downsides, minor as they might be. In its recent 2024 Performance Vehicle of the Year testing, MotorTrend gave us a better idea of both the good and the bad when it comes to this incredible machine.

Photos: Porsche

Pro: Copious Downforce

As one may gather from its extreme bodywork, the new 911 GT3 RS is capable of producing an eye-opening amount of downforce, which is a big part of what left the MotorTrend crew quite stunned by how well it handles curves. “I have never experienced grip and chassis tuning like this before,” one staffer wrote, with others adding “This car is a cheat code. It’s just not fair. It’s on another planet.” “OMG WTF. Its grip felt like 10 pounds of Gorilla glue was permanently squirted on the tires. Wow.”

Photos: Porsche

Con: Pro Skills Required

According to MT, not just any hot shoe can hop in the cabin and extract maximum performance from the 911 GT3 RS, however. "Its handling is so outer limits, you need a lot of experience - talent, even - to get the absolute best out of the car," it noted. "We don’t mean it’s scary or evil to drive if you aren’t a pro, because it isn’t. It puts a permagrin on the face of practically anyone who wheels it around a track at whatever speed they choose, by the simple fact they can feel how capable it is and see their confidence grow exponentially as a result. Still, if you’re into chasing its true max, most drivers will need to raise their game substantially and readjust their perceptions of what’s possible on the brakes, on corner entry, in how much mid-corner speed you can carry, and how soon you can get on the throttle at the exit."

Photos: Porsche

Pro: Next-Level Handling

MT calls the GT3 RS' handling "out of this world," adding that it "puts a permagrin on the face of practically anyone who wheels it around a track at whatever speed they choose. You can, no matter who you are, certainly drive it to your local track day, send everyone else home in tears, and drive home afterward, content in the knowledge you just felt performance on a level usually reserved for racing drivers and uberwealthy uberhypercar owners."

Photos: Porsche

Con: Not a Daily Driver

Trouble is, all of the things that make the 911 GT3 RS so good on the track can also make it rather unlivable on the road. "If you’re not a hugely experienced and capable driver, if not at least a club-level racer, some of our judges questioned if the RS is worth the extra cost and practical trade-offs compared to the already immensely track-capable, intoxicatingly fun standard 911 GT3," MT wrote. "Not for nothing, the regular GT3 offers a notably more compliant ride and practicality on the street - our panel was split on the RS’ suitability for regular road use, with this author finding it livable if extremely aggressive, countered by features editor Scott Evans responding: 'You’re out of your mind. You cannot commute in this car. The ride is just acceptable on the freeway, but in traffic and on city streets, it’s miserable.'"

Photos: Porsche

Pro: Endless Capability

As far as the limits of the 911 GT3 RS go, well, those aren't something that most of us mere mortals will ever find, let alone get close to discovering. This is a machine that's the result of countless hours of engineering expertise and racing experience, which are two things that Porsche has plenty of in its arsenal. 

Photos: Porsche

Con: Pricey Upgrade Over GT3

Truthfully, the GT3 RS is a relative bargain given its extreme level of performance, with its $244k base price somewhat within the realm of reasonable - at least compared to the competition. However, the RS is also quite a bit more expensive than the regular GT3, which starts out at around $180k. Whether or not that makes it worth the price of an upgrade, well, that's up to the person buying one, but given the fact that it's hard to find an RS, we imagine that doesn't really matter to most. 

Photos: Porsche

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