Seeing a 996 GT3 RS takes me straight back to Topgear with Clarkson's review of this and the 360CS. Good times.

Still dreaming of a show with Harris and Tiff... Please do it.

True story. I owned a prototype to the 996.2 GT3. It was built 11/02 on a C4 chassis and was never meant to be sold but crushed alongside the other 6 0-series cars. The spec sheet read 0-series engine, 0-series transmission and on other 0-series item that I can’t remember right now, but I do have a photo of it. The car was labeled GT3CS on its rump and was in guards red paint which was blasted off from its many laps of the Nordschleife in all the wheel arch corners where you typically see wear on 996s. It had an “RS tune”, a lightweight flywheel, race exhaust and was dynoed to 415whp according to a read out that followed the car. It had not one, not two, but three emergency power cut offs scattered around the car. One red switch in front of the gear lever, one exposed wire in front of the windshield and one underneath the hood on the battery if I recall correctly. Seats were agonizingly unforgiving Nomex clad (fire retardant) Recaro fixed buckets. It also had the lower wishbones Chris mentioned the RS got later. Oh, and of course a racing clutch that gave a proper leg workout. Strangely it also sported a PSE-button, but the valved exhaust had been done away with in favor of the aforementioned race exhaust. Suspension was KW ClubSport. I’ve never, ever driven such an uncompromising and uncomfortable 911. The noise it made under load was absolutely heavenly and would shame any tubi-equipped Ferrari or heavily exhausted Lamborghini. It was a true beast and still resides in Norway. I named the car quite appropriately “Red Alert” and it was an RS on steroids, lacking only the carbon fiber bonnet and the Lexan rear window, Chris forgot to mention in the video. RS cars have plastic rear windows.

DID anyone NOTICE? The way Chris handles the car? look at the start of the video, how he touches, holds, closes, not touches the door-the frameless glasses. Oh man, he is a man who loves and cares for the car he is with! HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE THIS MAN??

996 Appreciation Society!

996’s are massively under rated full stop. Even a boggo mk1 C2 with 300bhp is fabulous to drive… light, fantastic steering, not too fast that you can’t drive them hard on public roads… and civilised enough to do big miles in.

Was lucky enough to have a 996.1, 996.2 GT3 and a 996 GT3RS. The RS was a way better car. Easy to drive on the road, more of an event. Loved it. My red one was quicker than the blue ones! As for power, went to a Dyno day with all the other Titanic chaps, mine put out 385hp - lowest of the group - drove to the 2004 Le Mans and used the car “properly” . Went to a dyno same gang after the trip to France. Theirs all put out the same HP. Mine now put out around 420 - it was a long time ago - moral is, they need a good thrash! Will have another one at some point. My favourite car ever.

I used to be a scaffolder........love the interior !

I was never a Porsche fan as a kid having loved Ferraris and remember the 996 series come out, but in the last 5/6 years I have slowly come around to Porsche, particularly appreciating all the generations of GT3s. Recently, I went to test drive a 996.2 GT3 at a price which I thought was too good to be true. Needless to say, I broke the guy's arm off buying it off him. It is straight from a past era of raw, drivers cars. I literally wobbled the steering wheel from left to right and was sold on the feel alone. Having read all the other comments on here from previous owners trading for 997 GT3s and the owner I bought off also mentioning he's had later generations and still said this was better, it's making me feel I've got one hell of a car.

I was about 20 years old when they launched this car. I bought all the car magazines that had this car on the covers. I was so excited. Ive loved porsches since i was a kid. The 996 gt3rs still holds a special memory. What a glorious machine.

My introduction to this car was one turning up to a track day at Knockhill Racing Circuit in Scotland about 18 years ago (in this exact spec), destroying everything on track - including the stuff that turned up on trailers - then monster past us on the motorway on our route home. Stunning.

Love these cars. I owned a modded 996.1 GT3 for many years with a few minor mods including a Manthey K400 upgrade and it great fun on track. Have driven a 997.1 GT3 but didn't find the steering as good and the gearshift was heavy and baulky. My dream Porsche is a 996GT3/GT3RS with the 4 litre engine from the 997.2GT3RS.

Absolutely mesmerizing to see how the 996 GT3 RS not only stands the test of time but ignites such a unified passion among us enthusiasts! 🤩

Always good to start the week with watching a review done by Chris H and team!

