In fact, for some reason, there are very few articles on this blog about the 997 and 987.
It is not that I particularly dislike Porsche, in fact, I am very interested in it, but for some reason, there are surprisingly few people around me who drive one, and I just haven't had many opportunities to interview them.

This time, theOne of our readers was kind enough to ask us to cover the event, and we were gracious enough to give it a test drive, so here is our report on it.
As always, I will write what I honestly feel without making any particular discovery, even though it is an interview.

Porsche 911 GT3 (997 late model)

The car we will be test driving this time will be a 2010 997 late model GT3.

The engine, which is based on the Porsche 911 GT1 series engine unit that competed at Le Mans, is a 3.8L engine that produces 435 PS at 7,600 rpm and 43.8 kg・m at 5,500 rpm.

Of course.At that time, the GT3 was not available with PDK, only with a manual gearbox.

Clutch is quite heavy. According to the owner, external twin plate + lightweight flywheel
The 991 and 981 series are heavy enough, but the 997 is even heavier. The 991 and 981 series are heavy enough, but the 997 is even heavier than them.

Starting the engine is not as spectacular as in the 996/997 series, and the starting is not that spectacular.The needle on the tachometer slowly rises to around 2000 rpm and immediately goes to idle.

When the accelerator pedal is lightly agitated, the response is very good, which is a complete change from the feeling at startup. Especially in the case of this car, the lightweight flywheel makes it difficult to adjust the rpm.

Carefully connect the clutch and start driving.

My first impression is.Comfortable to rideThis means that "the

The suspension is completely stock, with stock PASM and normal ride height, and is softer than the 991 and 992 GT3s. Even though the car is running ADVAN Neova tires, the ride quality is excellent.

It sports PASM and barely starts to knuckle down, and is the mildest hitting the road of any GT3 I've ever driven.

However, the ride height is low and the stroke is short, so it will rock over larger bumps, so don't forget that it is not the same as a regular Carrera.

GT3 engine and suspension

The engine still turns well. It is a typical engine that makes power at high rpm, and the beautiful proportion between rpm and power output is very pleasing. I have been driving a turbocharged 992 and 718 recently, so I feel even more comfortable with the engine.

With 435 hp and 43.5 kg/m of power, the 992 seems faster at low and medium speeds, but the acceleration at high rpm is even better than the numbers suggest.

It is unmistakably "GT3".

Since there is no helping device such as auto-blipping, I agitated the engine myself to match the rotation, but because of the lightweight flywheel, the engine responded too well and turned too much, making it difficult to match the rotation.

After several revisions and trial and error, my body finally became accustomed to the response of this engine.

Handling is what makes this GT3 so good.

Now, as far as the engine and power feel so far, I think it is a very similar impression and the same vector, although the power is different from the other 991 and 992 GT3s.

The major difference, however, is handling.

This GT3 is honestly "difficult" to drive.

No.To be precise, 991 and 992 would be too easy.Rather, I believe this is the original GT3 chassis setup.

First, you enter a curve and simply steer as you would normally drive a 991 or 992 GT3. Then, you will see the "Was GT3 like this?I think."

Try the same normal steering on the next curve.
This will very slightly change the movement of the car body and the yaw of the car body.

Further attempts at the next curve do not result in the same behavior.

nextGet into a good driving position, step hard on the footrest with your left foot, place your shoulder firmly on the seatback, and bend to push the steering wheel with your shoulder as a fulcrum.

In other words, when you drive the car according to the textbooks and operate the steering wheel while applying frontal load on a curve, the GT3, which had been sleeping until now, starts to move agilely as if to say, "I've been waiting for this! The GT3, which had been sleeping until then, started to move agilely as if to say, "I've been waiting for this!

."Yeah, yeah, GT3 is like this.Finally, a move that I think is "the best way to get the job done.

Once you understand this, this GT3 is great fun.

In the 997 GT3, one's driving skills really show in the car's behavior.

Even the 991 and 992 GT3s, at circuit-level speeds, do so, but at speeds that are similar to those of a winding street car, anyone can experience a razor-like turn if they just turn the steering wheel.

That is the major difference.

The better you drive, the more the 997 GT3 will respond.

If a mistake is made and the application of load or steering operation is delayed, it will show up in the car's behavior. In other words, it is difficult to drive the same way, and reproducibility is low.

So the driver always wants to drive comfortably and smoothly, and naturally tries to master the GT3.
I felt that the fun of driving this GT3 lies in that "trial and error".

The more advanced you are, the more fun you will have.

A Porsche Carrera Cup racer once said to me. "The 992 cup cars are crazy fast. But the 991 Cup car was more fun. And the 997 was even more fun.And.

I felt I understood a little more about what this means after this test drive.

The behavior of the car (output) is affected by the driver's operation (input).
This is where the joy of analog manipulation comes in, and I think people find it "fun" to ride them.

If you are going to buy a 997 GT3, you should at least take some basic sports driving lessons.

It is too wasteful for beginners to ride just for the sake of dressing up or looking good.

I think the Porsche that seems to do so is the 997 GT3.