Everyday Use of the 911 GT3

We have a 911 GT3 Touring Package at home. The brochure describes the Touring Package as “a car designed not just for the circuit but to enjoy driving experiences on various occasions.”

This 911 GT3 Touring, which promises “driving enjoyment on various occasions,” makes me wonder: how practical is it really for daily use? Can I just go to the local supermarket, do some shopping, and come back without any issues…?

From my wife’s perspective, this was a big question, so I decided to actually test it out.

① Can it clear bumps?

The first thing I was curious about was whether it could “get into the supermarket parking lot without any trouble crossing the curb.” So, I took the GT3 there right away.

My husband equipped this GT3 with the “Front Axle Lift System” option, so I had to remember to press that button.

I wondered if it would be better to approach the bump at a slight angle… but I crossed it slowly and was able to enter the parking lot without any problems.

Afterwards, I checked the slope and bump of this supermarket parking lot again, and it was gentler than I expected. At this level, even a GT3 should be able to climb it without issue.

So, I decided to try a nearby pharmacy with a steeper bump and slope. Pressing the lift button again, I climbed slowly and had no trouble there either.

Photos don’t quite capture the thickness of the bump or the steepness… (-_-) But it’s clear the GT3 can handle this level. Some convenience stores have tougher bumps, but most should be manageable.

When I asked my husband, he said slopes like these parking lots are no problem at all.

I heard that the GT4 can’t be equipped with the lift option and often scrapes the bottom, but since the GT3 can have the lift option, you don’t need to be overly worried.

My husband also said, “So far, as long as I use the front lift to raise the ride height, I don’t recall scraping the car during everyday use.”

② What about parking stops?

The GT3’s rear diffuser fins stick out quite a bit underneath, so my husband says, “Backing all the way to the parking stop in a normal parking lot is basically impossible.” The height from the ground to the fins is only about 8–9 cm, so even the raised center part of mechanical parking pallets can cause scraping. (The mechanical parking he often uses has just a few millimeters of clearance, and if the tires wear down more, it might scrape.)

Even if it scrapes, the fins are made of relatively soft plastic, so they won’t snap off but may bend and partially recover. Still, it’s best to avoid scraping altogether.

By the way, these rear diffuser fins are the same shape as on the 911R and have been fitted since the late 991 GT3. So, earlier GT3 models don’t have these and aren’t as sensitive.

Well, I guess it’s common sense for sports cars to stop just before the parking stop to avoid scraping the bottom, but with the GT3 Touring, it’s especially nerve-wracking. So no matter where I park, I always have to park with about half the car sticking out in front (lol).

Other drivers might think, “What’s with this Porsche? Park further back, you’re in the way,” but it’s not about wanting to stand out, parking carelessly, or bad manners—it’s just that I physically can’t park any further back… and I want to make that very clear.

③ How’s the ride comfort?

At low speeds, the ride comfort is honestly not great. It’s among the worst cars I’ve ridden in, and at least among the Porsches I’ve experienced, it feels the least comfortable.

On smooth roads, it’s still okay, but on rough surfaces, it easily picks up bumps and feels quite harsh. My husband once said about this:

The suspension is definitely stiff, but since the GT3 is rear-engine, I think the front spring rate—which affects ride comfort—isn’t that stiff. Rather, the short suspension stroke is what causes the poor low-speed ride comfort.

For a wife used to smooth, comfortable cars like Mercedes or Lexus, riding in the GT3 might lead to a first impression of “What is this uncomfortable car? And it’s so expensive!”

So in those cases, I think it’s best to explain beforehand that “this is a racing car that can run on circuits, completely different from your usual car” (laughs).

On the other hand, the ride comfort on the highway is very smooth and supple. It’s almost unrecognizable as the same car, and I even think, “Isn’t this better than the Boxster?” It’s that smooth and pleasant.