Whoopsy:SO, a few of the 918 owners got their GT3 in manual already like me, we shared some thoughts.
The general consensus is like mine, the GT3 is too refined, it lost the 'raw'ness of the 911R. The noise is still there, the engine sounds great, but it's missing the rough idle, the extra vibrations from the single mass flywheel. Same can and will be said for the GT3 Touring.
For those that thought the GT3 Touring will be a 'poor man's 911R substitute, it cannot be farther form the truth. While it looked almost the same on the outside and almost the same on the inside, they are just as different as a GT3 Touring vs a Carrera S with manual.
So, does this mean owners of the 911R who either selected SMFW or regular flywheel also made a decision as big as the one between GT3 Touring and Carrera S?
18 GT3 Manual, 73 Carrera RS 2.7 Carbon Fiber replica (1,890 lbs), 06 EVO9 with track mods. Former: 16 Cayman GT4, 73 911S, Two 951S's, 996 C2, 993 C2, 98 Ferrari 550, 79 635CSi
SciFrog:The GT3 touring should have PDK and rear seats...
You forgot convertible roof
18 GT3 Manual, 73 Carrera RS 2.7 Carbon Fiber replica (1,890 lbs), 06 EVO9 with track mods. Former: 16 Cayman GT4, 73 911S, Two 951S's, 996 C2, 993 C2, 98 Ferrari 550, 79 635CSi
Dec 4, 2017 7:37:25 PM
Apart from the SMFW, there is big difference to make it more dramatic/raw, the plexi rear windows and the roof in magnesium will bring a noticeable difference in term of sound dispersal.
Interesting upgrade on new GT3 will be at least the plexi windows and surely very easy to retrofit.
Touring, as it was always the case in Porsche history, is always less interesting than ClubSport model. so I am not surprised on the coming disappointment on customers looking for an affordable R.
All in all, is it a 200kEuros difference between the R and new GT3? I don't think so
GT Lover
Porsche fan
991.2 GT3 on order
991 GT3 2014(sold)
CAYENNE GTS 2014
Dec 4, 2017 7:38:32 PM
Dec 4, 2017 7:39:21 PM
Grant:Whoopsy:SO, a few of the 918 owners got their GT3 in manual already like me, we shared some thoughts.
The general consensus is like mine, the GT3 is too refined, it lost the 'raw'ness of the 911R. The noise is still there, the engine sounds great, but it's missing the rough idle, the extra vibrations from the single mass flywheel. Same can and will be said for the GT3 Touring.
For those that thought the GT3 Touring will be a 'poor man's 911R substitute, it cannot be farther form the truth. While it looked almost the same on the outside and almost the same on the inside, they are just as different as a GT3 Touring vs a Carrera S with manual.
So, does this mean owners of the 911R who either selected SMFW or regular flywheel also made a decision as big as the one between GT3 Touring and Carrera S?
Sort of, you either forgo the SMFW and get your car quicker, or wait and hope you get it. Just like you can go to a dealer and buy a Carrera S quicker, or can go put your name down for a GT3 Touring and hope you get one
Dec 4, 2017 8:18:19 PM
the-missile:Apart from the SMFW, there is big difference to make it more dramatic/raw, the plexi rear windows and the roof in magnesium will bring a noticeable difference in term of sound dispersal.
Interesting upgrade on new GT3 will be at least the plexi windows and surely very easy to retrofit.
Touring, as it was always the case in Porsche history, is always less interesting than ClubSport model. so I am not surprised on the coming disappointment on customers looking for an affordable R.
All in all, is it a 200kEuros difference between the R and new GT3? I don't think so
The plexiglass window is not available for North American cars.
As for the sound difference, it's actually not that much different between the 2 cars. Sand and rocks that get throw around in wheel wells can still be heard around there same sound level in both cars.
The engine note at high rpm is almost the same, slight slight difference, I have to hear them back to back to tell the difference, but that could be down to car insulation or lack of.
The 911R is lighter, but it is also more softly sprung, so it has more body roll, the GT3 on the other hand pretty much stay flat, as if it is the lighter one. Go figures.
Dec 4, 2017 9:13:35 PM
you may not have the plexi in North America but they install the gorilla glass which is apparently equivalent.
I am not sure the GT3 has this option , it is a weight and noise noticeable difference though.
engine note will be the same till 8500rpm then the drama of the 3 will start
the R is lighter but not sure by a huge margin...scaling both on the same bench would give interesting results.
Spring software is different and probably material, they always advertised the R for road and canyons...
GT Lover
Porsche fan
991.2 GT3 on order
991 GT3 2014(sold)
CAYENNE GTS 2014
Dec 4, 2017 10:02:42 PM
the-missile:you may not have the plexi in North America but they install the gorilla glass which is apparently equivalent.
I am not sure the GT3 has this option , it is a weight and noise noticeable difference though.
engine note will be the same till 8500rpm then the drama of the 3 will start
the R is lighter but not sure by a huge margin...scaling both on the same bench would give interesting results.
Spring software is different and probably material, they always advertised the R for road and canyons...
Gorilla glass will only start on the GT2RS, the GT3 has regular glass.
Whoopsy:the-missile:Apart from the SMFW, there is big difference to make it more dramatic/raw, the plexi rear windows and the roof in magnesium will bring a noticeable difference in term of sound dispersal.
Interesting upgrade on new GT3 will be at least the plexi windows and surely very easy to retrofit.
