The green flag:
Ask 10 Porsche enthusiasts to name the best street Porsche ever made, and you’ll to get 10 different answers. Certainly, there are a lot of choices: rear engine, mid-engine or front-engine. Rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Coupe, cabriolet or Targa. Air-cooled or water-cooled. Naturally aspirated or turbocharged. Manual or PDK. Two-door, four-door or SUV — forget that last one, but you get the point. At the risk of upsetting a good portion of the Porsche faithful, I can now definitely answer the question: The best street-legal Porsche ever is the 2011 GT3 RS. (read more after the jump)
2011 GT3RS on Monticello Motor Club's 3.6 mile long course.
Now, before you question my sanity, hear me out. My requirements for a Porsche are heavily weighted in favor of track prowess. There are Porsches that are faster, more powerful, more comfortable and arguably (but not by me) better looking than the new RS. But in my opinion, a great Porsche can be driven to the track, and then on the track with only an adjustment of tire pressures and a torque check on the (very sexy) center-lock wheels. Said Porsche should also be drivable to dinner or on a short weekend trip. For two.
I have to admit, I like my suspensions stiff and probably have a higher tolerance than most for the rough ride on New England’s less-than-perfect roads. That said, even for the most fearless, the GT3 RS is not a daily driver. The stiff ride and heavy clutch would get old fairly quickly while navigating morning traffic. And the Michelin Pilot Sport Cups can be a handful in standing water.
But when unleashed on a twisty two-lane or, better yet, purpose-built circuit like the Monticello Motor Club (click here to see the video), the GT3 RS has no equal. The connection from driver to road is almost telepathic. The power delivery is smooth and predictable. The lightweight sport seats are more supportive than a custom-fit jock strap. Shift throws are short and precise. The brakes are so strong and fade-free you’ll be terrifying passengers at a whole new level. High-speed stability is drama-free and incredibly confidence-inspiring while the grip is the closest to a GT3 Cup you’ll find in a car with a plate on it. And when you open the windows and take a run up through the gears, the sound of the 3.8 blasting through the titanium exhaust is pure nirvana. A Porsche engineer who worked on the RS development recently told a friend of mine, “Ve couldn’t make it any better.” I believe him. You may not be wearing the cool Porsche Motorsport racing suit, but behind the wheel, this car will make you feel like Wolf Henzler.
The finish line:
I’ve driven a lot of Porsches, but this is the first one I would consider a deal with the devil for.
Street and Circuit 