I had 2 different 996 turbos with the x50 (bigger turbos) pkg. people dished the 996 era but if you get one of the “special” 996 cars like the gt3, club sport, RS, or x50 turbo- they were all so good. Manual, hand brake, analog dials and small body All true drivers cars

The 996 RS was produced to homologate revisions for the 996 RSR in AMLemans. In was certainly not a sticker exercise. Among many other changes from the Clubsport, the suspension pick up points were revised to reduce bump steer. These were carried over to the 997 GT3. The upgrades to the car were so expensive to produce that it remains the only 911 that cost more to produce than the sale price of the car.

Like a fine wine it gets better with age.

Only fools don’t “get” the 996. Even haters admit they’re decent after they drive one. Jethro owns one, Harris loves them and even Clarkson the biggest 911 basher out there was in awe of the 996.2 RS and “normal” GT3 if you watch the old Topgear vids. I’ve had a 996.1 C2 with refreshed everything and it was lovely. 90% of a GT3 for 25% of the price. I’ve also had 996.1 GT3 CS. Gorgeous. And now a 996.2 GT3. I sometimes think of swapping for a 997 GT3 as they are a better road car for my Euro trips, but I just couldn’t do it. The 996 is perfect dynamically and dimensionally for our roads. If I ever can I’ll move up to a 996 RS but I think I’ll be lucky to manage to.

Love these. I remember reading about them in Autocar and becoming obsessed with them.

Ahh yes the 996... I had a 996.1 Carrera aerokit. Looked just like a GT3.. oh how silly I was to sell that.

Great plate for the Mezger-engined car. Nice touch.

When I was in high school, a family friend had a string of nice cars. It all started when he got rid of his E34 535i Sport Auto, to put towards an E34 3.8 6 Speed M5. He also paired that with an ex Frank Sytner owned E39 B10 V8. Then after a while he picked up an S1 E Type, then a 993 Turbo (which was buttons back then), a 996 Turbo Cab X50 and finally, one of these. In the weeks leading up to the summer, my Dad was picking me up on a Friday in increasingly outrageous motor vehicles, but I'll never forget the day I came out of the school gates to see the White and Red GT3 RS. What a special car. Somewhat hilariously, the 993, 996 Cab AND the GT3 RS all got chopped in after the summer against an 355 F1 Cab, which in hindsight must be one of the worst deals of the past 20 years?

This with clear 996.1 headlights would be my dream 911.

I have never driven the RS but I chopped in my 996.2 GT3 for a 997.2 RS. With the benefit of hindsight it was a mistake. The 997 was objectively a better car, but, subjectively the 996 was superb, even though I did manage to spin it a couple of times 😅

Love this shape and Colour combo on the GT3RS ! - Stunning

Love 996❤

I only have the 996.2 GT3. But an entertaining car to drive. Just yesterday I was out for a quick round. Love that thing. Of course you need the RS wing just for the looks 🤷‍♂️

Cobra head gear shift 😂 smith n sniff would be proud

Chris is the best pundit imo 🙏

Liking these videos... a lot! Well done team

I really appreciate this review. The comment about the steering really resonates.

the GT3s without the rear fender intake are the best looking.

Silence!!!! Someone Knighthood this man!!!!! Sir Harris, worlds #1 journo hoonigan 🤘🤘

I bet anyone local recognised that road in the opening 2 seconds. Good drive that.

What a car beautiful analogue and soooo desirable 😊.

There's something just right about seeing Chris in a GT3 RS. I remember watching him back on Drive and his own channel sliding the 991 GT3 RS around years ago...

Beautiful 'old' example of the GT3 although I wasn't fond of the front lights! The favorite is the 94-96 models with the duck bill wing ..... yaaaaassss

Driven that car, its very nice ! only 1/3 are blue..

I want to see that group test!

Another Chris Harris video.......YES !!!!!👍🇦🇺

Car reviews with Chris Harris,can't make enough of them for me.Chris is as good as it gets!!

Nice numberplate, for the Mezger engine.

The RS also had custom front spindles with revised mounting points to facilitate good geometry when lowered. IIRC that's where a lot of the cost went.

Some track driving of this 996.2GT3RS would have been epic with CH behind the wheel. But I get it, it's for sale.

Incredible car, I'd love one eventually!

