GQ’s 2018 sports-car list: RUF tops two Porsches-and was right
In 2018, GQ named the three most powerful sports cars made in Germany: the RUF SCR, Porsche 911 GT2 RS, and 911 Turbo S. Seven years later, we’ve reopened the ranking to see which models have stood the test of time.
Three cars, one promise: maximum performance with a German passport. When GQ unveiled its list of the best German sports cars at the end of 2018, the top spots went to a bespoke classic from Pfaffenhausen and two 911s from Zuffenhausen. We covered the story at the time. Now, with a few years of hindsight, we can see which of those picks have held up-and where the story has long since moved on.
- First place went to the RUF SCR, a hand-built sports car by tuner Alois Ruf featuring its own carbon-fiber body.
- Porsche claimed second and third with the 911 GT2 RS (700 hp) and the 911 Turbo S as the everyday all-rounder.
- Prices ranged from just over €200,000 to well above €400,000, with the RUF playing in a league of its own.
- The GT2 RS remains the most powerful street-legal 911 to this day; its successor isn’t expected until 2026.
- If you’re thinking of buying, know this: from an investment perspective, only two of the three have truly held their value.
Let’s start with the honest disclaimer that sets the context for this list: GQ wasn’t ranking mass-market models here, but outliers. Two of the three cars are pure rear-wheel-drive machines, one runs all-wheel drive. What they share is a definition of “sports car” that prioritizes what’s under the hood over what’s inside. Let’s take a closer look at each one.
1st Place: RUF SCR, the Hand-built Legend
At the top of the list was not a production Porsche, but a RUF. Alois Ruf, whose Bavarian workshop in Pfaffenhausen has been transforming 911s into bespoke sports cars for decades, is revered by connoisseurs as the pinnacle of refinement. RUF is no tuner-it’s a registered automaker with its own chassis numbers, a detail that still underpins the value of these cars.
The SCR we featured in 2018 delivered 525 hp in the then-cited configuration, thanks to a 4.2-liter flat-six boxer and cost around €470,000. The interior was purist: no gimmicky displays, no frills-just suspension, steering, and a naturally aspirated growl. Buying one meant investing in craftsmanship, not software.
A RUF isn’t a tuned car. It’s a hand-built original, and that’s precisely why collectors covet it.
What happened next is telling. RUF evolved the SCR relentlessly. The 2018 final iteration switched to a newly engineered 4.0-liter NA engine and a fully bespoke carbon monocoque-no Porsche underpinnings. Planned output was roughly 15 units per year from 2019, priced at about €650,000, far above the earlier estimate. What began as a quick 911 derivative became a standalone, ultra-rare collector’s car. Looking back, first place was the most far-sighted pick on the list.
2nd Place: Porsche 911 GT2 RS, the King Remained Unchallenged
In second place stood Porsche’s mightiest 911 at the time. The 991-generation 911 GT2 RS shared its turbo S underpinnings but sent 700 hp exclusively to the rear wheels, hitting around 340 km/h. In 2018 its list price hovered near €285,000-almost modest by today’s standards.
The real story, however, is the market. The GT2 RS was a limited-run car with no immediate successor, and Porsche left the model dormant for years. The result: well-maintained examples routinely trade hands above their original sticker price. Buying one in 2018 wasn’t just driving pleasure-it was parking an appreciating asset.
Porsche finally announced a successor for the 2026 model year. The new GT2 RS, based on the current 992 platform, will reportedly debut a mild hybrid system and push past 800 hp, rendering the old 700 hp figure obsolete. That makes the outgoing 991 the last pure-combustion icon in the lineage-and transition cars like this rarely get cheaper.
3rd Place: Porsche 911 Turbo S, the Sensible Thrill-Seeker
The 911 Turbo S claimed third place, and for good reason. With 580 hp, all-wheel drive, and a price tag of roughly €205,000, it was the most accessible of the trio. Accessible doesn’t mean tame: the Turbo S launches brutally yet glides through city traffic with the same poise it shows on open roads. It’s the sports car for people who drive every day, not just on Sundays.
That everyday usability is also its drawback as a collector’s piece. The Turbo S was built in far higher volumes than the GT2 RS, and Porsche keeps rolling out stronger, newer generations. As a driver’s car it’s unbeatable; as an investment it’s the weakest of the three. If you want fun rather than appreciation, it’s still the smartest pick.
What the List Teaches Seven Years Later
Three cars, three very different fates. The RUF SCR evolved from a quick special edition into a standalone manufacturer’s masterpiece. The GT2 RS, starved of a successor, became the benchmark and appreciated in value. The Turbo S remains the best daily driver of the trio, never rising to the level of a speculative asset.
If you’re weighing one of these cars today, ask yourself honestly: are you buying for the drive or the hold? For pure driving joy, the Turbo S is still unbeatable value for money. If you’re hunting for automotive history that doesn’t depreciate, the RUF or the GT2 RS is where you land. In 2018, GQ’s editors had a keen eye-the ranking reads even better in hindsight than it did at the time.
Quick Answers
▸Is a RUF the same as a tuned Porsche?
No. RUF is an independent car manufacturer with its own VIN and now even builds a completely carbon chassis for the SCR. A RUF is legally and technically a standalone car, not a modified production Porsche.
▸Can you still buy a Porsche 911 GT2 RS?
Not new-the 991 generation has ended. On the used market, well-maintained examples are in demand and often trade above their original list price. A new GT2 RS based on the 992 is expected for the 2026 model year, likely featuring hybrid technology for the first time.
▸Which of the three makes the best daily driver?
The 911 Turbo S. With all-wheel drive and a balanced chassis, it handles relaxed city traffic, while the RUF SCR and GT2 RS are clearly focused on track and collection use.
▸Is any of the three a worthwhile investment?
Both the RUF SCR and GT2 RS have proven to be value-stable or even appreciating assets-the RUF due to its rarity, the GT2 RS because of the long-awaited successor gap. The Turbo S is the weaker investment choice, but the best all-rounder.
If machines with character get your pulse racing, check out our V12 restomod in First Drive, which celebrates craftsmanship and revs just as uncompromisingly. And if you want a glimpse of where high-performance hybrids are headed, the McLaren Artura plug-in hybrid offers a preview of what’s coming to the next GT2 RS. For pure adrenaline straight from motorsport, the team at InspiredBySports delivers the rush.
