The 2024 Porsche 911 S/T is one car that shares many similar features and specs with the GT3 Touring and the GT3. This begs the question, why then should you buy the Porsche 911 S/T? The answer is simple, it takes performance a notch higher than its two other brothers. Sure, both the GT3 and the GT3 Touring will perform exceptionally in terms of steering, turning, braking, and overall driving. But if there is a Porsche that would make you wish you’d rather have made a different choice when buying a GT3 it’s the 911 S/T.
The 2024 S/T is the latest in the GT line which also includes the infamous GT3, Boxster Spyder RS, GT RS as well as the Cayman GT4 RS. The car is a follow-up of the 911R of which they share some remarkable and easy-to-note similarities. However, there are plenty of notable design features in the S/T that put it in a league of its own. And as we will find out the S/T isn’t made for the race track. It is made for the roads and has taken many parts from the GT3 being, of course, the donor car. Let’s dive into this 2024 Porsche 911 S/T review to find out what makes this car so special.
Porsche wanted to bring back the spirit of the original 911 Sport Touring and in 2023 the new S/T came out with the Porsche 911 GT3 as the donor car. It is meant to mark Porsche's 60th anniversary and will also be built in low volume. Just 1963 units will be sold designed to offer nothing less than a maximum fun driving experience. Customers of the S/T will also get the Chronograph -1 911 S/T from Porsche Design. The watch features a titanium exterior that is also uncoated and unblasted to keep the weight low. It’s also a design that is befitting of the S/T inspired by the shedding weight design of the 911 ST. The Chronograph-1 911 S/T features the Porsche Design WERK 01.240 at its heart and has a rotor operation that is indicative of the magnesium rims on the S/T.
The S/T bloodline or is it the “oil line” stems from the 197-0 911 S that featured a performance package that those at Porsche called Moniker ST. In this car, there were significant weight reductions combined with a stripped-down interior. The ST Porsche 911 first came out in the 1970s as a race version of the Porsche 911. Because of this, it had several features and enhancements above the standard 911 such as being lighter weight, rocking a bigger engine, and coming with a better race-oriented suspension system.
So why did Porsche decide to build the 911 ST? The company wanted a car that could hold its own in an endurance race such as the 24 Houses Le Mans and compete against some of the powerful race cars of the time. In the 1970s the Porsche 911 ST managed to secure several wins in such endurance races and became an instant hit with fans around the world. Something to note is that the 911 ST came out as a limited edition owing to its design as a race car and not a daily driver thus only a limited number of these cars were ever built in the 70s. This is also something that characterizes the new 2024 S/T with just a limited number set to be offered for sale.
The front of the S/T oozes composed confidence and poise easily outperforming many in the line when it comes to sheer looks.Sure, the S/T does come with the wide tires that you’ll find in the GT3 RS which might prompt you to think the car is a bit slippery around corners when compared to the GT3. However, the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires offer spectacular grip. You can also get the S/T in a heritage Design Package. This one comes with a new shore blue exterior color and a ceramic rim color. This one also comes with improved aerodynamics which includes 255/35 ZR 20 ultra-high-performance tires.
Once you step into the 2024 Porsche 911 S/T cabin, you are met with carbon fiber accents including the carbon fiber bucket seats.Standard seats include the full buckets and you’ll also get the instrument cluster in the green classic Porsche logo. It also features the Porsche crest on the front of the original 911. This is also on the steering wheel, headrests, and hub caps.
The Porsche 911 S/T specs all work together to create a fu to drive responsive machine. The transmission is a 6-speed manual that seamlessly connects to a 4.0 Liter naturally aspirated Flat 6 producing 518 horsepower. When the speed drops with the gears you’ll notice that the car's response goes up. The car will reach a maximum speed of 184mph and weigh just 3056 pounds. This is a rear-wheel drive, speed machine that is light yet loaded with loads of power. While the engine is pretty much the same as in the Porsche 911 GT3, there have been changes on the flywheel and clutch with their total weight halved. The result is a much faster throttle response.
But there is more to the car’s weight loss than just the clutch and flywheel. The S/T doors, roof, hood caps, and front fenders are all made from carbon-fiber-enforced plastic. The roll cage and anti-roll bar are also made of CFRP. The clutch is a completely new lightweight design meant just for the S/T. The windscreen was built a bit thinner thus adding a few pounds of weight loss. It also has a much lighter lithium-ion battery. The chassis is 14.4 pounds lighter than in the Porsche GT3. Overall, the Porsche 2024 911 S/T is lighter than the lightest GT3 touring by 84 pounds. The 2024 S/T also has a much slower rack with a 15.0:01 ratio unlike that of the GT3 which has a 14.02:01 ratio. Some other cool features include electric-assist steering and a limited-slip differential. All this results in a smooth and highly responsive steering feel. The rear steering has also been done away with. The car comes with carbon ceramic brakes as well as magnesium wheels.
Porsche claims that the 2024 S/T will move from 0-60mph in just 3.5 seconds. Step down on the pedal and you will notice an instant response as the car unveils its power and effortlessly moves forward. The carbon-ceramic brakes offer a power-packed grip and will force the S/T to a halt when you need it. On corners, the car performs with the elegance and finesse that we’ve all come to expect of Porsche vehicles with minimal rollover. The reduced weight also means that the 518 horses in the GT3 now have less weight to carry which allows the engine in the S/T to send more power to the wheels thanks also in part to the shorter ration in the transmission. Compared to the GT3 Touring the S/T feels a bit more sensational and a bit more fluid to drive. It is also easy to notice the chassis difference between the two.
When driving on slippery and uneven roads, the S/T feels more responsive and more comfortable than the Touring. With the dampers and springs being the same in the GT3 touring and the S/T, you would think that this would result in a similar driving experience yet the S/T seems to absorb the impact a bit more smoothly.The design crew despite taking in a notable number of elements from the GT3 and the GT3 touring wanted to do something with the spoiler which seemed to make an “immature” move once activated in the GT3 and the Touring. On the Porsche 911 S/T, there is a Gurney flap connected to the spoiler which now rises at 74mph compared to the 56mph on the GT3. On the downside, however, the reduced weight of the flywheel causes a bit of a rattling noise during low revs and only disappears when the car reaches 2900 rpm. Keeping the revs high during those tight corners also means that you can keep the engine at its peak torque for better performance.There is also no missing the price difference with the GT3. The S/T starts at $291,650 with the GT3 Touring starting at $184,550
So sure, there are many similarities that the S/T shares with the GT3 Touring as we’ve seen in our 2024 Porsche 911 S/T review. But there are many differences as well something that you will notice when you sit behind the steering wheel and press on the gas pedal. If you plan on getting your hands on one of these limited-edition S/T, the right partner can make the buying and delivering process a complete breeze. Exotic Car Trader is your devoted partner in all your car sales/purchases making sure you get your dream ride with a few clicks of your mouse.
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