Track review —992 GT3 and Turbo S

[lemming]

As equipped —PCCBs, Goodyear tires, LWBs and obviously PDK.

Location: PECLA

This was my second time at PECLA in the 992 GT3. This time around also had time driving 992 Turbo S which was a great comparator.

First, the Turbo S is flat out amazing….in a straight line. It is by far the most violently accelerating Porsche. Even faster than my 991.2 TTS. Acceleration is brutal. I will say this though…..it handles its curb weight okay. You never feel under-braked. Turn-in is okay —Rear Wheel Steering? PDCC? PDK is amazing. Even better than 991.2 generation. Pretty fun car. You can eventually get the car to dance.

But I will say this —the Turbo S is better suited for Grand Touring. I think it after heat soak sets in and the ECU dials back the boost, I think it’s less bombastic and while fast, it maybe feels less like 640hp and maybe back to the 550hp or so found in the 991.2 TTS. I also think outright acceleration is fun, but it’s also frustrating because I think the chassis lets the power train down. Maybe this is the whole point of the GT2RS?

The Turbo S is still pushy diving into an apex. And it does start to feel heavy after a few laps.

This is more apparent when you step next into the 992 GT3. The GT3 is really a momentum car. It is less explosive for sure. I was then following an instructor in a Turbo S and he would pull away at the end of a corner. I would slowly catch up. And catch up a lot in braking and on turn-in.

The new GT3 has damping which is notably superior to the springs and dampers on the 991.2. The car doesn’t wallow on its springs before setting the chassis. Turn-in requires less help from braking. And the mechanical grip is prodigious. The one thing I noticed compared to the Turbo S was less mass. Braking was less scary for sure, lap after lap. And we were getting to the limits of adhesion on braking.

I miss the rawness of the 991.2. That car had a lot more mechanical sound coming into the cabin from the engine bay. A lot more vibration from the engine came through the chassis. The shriek from 6000 to 9000 is also more fierce. Every trip to redline felt like an event.

Maybe it’s because the 992 GT3 is accelerating so fast and I’m just running out of talent so fast I’m more focused on the car. But it feels more insulated and isolated. Which is so odd. Because it is very noticeable that the engine is more responsive. And the car is so much better when the track is bumpy. And stability under braking is superior.

It is just a lot less stressful to drive the 992 GT3 on the track. I can’t remember having so much fun and feeling so unstressed. I just haven’t been able to say that before. Other cars have been exhausting. Either too much understeer or just too loose.

If any of you can make it to a Porsche Experience Center, I would strongly urge you to get seat time in the GT3. It makes the Turbo S feel clumsy.

[JST]

Originally Posted by lemming

As equipped —PCCBs, Goodyear tires, LWBs and obviously PDK.

Location: PECLA

This was my second time at PECLA in the 992 GT3. This time around also had time driving 992 Turbo S which was a great comparator.

First, the Turbo S is flat out amazing….in a straight line. It is by far the most violently accelerating Porsche. Even faster than my 991.2 TTS. Acceleration is brutal. I will say this though…..it handles its curb weight okay. You never feel under-braked. Turn-in is okay —Rear Wheel Steering? PDCC? PDK is amazing. Even better than 991.2 generation. Pretty fun car. You can eventually get the car to dance.

But I will say this —the Turbo S is better suited for Grand Touring. I think it after heat soak sets in and the ECU dials back the boost, I think it’s less bombastic and while fast, it maybe feels less like 640hp and maybe back to the 550hp or so found in the 991.2 TTS. I also think outright acceleration is fun, but it’s also frustrating because I think the chassis lets the power train down. Maybe this is the whole point of the GT2RS?

The Turbo S is still pushy diving into an apex. And it does start to feel heavy after a few laps.

This is more apparent when you step next into the 992 GT3. The GT3 is really a momentum car. It is less explosive for sure. I was then following an instructor in a Turbo S and he would pull away at the end of a corner. I would slowly catch up. And catch up a lot in braking and on turn-in.

