A Long-Awaited GT3 Drive

The other day, I took the 911 GT3 (manual) out for a spin after quite some time. It had been about two months since I last drove the GT3, but I found I’d gotten much more comfortable with the clutch and shifting, and those operations felt natural now.

However, sadly, the GT3 and I just don’t click at all.

When I’m driving my usual BMW 320i, if I feel “it’s tough going uphill in third gear,” I just downshift, or if I think “this stretch looks like I can stretch out a bit,” I shift up naturally—it all feels very intuitive.

Even with another Porsche, the Boxster GTS, I can rev the engine, listen to the sound, feel one with the car, and drive with pure joy, thinking, “Wow, this feels amazing!!”

But with the GT3 that day, I ended up driving almost exclusively in third gear on the Royu Driveway. My husband, sitting in the passenger seat, said,

Why are you stuck in third gear the whole time? You can drive so freely in the Boxster, so why not here? (laughs) You’re just holding third and using engine braking to slow down—it’s like one-pedal driving in an electric car…

I replied, “Hmm, I’m not really sure myself, but I feel like the GT3 and I just don’t match at all. I don’t know how to drive it properly because we don’t sync.”

To that, my husband said,

It’s not about how you should drive it, but rather what engine speed you want to drive at. Just shift normally and drive based on that.

Well, that’s true… (-_-) Taking his advice, I tried pressing the accelerator more and revving higher, but I had no sense of control and ended up back in third gear again. My husband asked,

Seriously, what’s going on? Are you that intimidated by the GT3? It’s the same Porsche, so what’s so different between the Boxster and the GT3?

As I drove, I thought about it and decided to share my personal reflections below.

Porsche Boxster GTS or 911 GT3?

Both the Boxster GTS (MT) and the 911 GT3 (MT) are undeniably fun cars, but I feel the type of “fun” they offer is completely different.

The Boxster GTS is more like a “car that offers an amusement-park-like thrill”… Being a convertible, you can feel the wind and become one with nature as you drive.

(In a good way) The dynamic performance, the exhilarating engine roar during acceleration, the backfire pops when you lift off the throttle, and the blipping roar on downshifts—all of it feels fantastic and thrilling.

And opening the roof lets you experience those sounds and the drive with your whole body.

In other words, beyond the pure joy of “driving the car,” you get to enjoy the engine sounds, the wind, and the scenery as extras, making it feel like you’re on some kind of thrilling ride.

On the other hand, the 911 GT3 is a “car for experienced drivers to truly enjoy.” It has none of the theatrical flair of the Boxster GTS; it’s about becoming one with the car and purely pursuing the act of “driving the car itself.”

The GT3 is powerful, accelerates fiercely, has a rear-engine layout, and handles more sharply than typical Porsches. Even a short drive made me feel, “The GT3 is in a league of its own—almost like a race car.” I believe only drivers with the skill to fully control this insanely powerful car can truly enjoy the GT3.

So, while I’ve gotten used to driving manuals and my husband now says, “You’ve gotten pretty good at driving the BMW 320i,” that’s only because

I can drive a manual car well enough to pass a driving test, but that’s different from truly mastering the car.

I recall hearing that someone named A was given a GT3 by an acquaintance but returned it to the original owner because they couldn’t handle it. Now I understand why.

Starting with the Boxster GTS

That day, while driving the 911 GT3, I kept having this kind of conversation with the car:

Me: Sorry, but my skills aren’t quite up to handling you yet, so I’ll just drive slowly in third gear today.
GT3: Oh, really? Okay, Mina, that’s fine. Let’s do one-pedal driving then.
Me: Yes, let’s do that.

(laughs) I even asked my husband, “Why does everyone want or buy a GT3!? Can everyone really handle a car like this (`Д´)!?” and he replied,

Sure, some advanced drivers buy it because they can handle it, but most probably don’t think that deeply about whether they can handle the GT3. They buy it because it has good resale value, lots of power, speed, and is a top-tier model. If it had a PDK, it’d probably be easier to drive too.

That said, I don’t think you need to overthink it so much, and some might say, “You should just enjoy the GT3 more casually.” But that’s probably just my overly serious personality causing trouble…

I keep thinking, “If I handle it roughly, the car might develop bad habits,” or “I should only drive the GT3 after I’ve mastered RR cars more.”

In that sense, going to the Porsche Driving School (PTE: Porsche Track Experience) in November with the Boxster GTS might be a great opportunity.

If I can feel the true potential and limits of the Porsche Boxster and gain confidence controlling it with a manual transmission, I think my approach to the GT3 will change.

…But really, I shouldn’t take it so seriously—I’m not trying to become a racer after all (-_-)… That’s my current self-reflection.