Porsche 911 GT2 RS (991.2): Used Buyer’s Guide for Australia

The Porsche 911 GT2 RS has been called the Widowmaker since the original GT2 earned that nickname in the 1990s – a rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive car with enormous power and no safety net for the unwary. The 991.2-generation GT2 RS, produced from 2017 to 2019, is the most extreme expression of this idea in modern Porsche history: 515 kW, rear-wheel drive, and no room for error.

The Widowmaker Reputation

The nickname is not entirely fair to modern GT2 RSs – Porsche’s electronics are sophisticated enough to catch most mistakes that the 1990s version would not have forgiven. The car has stability control, traction control, and Porsche’s advanced rear-axle steering. Driven respectfully, the GT2 RS is less likely to kill you than its reputation suggests.

What the name does capture accurately is this: the GT2 RS is the most demanding Porsche you can drive on public roads. The power is available very quickly from the turbocharged flat-six, the rear tyres are large and wide but still have limits, and the rear-engine weight distribution means that once the rear lets go, recovery requires both skill and quick hands.

Engine and Performance

The 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged flat-six produces 515 kW (700 hp) and 750 Nm of torque. Rear-wheel drive only. The 7-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox is the only transmission option. The 0-100 km/h time is 2.8 seconds. Top speed is 340 km/h.

The GT2 RS broke the production car Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record in 2017, setting a time of 6:47.3 – a record it held briefly before the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ took it the following year.

The engine’s output is achieved through improved turbocharger specifications, and a modified intake and exhaust system. The car also has a water injection system for the intercoolers – a motorsport-derived technology that cools intake charge under sustained hard use.

The Weissach Package

The Weissach Package is an option that saved 30 kg from the GT2 RS’s already focused specification through the addition of magnesium wheels, carbon fibre roof, and additional carbon components. The package also adds a carbon anti-roll bar. The titanium exhaust, by contrast, is standard on every GT2 RS. It is the choice for track-focused owners.

Roads and Track Days

The GT2 RS is set up for the track, with wide ultra-high-performance tyres (265/35 ZR20 at the front and 325/30 ZR21 at the rear). Check the car on the roads you will actually use before you buy, and ask how it has been used on circuit.

Australian Pricing

Porsche’s Australian launch price in July 2017 was $645,400 plus on-road costs, before options (GoAuto). Luxury Car Tax was built into that price. It is 33 per cent of the amount above the threshold, after the GST share is taken out, and the threshold is $80,809 for the 2026-27 financial year.

The 991.2 GT2 RS was the fastest and most powerful road-legal 911 of its day, and it has significant collector appeal.

What to Know Before Buying

The GT2 RS requires a driver who understands rear-engine dynamics and has genuine experience with high-power cars. It is not a suitable choice for someone moving up from a Carrera or Turbo without track experience. The consequences of driver error at the limits of the GT2 RS’s performance envelope are significant.

Annual servicing runs approximately $4,000 to $7,000 at an authorised Porsche dealer. PCCB (carbon ceramic) brakes are standard and will eventually need replacement at $20,000 to $35,000.

Verdict

The 911 GT2 RS is the Widowmaker reimagined with modern safety nets that make it survivable for skilled drivers while retaining every element of its fearsome reputation for those who push too far, too fast. It is at its best on smooth, dry roads or a racing circuit. For buyers who want the most extreme rear-wheel-drive 911 ever made, there is only one answer.