FIRST DRIVE: Porsche 911 S/T - 518bhp GT3 RS Engine + Manual = Ultimate 911 | Top Gear

The Porsche 911 turns 60 years old in 2023 and you didn’t expect Stuttgart to mark the occasion with a couple of book vouchers and a caterpillar cake, did you? The 911 S/T is the company’s birthday present to itself - the purest, lightest, rawest, most special version of the 992-gen car yet. Basically, what we’ve got here is a 911 GT3 RS engine in a GT3 Touring body. And then Porsche set about chopping a massive 40kg out of the GT3, with carbon panels, magnesium wheels, a lighter clutch and even junking the rear-wheel steering. It’s all been in an effort to make the 911 more of a purist’s delight - something that dispenses with tech and pays homage to where the world’s most enduring sports car came from six decades ago.
Poor old Ollie Kew had to go all the way to southern Italy to meet it - and learn to drive a 911 that’s got a snatchier clutch, short-throw gearbox, and idles like it’s full of gravel. Madness, or genius? Check out the video and find a full written review on TopGear.com.
Subscribe to Top Gear for more videos: bit.ly/SubscribeToTopGear
WATCH MORE TOP GEAR:
First Looks: bit.ly/TGFirstLooks
First Drives: bit.ly/TGFirstDrives
American Tuned ft. Rob Dahm: bit.ly/TGAmericanTuned
LISTEN to the Top Gear Magazine Podcast: topgear.podlink.to/Podcast
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:02 Porsche 911 S/T
02:35 The Engine
04:27 Handling
05:40 Gadgets
06:44 Design
08:18 What Makes It Stand Out?
11:01 How Does It Compare To The GT3 RS
12:10 Conclusion
MORE ABOUT TOP GEAR:
Welcome to the official home of Top Gear on KZbin. Here you'll find all the best clips from your favourite episodes, whether that’s Ken Block drifting London in the Hoonicorn, Chris Harris in the latest Porsche 911 GT3 or classic Top Gear clips from Clarkson, Hammond and May. You'll also find the latest performance car reviews from the TopGear.com crew, our brand new series American Tuned with Rob Dahm and the fastest power laps from our in house performance benchmark: The Stig.
This is a commercial channel from BBC Studios.
Service & Feedback www.bbcstudios.com/contact/co...

[@M440iUK]

If owning a Porsche is a man's mid life crisis then I've been having a crisis since I was 7!

[@jackchueh1231]

Motorcycle is better

[@bwheels02]

You’ve owned a Porsche since you were 7?

[@3rdpersonracing]

​@@bwheels02That's how I read this comment ...

[@salembendeck]

Did you mean "wanting a Porsche"? I really doubt you had a car at age 7.

[@kenovewik8332]

I wanted a Porsche all my life, it just so happened that I got to mid life before I could afford it. No crisis.

[@willlashley1378]

Porsche have been on a other planet recently. in the last 6 months my favourite new car from them has changed so many times in the last year or so. it was the GT3 Touring, then the GT4 RS, then the GT3 RS, THEN the Boxster Spyder RS, and now this has absolutely trumped all of them. a proper dream machine

[@christopherodonoghue3858]

Very True however there mostly all just limited run specials on very familiar platforms that only very established customers can buy. I'm still waiting for Porsche to produce the world's first "proper EV sports car", and it's next hyper car to go up against Ferrari's next big halo car. Additionally I am intrigued to see what an electric 911 would be like.

[@judebubune6697]

spot on

[@Resist_Oppression]

So only some of the most extreme ones?

[@kennethherskind2250]

I have the 718 Spyder. It’s insane. Peak Porsche for the money.

[@JeffJacquesmd]

I had a poster of the 930 Turbo on my wall growing up. Got to drive one briefly when I was 19, exhilarating and terrifying. Years later I own a 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 and I love everything about driving her as my daily. Porsche, there is no substitute! And they can be found at all price points

[@carterbliss484]

how is the gts? honestly I think for a drivers experience that would be the porsche to get

[@vipermoon_]

You can't make a car this good and limit its production. This is too good to be one of those cars. Seriously, listen to what I'm saying. They owe it to the world if this masterpiece is what they came up with.

