There are fast cars, and then there's the Porsche 911 GT3 RS. We borrowed one for a week and drove it 1,200km from Sydney up to the Snowy Mountains and back. What followed was the most memorable drive any of us has had in years.
The GT3 RS sits at the very top of the naturally aspirated 911 range. With 525 horsepower, a 9,000rpm redline, and enough aerodynamic downforce to theoretically drive upside down at highway speed, this isn't a car for commuting. But we did it anyway.
Key Specs
On the Road
Leaving Sydney on a Tuesday morning in a GT3 RS is an experience in itself. Every set of traffic lights becomes a mini theatre. Tradies hang out their windows. School kids point. A bloke in a Hilux gave us a thumbs up at every red light for three blocks.
But once you clear the city and hit the Southern Highlands, everything changes. The road opens up, the traffic thins out, and suddenly you're alone with one of the greatest engines ever bolted into a car. The flat-six screams to 9,000rpm with an intensity that makes your hair stand up. It's addictive in a way that's hard to explain to anyone who hasn't experienced it.
"The flat-six screams to 9,000rpm with an intensity that makes your hair stand up. This is what a petrol engine should sound like."
Handling & Dynamics
The GT3 RS is fitted with Porsche's most aggressive suspension setup, along with front and rear active aerodynamics that adjust automatically based on speed and driving mode. On the smooth mountain roads around Thredbo, it was nothing short of extraordinary — telepathic steering, massive grip, and a chassis balance that makes you feel like a much better driver than you actually are.
The brakes are carbon ceramic as standard, and they're sensational. Repeated hard stops from triple-digit speeds with no fade whatsoever. On Australian roads with their mix of smooth tarmac, rough patches, and the occasional kangaroo, the GT3 RS proved surprisingly manageable — firm but not punishing.
Living With It
Here's the honest bit. On the motorway, it's loud. The cabin noise is significant and the ride, while not as brutal as you'd expect, is always communicating what the road is doing. On a long freeway stint, you'll be reaching for the volume button constantly.
Practicality is essentially zero. The front boot holds a laptop bag and a jacket if you're lucky. The rear seats exist only to store helmets at a track day. If you're buying a GT3 RS as a daily driver, you already know what you're getting into — and you've accepted it.
👍 The Good
- Engine sound is genuinely special
- Handling precision is class-leading
- Aerodynamics make it feel planted at any speed
- PDK gearbox is lightning fast
- Resale value holds exceptionally well
👎 The Bad
- $399,900 is a serious commitment
- Loud on long highway stints
- Virtually no practicality
- Fuel economy is, let's say, enthusiastic
- You will be photographed constantly
Final Verdict
The 911 GT3 RS is not a sensible car. It's not a practical car. It's not even a particularly comfortable car for long distances. But it is, without question, one of the greatest driving experiences available for any amount of money in Australia right now. If you have the means and the appetite, there is nothing else like it.
We handed the keys back on Friday afternoon and spent the whole weekend thinking about it. That tells you everything you need to know.