The new GT3 has damping which is notably superior to the springs and dampers on the 991.2. The car doesn’t wallow on its springs before setting the chassis. Turn-in requires less help from braking. And the mechanical grip is prodigious. The one thing I noticed compared to the Turbo S was less mass. Braking was less scary for sure, lap after lap. And we were getting to the limits of adhesion on braking.

I miss the rawness of the 991.2. That car had a lot more mechanical sound coming into the cabin from the engine bay. A lot more vibration from the engine came through the chassis. The shriek from 6000 to 9000 is also more fierce. Every trip to redline felt like an event.

Maybe it’s because the 992 GT3 is accelerating so fast and I’m just running out of talent so fast I’m more focused on the car. But it feels more insulated and isolated. Which is so odd. Because it is very noticeable that the engine is more responsive. And the car is so much better when the track is bumpy. And stability under braking is superior.

It is just a lot less stressful to drive the 992 GT3 on the track. I can’t remember having so much fun and feeling so unstressed. I just haven’t been able to say that before. Other cars have been exhausting. Either too much understeer or just too loose.

If any of you can make it to a Porsche Experience Center, I would strongly urge you to get seat time in the GT3. It makes the Turbo S feel clumsy.

That's outstanding--sounds like an enormous amount of fun. I definitely want to arrange a track drive at the PEC in a GT3, though I'm worried it will spoil me/make me try and figure out how to buy one.

[lemming]

I wouldn’t worry so much. How often do most of us hit the track anyway?

So in a different sense, the GT3 is an epic fail for 99% of owners.

I think there are days when I wished for the Turbo S again. Or will probably prefer to take the all rounder cars to work.

My write up was to hopefully inspire some of us to just see what a somewhat attainable track focused sports car can do.

[SCA]

Originally Posted by JST

I definitely want to arrange a track drive at the PEC in a GT3, though I'm worried it will spoil me/make me try and figure out how to buy one.

100%

[Jeff_DML]

Thanks for the writeup.

I have considered PECLA driving events, guess I should take another look. Which one did you do or was it something special for delivery owners?

[lemming]

Originally Posted by Jeff_DML

Thanks for the writeup.

I have considered PECLA driving events, guess I should take another look. Which one did you do or was it something special for delivery owners?

Believe this is normal delivery driving which tends to be subjective.

But the GT3 course is on par (cost) with Carrera S or GTS courses for the 90 min in the car on the track.

I went to that one and got a lot of good seat time. It was great exposure to the platform. My visit yesterday really hammered home the chassis wiggle closer to the limits of adhesion (i.e. tires still chirping but car not sliding).

I am thinking deeply with replay in my head. And there isn’t a case where I struggled to get the car to turn —which is notable. These cars have staggered tires and are set up to be so benign, it is a revelation.

[Josh (PA)]

Any thoughts on how much of the suspension feel difference was delivered from an improved PASM vs how much was springs/independent front end? I ask because I read so many positive reviews for the DSC sport module and the way it better independently controls the dampers on 991 cars. Wondering if you'd get the best of both worlds by sticking the module in your 991GT3. I've read that it greatly improves that initial wallow 991s have before settling on their suspension.
https://soulpp.com/product/porsche-9...xoCHdwQAvD_BwE

[lemming]

Originally Posted by Josh (PA)

Any thoughts on how much of the suspension feel difference was delivered from an improved PASM vs how much was springs/independent front end? I ask because I read so many positive reviews for the DSC sport module and the way it better independently controls the dampers on 991 cars. Wondering if you'd get the best of both worlds by sticking the module in your 991GT3. I've read that it greatly improves that initial wallow 991s have before settling on their suspension.
https://soulpp.com/product/porsche-9...xoCHdwQAvD_BwE

For how I think about it (JohnV and Nick M3 can correct my naive conclusions), the springs must be firmer (and I think this is true) and then the active damping takes care of the undulations and bumps on the open track?

I don’t think damping was as much the issue for me as the springs are.

For the turn-in —when you’re following a Turbo S at speed and you’re really hustling, it’s liberating to see how many different lines you can choose from that maintain the same speed, but turn in less and use less brakes to get the front end to bite.