I’ve been sitting on this post for a bit, trying to figure out how to put the experience into words — and honestly, that’s harder than speccing the car was.

A bit of context first.

After almost two years on a list, countless hours on the configurator, and more internal debates than I care to admit, my GT3 finally arrived. Brand new, ordered through Porsche Pretoria. And I’ll be upfront: the buying and delivery process itself was disappointing.

The best way I can describe it is that it felt like a tick-box exercise. Documents, signatures, compliance, boxes ticked — but very little soul. No real sense of occasion, no emotional connection to what is, for most of us, a once-in-a-lifetime car. When you’ve waited years just to be allowed to buy something like this, you expect the handover to feel special. It didn’t.

When I first saw the car at the dealership, I noticed a few cosmetic issues — light scratches and things that shouldn’t really be there on a new GT car. The original plan was to collect the car, send it straight to my good friend Willie from Autoworkz Kyalami for detailing and full PPF, then return it to Porsche for a formal handover.




At the last minute, I scrapped that idea.

Given how transactional the process had already been, I couldn’t see any value in bringing the car back just so more boxes could be ticked. I spoke to Porsche, and they agreed I could simply take delivery without the ceremonial side of things.

And that’s where the story turns.

Willie opened his shop for me on a Sunday. My brother drove down with his 996 Turbo S Cabriolet, dropped me off, and there it was — the GT3 standing outside, beautifully positioned, clean, waiting. Willie knew how underwhelming the Porsche experience had been, and he went out of his way to create a moment. Nothing flashy. Just thoughtful.
Personal. And it meant a lot.



That was the real delivery.

From there, the car and I started properly getting to know each other.

We took the long way home to Burgersfort — about 450 km — sticking strictly to the run-in guidelines (under 5,000 rpm, aiming for the first 1,500 km). We deliberately mixed it up: highway cruising, rough back roads, and finally a spectacular mountain pass for the last 30–40 km. My brother and I took turns driving, swapping between the GT3 and the 996, which made the contrasts even more interesting.

And wow.

I’ve watched every review. Read every complaint. Analysed every forum argument. None of it prepares you for the real thing.

The car is GR with a Cohiba interior — a spec I obsessed over. Hours spent on the configurator, debating every detail. Roof lining in suede, sun visors in suede (which I almost forgot to add). Funny thing is… once I started driving, none of that mattered. I didn’t look at the visors once. I didn’t think about trim choices. The car just disappeared around me.

Some reviewers complain about tyre noise. Others say the Bose system isn’t good enough. I can’t relate. At an indicated 170 km/h (still within the run-in rpm), I had my young daughter in the car and we were having a normal conversation — no shouting, no strain. The sound system was clear, loud, and more than good enough. Road and tyre noise were lower than cars I know well: Ferrari 458, SLS, and even my supercharged 2008 Mustang GT daily.

What struck me most was how the GT3 still carries that old-school Porsche DNA.


Two Porsche's next to South Africa's fastest car. A taxi 🤪

Swapping between the GT3 and my brother’s 996 Turbo S highlighted this beautifully. The GT3 is obviously bigger and more modern, but it hasn’t lost the visceral connection. You feel the car. The steering — supposedly “just” electric — is phenomenal. The only car I can compare it to in terms of steering feedback is the 458, especially on a mountain pass. The SLS doesn’t come close. ( I still love the SLS though)


Yes, it’s stiff — almost 996-stiff — but the way you’re cocooned inside makes it feel perfectly resolved. Despite the size, the cabin wraps around you. Everything feels tight, purposeful, and intimate.

Seats? I went with the 18-ways, and I honestly don’t understand the criticism. Even during spirited driving through the pass, I felt completely secure. The adjustability is so good that I never once wished for buckets.

If I had to complain about anything:

I like sitting low, and the seatbelt brushes my neck — that’s on me.
The cup holder can get in the way if you’re really pushing, but during normal driving it’s a non-issue.
Saving your location on the front axle lift is clumsy — and yes, I stalled the car a few times juggling speed bumps and gears and trying to hit the save button. Slightly humbling.🤫

One interesting observation: after about 400 km, the car felt like it loosened up slightly. The exhaust gained a bit more presence and depth — still below 5,000 rpm, but noticeable. I’m following Andreas Preuninger’s run-in philosophy and will step it up gradually.

The journey itself was made even more special because my daughter was with me. The rest of the family was down with flu, and she insisted on coming along. Sharing that experience with her — just the two of us and my brother — is something I’ll always remember.