Touring, as it was always the case in Porsche history, is always less interesting than ClubSport model. so I am not surprised on the coming disappointment on customers looking for an affordable R.
All in all, is it a 200kEuros difference between the R and new GT3? I don't think so
The plexiglass window is not available for North American cars.
As for the sound difference, it's actually not that much different between the 2 cars. Sand and rocks that get throw around in wheel wells can still be heard around there same sound level in both cars.
The engine note at high rpm is almost the same, slight slight difference, I have to hear them back to back to tell the difference, but that could be down to car insulation or lack of.
The 911R is lighter, but it is also more softly sprung, so it has more body roll, the GT3 on the other hand pretty much stay flat, as if it is the lighter one. Go figures.
From a performance standpoint, isn't the GT3 faster than the R? BTW, have you listened to a .2GT3 with PDK-S at idle?
--
"A man wrapped up in himself makes for a very small bundle."
vantagesc:It doesn't matter much which one is technically faster for driving in the road, unless talking about bragging rights. It matters which feels more entertaining, especially at the considerably lower limits one is likely to drive a car on the road.
For sheer entertainment, I will take the Aston out in torrential downpour!
nberry:Whoopsy:the-missile:Apart from the SMFW, there is big difference to make it more dramatic/raw, the plexi rear windows and the roof in magnesium will bring a noticeable difference in term of sound dispersal.
Interesting upgrade on new GT3 will be at least the plexi windows and surely very easy to retrofit.
Touring, as it was always the case in Porsche history, is always less interesting than ClubSport model. so I am not surprised on the coming disappointment on customers looking for an affordable R.
All in all, is it a 200kEuros difference between the R and new GT3? I don't think so
The plexiglass window is not available for North American cars.
As for the sound difference, it's actually not that much different between the 2 cars. Sand and rocks that get throw around in wheel wells can still be heard around there same sound level in both cars.
The engine note at high rpm is almost the same, slight slight difference, I have to hear them back to back to tell the difference, but that could be down to car insulation or lack of.
The 911R is lighter, but it is also more softly sprung, so it has more body roll, the GT3 on the other hand pretty much stay flat, as if it is the lighter one. Go figures.
From a performance standpoint, isn't the GT3 faster than the R? BTW, have you listened to a .2GT3 with PDK-S at idle?
--
"A man wrapped up in himself makes for a very small bundle."
Sadly no. There was another GT3 at the dealership that was PDK but it was locked for another customer.
And yes, the manual GT3 is faster on a track than a manual 911R, it will likely be faster on curvy mountain roads too, and I probably will enjoy it more than the 911R simply because in a GT3 there is no body roll. But the 911R is 'stealthy', unless one pays attention, they wouldn't know what it is and leave me alone.
Dec 5, 2017 7:23:29 AM
if no gorilla glass on GT3, that is a good upgrade to get for a reasonable price straight from the dealer.
it is apparently available through order at the dealer since quite some time as some guys here order them on GT3RS in order to be able to tint the rear windows which is impossible with plexi without scratching them badly.
GT Lover
Porsche fan
991.2 GT3 on order
991 GT3 2014(sold)
CAYENNE GTS 2014
Whoopsy:
The plexiglass window is not available for North American cars.
As for the sound difference, it's actually not that much different between the 2 cars. Sand and rocks that get throw around in wheel wells can still be heard around there same sound level in both cars.
The engine note at high rpm is almost the same, slight slight difference, I have to hear them back to back to tell the difference, but that could be down to car insulation or lack of.
The 911R is lighter, but it is also more softly sprung, so it has more body roll, the GT3 on the other hand pretty much stay flat, as if it is the lighter one. Go figures.
So, I dom't really get it . what makes the difference ? Only the single mass fly wheel ? And on the other hand , does the improved engine in the GT3 not make up for something or is this '' supposed to be massive improvement '' just BS form marketing and from journalist that need to write something new ?
Also , I would suspect the R + GT3 owners to favor their '' R baby '' , maybe not obviously , but somewhere they must be slightly biased and want to justify the special status of the R .
964 Carrera 4 -- 997.2 C2S , -20mm -- 991 GT3 RS
m4ever, what a wonderful and brave choice for color! You do realize you need to make these awesome old and new pictures of both cars now, do you?
One question; I see the front lip is painted to color, but then the upright part of it right in front of the wheel is still black... will that be painted as well?
Congrats on such an awesome car mate, terrific!
Porsche, separates Le Mans from Le Boys
m4ever, very very cool, congratulations. Indeed it reminds me of the 997 3.8 RS at Porsche Museum. Brave choice!
1992 Mercedes-Benz W124 500E / 2003 BMW M3 CSL (sold) / 2008 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (sold) / 2014 BMW-Alpina D3 biturbo Touring / 2014 BMW-Alpina B3 biturbo Touring Allrad / 2018 Porsche 911 GT3 Clubsport
I have the same impressions - the Mk2 feels much more refined and the engine in Idle feels completely different - whereas the rattles of the Mk1 are gone. However, the 997RS still is in a different league and feels even more analog. I think the Mk2 is a superbly refined product - it's the summary of many small differences that make it again.
m4ever:
Courageous color, it bites a little bit with the red calipers and silver rims but it looks very special indeed.
Congrats, enjoy and drive safely.
RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche 991.2 Carrera GTS Cabriolet (2018), Porsche Cayenne S Diesel (2017), Audi R8 V10 Plus (2016), Mini JCW (2015)