Proper Shift Operation in the GT3

In a recent article, I introduced the “correct method for shifting up in the GT3 manual transmission,” and I immediately headed to the Royu Driveway to test it out myself. Today, I want to share the results.

ポルシェ911 GT3（991.2）マニュアル車の正しいシフトアップ操作方法

At that time, my husband was away on a relatively long business trip to the US, but before he left, he gave me this challenge:

Check how to properly shift up in the GT3. You can do it even in Normal mode. Even if you have to leave the kids with someone, just try driving it.

Later, a reader kindly sent me a video where a professional explains steering techniques, so I watched it and practiced in my BMW to prepare a bit before taking on the challenge.

That morning, after dropping off my eldest daughter at kindergarten and finishing some blog work earlier than expected, the weather was perfect, so I decided to go for a drive that day.

However, I hesitated about leaving my 2-year-old daughter at daycare just for this (winter colds are common), so I took her along and committed to driving safely without rushing, haha.

Having gotten used to the clutch in the 981 Boxster, the 911 GT3’s clutch felt surprisingly light. But the solidly built feel of the GT3 itself is truly something else.

This was my very first time driving the GT3 completely on my own (my husband usually rides along or drives beside me), but instead of getting tense thinking “I have to do this!”, I stayed calm and relaxed.

I think I was able to feel this way thanks to participating in the Porsche Driving School (Porsche Truck Experience).

I used to be so nervous about operating the manual GT3’s clutch and shifter that it was almost laughable, but there’s really no need to be so anxious. However, despite having an auto-hold function for hill starts, I couldn’t find the green “HOLD” indicator anywhere at first, which made me uneasy.

Every time I stopped on a hill, I nervously wondered, “Is HOLD engaged now…?” and tried to start moving carefully. But once, on a gentle slope, I just started off normally and stalled the engine… Since the GT3 doesn’t automatically restart after a stall, I had to turn the engine off and on again, then start carefully.

I thought, “I’m getting pretty good at driving the GT3,” but the car had other plans for me, haha.

Heading to Royu in the GT3

On the public roads heading to the Royu Driveway, I tried to experience the smooth shift-up like in a PDK, but my habit made me lift off the accelerator every time. Also, there wasn’t a road where I could really rev it up, so I decided to wait until after the toll gate to practice more.

The road to the toll booth has quite a few tight curves. The road is narrow and there are many cat’s eyes, so I usually drive cautiously in the Boxster. But this time, thanks to the steering grip techniques I learned at the Porsche Driving School, I found the curves easier to take and could turn the wheel confidently without fear.

Well, having the GT3 itself probably helped a lot too.

On the way, I worried, “Will I scrape the bottom here…?” and raised the lift to clear some spots, but my husband said, “Royu is totally fine. There are just two or three spots on the way back where you should go slowly.”

After passing the Royu toll gate, I tried shifting up again, but I still found myself lifting off the accelerator (-_-). Even though I knew I should keep the pedal down, the fear that shifting up while accelerating would cause a “jerk” kept holding me back.

Even though I understood it in my head, my ingrained habits were hard to break.

I tried several times, but although I could shift smoothly, I never heard that satisfying “whoosh!” sound.

Hmm… (-_-)

Later, on a long, gentle uphill straight, I decided to try again. I thought, “If I can’t do it on this long straight, I probably can’t do it anywhere!” So I boldly kept the accelerator pressed while shifting, and on the 3rd to 4th gear shift, I finally heard the “pshun!” sound!

Oh! So that’s it! (ﾟ∀ﾟ)

But I realized I had tensed my shoulders quite a bit… Then I passed the observation deck and recalled what I learned in slalom practice while taking the following series of curves. Wow, the GT3’s performance is amazing. It turns incredibly well and is super smooth. It really has a different kind of brilliance compared to the Boxster’s handling.

After trying to shift up several more times, I only felt I succeeded about three times. Most of the time, fear made me lift off the accelerator and I couldn’t do it. For me, I guess I need a situation where I can really accelerate to pull it off. Clearly, practice is needed.

Stopping at the observation deck, I glanced over at the passenger seat and found my daughter fast asleep (laughs). I’m amazed she can sleep through all that engine noise!

We took a break at the observation deck, which was completely empty.

The GT3 and Air-Cooled Porsches

On the way home, I drove with the windows down and was surprised at how much the engine sound resembled that of an air-cooled Porsche. It wasn’t the dynamic, rich tone of a Boxster GTS, but more of a mechanical, raw sound. I realized that even in the modern 911 GT3, there’s still a hint of that air-cooled character.

My husband once said, “After driving a ’73 Carrera, the GT3 felt very similar.” I’m sure he was right.

伝説の911、73カレラについに乗る！もはやポルシェ界の重要文化財、いや、世界遺産だ！

After returning home, I drove the Panamera Turbo and found that the usually heavy feel of the Panamera’s ride actually felt lighter. The pedals and steering were very light. It really made me realize how much your impression of a car changes depending on what you drove before.

I emailed my husband my impressions while he was still on his trip (what am I doing emailing him during work, haha), and he replied:

Well, you tend to relax your effort as you get used to it. You can do it pretty well even in 2nd or 3rd gear. The key is to just go for it. And yeah, the GT3 sounds like an air-cooled Porsche. That GT3 isn’t made to feel light like recent cars; it still has that old-school solid feel.

Every time I drive the GT3, Panamera, Boxster, (haven’t driven an air-cooled one recently…) I discover new things and deeper charms, as well as commonalities between models. Cars really are endlessly fascinating.

I’m grateful to have the chance to drive so many Porsches, and I’ll keep working hard so I can buy one myself someday (am I really going to add more cars? haha).