maxbhp

for about a mile and a half and don't think I went faster than 30 mph.

I've been visiting the in laws for the last couple weeks here in London and decided to stop by Porsche of West London yesterday. It was my lucky day because a very generous owner of a new 991 Gt3 had stopped by to say hi to his salesman and pick up something. We got to chatting after he saw me ogling his car. I was there in an Aston Martin Rapide (uncle is on the AM board of directors so he has a few co. cars just lying about). The Gt3 owner asked if he could sit in a check out the Aston which I had no problem with at all. Then to my surprise he offered me a drive in his car that of course I couldn't pass up.

I've only had my .1RS for a few months and before I left home had only put on approx 700 miles and I drove the 991 only for a very brief stint in typical London traffic so obviously I can't compare the two. What I can say is it looks amazing in blue and mainly the lack of a manual made me think I could have been in any old 991 variant. Again, I only drove it for a short distance at very low speeds but I can attest that even at low speeds in a manual RS their is still a level of engagement the PDK's can't replicate.

I'm going to the Aston factory on Thursday for a tour and then Prodrive and lunch with Dave Richards after that. If anyone has anything they want to ask Mr. Richards or any interest in an Aston let me know.

Not sure how to post vids but if you click it it should open.

neanicu

Shhhhh....keep it a secret! Don't let the 991GT3 forum hear you....

tasman

Awesome trip. Have fun.

aussie jimmy

manuals have this 'power on a leash' thing happening..
especially with a lwfw.

F1CrazyDriver

I have driven PDK cars before. They are awesome when you are WOT and having fun. Problem is when you are not going WOT, you put the car to auto even if you are a hardcore row your gear kinda guy. You will put it into auto. When you do- you mentally stop engaging with the car.

1 car depends on you on engagement 100% of the time. No auto pilot mode. The other depends on your engagement whenever you want to. It's a mental obstacle. That said the 991 GT3 looks brilliant.

jakermc

Speaking of Astons, I just worked an Aston Martin event for their dealers at PBIR driving their new 12 cyl Vantage S on track. I was VERY impressed with the new gearbox, which traditionally had been a weakness for them. It's a single clutch paddle shift set-up that self adapts to changes in temperature and conditions. The computer controlled clutch operation was very sporting and allowed you to bounce of the rev limiter instead of upshifting for you. In braking zones you could also hold the downshift paddle and when released, it will choose the correct gear and skip gears if necessary. (neither I nor my students tried it though, doing it yourself is still more engaging and fun)

Surprising neutral on track as well, not the under steer I was expecting. The best Aston yet, IMO.

VegasSpeedy

nice job picking with your wife selection..!

zirrah

I disagree actually. My last sequential car was an E46 M3 and I loved it so much that I never once used the automatic setting. Shifting gears with paddles was too much fun. I know that PDK feels much better but personally I wouldn't care, the reason I always shift is because of the involvement.

Tim Kay

Couldn't agree more, I had an M6 I drove 100% with the paddles as well. Best DD street car I've owned. But I will say, the M6 does not reach the involvement "required" of my RS (obviously two different animals).

F1CrazyDriver

Different for everyone.
The only bad part its Porsche does not offer PDK and manual option for gt3.

m5trol

I think M5 and M6 (perhaps older M3 as well) might be a different case, I had an M5 and only drove it in manual because the auto mode was **** for brains. I now have a C63 507 Edition and the MCT in that thing is so smart and always places the car in the right gear like it is reading my mind that I have given up on the manual mode. I am talking about the car downshifting automatically when I flick the turn signal, it anticipates a lane change and downshifts for you so you can pass others without even thinking about it. with M5, I only did that when I feel like there an ******* who might close the gap if I indicate.

993Brendan

Very cool. We got into our 7.1 RSs at the same time and have put about the same amount of seat time in. One of the benefits of owning the RS is that I can probably take a 991 GT3 out when they have one at my local dealer. My friend with a 996 GT2 let me borrow it a few summers ago so I could go to the dealer and drive a pumpkin...I was hooked after that!

skl

Had the first SMG E46 M3 in Des Moines a few years ago- had to pretend I was JPM... loved the car but grew tired of the trannie in a few months. My wife drove the car most of the time and just left it in auto mode which she put up with with no complaints. Sold it to get a true manual back...

Shipped my .2 GT3 to AZ for the winter and have been enjoying the roads down there when away from the snow in Iowa- seems like every other car in north Scottsdale is a 911 or Panamera, but I have yet to meet another GT3 of any vintage on the street- hell I've seen more McLarens. Kind of surprised... maybe I'm a purist, but it's disappointing to see almost all high performance sports cars are now "autos"... still miss seeing a Ferrari with a gated 6 speed. Thank God you can get a R8 with one!! Hope Audi keeps selling them with a stick as someday I'd like to get one.

brake dust

Wow - fantastic trip. I would be interested in hearing David's view on the pending changes to the ACO/FIA technical regulations for 2015/2016. Is he in favor of the initiative? How will the changes affect the AM product if any?

Hope you are able to post some of your conversation - David Richards seems like a very interesting guy.

maxbhp

Great. And thanks for the idea to bring up with him, def will ask. I actually had the pleasure of meeting him maybe 3 yrs ago but only for a brief few minutes - was a very charismatic and engaging guy.

I totally agree with this. Every semi-auto I've ever driven I've ended up just leaving in auto mode. Occasionally I'll grab the left paddle to drop a gear to overtake but then it's back into auto. I think people don't take into account how important using two feet to drive a car is to the engagement level. I'm far from a neuroscientist but I bet that the physical involvement of having to use your left foot might stimulate a part of your brain that goes to sleep for lack of a better term when the left leg is dormant. I wonder if their has ever been a study regarding this. I know when I'm driving an auto my right hand gets bored...I end up twirling my hair or stroking my beard out of some weird habit that I do when I'm bored.