My shameful attempt at a selfie 😁

So here’s the real takeaway for me.
Porsche South Africa, at least in my experience, operates very much on a tick-box process. It’s transactional, procedural, and largely devoid of emotion. That side of the experience adds very little to what should be a genuinely special moment.

But Porsche as a company survives — and will continue to survive — because of the product.

This GT3 is proof of that.

What Andreas Preuninger and his team have managed to develop in today’s automotive landscape is something truly special. In an era of filters, electronics, weight, and regulations, this car still delivers emotion, connection, and involvement in a way very few modern cars do. That’s the reason people wait years, obsess over specs, forgive shortcomings, and keep coming back.

The retail experience may be forgettable.
The product is not.


Soo blessed to call an amazing place like this home.

And after finally living with the car — even just for this first journey home — I can honestly say it’s beyond amazing. I’m still a bit lost for words, and maybe that says more than any professional review ever could.

And now for the moment everyone has been waiting for. Pics Enjoy Guys
















My rant worked. Seat sorted 👌🏼

 

Congratulations! It is beautiful and it only gets better.

Your experience sounds like the dealership network in USA; extremely transactional. Then again so is most high value not very often things such as buying a house, buying a boat, buying a business, etc.

I will say that I did Porsche Experience Center in Los Angeles for delivery of my GT3 RS and that was very special and nothing like picking up a car at the dealership. All the boxes, signatures, etc except for one, was done weeks in advance of going to LA for the reveal. Every interaction with every PECLA employee was professional and caring. Looking back it was akin to staying at a Ritz Carlton where details matter and employees are professional specifically trained to make you feel special. The difference between dealerships and PECLA is that PECLA employees work for PECLA/PCNA who have different motivations than the greedy dealership employees.

 

It's been 3.5 years since I took delivery of my car, but the experience was the exact same. Ironic given that they require dealers to build these elaborate showrooms, and have been trying to move upmarket. It's tough to sell a product people don't want. But maybe it's like you said, the product is so good, they sales staff puts zero effort into welcoming you to the brand. It seems very easy to change that across every dealership. It's free to use your voice, and really make customers feel special. Afterall, we are spending crazy amounts of money to get that feeling as soon as you step in the car.

 

 

I can't understand how Dealerships can't figure that creating a memorable experience will secure future business and loyalty with a market that just keeps getting more competitive. They actually keep showing the Porsche advert with the little boy that aspires to be a Porsche owner and eventually becomes one through his interaction with a competent salesman. Its a very old advert but it seems that those values have been forgotten because of the demand for their special models.

 

Agreed. They’re trained to sell, not hospitality.
Buying a top-tier Porsche should be like a three-star Michelin dining experience.

(edit: but I have no issues with my dealer)

 

It's more like getting a hamburger at McDonalds. They don't sell cars we buy them. I have been told "we don't care how many cars you have bought previously" we only care what you are going to buy today or tomorrow.

 

If it was like a 3-star Michelin dining experience I definitely upgrade to the premier wine pairing, ha!

 

So TRUE!!!

 

Congrats, and unfortunately, that's the experience with most dealerships.
To you, it might be the dream car, to them it's another sale.

 

It's unfortunate to hear about the start of your journey being underwhelming, but something tells me you'll forget about it all in a few short days and all that will remain is the car.

In Mexico, I was surprised that for a lowly Carrera T, my SA had my car under cover and made a reveal and also gifted me a bottle.
I still continue to get gifts with letters on my delivery anniversaries.
I thought everyone got similar treatment.
Anyway, enjoy your beautiful car with your family. Great spec.

 

@Bilaal Great write up and recount of your experience. Glad they sorted your seat and your paint.

South Africa, lovely country, I'm sure a GT3 is a rather special and rare beast out there!

Enjoy it to the Max!

 

This unconventional delivery experience was actually amazing. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. My first impression of the car was overwhelming, seeing it for the first time with a seat that looks damaged and scratches to the roof and A pillars. But as they say alls well that ends well. What an awesome car.

 

This country with all our mountain passes are built for this car. An awesome country with a special car.
I'm really happy that Willie was able get all the problems solved. I can't wait to hear and feel 9000

 

def seems to depend on dealer. the dealer i bought my touring from cldnt wait to get me out of there and i never heard from them again until they wanted me to buy something else. the dealer i bought my current garage cars from, who i now refer to as 'my dealer', seems to care and sends me things too. im 300+ miles away so i never go there unless im buying.