Back from Zuffenhausen...
i'm back from zuffenhausen where i collected my GT3 RS! the trip was fun, although i was quite tired because i couldn't get any sleep the night before .
i took my brother with me -- we arrived a little bit late for the factory tour but the very polite receptionist called the tour guide and told him to stop and wait for us -- thanks!!
i attended the factory tour three years ago when i collected my 2001 C2 and nothing much changed. but i can recommend the tour to anyone. it is quite fulfilling to actually see how these refined cars are being built. no magic, just good and motivated mechanics and brilliant logistic and organisation.
the most interesting occurence was when a nearly undisguised dark blue 997 drove by and entered a nearby factory building. unfortunately i didn't dare to take a picture -- i was standing next to the tour guide who did his best to draw the crowd's attention to something else
my impression of the 997 is ambivalent. overall appearance is quite nice. it looks more compact, more muscular. like a 996 which went into a fitness center and showed the trainer a picture of a 993, telling him "i want to look like this one!".
but most people from the tour didn't even notice that this car was different at all -- so IMO 996 owners shoudn't be too worried.
which leads to the point what i don't like: the front lights look quite like what we all expect: round! -- with separate bumper fog lights. and this makes the car IMO actually look oldschool. i know that a lot of die hard 911 enthusiasts never liked the the new 996 integrated front light design, but IMO porsche did a nice job, especially with the turbo/facelift. 997 drivers shouldn't be worried if they are mistaken for a mini or a VW new beetle in the rear view mirror
btw: i had no chance to get a glimpse of the interior! the car disappeared into some factory building in seconds...
after the tour we had a nice lunch (dessert was mulled wine sorbet with LOTS OF ALCOHOL in it -- porsche, i'm here to collect my car not to get drunk!!! ) and after a quick visit to the (small) museum...
...finally we reached the pickup center!
the room was full of porsches, mostly 4S/turbo convertibles and... GT3 RS! five in total, all white/red.
after some quick introduction i entered the car and turned the key at last!!
the car is so nice, i just can't put it in words. i have never driven an "ordinary" GT3 so no comparison possible here. but in comparison to my C2 this is another world. the 6speed is perfect, the seats are perfect, chassis rigidity is perfect. and what i did not expect at all: the car is quite comortable and easy to drive. if you can take the attention this car could easily work as a daily driver IMO!
we took the autobahn to my hometown (approx 600 km) but leaving it from time to time to enter a B road to give the car a good break in. unfortunately when we reached our destination it was all wet so i couldn't drive at full throttle.
finally, here are my first impressions:
- car looks awesome, a lot better than on pictures. calls attention but a lot of people think that this is an aftermarket job i believe
- interior is awesome as well. center console delete IMO makes the car look better than the full kit "i wannabe a business limousine" with PCM, phone etc. the recaro bucket seats and the roll cage look like serious business. and the seats are comfortable and suit just perfect, at least me. my car is all black inside, btw.
- 6speed box and clutch are just the best i've ever experienced. direct, short, accurate. i can't imagine any shifter to be any better. all the F1 tranny enthusiasts out there are definetely missing something!
- rubber: MAGIC!!
- sound: a lot less noisy than the carrera sports exhaust but a lot nicer! very mechanical. and on idle accompanied by a strange sound. i think luigi described it as "agricultural" in his post. that hits the spot! above 6000+ RPM an unbelievable trumpeting.
i will finish brake in this weekend and take some more pictures. so expect a full full-throttle report on monday!
regards
zz