My husband was allowed to test drive a 911 GT3PDK (991 late model), and he wrote a report on it. Please take a look if you like.
Since I bought my Porsche, my friendship with my fellow car drivers has increased dramatically. I have always been the type of person who is not good at group activities and only interacts with a small number of friends, but it is strange that my friendships have become much wider through the Porsche.
The mere fact that they have a common interest brings them closer together.
One of them is the same GT3 owner.His GT3 is the same late 991 GT3 with wings and the Clubsport package.The PDK version has normal cast iron brakes, and the Clubsport package includes a roll cage in the rear, which is a key feature.
I had the opportunity to drive the GT3 and would like to report on the differences between it and my touring package.
I have said many times before that I believe the PDK in Porsche's GT3 is the best sports transmission in the world. I have had my fair share of experience with transmissions in various luxury sports cars and supercars.I still don't know of a better transmission than Porsche's PDK.
The gearshift response is overwhelmingly fast, with little shock, and even the sound and feeling when the gearshift is connected is excellent.
I have experienced the PDK version of the GT3 with the 991 pre-GT3, but this PDK is still amazing.The gearshift response is incredibly fast.There is no creep at startup, so the accelerator pedal needs to be slightly accelerated, but once the car starts moving in D mode, it is no different from a normal AT.
I drove the course that I usually drive with my GT3 touring package in Ashiu, and I found the AT to be easy.And I really enjoy being able to focus all my attention on the handling.I have owned 992 and 964 AT models, so I thought I knew the advantages of AT, but when I compared them with the GT3, which is the exact same model, I felt a new and different sensation.
When you take a car with the same engine and suspension and run it on the same track...The difference between PDK and MT is felt to be significant.With a manual transmission, the driver operates the clutch and gearshift while steering the car, and the car keeps in sync with the driver's breathing. This is very enjoyable, but with PDK, the driver can concentrate only on the handling of the car.
The car will take care of the rest.
This allows the driver to see the movement of the suspension, which was not apparent in my MT GT3. With a manual transmission, you inevitably have to shift gears and drive with one hand, but with PDK, you drive with both hands firmly on the steering wheel.
The difference is actually very large.The amount of information from the road surface, the feeling of the suspension and tires, and the correlation between the direction of the tires and the direction of the car body feels very large with PDK.The first is the "I" in "I".
This allows the driver to experience the superb handling characteristics of the GT3 in a very intense way. I knew the steering feel was good, but it feels even better than driving my own car. Moreover.100% two-handed operation allows for more careful steering and precise control of the vehicle.The first is the "I" in "I".
I thought this was a big advantage of PDK here.
Next, I would like to report on the differences in braking. To begin with.PCCB is clearly better in terms of efficacy.The regular brakes of the GT3 are also terribly effective, but the PCCB is characterized by the fact that it feels as if it is gripped by pads with an even higher coefficient of friction than those, and is more effective with just a little bit more tread pressure.
Another thing about PCCBs is their lightness, which is one of their features: PCCBs are said to be more than 50% lighter than ordinary brakes and cast-iron discs. One theory says that the lightness of the suspension, i.e., a 1kg reduction in unsprung weight is equivalent to 10kg to 15kg on the spring, which is said to have a significant impact on driving performance and ride comfort.
This time, driving a GT3 with regular brakes, I feltI don't think the ride is bad. But there is definitely a difference.Especially when going over larger bumps at low speeds, the GT3's stroke is short even for a PCCB, so it will move up and down.
But that feeling of absorbing the ups and downs of the movement is a snap, and it's all in one shot.The difference is that the regular brake has a slight feeling of leaving a bounce for a beat or so.I think it is. However.The difference is very small as the speed increases.The ride quality is not different at all when the car is running at a good pace.
Next, let's talk about ride quality. This is very difficult to describe.The PCCB is lighter and drier for lighter weight.To use an analogy, the ride is like wearing tires with high air pressure. Acceleration and cornering feel nimble.
On the other hand, normal brakes, on the other hand, are...Compared to the PCCB, the ride quality is described as moist and wet.It will be. In a sense, it is a luxurious rolling sensation, or rather, a feeling as if the tires are being pressed tightly against the road surface with low air pressure.
This is not about which is better or worse. I think it's a matter of preference. Personally, when it comes to supersports cars like the GT3, I prefer a light ride, but if this were a Carrera or something, I think I would prefer a normal braking ride.
Let me first say no.The difference between with and without wings is completely unnoticeable on ordinary roads.Probably, if you really want to know the difference, you would have to compare them at a very high speed range, such as 130R in Suzuka, for example.
On the other hand, the difference with and without the roll cage was immediately apparent.When the engine is started and the car starts running, the roll cage gives the impression that the body is one notch more solid.
In fact, when I started test driving this time, I had forgotten that there was a roll cage, but halfway through the ride, I thought the body looked solid and rigid, and it was only when I looked in the rearview mirror that I noticed the roll cage.
Since the GT3 has a strong body to begin with, there is not much difference between the GT3 with and without the roll cage.The difference in the hardness of the body can be felt clearly.I think.
These are my findings on the differences between PDK and MT, PCCB and regular brakes, and Touring Package and Clubsport Package.
With a car as large as the GT3, there is no such thing as a test drive, and even more so, it is almost impossible to compare the options available. Considering this, we hope this article will be of some help to those who are considering the purchase of a GT3.