[@NomadSupreme911]

Rear wheel drive, daily driver suspension, manual transmission, naturally aspirated engine. Minus the extraordinary horsepower, it's basically what the base 911 SHOULD be.👍

[@nicolasdujardin5691]

Porsche are the true masters of sportscars... I bought my first porsche at 26 years old, a mint porsche 981 boxster s , white with black roof , black 19" techart wheels, custom exhaust and some decent engine upgrades & tune. Made 430 whp , and once past 5k rpm, it was THÈ best sounding sportscar ever made ! I'm 36 now and own/owned some other porsche's.. A 964 c2 , 993 , 944 s2 cab, 968 clubsport and a cayenne e-hybrid for the misses 😅

[@AB-fr2ei]

911 ST in black with gold wheels and a tan interior would be the perfect car

[@xploration1437]

Meooow

[@Antarius]

Sports cars should have sporty colors, not boring black. Porsche is the only manufacturer that supplies great colors on their models, you might as well take advantage of it.

[@xploration1437]

@@Antarius I can tell you’ve never polished a black car.

[@AB-fr2ei]

@@Antarius classy colors like Black, Grey and Silver look the best on Porsches i think personally

[@eric20ify]

“Tickle my pickle “ 🤣

[@svdlaan]

What makes cars like this so superior in these clips is they never ever meet slow traffic on public roads that brings their average speed down 60-70 km/h, as has happened to me whatever car I have been driving in whenever wherever for all my life.

[@jazztheglass6139]

They have production assistants on the road acting as spotters, they have radios to tell them when the road is clear or a vehicle is coming

[@user-rl3ef4ju9k]

On local roads you will get a ticket on second gear. No sense. I've gone to bicycling where saving one gram of weight costs about the same as with Porsches, one euro per gram or so 😂

[@carfan3762]

Simply wonderful. A dream on wheels. Lovely colour too, and rhetorical white wheels are spot on. Long live the 911 😎

[@pierredebug17]

Bought a Touring above list recently? This is way better. Thank you Porsche for making cars like these. More limited editions please

[@lrnasigo1]

A pre owned base 911 is starting to look like a great value proposition

[@Jonas_B.]

Awesome Video, Thanks for your thoughts on the new 911. This one is my favourite by far because they make the new car simpler no modes less complication just pure driving perfection. I would love to see more of this car.

[@glennhavinoviski8128]

Simpler and less technology than the GT3 RS or GT3 Touring. So therefore, more expensive. Porsche is the only auto manufacturer to offer less for more, and brag about it. And yet I want one.

[@ssusggus]

It’s like a super car from the past

[@markdance574]

Very nice - love that carbon roll cage and gold badge .

[@Ramsi-Berlin]

Congratulations to all 1963 happy owner's, where have the luck to get one of those ❣️😃 Hope my English isn't too bad... I'm German 🙈😅 Love from Berlin 🇩🇪 Ramsi 🙋🏻‍♂️

[@med-3000]

Fantastic! Long live a manual, well handling drivers Porsche. I had an experience recently in a 500bhp German saloon and the experience was average! I was confused as I expected so much more. The main reason is I ride a torque monster motorcycle that makes car acceleration feel just ok. To put it in perspective The bike out accelerates an Aventador. I know exactly what he is describing so this car might restore my faith in drivers cars.

[@petrmoravec8401]

This is Porsche. Finally worth every cent.

[@dreblack2087]

At 1:21, ur passing by a flying saucer. Guess everyone wants a piece of the birthday boy! Happy travels and safe returns. ✊🏼

[@SSLCLIPS-TV]

13:04 the best part for the Made in Germany car. 🇩🇪🦅

[@henriquerochelle]

This is a dream that will be real one day !! Focus and work !!

[@carspear]

Awesome Summary!!

[@Wolf_fpv]

Amazing car!!! Well done Porsche for the car and for the stunning location of Calabria, Italy - Top!

[@MacCaliber]

Love those clips on the gt3 rs from Gotland Ring! 😍 Can’t wait to se the video from when you guys where there!

[@balazsvydra2202]

I like that Porsche is making pure driving machines for absolute pleasure! This is why I always liked them, in addition to the modern technologies they did not forget that a driver is a human being and therefore sometimes likes to have fun!

