Battle Lines

New or old? It is a choice many of us need to make when pondering a Porsche purchase. We drive two RS cars of approximately the same value… which one should you consider?

- Wilhelm Lutjeharms

It is quite a sight, isn’t it? Porsche’s fastest and most powerful RS to date next to one of the current most sought-after RS models, the 993 Carrera RS. The asking prices of most aircooled 911s, and many other classic Porsches for that matter, might have levelled off lately, but the values are still sky high compared to a number of years ago. This has created a new challenge for prospective 911 buyers. Whether your budget is £30,000 or £100,000, you now have a choice between either newer, modern water-cooled 911s or classic air-cooled derivatives. It will obviously depend on your needs and what the car will be used for. Some this decision might be particularly difficult.

Shortly after the 991 GT3 RS was launched, speculators started asking exorbitant premiums above the car’s suggested retail price. This craze hasn’t died down; today these cars are still being offered for between £180,000 and £230,000. Even though the 911 R has been launched, it doesn’t seem as if this limited number manual model has any effect on the value of the 991 RS.

All RS models have increased in value during the past five to 10 years and the 993 Carrera RS is no exception. Values have crept up and are now slap bang in the middle of 991 GT3 RS territory and, in some cases, slightly higher. These top-tier 911s are separated by 20 years, which is almost a light year in terms of automotive development, but if you can afford it which one should you consider? And how do the driving experiences of these two cars differ from behind the wheel?