When Porsche launched the 991-generation 911 GT3 for 2014, it was fairly the specimen. It had a three.Eight-liter boxer six-cylinder engine making a stout 475 horsepower with a stratospheric 9,000-rpm redline. It had options like an adaptive suspension, torque-vectoring rear differential and rear-wheel steering, making it a turn-key observe terror.
However there was an issue. The GT3 upset guide transmission-loving Porschephiles as a result of it was solely obtainable with a dual-clutch automated. Porsche famous that the dual-clutch transmission’s split-second shifts in the end made for a quicker automotive than one with a stick. And whereas that will have been true, Porsche did not foresee the backlash from a vocal contingent of driving purists who valued the expertise of working three pedals over absolute pace.
For this updated 991.2-generation GT3, nevertheless, Porsche is ready to proper these wrongs.
The 2018 updates brings the guide again to the GT3.
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A extra involving drivetrain
Not solely does Porsche carry again a guide gearbox for 2018, it is linked it to a bigger and stronger four.Zero-liter boxer engine that cranks out 500 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque — a powerplant derived from the 911 GT3 R and GT3 Cup race cars. The result’s a automotive that hits 60 miles per hour in three.Eight seconds and covers the quarter-mile in 11.6 seconds. Sure, you may nonetheless purchase a GT3 with the PDK automated, and it will hit 60 mph a full Zero.6 seconds sooner, however round GingerMan Raceway in South Haven, Michigan, the numbers-on-paper efficiency hole would not even matter.
The four.Zero-liter engine is a naturally aspirated masterpiece that retains the outgoing three.Eight-liter’s 9,000 rpm redline and soul-stirring soundtrack. The wonderful noise requires a recalibration of my mind’s upshift factors as a result of at Eight,000 it thinks a gear change is required when there’s nonetheless 1,000 extra revs to go. Throttle response is close to immediate and energy builds in a linear trend all through the rev vary earlier than petering out barely after Eight,250 rpm.
A four.Zero-liter boxer engine with a 9,000-rpm redline is a part of the GT3’s attraction.
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When it is time to seize one other gear, the quick throw shifter crisply slots by way of the gate and affords satisfying motion — extra so than flicking paddles, anyway. The 11 corners of GingerMan’s 2.14-mile street course have my full, undivided consideration within the manual GT3 — hitting brake factors, working the clutch and shifter, handing over, hitting the apex and monitoring out require extra coordination to get all the pieces proper. All of it makes for a extra involving, difficult and enjoyable expertise, which is one thing that may’t be quantified on the GT3’s spec sheet.
A sharpened observe instrument
Exterior the drivetrain, there are a handful of updates that assist the GT3’s track prowess. Larger entrance air dams higher cool the entrance six-piston brake calipers, supported by four-piston stoppers out again. The ram air ducts are bigger to feed extra air to the rear-mounted engine, and aero adjustments come within the type of a Zero.Eight-inch taller carbon fiber wing and underbody paneling. All the GT3’s aero bits collectively generate 340 kilos of downforce at its 198 mph high pace — a 20 % enchancment over the earlier automotive.
Different GT3 goodies embrace an adaptive suspension, rear-axle steering and new Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 245/35 entrance and 305/30-series rear tires. Regardless of the nook, the three,116-pound GT3 does no matter you inform it with completely weighted steering and fast response to inputs. With the suspension in Sport mode, the physique by no means feels out of types and expertly handles with the quick side-to-side weight transition between GingerMan’s Turns Eight and 9. So long as you do not dive right into a nook too scorching, the GT3 will hit all mandatory marks as directed with little concern.
With temperatures in mid-90-degree Fahrenheit vary, the usual metal brakes with two-piece cross-drilled discs are additionally a nice shock, holding up all through the day on observe with stopping muscle and no indicators of fade. Except you intend on commonly doing actually lengthy observe periods in your GT3, the $9,210 carbon ceramic brake possibility is probably going one thing you may dwell with out.
Not horrible on street
As a lot as everybody want to drive their GT3 on race tracks all day on a regular basis, common roads will virtually assuredly be on the agenda. And for these, it is not unhealthy. The suspension’s Regular setting offers some respectable damping properties, making the 280-mile round-trip trek from Detroit to GingerMan manageable sufficient on Michigan’s far-from-pristine pavement. Larger impacts will discover their manner into the cabin, however there’s adequate give within the suspension to melt blows from small potholes and ruts.
The Michelin tires, nevertheless, do make a good quantity of noise and will annoy some. For my journey, the racket is not sufficient to actually hassle me or detract from the snug cabin, what with its supportive sport seats and fancy Alcantara steering wheel and shift knob.
There’s some tire noise, however the GT3 remains to be snug sufficient to be pushed day by day.
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Additionally serving to drown out the tire noise is the eight-speaker audio unit that, whereas nothing to actually write house about, adequately does the job taking part in satellite tv for pc radio tunes. These in search of a extra spectacular sound setup can possibility their GT3 with a 12-speaker Bose system for $1,600. The responsive infotainment system additionally comes with navigation on its 7-inch show, with Google search, real-time site visitors data, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay capabilities. Disappointingly, Android Auto is not supported.
How I would spec it
My 911 GT3 would put on an ordinary white paint job and have the superb guide transmission, for a base worth of $146,350, which incorporates $1,050 vacation spot and $1,700 gasoline guzzler tax. From there I might hold issues easy, including the extended-range 23.7-gallon gasoline tank for $140 — the high-revving engine is thirsty, in any case, solely estimated to return 13 miles per gallon within the metropolis, 21 mpg freeway and 16 mpg mixed. Lastly, for the cool spring and fall mornings, the $700 heated seats will turn out to be useful. This pushes the worth of my excellent GT3 to $147,190.
Porsche perfection
The GT3 was already a beautiful automotive, and with extra energy and a manual transmission on supply, it is tough to poke any main holes within the bundle. It’s a purebred thrill experience around a track or your go-to part of twisty, secluded street, and it will by no means stop to make you grin from ear to ear. If I am nitpicking, tire noise and the shortage of premium consolation and leisure options all come at, effectively, a premium worth in typical Porsche trend.
The GT3 is ideal 911 for road and observe use.
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So far as a direct competitor based mostly on intent and worth for the GT3, the $157,000 Mercedes-AMG GT R appears mighty formidable. The AMG brings an even bigger hammer to the struggle with 577 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of twist from a four.Zero-liter twin-turbo V8, and has a extra substantial suite of onboard tech. However the Mercedes is barely obtainable with a dual-clutch gearbox. Having the ability to row your personal in a automotive this rewarding definitely provides Porsche the higher hand.