Experiencing the 9,000-rpm Engine

I floored it on a straight. The PDK’s shift speed was still the best in the world. It snapped through the gears with a series of “wham, wham” shifts, hurling the GT3 forward. Any thoughts I’d had about the low-end torque or gearing disappeared completely.

Then came the almost crazy rush toward the redline, the ferocious exhaust note, and the tremendous power.

This is what a GT3 engine is all about.

As for the sound, there’s no question that it’s loud, but I think it’s a little quieter than the previous GT3.

The tone itself, though, is excellent. What really helps is that the engine sounds natural from startup through the lower revs, without any artificial changes in volume. The previous GT3 used an exhaust valve to meet noise regulations, so you couldn’t hear its full voice below 4,000 rpm.

The new GT3, however, reportedly has variable exhaust-valve control that opens and closes seamlessly. As a result, there’s no jarring moment when the car suddenly gets quieter once you set off. The volume builds naturally with speed and engine revs, making the car more enjoyable to drive. Even though it’s a little quieter, the overall experience is even more rewarding.

I prefer the new GT3’s exhaust tone and volume to the previous model’s.

Porsche 911 GT3 Ride Comfort

I had a friend riding shotgun during the test drive. Afterward, they told me, “You were really pushing it, weren’t you?” But I hadn’t felt as though I was driving fast at all. If anything, I thought I’d been driving carefully. My passenger clearly saw it differently.

Later, we swapped seats, and my friend took the wheel while I rode shotgun. They’re not someone who usually drives fast; they’re a careful, reassuring driver. But in the GT3, things felt different.

Like me, they apparently thought they were driving normally. Meanwhile, in the passenger seat, the phone I was using to film in one hand flew away under lateral G, and I was being tossed around constantly.

One of the new GT3’s most striking traits is how different the ride feels from the driver’s seat compared with the passenger seat. I’ve never experienced a car where the difference was this dramatic.

On a winding road, the ride from the driver’s seat is never unpleasant. In fact, it’s a wonderfully satisfying place to be—but that’s only true for the driver. In the passenger seat, you’re hit with relentless lateral G-forces.

Even when you’re not driving particularly fast, the GT3 carries so much speed through corners without needing to brake that your pace tends to creep up.

Add the savage acceleration and the astonishing stopping power of PCCB, and passengers without a steering wheel to hold onto get tossed around whether they like it or not.

This is absolutely not a car to use as a date car. I understand the urge to tell someone, “I bought a GT3! Isn’t it amazing?” But that’s just male ego talking. Very few passengers—especially those who aren’t car enthusiasts—will understand what makes this car special from the passenger seat.

Even I wouldn’t want to ride in the passenger seat, so a woman who gets stuck there is almost certain to hate it. I can just imagine her looking at the rear wing and saying, “It’s embarrassing—don’t bring this car next time!”

You might be thinking, “I’ll just drive gently.” But it’s not that simple. The GT3 is always urging you on, as if saying, “Keep driving!” and “Get on the throttle!”

And because it feels so good while moving so fast, you can find yourself entering corners at a brisk pace before you even realize it.

The GT3 is a toy for people who love cars. It’s a machine to enjoy on winding roads or at the track, where you can quietly grin to yourself as you drive.

I also asked the owner what the ride was like around town. The answer was just one word: “Firm!” This owner has had numerous old and new Porsches, from the 964 to the 992 and 718, but said they wouldn’t want to take this GT3 on a long trip.

I didn’t get to try it around town myself, so I can’t give a definitive verdict. That said, the sharp impacts and minor bumps didn’t seem too bothersome. The body is exceptionally rigid, and the suspension works beautifully, so there’s virtually none of the crude jolting you’d associate with a poorly built car. Still, the body does move around quite a bit.

That movement is a little more noticeable than in the previous model, so it’s understandable that people describe the ride as “firm” or “spartan.”

Porsche 911 GT3 Verdict

Compared with the 992 Carrera models, the GT3 is, to borrow an analogy from the anime *Mobile Suit Gundam*, a “Char’s Custom 911.” It’s not literally three times as fast or capable, of course, but the difference feels so great that it’s hard not to describe it that way.

Everything from the engine onward is different, but the biggest distinction, to me, is the handling and drivability delivered by its extraordinary chassis. That’s where the new GT3 has made a huge leap over its predecessor.

What about the engine? Honestly, it feels almost identical to the previous model to me. At least, I couldn’t detect a clear difference in power delivery or how it revs. That might make it sound like the engine is underwhelming, but a better way to put it is that the previous GT3’s engine was so good, Porsche carried it over virtually unchanged.

After driving the new GT3, I naturally came away wanting one.

But I wouldn’t buy one. Its performance is simply too extraordinary to enjoy fully on public roads. I tell the many people who ask me for advice about buying a GT3, but it seems hard for them to understand. It’s probably something you can only grasp after buying one and experiencing it for yourself.

People tell me, “I’ll enjoy it at a leisurely pace,” or “I’ll just put my foot down when the road is clear.” But it’s not that simple. The GT3 is far too compelling to satisfy you with that kind of half-measure. It’s packed with so much character that once you own one, you’ll find yourself wanting to experience everything it has to offer.

You take the GT3 out to enjoy those qualities, only to realize there’s not much you can do on public roads. Before long, all you’re left with is frustration.

On the other hand, some people simply want one because it looks fantastic, regardless of its performance. Others want it for the status or the satisfaction of owning such a special car. If that’s you, I say go for it. Resale values should remain strong for the foreseeable future, and if you get the chance to buy one, I doubt you’ll regret it.

Either way, if you buy a GT3, please take it to a circuit at least once. A beginner track day is absolutely fine. Forget lap times and finishing positions—let the car stretch its legs and unleash its full power. That’s when you’ll discover what makes this car truly special, and you may even feel that a price of more than ¥23 million is a bargain. That’s how much character the GT3 packs into one car.