GT3 RS Best Drivers Car

[mnk303]

So good, even Ralph Lauren's bought one

Britain's oldest and most influential motoring magazine, Autocar named their best driver's car for 2010 and it's none other than the Porsche 911 GT3 RS.
For the purpose of this test, price was not an issue and they tested the £200,000 Noble M600 in the same way that they did the £23,000 Renaultsport Megane. And they picked the Porsche GT3 RS because it was "the most involving, enjoyable and satisfying of all the sports cars".


Position Vehicle Donington Lap Time Price
1st Porsche 911 GT3 RS 1min 16.3sec £104,841
2nd Noble M600 1min 16.0sec £200,000
3rd Ferrari 458 Italia 1min 15.9sec £169,545
4th Lotus Evora 1min 21.8sec £49,995
5th Renaultsport Megane 250 Cup 1min 24.3sec £23,160
6th Lotus Elise 1min 27.7sec £27,450
7th Mercedes SLS AMG 1min 17.5sec £157,500
8th Audi RS5 1min 22.8sec £57,480
9th Jaguar XJ Supersport 1min 24.6sec £88,000
10th Volkswagen Scirocco R 1min 25.1sec £28,505
11th Alpina B5 S Biturbo 1min 25.3sec £70,500


Chas Hallett, editor of Autocar, said: "The Porsche 911 GT3 RS was a clear winner; each of our seven judges placed the car at the top of their list. On the day of our road and track testing at Donington, the GT3 RS' drive was simply the most involving, enjoyable and satisfying of all the sports cars involved."
The British-built Noble M600 was ranked in second place, with judges praising its polished, surprisingly benign chassis and steering, the progressiveness of its controls and its astonishing straight-line pace.
Third place went to the Ferrari 458 Italia, the fastest car on the day around the Donington circuit at 1min 15.9sec.
Autocar's judging team included chief road tester Matt Prior, editor-at-large Steve Sutcliffe and senior contributing writer Andrew Frankel. They took eleven cars, worth just under £1,000,000 collectively, and tested them on some of the UK's best driving roads, as well as one of its most testing racing circuits.
After a lot of driving, and some equally intense deliberation, their votes were delivered and a final order decided.
"Some modern Supercars are so quick that their electronic driving aids actually make them more enjoyable," said Prior. "A moderately handy driver can often extend his own limits, and take the car's performance further, while knowing there's a back-up if things go wrong."
"The best driver's cars, however, are still those that don't induce fear when you push the "˜ESP' off button. They work with you, communicate with you, and allow you to exploit them for pure amusement.


The Porsche 911 GT3 RS ticks all the boxes and more. It's a very worthy winner."

 

[tscaptain]

ORIGINAL: mnk303

Autocar named their best driver's car for 2010

So did EVO.........[] Same car.........[]

 

[garyw]

Damn, I can't believe they both got it wrong!!.. [&:]

 

[bobfair]

They tested it on a circuit Gary not on the Road where the result may have been different. There can be no doubt that current GT 3 and GT 3RS are fabulous drivers cars that come into their own on a circuit

 

[tscaptain]

Not the EVO test Bob, that was both track and road![] Top 3 - GT3RS, 458, GT2 RS - Gary's came third[]

 

[lowndes]

Quite how relevant it is to judge a road car by it's performance on the track is something worthy of discussion over a pint or three, but at least Donnington is a decent track and the section from the exit of Redgate through Craner and on up to McLeans would be great to find on your favourite B road. And if we are talking about pure driver's cars then why no Caterham etc? Presumably the test is for models introduced in 2010.

I haven't read the Autocar report, but never let the facts get in the way of my opinions. First thing to say is that a GT3RS with a resaleable spec is nearer £120k. Not that price is an issue here but even so it is better to be realistic. And yes for a day at Donnington it would be my No. 1 choice. I say this with confidence despite never having even sat in one let alone been behind the wheel in anger. But you just know it would be great.

But is the track the benchmark for a driver's car. And a suitable track at that. Not sure if I would select a GT3RS for a November day at Cadwell. Again without the benefit of having actually read the article were the parameters defined?

For me a driver's car is one the driver has paid for. It is also one that is to be driven, spiritedly or otherwise, in a mix of conditions on a mix of roads (and tracks) in a mix of weathers, all year round. It also needs to be capable of carrying management's luggage for a week's holiday. So again looking at the GT3RS for me I would have to specify the NCO removal of cage. More difficult are the tyres. Do they do a 325/30 19 non Cup tyre? No point in pranging in heavy rain on the M1 on the way to Donnington!

Now none of this is intended as a criticism of the GT3RS per se. I am just using it as an example to illustrate why defining the parameters is important in deciding who wins and who is first of the losers in concluding which is the best driver's car.

And OK let's agree that a high % of the people who buy Autocar will never drive any of the cars in the Test but it still sells plenty of magazines.

Pip pip!

 

[mnk303]

All good points by everyone, my "pip as well"

There have been several tests of the GT3RS on the road and track, all make the same conclusion. Actually I would say in non-sports mode the GT3RS is a very comfortable everyday car, (like a BMW M or Audi RS Car, actually better than the Audi)
Agree doubt if there is a 2010 GT3RS that costs under £115k and then if you add ceramics like mine more like £125K, still good value compared to other super sports cars IE: compared to say a 458 which list at 170K but in real terms £190K +
To live with the race tyres everyday is a pain, I wish i had not had the Roll cage fitted (be nice if I still had rear seats.)
Having come back to Porsche after owning several Ferrari's the luggage space even in a GT3RS is so much better than most 2 seater Ferrari's.

I suppose a GT3 with rear seat may of served me better, but then for a sunny day, once a week drive car the GT3RS is a tad more special, only my opinion of course, last point the GT3RS do after the initial years seems to keep their value very well and in fact as I read earlier there will be few RHD GT3RS (less than 40 this year) that they could be very sought after.