The Porsche 991.2 911 GT3, and the smugness of perfection

I hate to break it to you, but nothing is perfect. Your partner. Your job. And yes, your car. Even if you have a Porsche 991.2 911 GT3 parked in your garage, I bet that once the butterfly stage is over, you’re going to find some things that make you say “I wish”. Right?

There has to be something wrong with this car. I’m so sick of its smug, superior look, like Clarkson winning every challenge. Yea, I’ll show you. Don’t get one. You’ll hate it.

The 2018 Porsche 991.2 911 GT3 Overview

There’s no way that you, a person of sound automotive mind and judgement, do not know about this car. It’s everywhere. Social media. YouTube. Auction sites. Car meets. Obtaining one unlocks a special level of “car enthusiast” that feels like you’ve used a Konami cheat code. Everyone wants to be your friend.

Wasn’t always like this. I remember the original 996 GT3. Slower than a 911 Turbo, it was a sort of “nice to have” version of the 911 that quickly gained rep points once regular 911s started to turn civilian. This generation-old 991.2 maintains the formula, and by the time it debuted, it was the only 911 without a turbocharger.

It’s also one of just a few 991s available with a manual. Add in a 9,000 RPM-redline, 500 horsepower flat-six engine, a sub-3,300-pound curb weight, and some Michelin Sport Cup 2 tires, and my friend, you will know you have made it in life.

There is an even more hard core version of this car which I reviewed last year, the GT3 RS. It is an amazing machine that leans very much toward track time reduction. This regular GT3 is more grand touring, yet absolutely nothing like the 911 Turbo S from a few weeks back. That felt like a small M5. This is a heat-seeking missile.

The base price in 2018: $146,000. Not bad for car nirvana. But Porsche has gotten wise – new 992s now start at $225,000. Hasn’t deterred sales, but it definitively turned the car from “girl next door” to “Voom Voom’s escort service”. It’ll give you a good time, but you’re gonna pay for it.

Let’s see if this slightly older one still has some innocence left to discover.

Performance Score: 9. Speak up

Loud. Raw. Visceral. Take a spin in this car, and by the time you’re done, you’ll be happy to put it away for a few days. Takes a lot out of you.

But it’s also a lot of fun (duh), and is probably the last real, hairy-chested, tobacco-chewin’ honest-to-God sports car left, a claim even a Corvette can’t quite make.

Engine

If you are by now asking why this car isn’t a ten, it’s mostly because of this bit right here.

Oh sure, I can give you the huzzahs. A 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds. A redline that no one else can touch. The sounds of Zeus ripping farts from the Heavens. It’s amazing. No penalty for lack of turbos either – there is torque here right off the line, even if there’s “only” 339 lb-ft of it.

But we’re in the top point one percent of automotive experiences. So yes, the car is fast and extremely thrilling to rev out, but I’ve never been a fan of Porsche’s flat-six engines. BMWs are smoother. The Corvette Z06’s V-8 is just a bit more exciting. An AMG-engined Aston and a Jaguar F-TYPE have more theater. The engine in the GT3 draws so much attention to itself that it dominates the experience, and it’s not always in a good way.

That includes the sound. This car is at 100 decibels stock, and the Akrapovič exhaust fitted brings it to an ear-splitting level. It all just feels a bit buzzy. At least the sounds are real – no fake pops and burbles here.

Transmission

You can have a 911 GT3 with a PDK unit, but this is one of those times where I would question your judgement for doing so.

See, if you’re in a GT3 RS, I get it – you want fast, crisp, precise. It’s a track machine. But Porsche’s manual unit remains the best on the market – no one else even comes close. And opting for said manual doesn’t mean you can’t track this car if you so desire. Just means you’ll be slower, if you even have the talent to exploit it all.

This car is geared shorter than the unit in a 911 T, and it helps make the GT3 feel just as powerful off the line (it has just eight lb-ft more, so gearing matters here).

Want to test your metal? Rev the GT3 out but don’t take your foot off the throttle when you shift – Porsche installed a system that works everything out. So it’s foot to the floor, clutch in, shift, clutch out. This makes acceleration incredibly smooth, and if you think it’s cheating, I don’t know what to tell you.

One last thing: heavy clutches. Sometimes people think “heavy” equals “sporty”, but I think that’s silly. The GT3 has such crisp and buttery-smooth take up that you’ll never get tired. This is how every manual should be.

Steering and Chassis

The 991.2 911 GT3 is more than just an engine, which is what makes it so very special.

If the RS is a bit twitchy and direct, the GT3 turns it down ever so slightly. The result is a true sports car that might not be as granite-solid as the RS, but one which is better suited for the road.

The steering is good enough to make grown men weep. Not saying I did or anything, but it could happen. I’d like to think that this is where the money is considered well-spent – Porsche’s engineers really refine it until it’s just right. Not too heavy or light in any situation, with incredible feedback. Yet you know it’s not hydraulic – much to direct and responsive for that. Even the shape and thickness of the wheel is perfect.

