GT3 owners - i hate you!!!
Discussion
Attented a supercar experience today, started of in a Nissan GTR oh my god license would be history in a week in that thing. So stupidly fast and easy to drive everything feels like slow motion afterwards. Next up was a F430. Not sure of it was a bad example but it just didn't feel natural at all. Quick sure and lovely noise but terrible driving position and F1 gearbox felt antiquated after the Nissan.
Then onto the 997 GT3. First impressions were bloody hell this clutch is heavy then the gearbox is positive to say the least but once you get motoring it felt so natural, so planted. The steering was sublime after the other two and the engine felt like it had the strength of the GTR and the character of the Ferrari.
Not sure if I could live with one every day but what a toy to have for track days. Every time I see one from now on I'll be even more jealous now!!
Then onto the 997 GT3. First impressions were bloody hell this clutch is heavy then the gearbox is positive to say the least but once you get motoring it felt so natural, so planted. The steering was sublime after the other two and the engine felt like it had the strength of the GTR and the character of the Ferrari.
Not sure if I could live with one every day but what a toy to have for track days. Every time I see one from now on I'll be even more jealous now!!
I take it this was with Experience Limits?
I also had the chance to do the day, here were my thoughts on the cars
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Well I had quite an exciting morning today, got the chance to drive the above 3 cars, followed by the Evora on a reasonably small track.. Not ideal to get a proper feel for the cars, but there was no restraints, and I certainly think I got more from this than I would have from a usual test drive..
My thoughts -
I drove the Evora along the 30 miles to get there, which is probably one of my favourite roads... Much fun! So I was quite used to the Evora for a spirited drive when I got there..
First up was the 997 GT3 - I expected to like this, and I did, it felt very solid, almost like a grown up lotus. Felt very quick, torquey which I didn't expect. (I always thought I'd want the Turbo due to the extra grunt, but the GT3 had more than enough). It didn't feel quite as 'fluid' as the Evora, but I'd put that down to me knowing the Evora better. The noise is something else aswell. Superb! Big negative for me though was the steering wheel. It's far too big. WTF were Porsche thinking.
Then into the GT-R - initial thoughts were just how bug it is! And it feels heavy. The brakes were fantastic (these had been upgraded) I've been a passenger in one before, but this one felt quicker. Properly laugh out loud fast! I apparently only used just over 50% throttle according to the computer. Unbelievable. Rear seats are almost as bad as the Evora. Pointless.
F430 - I tried to compare this to a Gallardo, rather than the Evora. I felt the 430 sounded better, lighter and better feedback through the wheel. Didn't feel quite as hammer blow quick like the G though, and felt quite wheezy after the GT-R. The gearbox was the F1 and it felt dated compared to the GT-R. Overall, a bit disappointed. Certainly no desire to own one.
Then back to the Evora for a few laps - instantly felt at home (understandably) and it felt particularly slow after the GT-R. I did however feel that it was quite well suited to the smaller track.. The steering was the best of the lot for me. I must get fond to trying the S.
Final thoughts - I used the day as a quick excuse to try the three, and see how I got on with the auto boxes, biggest surprise for me was I think I prefer Manuals. More interaction, more involvement. Something I did not think I'd come away feeling. Out of the three it'd be a close call between the GT3 and GT-R but I'm not sure I liked either of them enough to trade up. Still need to try and R8.
I also had the chance to do the day, here were my thoughts on the cars
-
Well I had quite an exciting morning today, got the chance to drive the above 3 cars, followed by the Evora on a reasonably small track.. Not ideal to get a proper feel for the cars, but there was no restraints, and I certainly think I got more from this than I would have from a usual test drive..
My thoughts -
I drove the Evora along the 30 miles to get there, which is probably one of my favourite roads... Much fun! So I was quite used to the Evora for a spirited drive when I got there..
First up was the 997 GT3 - I expected to like this, and I did, it felt very solid, almost like a grown up lotus. Felt very quick, torquey which I didn't expect. (I always thought I'd want the Turbo due to the extra grunt, but the GT3 had more than enough). It didn't feel quite as 'fluid' as the Evora, but I'd put that down to me knowing the Evora better. The noise is something else aswell. Superb! Big negative for me though was the steering wheel. It's far too big. WTF were Porsche thinking.
Then into the GT-R - initial thoughts were just how bug it is! And it feels heavy. The brakes were fantastic (these had been upgraded) I've been a passenger in one before, but this one felt quicker. Properly laugh out loud fast! I apparently only used just over 50% throttle according to the computer. Unbelievable. Rear seats are almost as bad as the Evora. Pointless.
F430 - I tried to compare this to a Gallardo, rather than the Evora. I felt the 430 sounded better, lighter and better feedback through the wheel. Didn't feel quite as hammer blow quick like the G though, and felt quite wheezy after the GT-R. The gearbox was the F1 and it felt dated compared to the GT-R. Overall, a bit disappointed. Certainly no desire to own one.
Then back to the Evora for a few laps - instantly felt at home (understandably) and it felt particularly slow after the GT-R. I did however feel that it was quite well suited to the smaller track.. The steering was the best of the lot for me. I must get fond to trying the S.
Final thoughts - I used the day as a quick excuse to try the three, and see how I got on with the auto boxes, biggest surprise for me was I think I prefer Manuals. More interaction, more involvement. Something I did not think I'd come away feeling. Out of the three it'd be a close call between the GT3 and GT-R but I'm not sure I liked either of them enough to trade up. Still need to try and R8.
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