Im no 911 aficionado, but even I cant deny the appeal of the GT3 RS 4.0. Unlike the Turbo S, this is a flagship 911 that doesnt appeal to sheikhs and boy band members. Instead, it exists solely to cater for wealthy enthusiasts. But what makes it stand out from other 911s? Why does it sell for almost double its list price at just three years old? For a start, the GT3 RS 4.0 was a limited-run car. Only 600 units were produced as run-out models commemorating eight years of production of the 997. Straight away thats enough to give it future classic status. But theres more to it than that. For most, this is considered to be the last proper 911. Since the arrival of the new 911 a couple of years ago, you can no longer buy a 911 without EPAS. Not only that, but the enthusiasts choice (the GT3) is now available exclusively with the PDK gearbox. Furthermore, there are rumours that all 911s will now feature a turbocharger to aid efficiency. On top of this, many 911s now come with 4WD, adding weight and taming the cars handling characteristics. This may all sound like progressive steps forward, but the 911 has always appealed due to its purity and mechanical simplicity. The GT3 RS 4.0 produced 500bhp; considerably more than the standard GT3 RS. Not because of a turbo or two, but because the engine was bored out the old-fashioned way from 3.8 litres to 4.0 litres. This allowed the car to maintain its instant throttle response, and that magnificent flat-six delivered the goods right up to 8,500rpm. And of course that engine drove the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. The GT3 RS 4.0 also favoured a traditional hydraulic power-assisted steering set up, resulting in far more feedback through the wheel. And thats why I think the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 is already a classic, and why it will continue to shoot up rapidly in value over the coming years. And if you dont believe me that theyve already doubled in value from new, heres one asking for just shy of a quarter-of-a-million: autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201410118120417
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 10:56:21 +0000
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