Porsche 911 Dakar and GT3 RS - both not for every day
What would Porsche be without the iconic 911? And what would Porsche be without its special 911 legends, which may not be accessible to everyone, but are somehow the salt in the 911 soup? ntv.de has compared and driven two very contrasting Porsche 911s, the extreme GT3 RS and the Dakar.
For many people around the world, owning a Porsche 911 is still a lifelong dream. One that, of course, cannot come true for all drivers. Those who have the privilege of being born and raised in this country certainly have a good chance if they ambitiously pursue their goal - at least better than in many other countries around the world. At least if it is to be any 911 model and not a specific one. Perhaps a used car or a new entry-level model that you can save up for a long time or just about get financed if you give up other comforts in life.
However, Porsche also has 911 models that are not easily accessible. We are talking about limited special models or high-end GT series, which may not be artificially limited, but of which only a few can be produced over the course of the production period. Not only are these wickedly expensive per se, but you wouldn't even be able to order them if you had just hit the lottery jackpot last week. Simply because they are so rare that you have to have ordered a number of new Porsche vehicles to be presented with such a special model.
Icons like these are needed to keep the brand's fire burning. Iconic models, which radiate onto the standard delivery program, also serve as a tool to boost sales of the standard models. ntv.de has compared and driven two extremely contrasting special models. Opposite above all in their orientation, although not in their sporting ambitions: 911 GT3 RS and 911 Dakar.
Track or desert? Both are possible with the GT3 RS and Dakar
The GT3 RS, available from 248,157 euros, is the sharpest tool from Zuffenhausen for completing ultra-fast track laps and getting one or two competitors wet in the process. How does the beast perform in everyday life? More on that later. Everyday driving is at least more pleasant with the Dakar, which costs at least 222,020 euros, and this much can be said in advance: this 911, designed as a homage to the old rally car, is more comfortable to drive than any other 911.
The model for today's Dakar is the Porsche 953 with starting number 176 and the legendary Rothmans livery (the tobacco company sponsored the Porsche rally entry). Equipped with the all-wheel drive system of the later 959, the heavily modified 911 won the Paris - Dakar Rally in 1984 with René Metge as driver.
And so the 911 Dakar can be ordered today as a series model with eye-catching stickers and a discreet 50 millimeter lift compared to a 911 with sports suspension. A 911 SUV then? If that doesn't make you long for one, given the popularity of SUVs. Sounds crazy, and this 911 is pretty special, it has to be said. What's more, it has been realized with quite a lot of development effort. For example, there is the revised lift system (here on both axles), which allows the Dakar to travel at speeds of up to 170 km/h while being raised by a further three centimeters over moguls. Does that make sense? Nope. Is it fun? Maybe.
Driving a 911 through the forest? Hard to imagine and pretty conspicuous. So you shouldn't do it and certainly not so fast. So then to Morocco in the desert? If you can afford it, why not. But the 480 hp, twin-turbocharged three-liter engine in combination with an eight-speed dual clutch is already fun enough on the flat road, because the 1.6-tonner is easier on the passengers' backs than the conventional models thanks to its long suspension travel.
911 Dakar as a mileage guzzler? Quite conceivable. And the specially developed all-terrain tires with a 40 or 45 cross-section can almost be described as balloon tires by super sports car standards. They limit the speed of the Dakar to 240 km/h - which is still plenty of room for speed. Especially as the all-wheel-drive vehicle reaches the 100 km/h mark within 3.4 seconds. The visually striking beast is a performance terrier. The striking tow hook at the rear could even be used in practice. As a road user, there is no more exclusive way to be pulled out of the mud if you get stuck.
And the engineers also wanted to make sure that this 911 could also deliver in the desert and withstand dust, which is why the air intake was revised. Additional fans increase the cooling performance, for example. And engine mounts from the GT3 bind the engine better to the bodywork, preventing unwanted movements during highly dynamic missions.
Dakar and GT3 RS - both extremes in their own world
And this is where the expertise of the Dakar and GT3 suddenly meet, albeit somehow in completely different worlds. The world of the GT3 RS is the track, that of the Dakar the gravel road. And to ensure that the GT3 RS can really escalate on the course, the engineers have put a lot of effort into it. Even the smallest details play a role in making the car perform laterally. How do you get as much downforce as possible so that the grip always remains at maximum level? Take an oversized rear wing (which is also adjustable) - the result is 860 kilograms of downforce at 285 km/h. A basic GT3 dreams of that.
Incidentally, the car looks so impressive even when stationary that passers-by almost always come running up to take a closer look when the top athlete is parked somewhere. But hidden measures also work in the same direction: so-called aero control arms on the front axle, i.e. the wishbones (which are part of the chassis anyway), provide an additional 40 kilograms of downforce at high speeds thanks to their specific shape.
And then there's the sound of the four-liter naturally aspirated engine! Indescribable when the six-cylinder boxer, lubricated from the dry sump, rushes through the seven gears of the dual-clutch gearbox and saws towards the rev limiter. The GT3 RS is more of a race car with road approval than a road car with track competence, and that has to be said at this point.
If you order the Weissach package for the small sum of a further 36,390 euros, you get more CFRP and magnesium parts for additional weight reduction (22 kilograms) plus a bolted roll cage. Of course, the Dakar, which is limited to 2500 units, also has a cage. It goes without saying that anyone who crosses dunes in the desert must expect to tip over sooner or later.
Both special models are for hobby racers and collectors
But finally, a crucial question: should non-virtuosos also take the ultra-jagged steering wheel of a GT3 RS? Sure, squeezing out the last tenth of a second on the Nordschleife is unlikely to be what most customers want to do. Or maybe they do? To be completely honest, we don't know. This extreme GT is already controllable, it only becomes dangerous if you make nonsense of it, i.e. if you overdo it.
At this point, however, it should be made clear that the GT3 RS is not for drivers who have a problem with high noise levels. A few 100 kilometers at a stretch with the RS is a real strain on the hearing. No, don't draw the wrong conclusions. This 4.57-meter-long car is insane, beguiling, fun, addictive, cool, you want to have it. Absolutely. But rather for targeted trips on the track or perhaps the lonely country road on a Sunday morning (although the road traffic regulations quickly set limits here). If you ride it every day, you have to be tough.
And don't forget: Only the rear axle is driven. All-wheel drive as a "double floor" to provide a reserve halfway into the ditch if a bend is approached a little too briskly? Nope. So always warm up the semi-slicks if you want to go faster.
Incidentally, to get to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds (as the factory calls it) with rear-wheel drive, the launch control should be used. Simply depress both pedals, let the naturally aspirated engine rev up and take your foot off the brake. And the exceptional 911, which weighs 1450 kilograms empty (or rather light), is already snapping forward. The manufacturer gives the top speed as "only" 296 km/h - cornering performance is much more important for the GT top model than simply driving fast in a straight line.
And now? Which special 911 is more likely to end up in the top rankings of car spotters on Instagram? Dakar or GT3 RS? Difficult to say, both can give you palpitations. Of course, thoroughbred collectors absolutely have to have both. Unfortunately, most fans remain mere onlookers and get to admire the exceptional sports cars on fair-weather weekends on the relevant tracks. But even that is nice.
- The GT3 RS and Dakar are both Porsche 911 models that are part of the brand's high-end GT series, offering a unique driving experience for those who can afford them.
- The Porsche 911 GT3 RS and Dakar, although differing in their intended terrains, share a common goal: to provide an unparalleled driving experience, catering to the desires of hobby racers and collectors.
Source: www.ntv.de
