Party number 60 years 911. The Porsche 911 is celebrating this year and that is why a special, limited version has been released.
The 911 is celebrating this year and that is why a special, limited version has been released: the S/T. According to the makers, this purist variant should be Porsche’s ultimate driver’s car for public roads. Can he live up to that claim?
Why another variant of the Porsche 911?
We can imagine that people will get lost when they scroll through the price list of the Porsche 911; after all, it has 25 (!) variants. At least, until recently, because in Zuffenhausen they thought there was room for another 911. After all, the successful model has been around for sixty years, which calls for a party song.
Where should you place the 911 S/T within the 911 range?
In short, the S/T combines the wingless body of the GT3 Touring with the naturally aspirated, 525 hp four-liter of the GT3 RS, but with a manual gearbox. Additional weight has also been saved in many areas, which all together makes the S/T lighter and purer than all other 911s. Also more expensive, by the way. Unlike the ST from the 1960s, however, it is not a hardcore circuit racer, as the GT3 RS already is. You could see the new S/T as the successor to the 911 R of the previous generation, although Porsche now has one. more than ever before.
Why is the S/T more special than the earlier 911 R?
Starting with the drivetrain: we know the manual transmission from the GT3 Touring, but a lightweight clutch and a single-mass flywheel have been developed especially for the S/T, which reduces the rotating mass by 10.5 kilos. In any case, the naturally aspirated engine of the RS reacts like one stung by a wasp, the S/T hangs even better on the gas, as becomes clear in the first meters. These sensations are enhanced by the eight percent shorter gear ratios. The fact that the S/T sprints to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, two tenths faster than the Touring, is completely incidental. It’s about the feeling when you accelerate from bend to bend, as we do on the winding roads of the Italian region of Calabria. Switching back and forth between second and third gear, you are faster in the highest rev ranges, where the party really starts. Goosebump-inducing how linear the loudly screaming boxer is, how easily it squeezes out the maximum 9,000 rpm.
Is manual better than PDK?
In our view, the manual gearbox is twofold. With PDK in manual mode you would also be in (shift) control yourself, but then continuously with two hands on the steering wheel, so with maximum connection to the front wheels. We also understand the charm of old-fashioned ‘poking’, especially with this short and precise six-speed gearbox. You are simply more directly connected to the mechanism and as a driver you have to do more for it. It contributes to the purist character.
Where are the weight savings with the 911 S/T?
As mentioned, the S/T is the lightest 911 of this generation. Just like the GT3 and GT3 RS, carbon has been used for the front hatch, the front wheel arches and the roof, partly S/T-specific. A lot of carbon fiber can also be found under the skin and in the interior. In addition, the wheels are made of magnesium, the glass is thinner and the rear seat has been removed. Add to this details such as the two kilos lighter floor covering and the 911 S/T weighs 1,380 kg, 40 less than the GT3 Touring with manual gearbox.
What are the adjustments to the chassis?
The rock-hard GT3 chassis is essentially unchanged, including the double wishbones at the front. S/T specific are the extra uniballs and, just like in the RS, the carbon fiber stabilizer at the rear. However, the electronic control of the dampers has been adjusted. Remarkable is the lack of rear-wheel steering. That is precisely one of the components that somewhat obscures the typical character of the 911: it makes the car easier to turn into short corners and provides more stability at higher speeds. However, Porsche reasons that omitting it saves extra weight and contributes to the purist character.
And are we missing the rear wheel steering?
It takes some getting used to at first; In short hairpins the S/T needs more steering input than a GT3 and because the rear wheels do not counter-steer, you sometimes feel the limited slip differential ‘wringing’ a bit. To get the car rotated optimally, it is important to maintain sufficient pressure on the nose by applying light braking. In longer, quickly taken bends, on the other hand, you feel that the butt is being ‘pointed out’ a bit more. In other words: because the rear wheels do not turn, no matter how minimal that is, the S/T leans slightly more on the tires.
And the spoilers?
Compared to the GT3/GT3 RS, you also miss the stabilizing effect of a large, fixed rear wing. In fact, compared to the Touring, the movable spoiler only opens at 120 km/h instead of 80. However, a gurney flap, an extra edge, has been stuck on it.
Once again, it demands a little more from you as a driver, and that is exactly the intention, because if you get to know the S/T and know what input to give it in different corners, you can really benefit from its light-footedness. Then you can perfectly match the steering and throttle input and you gain enough confidence in the mechanical grip to start playing with it. For example, by lifting the throttle in faster corners, the rear end can move slightly and thus gain more direction.
What makes the S/T special?
Only then do you realize how honest and transparent the S/T is, exactly what Porsche had in mind. Old skool driving experience, but fully perfected, like a modern classic. Unfortunately, this comes with a hefty price tag, because the 911 S/T costs no less than €411,200, about 60 grand more than the GT3 RS. This is partly due to the unique configuration and the specific coordination and finish. The price increase is mainly due to the exclusivity, because only 1,963 units were built: the same number as the year of birth of the 911. Is it worth the money? Objectively speaking, you can question this, but of course enthusiasts and collectors don’t care. It’s simply an ultimate gadget.