Chris Harris drives the 991 GT3
#121
For those open to PDK, the new GT3 is a 10 out of 10. Might even be an 11, but I'll need to wait for more time with the car Stateside.
As to those cynical about CH, I think I may now have actually seen it all...
pete
#122
I'm now confident that you did, too. See the white flash go by Chris' thumbs up? That was me. And trust me, there was plenty of driving time, on great roads, in this deal. More quality seat time in the first afternoon than on the main day of most press introsand no car sharing.
For those open to PDK, the new GT3 is a 10 out of 10. Might even be an 11, but I'll need to wait for more time with the car Stateside.
As to those cynical about CH, I think I may now have actually seen it all...
pete
Yea, it's pretty funny to see some comments trying to second guess what CH said in very clear terms.. It's almost like conspiracy theorists who want to look for something when it just isn't there. He said what he said.. Just listen and take it at face value.. It's not like the monkey's inarticulate for Pete sake!!!
#123
I'm now confident that you did, too. See the white flash go by Chris' thumbs up? That was me. And trust me, there was plenty of driving time, on great roads, in this deal. More quality seat time in the first afternoon than on the main day of most press intros—and no car sharing.
For those open to PDK, the new GT3 is a 10 out of 10. Might even be an 11, but I'll need to wait for more time with the car Stateside.
As to those cynical about CH, I think I may now have actually seen it all...
pete
For those open to PDK, the new GT3 is a 10 out of 10. Might even be an 11, but I'll need to wait for more time with the car Stateside.
As to those cynical about CH, I think I may now have actually seen it all...
pete
#124
I read the hardware is all the same (rack, geometry) but the software is different and the suspension geometry is different (so technically, the steering geometry is altered, too) but the quality of feel, precision and feedback is "greatly improved." Every time I drive the 991S, I find it hard to believe it's a software thing alone, but numb steering isn't going to deter me from at least owning and driving the 991 GT3 long enough to decide whether it's what I want as a track day car.
The 996 GT3 was "denied" the bolt-in cage because of DOT crash testing regulations that prohibited cages for some reason or other. My vague recollection is a specific exclusion of any modification that changed the cabin and any exposed solid surface within the cabin constituted some sort of "survivability" rating failure.
There's been some threads on cages and the club sport pack, the seats, the fire ex, side and thorax airbags. It's all pretty gray stuff, but the bottom line is clear enough: modifications can be a liability when it comes to insurance, and a "safer" car in practical terms is not viewed as safer by the bureaucrats and the insurance racketeers.
There's been some threads on cages and the club sport pack, the seats, the fire ex, side and thorax airbags. It's all pretty gray stuff, but the bottom line is clear enough: modifications can be a liability when it comes to insurance, and a "safer" car in practical terms is not viewed as safer by the bureaucrats and the insurance racketeers.
#125
What's top speed at redline in 2nd? I'm sure it's over 60 mph and that's a "game over" ticket in most parts of the USA unless it's a freeway (what's the point?) I'm guessing 3rd gear winds out to more like 90-100 mph. That's very close to "book 'em, Danno" territory. So, no, you really don't get to drive a GT3 of any vintage on the road and use its potential much at all. One lap of a track and it's painfully clear that the car is woefully restricted on the road -- whether it's the law or common sense -- you literally can't get out of 2nd gear without being homicidal if you're using the full breath of the engine.
#126
Very enjoyable reading your posts, thanks. And I really hope you're right about this. I dread the thought of the RS price going too far north. It might well be the car to replace the 997 RS, but no if it's as expensive as 4.0 ... even at $150K, it's getting to be silly money for track day car, but I rationalize it as being "only" $50K more than the 996 GT3 in its day and a mere 50% price increase to get from 400hp to 500hp and ten years later, isn't unreasonable.
#127
I'm now confident that you did, too. See the white flash go by Chris' thumbs up? That was me. And trust me, there was plenty of driving time, on great roads, in this deal. More quality seat time in the first afternoon than on the main day of most press intros—and no car sharing.
For those open to PDK, the new GT3 is a 10 out of 10. Might even be an 11, but I'll need to wait for more time with the car Stateside.
As to those cynical about CH, I think I may now have actually seen it all...
pete
For those open to PDK, the new GT3 is a 10 out of 10. Might even be an 11, but I'll need to wait for more time with the car Stateside.
