• Three Porsche sports cars make the list of most impressive cars driven in 2020.
• The 911 GT3 RS tops the list as the best driving experience this year.
• Other Porsches include the 911 Carrera T and 718 Cayman GT4.
• For more motoring stories, go to www.Wheels24.co.za
A few days ago, I received a WhatsApp from a friend asking me which car was the best one I drove in 2020. Now, this is nothing new to me, because every year, round about this time, this is the type of conversations we have. At first, I thought nothing of it and engaged in the topic, but then it suddenly hit me: my most memorable drives have all been in a Porsche!
Don't get me wrong, though. There has been some stellar machinery that came through the Wheels24 test garage, but the three Porsches were just on another level.
See, before joining Wheels24, I was a freelance journalist. Back then, some days were better than others and scheduling a media vehicle for review purposes was more straightforward than others. Porsche, though, were among the 'others'. And with good reason, because these cars can't just be handed out to anyone with 'journalist' written in their description box. I got it, I understood it, but I always had healthy communication with the Porsche South Africa PR team.
At some point in 2020, Porsche SA's PR manager reached out to editor Janine Van der Post, with one clear objective: 'We want to schedule cars for Mr Raymond.' Following a meeting with my editor and us discussing what was about to happen, she cleared it with Porsche. Then, suddenly, my phone rang. It was Porsche South Africa. I answered, to which the PR manager responded in his deep voice: "Good day, Mr Raymond."
The Porsche team scheduled a (2018) 911 Carrera T, saying that they want to 'introduce' me to the brand. The car was everything and more, and it underlined just why the 911 is such a revered and respected car in the automotive world. I got it, I understood it, and I knew why those-who-know want nothing else but a 911.
Several months later, it was the turn of a (2020) 718 Cayman GT4. For this car, the team had a chance at driving it and it left everyone wholly impressed. For me, this was an even better experience than the Carrera T. The rawness of the driving experience was akin to that of a sports car and drive is as perfect as it gets for a pure-bred track-ready sports car.
But I was never ready for what was coming next: a (2019) Porsche 911 GT3 RS. To put into words what this car is capable of is a near-impossible task, because the GT3 RS must be experienced. It's like telling a tale around the campfire about this mythical creature lurking in the woods. Some will hang on your lips, while others will shrug it off. But the car is good beyond comprehension, and it is, for many, the stick by which all sports cars are measured.
