“Where horsepower meets conversation”
By Tim Harris · November 18, 2025
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🔥 TL;DR
The Ferrari 296 GTB/GTS is currently trading $150K–$200K below what most buyers actually spend on a heavily optioned new build.
Performance is elite. Reviews are glowing. Supply is tighter than people think.
Meanwhile Porsche made around 5,000 992 GT3 RS models — far more than most people realize.
The 296 market over-corrected, and 2026 is poised to be the snap-back year.
📊 THE MARKET SETUP
📉 New vs. Used Values: The Spread Is Absurd
New 296 GTB: mid-$300Ks base
New 296 GTS: high-$300Ks base
Real-world as-spec’d cars: $450K–$520K
Used 2022–2024 GTBs with low miles: $310K–$370K
Used GTS models: $350K–$390K
This means buyers can get a nearly new 296 for $150K–$200K less than what original owners paid just 12–24 months ago.
That is not sustainable. The pendulum is primed to swing back.
“If the car wore no badge at all, the Ferrari 296 would still be called one of the best supercars of the last 20 years.”
📈 THE PERFORMANCE ARGUMENT
⚡ It’s Not Just Fast — It’s a Benchmark
Lightning around Fiorano
One of the quickest RWD production cars ever tested
Hybrid integration that feels invisible
Steering and chassis balance praised across the board
This isn’t a “compromise” hybrid Ferrari.
It’s a masterpiece that happens to be undervalued.
🚢 THE SUPPLY REALITY
🔒 The 296 Isn’t Mass-Produced
Ferrari doesn’t publish exact production numbers, but everything points to:
Controlled allocations
Lower production than the internet assumes
Very limited “available inventory” in the wild
2026 likely marking the end of the production run
This is important: the 296 is not being pumped out like a mass-market McLaren or base Porsche. Scarcity supports appreciation.
✅ THE PORSCHE FACTOR: 992 GT3 RS VS THE 296
The Shocking Part: Porsche Built FAR More GT3 RS Cars
Enthusiasts have been repeating “only ~1,000 RS cars” — but that’s flat-out wrong.
Realistic global production is around 5,000 units.
That is a huge number for a supposed “mega-rare” track special.
💎 TRACK CREDENTIALS VS COLLECTOR DYNAMICS
Porsche 992 GT3 RS
Insane aero
Amazing Nürburgring performance
Loved by the community
But: With ~5,000 produced, it is not ultra-rare
Result: strong values but not explosive appreciation
Ferrari 296 GTB/GTS
Faster on Ferrari’s own track than many Ferrari legends
Electrically assisted but still feels pure and alive
Far lower production than the RS
A “first generation” hybrid Ferrari — historically meaningful
And: Currently selling for much less than new-car cost
When the market wakes up, the 296 has far more room to climb.
🔀 WHY 2026 IS THE INFLECTION POINT
✅ 1. The Price Gap Must Close
A $475K build selling at $330K is not a long-term stable relationship.
✅ 2. The 296 Speciale Halo Effect
The hotter, faster Speciale raises the perceived value of the GTB/GTS.
✅ 3. Ferrari’s Annual Price Creep
Every new Ferrari is more expensive than the last. This indirectly pulls used values upward.
✅ 4. Second-Year Review Momentum
As more owners, journalists, and YouTubers drive the 296, the chorus grows: “It’s one of the best Ferraris ever.”
✅ 5. Porsche Track-Car Saturation
With ~5,000 GT3 RS cars built, scarcity is off the table. Track legends don’t automatically become investment-grade.
📈 2026 VALUE CRYSTAL BALL (PREDICTIONS)
These are not guarantees — just the clearest directional signals in the exotic-car market.
Ferrari 296 GTB
2025: ~$320K–$360K
2026 Projection: $360K–$420K (+10% to +25%)
Ferrari 296 GTS
2025: ~$350K–$390K
2026 Projection: $390K–$450K (+10% to +20%)
Porsche 992 GT3 RS
2025: ~$350K–$450K
2026 Projection: Flat to +5%
Great car, just too many built.