[@diamondpaintingwithmike]

love the interior great car :)

[@TheGreekCarGeek]

It doesn’t seem like the weight savings are adding up… I keep hearing 40kg lighter than the GT3 Touring, but here’s the math afaict: RWS: 7.5kg Li+ battery: 2.5kg Clutch/Flywheel: 11kg Carpets: 2.5kg Mag wheels: 10kg CFRP doors: 5kg Rear anti roll bars and shear panel: 4kg And that’s 42.5kg, but it doesn’t include the other carbon fiber reinforced plastic panels… the boot, the fenders, that’s even more weight savings. 48kg lighter? Is the GT3 Touring heavier than the quoted weight and they couldn’t go back and change it so they were stuck? I’m super surprised that they didn’t go with a titanium exhaust like they did with the 911R… easy place to save another 15kg

[@davidkelly6011]

Would love to see a breakdown of this vs GT3 Touring. Stunning machines

[@alyousuf]

Very minor differences.

[@drivewithanam]

Carwow featured both in their video if you wanna see that

[@IsaiahWulf]

More so this vs the 911 Carrera S

[@Cowboy_moonman396]

Wow that’s a a beautiful interior, what a lovely place to spend hours in!

[@jmanlevan]

This is the perfect road going 911. Yes I love the GT3 and GT3RS but this is ideal for the street. Bravo to Porsche for making cars like this. Too bad it is, and always will be out of my price range :(

[@Resist_Oppression]

Ya. Have you driven a GT3 or RS?

[@jmanlevan]

@@Resist_Oppression I haven’t! That would be a dream! Nicest 911 I’ve driven was a 992 carrera GTS

[@russellnersesov7524]

Great review!!!!

[@rafaminus5366]

I love 911 since was 4 years old and now I have more than 50. 911 is the only car where the next generation always is more beautiful. This is perfect. Next will be 993.2 air cooled ???🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@gouldnj]

Yes, yes Chris Harris….but I’m actually greatly looking forward to Henry Catchpole’s review and time in this little beastie.

[@friedrichratzel1380]

Porsche - Master of Engineering.

[@mtlsi]

My god, what an astonishing car.

[@brianhimmelman420]

another wonderful rare collector

[@craigrich]

I didn't know Starlord was a car enthusiast. Nailed the accent though.

[@WestCoastSupercarsandClassics]

I just got a brand new 718 Spyder, and that's exactly what I tell people - it's like driving a big motorcycle in some ways: agile, direct, visceral, but sure-footed and refined. All the best things of a sports car rolled into one, if you like. Giving up ultimate grip and lap times for better feel and fun is more than worth it!

[@oldschool5037]

Your a lucky man or woman or all the other stuff 😅👍👍

[@WestCoastSupercarsandClassics]

@@oldschool5037 Thanks!! Yes, lucky and appreciative, both myself and my wife. :)

[@kennethherskind2250]

Yep. I have a 2023 Spyder. It’s PEAK PORSCHE for the money. It’s insanely great.

[@kennethherskind2250]

Yes. The Spyder is plenty fast. Especially for those that don’t track their cars.

[@Nickabooticus]

"Tickle my pickle" -Ollie Kew, 2023

[@Mcnikket]

It looks so unique 🥰 is this old or new btw?

[@brendandrives]

New dream car 😍

[@tomriley5790]

Do love that Porsche just decided to build the best damn road sportscar they could without listening to anyone else :-)! Awesome! You may be successful in business by giving people what they ask for but more successful by giving people what they want :-)!

[@Knackebrot]

This is the mindset we're missing so badly right now

[@davids1816]

Beautiful car. I'd have a Carrera S Cabrio though. It's so staggering how much more expensive they've gotten in the last 10 years when 100k could get you a very nice 911.

[@inflatable2]

I'd settle for a 718.. 911's are way to expensive, now even more so than ever.. Great cars but totally unaffordable for more than 99% of the population..

[@mluu510]

Inflation is a real bitch

[@after_midnight9592]

''911, its the best'' - Nuclear Nadal

[@Ramsi-Berlin]

Thanks Porsche, that you build these nice dreams ❣️🙏🏼🤤 Congratulations to all 1963 happy people who get one ❕😜

[@richardjames26]

The 911 S/T shore blue metallic color combination coupled with the Heritage Design Classic Cognac interior, will only age like a fine bottle of wine!

[@burgundyexpress]

Ferrari owners can only dream of a manual gearbox. This is why Porsche make the best sports cars in the world.

[@devvvvvvvvvvvv]

Best looking 911 ever imo

[@rlambert7773]

Being in the Tax bracket that I am a new exclusive 911 excites me about as much as Max winning yet another F1 race... To be clear I'm well aware how good they are the fact is you can only get so excited about shit you'll never touch.

[@getit9066]

Nice Cayman!

