Having driven the 911 GT3 (991.2) for about 6,000 km since delivery, my husband has noticed that his impressions of the GT3 have grown richer over time, compared to just after taking delivery. So, I’ve decided to summarize what he’s been saying about the GT3 recently.
I previously shared an article about my husband driving a friend’s ’73 Carrera:
Right after driving that ’73 Carrera, he got into his own GT3 and realized just how similar they felt. When I asked what exactly felt so alike between a car made over 40 years ago and the latest model, he said:
It’s definitely the handling. Also, the engine sound—especially when the GT3’s exhaust valves open, it sounds really similar. If I’d driven each car on different days, I might not have noticed as much, but because I drove the ’73 Carrera and then immediately drove the GT3 on exactly the same road, it really stood out.
I even found myself shouting, ‘Wow, amazing! They feel so much alike!’ (laughs)
It’s hard to explain what I mean by ‘the same,’ but it feels like the lightness and quickness of the ’73 Carrera brought to life with modern technology.
To put it in my own terms, it’s like enlarging a photo on a computer without changing its aspect ratio.
For example, you enlarge a photo without distorting its proportions. So, strictly speaking, the sizes are different, so they’re not the same, but the subject in the photo is the same. That’s the feeling I get.
The ’73 Carrera is the ancestor of this GT3, and I now clearly understand that the roots of its driving spirit lie there. So, knowing the ’73 Carrera makes driving the GT3 feel even more profound. Since then, I’ve been loving winding roads in the GT3 more than ever.
The GT3’s ride comfort at low speeds is still not great. The suspension is stiff and picks up bumps easily, so rough roads feel quite jarring.
However, on the highway, it’s a completely different story—the ride becomes incredibly smooth, and the overall feeling of grip, rigidity, and stability makes it surprisingly comfortable. It hardly feels like a race-spec car. So my husband says,
When driving the GT3, it’s important to choose roads where you can maintain a decent speed. The suspension is definitely firm, but since it’s rear-engine, I don’t think the front spring rates—which affect ride comfort—are that stiff. What I think really affects the poor ride at low speeds is the short suspension travel.
Rough roads at low speeds are the worst. The car shakes and rattles. But I don’t feel any harsh jolts from stiff springs or bushings. It’s really the low-speed bumps and undulations that cause the shaking and discomfort. But when you pick up speed, the suspension smooths out those bumps and it’s no longer bothersome. I’d say above about 80 km/h. So even on regular roads, I prefer ones with lighter traffic and a more flowing rhythm rather than stop-and-go.
Last weekend, my husband took the GT3 to drive the Koya Ryujin Skyline, but there were many family cars with tourists around, and he ended up stuck behind a family car going just 35 km/h the whole time—like a slow-moving train (laughs).
Driving the GT3 slowly for a long time is really exhausting. With the Boxster, even at low speeds, you can open the roof and refresh yourself, so it’s more enjoyable. But the GT3’s low-speed ride isn’t comfortable, and the roof doesn’t open, so it was tough to keep going in that situation.
From now on, if I’m driving the GT3, I’ll either go on weekdays or, if it’s a weekend, plan very carefully to only drive on roads where I can really enjoy it. Nearby, I think Okayama’s Mimasaka Yamanami Kaido would be a great choice.
When my husband drove to the Koya Ryujin Skyline recently, he covered about 450 km that day but said, “Driving the GT3 at low speeds for long periods tires my neck.”
Because the car shakes every time it hits bumps and undulations, I guess I’m unconsciously trying to keep my neck straight. My neck got really stiff. I never had that with the Boxster or 964. Well, not many people drive this much in a GT3 in one day anyway.
He joked that if you drive a GT3, you might want to train your neck like a racer (laughs).
By the way, he says the fuel economy has improved recently, possibly because the engine has broken in. For example, on this recent day trip, the consumption was 10.6 L/100 km, which translates to about 9.4 km/L—roughly 1 km/L better than when the car was brand new.
This might be less about the GT3 itself and more about the rare “Crayon” color, but when parking the car, people often approach and say things like, “Is that the Crayon color?” or “Is that a GT3 even without a wing?” Recently,
When I parked and got out, someone said, ‘That’s a Crayon GT3, right? I really want one!’ and we ended up chatting for a while. People really know their stuff and have done a lot of research.
Indeed, the 911’s usual vibe is different, and although it looks GT3-like, it doesn’t have the usual wing, so maybe the rarity makes people more likely to approach.
My husband equipped the GT3 with the Front Axle Lift System, which raises the front by 30 mm at the push of a button. Thanks to this, he rarely has to worry about scraping on convenience store curbs or slopes. He said,
Before buying, I thought I’d have to drive nervously over every bump and slope, but this option has completely eliminated that worry. It’s totally usable as an everyday car.
I’ve probably driven the GT3 less than 50 km myself, but recently when we went to Fuji Speedway, I drove it a little and found that my previous fear had mostly disappeared—I was able to drive it normally. So I’m looking forward to driving it again when the time is right.