As to those cynical about CH, I think I may now have actually seen it all...
pete
As for cynicism of Harris, you see, he was set up. You can find posts on this board *before* this review criticizing him for selling off his 4.0 for the fiat, questioning whether he's a true enthusiast, and questioning his fiscal responsibility (this one, particularly comical). All in anticipation that Harris was going to like the car.
Post review we now have folks typing that he's being 'sly' and not saying what he really thinks of the car b/c that's the price he had to pay to get an early drive. Patronizing to PAG.
This all on the heels of folks crawling up AP's skirt and resorting to sophomoric namecalling.
But I fear you haven't seen it all. The foo are going to turn on you too once you get something in print. But I hope I'm wrong.
#128
Thanks Pete, and great to hear the vote of confidence about the new car (aside from the PDK only issue).
As for cynicism of Harris, you see, he was set up. You can find posts on this board *before* this review criticizing him for selling off his 4.0 for the fiat, questioning whether he's a true enthusiast, and questioning his fiscal responsibility (this one, particularly comical). All in anticipation that Harris was going to like the car.
Post review we now have folks typing that he's being 'sly' and not saying what he really thinks of the car b/c that's the price he had to pay to get an early drive. Patronizing to PAG.
This all on the heels of folks crawling up AP's skirt and resorting to sophomoric namecalling.
But I fear you haven't seen it all. The foo are going to turn on you too once you get something in print. But I hope I'm wrong.
As for cynicism of Harris, you see, he was set up. You can find posts on this board *before* this review criticizing him for selling off his 4.0 for the fiat, questioning whether he's a true enthusiast, and questioning his fiscal responsibility (this one, particularly comical). All in anticipation that Harris was going to like the car.
Post review we now have folks typing that he's being 'sly' and not saying what he really thinks of the car b/c that's the price he had to pay to get an early drive. Patronizing to PAG.
This all on the heels of folks crawling up AP's skirt and resorting to sophomoric namecalling.
But I fear you haven't seen it all. The foo are going to turn on you too once you get something in print. But I hope I'm wrong.
As far as I'm concerned, the journalists invited to this represented a gutsy move on Porsche's part: They're known for calling it like they see it, and they know the previous (excellent) cars intimately. They also know the target market well—both in terms of studying it and in actually knowing a lot of the customers, often on a personal level.
If the car was a bust, I assure you...you would've heard as much from CH. And me.
So while the overall take went very, very well for PAG—and AP's team more than earned the high praise—the verdict re: the decision not to offer a manual was unanimous: We all pined for three pedals, even if we recognized that Porsche will likely find more buyers with the 991 GT3 than it did with the 997s. Hence my one qualification. For those open to PDK, the new GT3 is an incredible car.
But, without the option of a manual, I'm afraid the GT3 has fallen off my personal dream car list. It's been an interesting matter for me to ponder, both from a professional and a personal/philosophical standpoint...and I agree with Chris that there must be some separation of the two.
pete
#129
Rennlist Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 13,427
Likes: 4,630
From: Mid-Atlantic (on land, not in the middle of the ocean)
What's top speed at redline in 2nd? I'm sure it's over 60 mph and that's a "game over" ticket in most parts of the USA unless it's a freeway (what's the point?) I'm guessing 3rd gear winds out to more like 90-100 mph. That's very close to "book 'em, Danno" territory. So, no, you really don't get to drive a GT3 of any vintage on the road and use its potential much at all. One lap of a track and it's painfully clear that the car is woefully restricted on the road -- whether it's the law or common sense -- you literally can't get out of 2nd gear without being homicidal if you're using the full breath of the engine.
#130
I hope you're wrong too!
As far as I'm concerned, the journalists invited to this represented a gutsy move on Porsche's part: They're known for calling it like they see it, and they know the previous (excellent) cars intimately. They also know the target market wellboth in terms of studying it and in actually knowing a lot of the customers, often on a personal level.
If the car was a bust, I assure you...you would've heard as much from CH. And me.
So while the overall take went very, very well for PAGand AP's team more than earned the high praisethe verdict re: the decision not to offer a manual was unanimous: We all pined for three pedals, even if we recognized that Porsche will likely find more buyers with the 991 GT3 than it did with the 997s. Hence my one qualification. For those open to PDK, the new GT3 is an incredible car.