[@AntonyGeorgeBoltzzz]

Great review and video, Ollie is fast becoming my fav car youtuber after Henry and Harris!

[@ukiyo5283]

Love Porsche!

[@billshoe22191]

Sounds like this is the perfect 911

[@channelsibley]

you're better than the tv presenters. deputy editor and presenter in one. i like how BBC are using money correctly. great review

[@555dho555]

Loved this review, despite it being another limited edition Porsche special. How do Porsche manage to keep raising the bar?

[@Ourdirtytwo]

Those Nazis. They

[@isimon.]

13:05 The solution to this issue is the good old U-Turn 💪🏻✌🏻

[@user-og5wu8mo6r]

Like the bubble roof, but does not rev to 11k like the Tuthill 911k, and funny how older car nods are coming back, wonder what will be next RSR road going version?

[@rbarbetta1978]

My favorite Porsche to date. But I wouldn't pay that kind of money for it.

[@jrwynn49]

Fancy Bettle you got there

[@AB-fr2ei]

Sour grape cope/PDS post

[@gouldnj]

Such an imaginative Clarkson ripoff post.

[@jrwynn49]

@@gouldnj im sure you wont have to worry about every being able to afford one

[@jrwynn49]

@@gouldnj that 20 year old BMW is worth less than a beetle anyways lol

[@pierredebug17]

Some say the Stig is the only Porsche customer to have bought a car that was not a limited edition

[@nomoreheroes93]

Chris Harris is going to be obsessed with this

[@huubmunstege3428]

Masterly marketing: "develop, develop & develop. Wind back developments and sell it as back to the basics"

[@renenemj1]

It would be awesome to compare this to the more “normal 911” (say a Carrera) to see how different the really are on the road

[@erinsutherland1195]

I am not really into Porsche....but this is a awesome car...

[@kennethherskind2250]

I have a 2023 Spyder. It’s PEAK PORSCHE for the money. I’d take it over any 911.

[@pierredebug17]

Some says that the Stig is the only person that bought a 911 that was not a limited edition

[@razrramon2256]

I need it like my kids poss more😮

[@nnnnnnnin]

I like the interiorof this model, especially when it's manual

[@McfcMancs]

Beautiful car again Porsche. £230k is the price you’ll pay if you have a good relationship with Porsche. I bet it’ll cost upwards of 300k to buy for someone that’s not on that list.

[@suuwhoop9579]

well its about £460k give or take for the gt3 rs, i reckon this would be close to that since it is more exclusive!

[@ssusggus]

And in 5 years they will be worth double that

[@pauln0371]

Think nearer £500k😢😢😢

[@McfcMancs]

I watched a video from someone called Mark McCann where he put an order in for a new Lamborghini, after he ordered it, he phoned his friend and asked how much he’d give for it, his friend said he’d give £100k over asking price. His friend would also want to make a profit so you could be talking £150k-£200k over asking price. It’s crazy how much you can make just from buying these limited edition cars. It’s also all tax free money if you’re selling it as a private seller.

[@Ali_Kayani]

A car that's tailored to the mills for a softcore everyday chill user.

[@winkgm5057]

how many times the mrsp markup will be? I guess is two :(

[@Diablo99V]

I want an S/T soooo bad

[@yorbalindason]

I have a 17 911 and think “not worth upgrading from here” then along comes this - the color! The spec! Holy Spirit Shite!

[@futuramanut]

imo the best 911 is one you drive everyday, I doubt this collector's car will fill that role for many of the buyers

[@glennhavinoviski8128]

Like the R, it will mainly sit in owners' garages, except when it get trailered to concours and Treffen events, and occasionally driven 3 miles to Cars and Coffees.

[@adiguna8360]

So what's the differences from touring & st since both manual and some click on the steering wheel

[@alangil40]

I believe he said that the suspension was softer so not as harsh on the road.

[@adiguna8360]

@@alangil40 so ST is the better driving experience?

[@alangil40]

@@adiguna8360 For the road, I would think so. A super stiff track focused suspension can get fatiguing and annoying on rougher roads. Here you get all the exhilaration of the engine and shifting gears and sound and still enough suspension firmness to make the twisty roads a joy. Even on the base Carrera, there is more grip and performance than you can really use on the road unless you want to lose your license.

[@adiguna8360]

@@alangil40 so the driving experience on the road st is the best than touring

[@carloscanizares4699]

Glad to see Chris Pratt doing a car review in his Graham-Norton-made-famous Towie accent.