Next to a 997 RS 4.0 the best car I've ever driven! Absolutely love it!

996 still my favorite gen 🔥

These and the gt3 997 are really well priced at the moment. Only going up I think.

Definitely the best colour way👍👍👍

996s have always beem fantastic

I bought I believe the first blue one in UK when they weren’t particularly popular. I kept it for 5 years and did 30,000 miles - fantastic fun with other GT3 owners in Titanic club. I should never have sold it.

The 996 has the best steering of all 911 generations, aircooled included. In time the 996 GT3 RS will be the ONE to collect. Wasn't he "father" of 996 GT3 RS actually Roland Kussmaul. I think he is the one who specified it and then Preuninger suggested it to the board?

Since 2008 this has been my dream/lottery car from when I saw them at the Nurburgring. But at the moment I will have to settle for my 40 ish GT3rs models 😢.

Shortly after these were released I was in Pimlico late one evening and saw a 20 year old Chinese lad sat on the wing of one of these. I struck up a conversation and he was a student in London and his father had bought him the car. I said how lucky he was, and he replied 'yes, but my father expects a lot from me in return'. With such an air of sadness and weight on his shoulders. It was even a blue one. Amazing cars then and now.

ty

I own a 996 C4S . It still looks great , goes faster into and out of corners than a gokart , and the girls love me taking them out in it .❤😂

I remember seeing a nearly new one of these after the owner had a big off at Castle Combe. It slid into the tyre wall at some speed and the entire drivers side was caved in. 🙁

Different front wheel carrier similar to the cup car that helped manage bump steer better especially on lowered cars

Probably the best car I have ever driven in my life. Agree with the blue wheels 😂

Finally something within the recent era

My favourite RS.... if only.

Timeless car

This Smurf edition is the best edition.

"Manuel" Lol!! 👍

Blue wheels faster then red ones! 😂👍

Same steering as my 986 S with GT3 control arms and coilovers lol

I ended up with the press car, although Porsche UK put a new clutch in for me FOC. Hated the car and ended up part-xing it for a BMW M5. 😮

Happy to see Chris reviewing actual cars anyday of the week be a fan spice EVO MAG But the truth is these cars which are all available up for auction Chris has become car salesman who’s taking us the potential customer for a test drive …. Hopefully we’ll get actual car reviews, back to Chris Harris Drive days please … Thx again Chris

Was lucky enough to have one of the standard 996 GT3's in cobalt blue. Epic car, but the engine sounds broken when you're not revving the shit out of it (not a negative btw).

Not closing the frameless windows with the window 😮

Oi this is my road 🤯🤯🤯 zig zag hill ?

When will more merchandise be available on the store?

I wish it was longer 😢

One of the best cars I have owned.

chris not taking the up zig zag hill, wouldve been fun in that thing

A great coincidence that the 996 has a plate number with the name of another Posha, the 959. This cars just makes you think of it's relatives in the Porshe family tree

996 and 997 the best gt3’s

This video is simply superb

Mine has blue wheels too MT-09 -SP

When you're next up in Shaftesbury, Chris pop in to Wren Classics for a cuppa. we have a great selection or cars / projects on

Will they bring OJ back for the new Naked Gun?

Blue one is the best one

996 📈📈📈📈📈

Is that at Compton Abbas?

How is it best value RS if the 997s and 991s are cheaper than 996s GT3 RSs?

Compton Abbas airfield? 😎

the suspension uprights are unique to the RS

Buckle up for some serious speed and excitement!

Uff. The headlights are a deal breaker for me.

It’s always bloody raining there. It can’t get any more English than that.

I wish you hadn’t done this now they’ll go up in value!! 😢😅

The RS used the C4 body shell unlike the GT3 (i think)!

Just watched Top Dead Center(Centre)

Compton Abbas Airfield??? Welcome

You know what this is what will inspire me to mod my 370Z close to this spec, I would like to have a Porsche but German maintenance isn't what it's cracked up to be.

😊

Chris please remove your hand from the window glass it hurts my feelings

Fun fact - when the 996 GT3 RS was presented to the Porsche Board before launch, a version with purple wheels and decals was suggested. I won't repeat what the feedback was, but as we see, it was a clear "no'.

Would have one over a 992 or 991. 997 or 996, that’s a harder choice.

I wonder if you have a friend with a GT3 with red wheels....