But, without the option of a manual, I'm afraid the GT3 has fallen off my personal dream car list. It's been an interesting matter for me to ponder, both from a professional and a personal/philosophical standpoint...and I agree with Chris that there must be some separation of the two.
pete
#131
What's top speed at redline in 2nd? I'm sure it's over 60 mph and that's a "game over" ticket in most parts of the USA unless it's a freeway (what's the point?) I'm guessing 3rd gear winds out to more like 90-100 mph. That's very close to "book 'em, Danno" territory. So, no, you really don't get to drive a GT3 of any vintage on the road and use its potential much at all. One lap of a track and it's painfully clear that the car is woefully restricted on the road -- whether it's the law or common sense -- you literally can't get out of 2nd gear without being homicidal if you're using the full breath of the engine.
#132
I see your point and mostly agree. But at least from the standpoint of performance that you can't really use, the same is true of dozens of other performance cars that are perfectly viable for street use but which have limits that far exceed anyone's ability to rationally approach them, except on track. As you say, TEHO.
#133
I hope you're wrong too!
As far as I'm concerned, the journalists invited to this represented a gutsy move on Porsche's part: They're known for calling it like they see it, and they know the previous (excellent) cars intimately. They also know the target market well—both in terms of studying it and in actually knowing a lot of the customers, often on a personal level.
If the car was a bust, I assure you...you would've heard as much from CH. And me.
So while the overall take went very, very well for PAG—and AP's team more than earned the high praise—the verdict re: the decision not to offer a manual was unanimous: We all pined for three pedals, even if we recognized that Porsche will likely find more buyers with the 991 GT3 than it did with the 997s. Hence my one qualification. For those open to PDK, the new GT3 is an incredible car.
But, without the option of a manual, I'm afraid the GT3 has fallen off my personal dream car list. It's been an interesting matter for me to ponder, both from a professional and a personal/philosophical standpoint...and I agree with Chris that there must be some separation of the two.
pete
As far as I'm concerned, the journalists invited to this represented a gutsy move on Porsche's part: They're known for calling it like they see it, and they know the previous (excellent) cars intimately. They also know the target market well—both in terms of studying it and in actually knowing a lot of the customers, often on a personal level.
If the car was a bust, I assure you...you would've heard as much from CH. And me.
So while the overall take went very, very well for PAG—and AP's team more than earned the high praise—the verdict re: the decision not to offer a manual was unanimous: We all pined for three pedals, even if we recognized that Porsche will likely find more buyers with the 991 GT3 than it did with the 997s. Hence my one qualification. For those open to PDK, the new GT3 is an incredible car.
But, without the option of a manual, I'm afraid the GT3 has fallen off my personal dream car list. It's been an interesting matter for me to ponder, both from a professional and a personal/philosophical standpoint...and I agree with Chris that there must be some separation of the two.
pete
What is your best guess about manual tranny versions being offered in the future?
Thanks!
#134
I read the hardware is all the same (rack, geometry) but the software is different and the suspension geometry is different (so technically, the steering geometry is altered, too) but the quality of feel, precision and feedback is "greatly improved." Every time I drive the 991S, I find it hard to believe it's a software thing alone, but numb steering isn't going to deter me from at least owning and driving the 991 GT3 long enough to decide whether it's what I want as a track day car.
The 996 GT3 was "denied" the bolt-in cage because of DOT crash testing regulations that prohibited cages for some reason or other. My vague recollection is a specific exclusion of any modification that changed the cabin and any exposed solid surface within the cabin constituted some sort of "survivability" rating failure.
There's been some threads on cages and the club sport pack, the seats, the fire ex, side and thorax airbags. It's all pretty gray stuff, but the bottom line is clear enough: modifications can be a liability when it comes to insurance, and a "safer" car in practical terms is not viewed as safer by the bureaucrats and the insurance racketeers.
There's been some threads on cages and the club sport pack, the seats, the fire ex, side and thorax airbags. It's all pretty gray stuff, but the bottom line is clear enough: modifications can be a liability when it comes to insurance, and a "safer" car in practical terms is not viewed as safer by the bureaucrats and the insurance racketeers.
#135
But, without the option of a manual, I'm afraid the GT3 has fallen off my personal dream car list. It's been an interesting matter for me to ponder, both from a professional and a personal/philosophical standpoint...and I agree with Chris that there must be some separation of the two.
pete
pete
If I'm wrong and grow tired of the auto in the following months of ownership, I'll sell it off while the market is still buzzing for the car.
OTOH some have said that the auto manuals in the Stradale, Scud, 458 and soon the 458 Scud, in part, define these cars. The auto manual is so integrated in the engineering of these cars that somehow a 6 speed gated shifter would be inappropriate. I wonder if here it's the same thing with the 991 GT3.