My 3rd GT3, and the 991 is incredible.
One week driving impressions. Cross post from rennlist.
I was put off by PDK originally, decided to pass, and instead spec a 991S with a manual. A stripper. I then drove the 991S and realized that even with a stick it was not intense/direct enough for me to love the car. Like it yes, as in I like my wife's Audi Q7 oil burner b/c it's cool. But no love.
So despite PDK, I got on the list and finally yesterday got the car.
It is astonishing in every way. Wow. It looks completely badass in the showroom or parking lot, but it's the drive that matters and oh boy does it deliver.
- The speed of the downshifts and the sound and speed of the upshifts are mesmerizing. The upshift boom under full load is great.
- Hard charging over bumpy pavement, the steering wheel tells you everything and still tugs at you like only 911's do.
- The engine note is f'ing ridiculous. From its shriek up top (haven't gotten into 7k plus yet) to its nasty crackle and pops when you stab the gas and let off. The 'neutral feature' will turn you into a teenager again.
- The chassis is sublime, being very compliant approaching the boxster I was driving for the past 3 weeks, to providing no perceptible lean.
downsides
- ride height is low and front overhang is long so incline changes suck. but I (you) all know this
- Tires are slippery as hell cold. But it's been fun getting the car loose.
- not a fan of the alcantara wheel. I find it slippery. I'm probably in the minority on this, and I like the idea of alcantara but if I had a do-over I'd go with the no cost leather option.
- bose stereo blows. I generally dislike all things bose so it's no surprise. But the car is noisy enough I'm not sure whether a better stereo makes any sense.
- Not the biggest fan of PDK in auto mode (regular or sport) on the street. Much prefer controlling shifting myself. I suspect that in sport mode on the track it'll be great, however, given how aggressive PDK sport is.
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I was very concerned with PDK and stated last year that after all the cars I've had, all manual, if Preuninger's team messed up and made the GT3 boring b/c of it, I"d sell it a few months and move to something else. That will not happen.
But I will say while intense and fun, it's not a 100% replacement for a manual. More like 80%or maybe even 90% b/c it cannot replace the manual experience 100%. But I the positives outweigh the negatives.
I suspect my 964 Turbo 3.6, which is fetching mucho dinero these days, will soon be absent from my garage as I won't be inclined to reach for the keys often or at all.
Here's me and Jake getting the new metal.
Here we were with my second GT3.
Yeah, it's been a few years!
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991 GT3 incoming, 964 Turbo 3.6, E36 M3 ltw S54 conversion, bunch of other stuff