Push this car, and there is no mistaking it for any other 911, especially the Turbo. That car was stable, offering grip even in chilly weather with all-wheel drive. The GT3 – ready to let loose. Stab at the throttle and feel the back end give a kick. It’s not dangerous at all, more like an invitation to play.

Even the ride – you could drive this car every day from a suspension standpoint, it never beats you up.

Brakes

Though these are not carbon ceramics, it makes no difference in feel or stopping power on the street. Instead, we have a curious 15-inch all-around disc setup, and it’s because the weight of the GT3 still rests heavily in the butt.

The pedal is solid and never makes you pucker up. Again, just really well-refined, and it makes you get out saying “Why can’t everyone just do this?”

Maybe that applies to the entire car. But I suppose if they could, they would.

Lifestyle Score: 6. Cayman in disguise

What is the difference between a 911 and a 718?

*Rear-engined!*

Yes, very good. Anyone else?

*The 911 has a back seat!*

Ding ding! Except the GT3 doesn’t. Like the RS, there’s nothing back there except some carpet and in this case, a cool embroidered logo. Sorry kids, stay home. And yea, people do use them, because a 911 T had child seats in the example I tried. Minus one point.

There’s a frunk that can hold enough for an overnight bag, but I’d skip the weekly food shop with this car.

The carbon bucket seats are the same from other 911 examples. If you fit in them, then go for it – they are the most supportive chairs in the world. But they are a challenge to get into without rubbing, and a nightmare if you’re wide of hip. Looks cool though, eh?

Fuel Economy: 4. Back to the future

The Porsche 991.2 911 GT3 gets about 16 MPG combined, and can go as low as 13 MPG if you drive it the way you’re supposed to. Those are the facts, do with them what you will.

What I want to talk about here is philosophical – what is Porsche going to do? Selling Taycans and electric Macans are great and all, but how will they ever replace this car? Porsche says that eventually they will have an entire electric lineup, but leave the 911 as internal-combustion powered. How’s that supposed to work? Their flagship not sharing the same powertrain technology would be a slap in the face to the consumer. They aren’t selling Jettas here.

It’s a rhetorical question, and one that might not be answered for quite some time since electric cars are not moving off the lots. But when you’re selling tickets to ride in the front seat of an F-15, why would anyone want to pay the same price for the IMAX movie version?

Features and Comfort: 8. No frills fun

The 991 is perhaps the perfect space between “classic” and “new” – anything after will always lean more toward “I’m pretending to be classic Porsche, see the shape of my dials?”.

But whether a regular Carrera, a Turbo, or this GT3…yea, it’s still a 911.

Space. The final frontier.

The inside of the 991 is perhaps the only clue that this car is now a bit dated, and I mean that in a good way. New Porsches have the dashboard out of the Starship Enterprise. The D model – it had the touchscreens. This one still has analog dials.

The center stack, actually pretty much everything, looks like what’s inside a new Cayman GTS, blurring the line between models even more. I do love those classic Porsche dials in that font with orange needles, and I love the superfluous key twist to start. The latest model misses some charm without them.

This example had aluminum trim, and I liked how it offset the blackness of everything else. The climate controls and infotainment are sort of small, but this is a no frills car, and everything looks like you’re inside a wristwatch. You pretty much are.

Hey look, it’s a 911!

A 911 is what it is – a long Volkswagen Beetle. Stop it, you know it’s true.

Porsche remains stuck with an imperfect shape. For the GT3, they add a specific wing, along with the big hips from the Turbo. No intakes though – those are actually incorporated into the wing. The front end is also unique, with additional cooling.

The center-lock wheels are stunning, offset by red calipers and some dark trim that once again is unpainted. Ridiculous on a car costing this much. The color here is Pure White, and it’s hard to go wrong with a classic color. Does help to keep the car a bit subdued.

At some point Porsche will stop making the 911, whether it be tomorrow or a thousand years in the future. Rest assured that there is nothing they can do between now and then to make this car not look like a 911. If you want one now, you’ll want one always.

Others sport cars to consider

• Porsche 991.2 911 Turbo S
• Porsche 991.2 911 GT3 RS
• Porsche 718 GT4
• Porsche 911 T (manual)
• Corvette Z06
• Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition

The 2018 Porsche 991.2 911 GT3 is perfect, just not perfect for me

I can’t in good conscience tell you not to buy this car should the opportunity arise in your life. You’ll love it.

But there’s a difference between “love” and “in love”, and I’m just not in love with this GT3. I’m not sure I’ll ever truly enjoy a raspy flat-six. All 911s look the same, no matter how many wings and Darth Vader intakes they add. It makes a racket. I wish I could explain the specific reason why, but I don’t really aspire to own one.

It’s one of the best cars on the planet, and I look forward to trying a 992 one day (I hear it’s even better). The chassis, the steering – everything is flawless. If you had one, you’re life would be better.

Perhaps the best way to put it is though music. I can appreciate many different kinds, but only a few songs make a true connection. The kind you put on repeat and listen to over and over. Maybe you get just a few of those songs in your life.

Maybe you only get a few of those cars too.