🎯 BUYER PLAYBOOK FOR 2026
✅ Target 2022–2024 GTBs in the low/mid $300Ks
✅ Prioritize carbon seats, AF spec, tasteful colors
✅ Look for dealer-serviced, low-miles examples
✅ GTS models add slight premium and better liquidity
✅ Ideal holding window: 12–24 months
✅ Avoid track-beaten, oddball-spec, or “stories” cars
✍️ FINAL WORD
The 296 isn’t “cheap.”
It’s mispriced.
Performance, rarity, demand, and the cost of new builds all point in one direction:
The Ferrari 296 is the most likely modern exotic to jump in value in 2026.
And the buyers scooping them at $320K–$360K today?
They might look like the smartest people in the room when the market corrects.
— Tim Harris
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🏁 I want a Porsche GT3 Soooo Bad….
By David Van Epps · November 18, 2025
If you’re shopping for a GT3, and what Porsche nut doesn’t dream about adding one to their collection, you’ve got some options. For this article, I’ll focus exclusively on cars equipped with PDK (Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe) or dual clutch transmissions.
While an “automatic” may not be for everyone, it provides an excellent option for many drivers and allows us to compare three generations of these amazing GT3s side by side since the 991.1 was only offered with the PDK. I realize that many want these cars as truly manual experiences, but we’ll leave that for another article.
The three incredible generations to consider on the used market: 991.1, 991.2, and 992.1.
Here’s a concise breakdown of how they compare — especially around reliability, performance, transmission differences, and current market realities.
⚙️ 991.1 GT3 (2014–2016) — The Soulful One… With Some History
What Went Wrong
Early engines had rod-bolt failures (785 replaced).
Many others had finger-follower wear from defective metallurgy.
Porsche ultimately offered 10-year/120k-mile transferable engine coverage.
Reliability Today
G-series engines (especially G4–G6) are the safest bets.
Risk varies widely:
Original engine: 10–45% (depending on track use)
G-series: ~2–15%
PDK Notes
7-speed PDK with GT3-specific ratios.
Sharp but not as fast or intelligent as later versions.
Pricing (U.S.)
$130k–$170k, depending heavily on engine history and spec.
991.2 GT3 (2018–2019) — The Sweet Spot for Many Buyers
The 991.2 GT3 corrected the 991.1’s weaknesses and added even more capability.
Key Improvements
New 4.0L engine, far more robust, with stronger internals and better oiling.
No widespread failure pattern like the 991.1.
Higher rev limit (9,000 rpm) and smoother, cleaner power delivery.
Reliability Today
Generally excellent.
Occasional reports of oil consumption at high RPM, but nothing systemic.
PDK Notes
Refined 2nd-generation GT3 PDK:
Faster shifts
Better logic
Improved clutch durability
Pricing (U.S.)
$190k–$230k, depending on mileage/spec.
Touring models run higher.
992.1 GT3 (2022–present) — The Modern Benchmark
The newest GT3 is the most capable, most consistent, and most technologically advanced.
What’s New
Even further evolved 4.0L engine with GT3 Cup DNA.
Swan-neck wing, double-wishbone front suspension, and big aero efficiency gains.
Track performance leaps forward.
Reliability Today
Early data suggests very strong reliability, both engine and transmission.
Designed for regular track use with improved cooling and lubrication.
PDK Notes
Latest-gen GT3 PDK:
Faster yet smoother
Stronger clutches
Aggressive track-minded shift strategies
Best heat management of the three generations
Pricing (U.S.)
$250k–$290k+, depending on market conditions.
Tourings often command premiums.
So Which One Should You Buy?
Want the rawest, loudest, most emotional GT3?
→ 991.1, but only with a G-series engine and verified maintenance.
Want the best blend of reliability, performance, and price?
→ 991.2 — the current “smart money” pick.
Want the fastest, newest, and most capable track weapon?
→ 992.1 — unmatched capability, with the most robust PDK of the three.
All of Porsche’s GT3 911s are amazing pieces of automotive technology. With the large disparity in pricing between the three generations, there’s a little something for everyone.
I have a sneaking suspicion that we’re going to see some additional uptick in the 991.1 pricing. If you’re considering adding one to your collection, the time might be right.
— David Van Epps
🏁 The Full Throttle Talk Team
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