Test Drove a GT3

Quick background. Bought my PDK (first auto car I have owned) CGTS July 2015, just before they released the gt4 pricing. If I had known it would be so close to the GTS, I would have waited. My gts is my only car, driven all year round including the winters of Chicagoland. After 2 years in a pdk, I needed to get back to a manual car and it must be NA. However, I want to get the majority of my warranty used up on my gts before switching as I have had a bad habit of changing cars every 2 years or less and as a result throwing away cash. Based on the current Porsche line up, I am in a bit of a conundrum. I am really only left with the gt3 and gt4. The gt3 has been my dream car and something I planned to buy to reward myself for making partner at my firm, but still working towards that. That said, I always advice my friends to drive your dream cars long before you might be able to afford them to make sure you are not blind to realities. So, one of my clients had one in stock and I went for a drive. It definitely didn’t have stock exhaust tips, they had no idea what exhaust was on it or if anything had been done with the car. Wow, I couldn’t believe what the car was like. I won’t go into great detail as I am not British nor a journalist, both having a much wider range of metaphors in their arsenal than me. I will focus on the areas where it performed beyond what I expect. The engine is like a pent up animal needing to rev. At 2k rpms, it had the urgency of my car at 6k rpms. Maybe it was the much higher tq than my car, but if left like so much more. Any and all inputs results in forceful motion. Maybe with time I would adjust my pedal control to make up for it, but at times I struggled to keep things smooth. Second was the pdk. It was far from a smooth in the second and third shifts. I could not keep those from feeling abrupt and jerky. No idea why. The ride was definitely very firm. Well beyond my gts and I felt well beyond gt4s I have tested. Lastly, the engine noise, my god!! I know most reviews have at least 2-6 sentences describing just the noise in the last 1k rpms. But words can’t describe that, they can’t touch that. It’s like sex, only having sex can explain how it feels, and then you want it over and over despite how much trouble you can get in going there over and over. So, despite loving the engine, I didn’t love the feel of the car for a daily driver all year round. After getting back into my car, while still being very sporty, felt like a nice balance for a DD. Being I need to get back to a manual, do I say F it and get a used gt4 as my experiences with those have been amazing. Do I wait for the next gt4 and hope I like the DD balance it may have compared to the gt3? I doubt this as it’s likely to get a high strung engine like the gt3. Did I have a GT3 that was not representative of the norm.

Interesting experience for sure, your take is what I would have expected, from what I have read the GT3 is very much a 10/10ths kind of car, it wasn't meant for a trip to the grocery store or to get a cup of coffee let alone a quiet drive in the country to take in nature... it is a beast and behaves like one especially when unleashed! Your GTS is a more balanced car especially for all weather and as a daily driver will be tough to beat. You mentioned the need to get back to a manual and also talked about the GT4, but from a few GT4 drivers that I have talked to they mentioned that they wouldn't consider the GT4 a daily driver, of course it has great handling, more power and the like but for a daily driver they said maybe a bit too much. You said you have experienced them, would you consider it for a daily driver? If the answer is yes for a GT4 every day then do it, or maybe what you need is a GTS with a manual?

I think it's pretty obvious that GT3 is not a DD car for Chicagoland! The only scenario I can see it as DD is if you live somewhere in the nice country side with no snow and you daily commute is a nice stretch of empty winding roads... in the mountains... or by the ocean... like they always show in Porsche commercials Get a GT4 and be happy!

Having driven the gt4, it definitely feels a lot more civilthan the gt3. It really felt a lot likemy gts, just a bit firmer and obviously with more power. The power was nice, but felt like just a bittoo much for the traction the cayman has. I could definitely daily drive it. If never felt out of my control like the gt3 did. Again, half was the pdk (which wont be anissue) and half was the sensitivity of the engine. The kicker is having to pay sticker for a used car (I hatenot buying new) that’s 1-2 years old and it being so similar to what I have. But probably a fact of life as getting a newgt3 or gt4 is highly unlikely. Same withthe gts manual, so similar and the prices are so close to new still. Maybe I wait to see if the new GT4 drives theused prices down on the current gt4s. Then again, if the you an RS version only and its pricey, might nottouch them.

No matter how you want to spin it, the GT3 was designed for the track. Sure, it's street legal but that doesn't change its purpose. Of course if you can't get to the track, it would be nice to have access to the winding roads you describe, especially if they aren't well patrolled.

I have driven many GT3s, and of course a GT4. I also had a 981 GTS with PDK before the GT4. Recognizing that each person will perceive things a little differently, what you describe seems to be within my experience. The GTS was easily a DD, and although I have tried to use the GT4 as one, I tend to avoid driving it to and from work if possible, just because it's not that much fun. The GT3 would be worse, for me, and so I would probably end up buying a DD to add to the GT3. Although I have nearly 18,000 miles on my GT4 and plan on adding many multiples of that, the GT3 remains my dream car, like you. However I doubt now that I will ever get one, unless I can afford to have one as well as another Porsche to drive to work. (The 987 CS was the best for that. A true DD.)

Just an alternate view- I drive the 991 GT3 just about anywhere without hesitation. Just slow down when it's wet because of the tires, use the lift for speed bumps and steep driveways. I think PASM normal is pretty compliant and comfortable. PDK-S is a little clunky but I got used to it and drive in manual mode almost exclusively on the street.

Thanks all for the input, all very insightful.

I don't think anyone would assert that the GT3 couldn't be driven on the street in relative comfort. It's just that IMO there are better choices in the Porsche lineup for use as a DD. I for example owned a 997S which I optioned for the track, but it was still an excellent street car even with its sports suspension. Since I however only have a couple hours of time behind the wheel of a GT3, I certainly will defer to your experience as a GT3 owner.

DD a GT3 or GT4, that is heresy! Seriously, putting 10K a year on those cars will destroy the resale value as they currently are collector's cars that get weekend use by most. Unless you live someplace without police/traffic, I'm not sure you'd want to DD those cars anyway. Anyway, do whatever you like and can afford...I would say keep the CGTS for the week and add one of these others as a special collectible for showing off once in a while.

^Again, just an alternate view- I put about 10k mi on the GT3 the first year. Less since then. As they say you can't take it with you. IMO the GT3 is not collectible, far too many made. Also opinion, as the 991.2 GT3 deliveries ramp up and especially with the MT option there will be pressure on the 991.1 prices. They'll maintain a premium over other models but I expect will depreciate. The valve train wear problem may also be a factor.