The 996RSs are great cars. In fact, I have entertained many times the idea of buying an early 996 GT3 R, or RS (the racing versions), with manual gearbox, Le Mans or similarly nice provenance. They come on the market once in a while and are not that expensive--of course there might be evil hidden costs and mongrels; the race car market is always a bit of a gamble (e.g. I bought my 964 RSR "Wiz metallic bits in ze oil filter!" Turned out not to be that bad but still had our favourite dealer on the phone when I turned on the engine--wanted to share the experience with him [
]).
Ultimately, and I know that this should be a secondary factor, but... I do find the aesthetics of 996s "questionable," [:'(] so there is no "996RS emotional purchase" for me (of course no insult intended to anyone's pride and joy, just my opinion).
Porsche redeemed themselves with the 997 somewhat, but the RSRs might need a team to look after, rather than one enthusiast. And this (the team) brings me to Group C cars territory, which are now available (at least for C2s) for the cost of our pride and joy (for on the button, race cars with great provenance; I researched the market in detail, talked to teams and so forth).
I know that I am drifting even more off topic as we are now well > 100k hypothetical budget but... It is strange to realise that a mundane 2.7RS (I frankly don't get why the excitement, but each to their own) is worth the value of a Group C car... I know, I know, but most people will collect these cars and consider them as investments to be used sporadically. For sporadic use, I would buy a 2.0S or a 2.2S (both mechanical injection) before a 2.7RS, whose engine (and that of the 2.4S) are much less thrilling in comparison.
So, a '65 911/3.0RSR replica or a 997 Cup... Might race the formers or substitute the latter for my 993 cup. And so here is the question: Racing or track days?
ORIGINAL: h_____
If you dont need the value proposition that the 64RS offers (depreciation proof and reasonable to cheap run (cant believe I said that!). Then an early wet car is damn hard to beat. I'm not sure the 996s are one trick ponies. The feedback on the 96RS is really positive, I'm sure its a sublime car worthy of the name. I can imagine owners of 3.2CS, and 73 RSs back in the day looking at the 64RS and saying - "look what they've done - its got so much grip, and its as stiff as a board, there is no feedback or intimacy, its lost its magic!"
Progress is progress, whilst things dont always get better, I think fun can be had in a later car, in the same way that it can in 964 and a pre-70 car. I agree values of 993 / 964 are off the scale compared to how close an experience you get in a GT5.
