Thursday 21st August 2014

Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0: Spotted

RS 4.0 or Carrera GT? No, really

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Typically for a Spotted the history of a car will be detailed, the price will be mentioned and the alternatives will probably be considered too. But you know the 997 GT3 RS 4.0 was exceptional, is exceptional and will remain exceptional for a long time to come. To the price then...

Ah yes, it's left-hand drive too

It's £289,000. Three years and 2,000 miles ago it cost someone considerably less than half that. JZM recently sold a RHD Mexico Blue car for £350K. This Carrera GT is £300,000. What's going on?

There was always going to be more demand than supply for the 4.0 RS. At £128,000 it was £25K more than a 3.8 RS but with such a limited production run and its hallowed status as the ultimate modern 911 there was never going to be a shortage of willing buyers. The majority of the 600 cars were left-hand drive; as the JZM car has shown, the 29 RHD cars have risen even more drastically in the UK.

With a value spike in air-cooled 911s that has included the recent sale of a 964 RS at £220K perhaps the later versions were due an increase. Indeed Chris suggested back in June that all RS 997s were experiencing a rise in value because of the 991. They were the last manual Mezger GT3s, and the 4.0-litres the very best of those, so it was only to be reasonably expected.

Special as 911s go, but £300K special?

But the best versions of the 3.8 RS are £150K. Can a 4.0 be worth nearly twice as much? And if that looks daft Carrera GTs are still lingering around the £300K mark. There's no comparison really, is there?

It will be fascinating to see where RS values go from here. Delving further shows a couple of RS 996s selling for over £120K and even a 996.1 GT3 at £90K. Makes early 997 GT3s selling at around £60K look remarkable value, relatively speaking.

And what can the 4.0 RS be compared to that isn't a Porsche product? The very best Ferrari 430 Scuderias are less than £200K and must also be worth consideration. Surely neither can rise much more, can they? Given how swiftly GT3s sell the £290K 4.0 RS will probably not remain available for long. The value debate can then run and run. And that's before we're onto preserve it in a collection or enjoy it on road and track. Decisions, decisions!

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PORSCHE 911 GT3 RS 4.0
Engine: 3,996cc flat-6
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 500@8,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 339@5,750rpm
MPG: 20.1mpg (NEDC combined)
CO2: 326g/km
First registered: 2011
Recorded mileage: 2,224
Price new: £128,466
Yours for: £289,000

See the original advert here and this one for pics (it's in 'Approved Pre-owned' and 'Our stock').

 

[gsuk1]

WOW, I had no idea these were worth so much money.

Very nice they are too, but slightly quicker version of a standard GT3 RS or a proper mid engined V10 Carrera GT. Pretty easy decision for me.