Thx - love your fleet! Incredible.
Jeff

 

Seems like the release of GT3 manual/touring has rekindled debate on the 911R’s driving experience versus that of the GT3. While I have not driven the 911 GT3 manual touring yet (has anybody outside the factory?), but I have good experience with the 991.1 GT3 and GT3 RS, and various versions of the 997 GT3 and GT3 RS.

Here are a few thoughts …

The R is unique in being a much more playful car than any GT3 or RS. Firstly, the 911R is much looser – better turn-in agility, much easier to kick the tail light out, and spin up the rear tires. Secondly, the 911R feels even lighter than it is – from a combination of the actual light weight, single mass flywheel, light gear shift and steering, and very pointy chassis and RWS calibration. Thirdly, the 911R is a seriously noiser car – all the stripped sound insulation means that you hear everything.

A GT3/GT3 RS is altogether a much more serious buttoned-down track oriented car. Comparatively, the R is hilariously loose and unstable (especially under braking) and twice the work. But also twice as fun, laying rubber stripes on every corner exit.

Overall, if you are into 911s and want the ultimate modern one, then there is no other choice than the 911R. Otherwise just get a GT3 manual, and you will have plenty of fun and never care or know the difference (just don’t ever drive a 911 R!!).




[BTW, I saw the other 911 R thread, but am commenting here so my posts are in one place - hope thats ok]

 

Lots of Rs having their first birthday around now, though it seems longer.
Good you are still enjoying yours as much as ever. I'm sure a lot of us feel the same way.

 

Yep - I am trying to figure out how to get my day done earlier today to start the weekend - keys I am most looking forward to grabbing? The 911R...

 

Really enjoy reading the commentary from 911 R owners. I'd like to see more of these on the road being driven. The 911 Touring isn't a 911 R, but there is bona fide lineage to it.

 

The only car I have ever owned which encourages me to get out of bed early and take the long way to work

 

[QUOTE=WernerE;14548509]Really enjoy reading the commentary from 911 R owners. I'd like to see more of these on the road being driven. The 911 Touring isn't a 911 R, but there is bona fide lineage to it.


I think the Touring will be a great car and look forward to driving impressions from the new owners when they start to arrive in a few months.

I think the same of the R which I own - accumulated 450 miles on it over last three weeks.

I expect the drivers of these cars will have a smile on their face - permanently. I also expect each car to offer up a different driving experience...both rewarding in its own way.

I stay away from all of the repetitive discussion on value as it is subjective and fluid.

Congrats to all of the GT3 owners that are just getting the first deliveries in the US.

 

Is it boosted like the 997 turbo clutch?

 

It sounds like Porsche have recreated the classic 911 driving experience. Why do they ration it out to so few these days? By making the 911 feel more mid-engined in every readily available model they risk people forgetting why it is so interesting to drive.

 

I think the top gear guy who ran the 911R back to back with the gt3 shared a view the gt3.2 was noisier ? Forget if it was road noise, engine noise or what.

 

Good points!!

i am sure the 991R is more unstable and more 911 classic feel than 991 GT3/RS but against 997 GT3/RS ...?

 

From what I've read about the R on this thread I gather that while the R, like all 991s, has more inherent stability, the suspension is softer than in the 997 RSs and the RWS is calibrated to maximise turn in. In combination this makes the rear much more reactive to weight transfer from throttle inputs than other 991s. However now that I think about it, that's only half the traditional 911 experience, the other half being managing the understeer.

It would be great to hear more from those who have driven both.

 

I know there are suspension differences but I wonder if those looking for some sort of R facsimile from the Touring would gain some of this looseness / playfulness by ditching the PSC2 in favour of MPS4+ or some other more road oriented tyre? I understand the new Dunlops are more road biased than the Michelins.... or drive more in the rain

 

To compensate for this engine not being able to be mated to a LWFW they took out more sound deadening material on the .2 GT3.

The .2 GT3 will be louder than the R and the previous .1.

 

And replicate the alignment settings. At the most the only other difference is RWS calibration but I personally doubt that’s substantially different.

Nobody has driven a GT3T back to back with 911R, so then we will see.