Living with the GT3

Since taking delivery of his 911 GT3 (991.2), my husband has put nearly 6,000 km on it. From what he says, he’s discovered even more about the car now than he had in those first few days of ownership. So here’s a roundup of what he’s been saying about the GT3 lately.

How the GT3 Feels Like a 1973 Carrera

I recently wrote about my husband getting the chance to drive an acquaintance’s 1973 Carrera:

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 driving that 1973 Carrera, he got straight into his GT3 and was struck by just how similar the two cars felt. I asked him what could possibly feel alike in a car built over 40 years ago and a modern-day Porsche, and he said:

I guess it’s the handling. And the engine note, too—the GT3 sounds remarkably similar when the exhaust valves open. If I’d driven the cars on different days, I might not have noticed it as much, but I drove the GT3 on the exact same road right after the 1973 Carrera, so the comparison was really clear.
I actually found myself shouting, “Wow! That’s incredible—they’re so alike!” all by myself (laughs).
It’s hard to explain exactly what I mean by “alike,” but it feels like the lightness and quickness of the 1973 Carrera, brought to life with modern technology.
This is just an analogy based on how it feels to me, but think about enlarging a photo on a computer while keeping its proportions. The size changes, so in that sense it’s different, but the subject in the picture is still the same. That’s how it feels.
It really brought home to me that the 1973 Carrera is the GT3’s ancestor, and that this is where its driving heritage began. So, once you’ve experienced a 1973 Carrera, the GT3 becomes even more rewarding to drive. Ever since then, I’ve been loving every chance to take the GT3 out on winding roads.

That’s how he put it.

What the 911 GT3 Is Like to Ride In

At low speeds, the GT3’s ride is admittedly not very comfortable. Its suspension is firm and picks up bumps in the road, so rough surfaces can feel quite choppy.

On the highway, though, the experience changes completely. The ride becomes remarkably smooth, with the planted feel, stiffness, and stability all working together. It’s hard to believe you’re in a car built for the track. So my husband says:

When you take the GT3 out, it’s important to choose roads where you can keep up a decent speed. There’s no doubt the suspension is on the firm side, but it’s a rear-engined car, and I don’t think the front spring rates—which have a big impact on ride comfort—are all that stiff. To me, the short suspension travel is more of a factor in the uncomfortable ride at low speeds.
Rough roads at low speeds are the worst. The car rocks you around. But you don’t get that sharp jolt you’d expect from stiff springs or bushings. It’s really the bumps and undulations in the road at low speeds that make the car sway. Once you pick up speed, though, the suspension smooths them out and they don’t bother you as much. I’d say that happens at around 80 km/h or faster. So even on regular roads, I’d rather drive somewhere with relatively little traffic where I can enjoy a more flowing pace.

That’s what he said.

Plan Ahead Before Taking Your GT3 on a Tour

Last weekend, my husband took the GT3 out on the Koyaryujin Skyline. The area was full of family cars carrying sightseers, and he found himself following a line of them at just 35 km/h for the entire drive. It felt like being stuck behind a sightseeing train (laughs).

Driving slowly for a long time in the GT3 is exhausting. In the Boxster, you can put the top down and enjoy a change of pace even when you’re going slowly. But the GT3 isn’t comfortable at low speeds, and you can’t open the roof, so that whole drive was tough.
Next time, I’ll either go on a weekday or, if I’m going on the weekend, plan things carefully and stick to roads where I can enjoy driving. For a nearby option, I’d say the Mimasaka Yamanami Highway in Okayama is a good choice.

He said:

Slow Traffic Can Tire Your Neck—and Fuel Economy

My husband drove to the Koyaryujin Skyline the other day and covered around 450 km that day. “When you’re stuck driving slowly in the GT3, your neck gets tired,” he said.

The car rocks around whenever it hits bumps or dips, so I must be unconsciously trying to keep my head straight. My neck got stiff. That’s never happened to me in the Boxster or the 964. Then again, not many people drive this far in a GT3 in a single day.

Does that mean GT3 owners should train their necks like race drivers? (laughs)

On a brighter note, the GT3 seems to be getting better fuel economy than it used to. My husband thinks the engine may be loosening up. On this day trip, for example, it averaged 10.6 L/100 km—about 9.4 km/L, nearly 1 km/L better than when the car was brand-new.

People Often Stop to Talk

This may have less to do with the GT3 itself and more to do with its unusual Crayon paint, but people often come over when he parks. They’ll say things like, “That’s Crayon, right?” or, “It doesn’t have a wing—is it really a GT3?” The other day, he told me:

I got out of the car in a parking lot, and someone came over and said, “That’s a Crayon GT3, right? I really want one!” We ended up chatting for a while. People really know their stuff—they’ve clearly done their homework.

The car does have a different look from a regular 911, and while it has the GT3 vibe, it doesn’t have the big rear wing. That combination probably makes people curious enough to strike up a conversation.

Surprisingly, It Rarely Scrapes

My husband’s GT3 is equipped with the front axle lift system, which raises the front of the car by 30 mm at the press of a button. Thanks to it, he says he doesn’t have to worry too much about scraping over convenience-store entrances or on sloping roads. He told me:

Before I bought it, I thought I’d have to hold my breath every time I drove over a bump or up a slope. But with this option, that hasn’t been an issue at all. It’s perfectly usable as a daily driver.

He said:

I’d Like to Drive the GT3 Again Soon

I don’t think I’ve driven the GT3 for even 50 km yet. But I got to take the wheel briefly on the way to Fuji Speedway the other day, and most of my apprehension disappeared—I was able to drive it normally. I’d love to get behind the wheel again when the opportunity comes.