[@mudauzwivhuya3201]

Sunday morning in magoebaskloof 😊

[@luisarenas5339]

I want one sooooo bad

[@jonathanpowell1470]

"This weeks very special limited edition" 😂😂😂😂

[@TorqueTestChannel]

Do i want it? yes. But do i need it? Also yes

[@spiriteddetailing8790]

Whats the difference between an ST and an R? seems like the ethos is the same for both

[@YogisGarage]

It's great and all, most people will never see one and it's over 320K USD!!! I can buy a fully spec'd GT3 RS for almost 30K less! And I might actually get one. This car should be classified as "unobtainium" and/or "unicorn"

[@CambridgeAutogleam]

funny watching this back to back with the autocrat review and them saying the steering is SLOWER than the touring and the lack of rear steer means no hydraulic assistance needed compared to TG saying its battery assisted.

[@everyoneswoomy-chan5118]

0:07 *Moon Men by Jake Chudnow starts playing*

[@kevinostberg1729]

Let's just see how these auto-making companies feel about going electric when their sales drop into the abyss compared to whichever other companies that decided to hold onto the true passion of driving in something like this little beauty. Sadly, not everyone can or will be able to afford something like this 911, but hopefully builders don't continue to price average folk out of the market when it comes to some kind of regular, basic driving machines that will serve our needs.

[@wexxexbest]

Only frustrating thing about reviews like this is you can’t actually get one! Unless you were one of the lucky ones obviously. I tried to get one and nope, all sold already.

[@addj7093]

It’s the thunderbirds bloke lol 😂

[@Tony11442]

This presenter is good

[@Angry_Squirrel555]

My dream car is still the 918 however I love the 911 GT-3 RS. Sure it’s flashy and 100% unnecessary for daily use but that’s the beauty of it. Perhaps it’s the immature kid in me but I’d rather have everyone’s attention.

[@DPCcars]

Absolutely agree with the appreciation for the new 911, it’s simplicity and purity in driving experience is unmatched and indeed a masterclass by Porsche. I can't help but ponder though, with the automotive world leaning more towards electric and autonomous technology, do you think machines like this 911 will be the last of their kind, the epitome of driving passion before we transcend into a new era of driving? 🤔 Also, who else thinks that the constant innovation by Porsche is pushing other manufacturers to up their game, ensuring that we, the enthusiasts, are the ultimate winners, as we get to witness and experience these marvelous machines. 💭🏎 #LongLiveThe911 #DrivingPassion"

[@andyb9664]

@@VK6AB- you are replying to a bot channel that leaves comments written by chat-gpt on every video 😀 just a heads-up!

[@farishanafiah8461]

Having the 992 GT3 RS engine does sound like a great deal, but the standard 992 GT3 engine is already good enough for me. Also, this is still a GT3 Touring in the first place, so I'm still not sure about the appeal of having this.

[@micglou]

I think that most people that ordered a GT3 RS are having some doubts now... I'd take the S/T over the GT3 RS in a heart beat, best looking 911 ever with the best engine and a manual.

[@keithlivingstone2525]

Anyone else notice the UFO at 1:21? 😁

[@almo29]

So... Were can I seee you drifting a GT3 RS around Gotland ring?

[@AtypicalDriver]

I just realized the S/T reverted to the 991 door handles?!

[@techbatman7421]

the problem with top gear is that they mute the car sound so much lately and while its good to hear the voices of people speaking in my opinion you should not mute the Car Sounds this much and give a more focus on the Car sound in the mixer. At least let us hear the engine noise abit :)

[@jealva]

Bought my first new Porsche (a ‘98 993 C2S) at age 27. I guess I hit middle age really early.

[@barryrodgers3039]

The only problem with this car is that you can't just buy one if you want one. This car will sit in collections and sell for close to $750k or more in the US. The Sport Classic which isn't near as good goes for $500k. I'm lucky I was able to get a Carrera T after waiting months. Porsche, please make more sports cars!

[@damienmacaluso]

Dealer offered me an allocation….for $150,000 ADM. May be worth it. Basically almost a $450k Porsche 911 with the upside of the solid spec, limited production, many interested buyers, and high likelihood of appreciation. Production is almost 2 cars for every Porsche dealership in the world. No doubt about what a great car this is, but I’m passing on this one.

[@RollingShutter]

"b road destroyer" with 520hp to the backwheels. It is kinda crazy to imagine.