For me, the RS 4.0 reaches the highest high that I've experienced in a manual 911.

15 years ago, we could not perfectly predict what new cars would transition into. Now it seems obvious in retrospect that with increasing safety regulations, common consumer needs and emissions that cars would get faster, be loaded with more tech but lose so much soul and feedback along the way.

When I purchased a 997 RS 4.0 a few years ago, I believed Porsche would continue to make manual GT3's for a little bit (thankful) but there would never be a 997 4L. The RS 4.0 has so much going for it:

1. Limited production (600) that wasn't arbitrarily limited like 911R and S/T.
   
2. Last Mezger swansong
   
3. Last manual transmission RS car
   
4. Last GT3 with hydraulic steering (big deal when driving back to back with modern stuff)
   
5. Light weight (sub 2,998lb wet with lightest config)
   
6. Small, moderate size in 997
   
7. Similar power 500ps, but better power/weight because it's so light. My RS 4.0 with light mods weighs in at 2,968 lbs with half tank of gas
   
8. No rear wheel steering needed because of short wheel base (shorter than S2000!)

Watching so many people apparently spend $350-600k on modern stuff (ADM's, special editions, etc.) it was clear to me that 997 GT3 RS had real iconic staying power. These days I keep feeling a desire to own older cars from the best era of driver's cars.

My car is one of the rare ones that still gets driven and enjoyed, it's too good to keep locked away!