Porsche Wouldn’t Fix This GT3 RS, So A YouTuber Did It For A Potential $60K Profit

Turning A Lemon Into Gold

The Porsche 911 GT3 RS is one of the most coveted 911 variants, especially among enthusiasts who appreciate track-focused upgrades. The only catch is that it usually sits near the top of the range, alongside models like the Turbo S, which, as the name suggests, uses a turbocharged setup instead.

But as they always say, if there’s a will, there’s a way. That is what YouTuber Mat Armstrong proved with a lemon Porsche 911 GT3 RS from the previous 991 generation, which he bought for £87,000, or about $116,000 at current exchange rates. Because of its issues, Porsche allegedly refused to repair the car under warranty, with Armstrong saying the engine wear did not match the mileage shown on the car. According to him, the automaker suspected that a mileage blocker may have been used.

That is why Armstrong, who previously DIY’d his way around Bugatti’s expensive service bill for a Veyron, decided to fix the 911 GT3 RS himself.

Digging Deeper

Some of the issues he found included loose sump plugs, which he suspected may have lowered the oil level and contributed to the engine problems. He also found a missing fuel pump fuse sitting on the passenger seat, which prevented the car from starting, along with missing camshaft finger followers and a damaged intake camshaft lobe.

Identifying those problems allowed him to source the parts needed to get the engine running again. Armstrong said the replacement parts cost around £5,500, or about $7,300. Later in the repair process, he suspected that when the engine had previously been rebuilt, the cam variators on one side had been installed incorrectly. After correcting the cam variators and timing the engine, the car ran properly without warning lights on the dashboard.

Worth The Effort?

The 911 GT3 RS was sent to a Porsche technician for a 111-point inspection in a bid to regain the warranty. After the inspection, Armstrong said the result was generally positive, but it still was not enough to immediately reinstate the warranty due to a few remaining concerns. These reportedly included potential issues with the axle joints, brake pads, and the roll cage, which was said to be causing unusual noise and vibration.

He also noted that the warranty would only be considered once those issues were fixed and after he had owned the car for 90 days.

All this work may not go in vain. According to Armstrong’s estimates, after spending around £92,000, or about $122,700, the car could be worth around £135,000 to £140,000, or roughly $180,000 to $186,700. On paper, that works out to an estimated profit of around $60,000, before any taxes, fees, or other selling costs. On top of that, the project also gave him content for his YouTube channel and personal brand.

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