what's a 991 GT3 like driven spirited down country lanes?

what's a 991 GT3 like driven spirited down country lanes?

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Discussion

n12maser

Original Poster:

580 posts

91 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
Just curious. Not talking about the wide open roads of Wales, Scotland etc, more your typical hedged country lane B roads with generally poor visibility, not much more than 2 car-widths narrow, e.g. home countries.

The gearing is the 991 gt3 looks nice and short, in 2nd gear at 60mph you're at 7000 rpm, maxing at 77mph at 900 0rpm.

What's it like? Is the car too fast and refined to feel like it's been unleashed at those speeds? Is it too wide that you're overly cautious so have to constantly hold back?

fyi I have a 993 manual. the only move I could see me going to in the future is a 991 gt3...this kinda driving is my fav except for track, hence the question. any aircooled vs 991 gt3 comparisons extra-appreciated!

Porsche911R

21,146 posts

264 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
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As the limit is 60mph then one could say it's too fast/wide etc etc

depends what you want the car for, this is why the GT4 won over the 991 RS, it was just more usable more of the time in the UK.

I cannot keep WOT in a 330 BHP Cayman R for more than 2 or 3 seconds and that was the biggest reason I sold my last GT3, it was really not that usable.

Wozy68

5,387 posts

169 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
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Looking at it from a practical point of view, surely a 991 is just too big? I love the look of the 991, but each time i see one I just think it's to wide for the narrow country lanes and B roads I love driving along.

Cheib

23,110 posts

174 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
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I'd say it'll be brilliant...on narrow country roads you'll probably be in 2nd gear at between 4,000 and 7,000 rpm which should be superb. Admittedly at 9,000 rpm you'll be breaking the speed limit and depending on the road probably going a lot too fast.

Width is not an issue....the 991 is the same width as my wide bodied 997 (1850mm) which is fantastic to drive on country lanes. And indeed lives on those kind of roads in the South East of England as per the OP's scenerio.

How much gear changing you'll be doing is questionable though....why would you ever want to change up when you have 9,000 rpm to play with.

Slippydiff

14,742 posts

222 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
n12maser said:
Just curious. Not talking about the wide open roads of Wales, Scotland etc, more your typical hedged country lane B roads with generally poor visibility, not much more than 2 car-widths narrow, e.g. home countries.

The gearing is the 991 gt3 looks nice and short, in 2nd gear at 60mph you're at 7000 rpm, maxing at 77mph at 900 0rpm.

What's it like? Is the car too fast and refined to feel like it's been unleashed at those speeds? Is it too wide that you're overly cautious so have to constantly hold back?

fyi I have a 993 manual. the only move I could see me going to in the future is a 991 gt3...this kinda driving is my fav except for track, hence the question. any aircooled vs 991 gt3 comparisons extra-appreciated!
991 GT3 width 1852mm (72.9 inches in old money)

996 GT2 " 1830mm (72 inches in old money)

997 GT3 " 1808mm (71.2 inches in old money)

981 GT4 " 1817 mm (71.5 inches in old money)

996 GT3 " 1770mm (69.7 inches in old money)

993 C2/4 " 1735mm (68.3 inches in old money)

OP, there's only one way to find out, get a test drive along the type of roads you intend driving the 991 along ! ! I suspect the 991 will feel massive, less so its width, but more so its length and cabin size/greenhouse. It'll no doubt feel hugely refined in comparison to your 993 too.

All in all it's hell of jump, be interested to hear your views on the 991 GT3 after a test drive. Though I suspect it'll go one of two ways, love it, completely smitten with everything, or hate it, too big, too fast, too refined, lack character/charm, lacks tactility, engagement etc.

n12maser

Original Poster:

580 posts

91 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
thanks slippy & co.

so 5 inch difference......my mrs already reassured me once that inches don't matter, we'll see wink

Slippydiff

14,742 posts

222 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
n12maser said:
thanks slippy & co.

so 5 inch difference......my mrs already reassured me once that inches don't matter, we'll see wink
FWIW, my 2 996 GT2's and Gen 1 997 GT3's never felt overly wide "down the lanes", and going from the Mk1 996 GT3 to the slightly wider 996 GT2 felt wider psychologically than it did physically ! !

Fish

3,975 posts

281 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
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Drove my GT4 down some B roads (ok with a white line in places) and was fine. The 991.2 GT3 is the same overall width as the GT4, don't see it as a problem...

nick28

239 posts

166 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
Fish said:
Drove my GT4 down some B roads (ok with a white line in places) and was fine. The 991.2 GT3 is the same overall width as the GT4, don't see it as a problem...
I'd agree. Had both, main difference is the cabin space and the GT3 has more compliant suspension on bumpy roads

anthonysjb

524 posts

135 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
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.. hot hatch ...

n12maser

Original Poster:

580 posts

91 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
Speed limit not an issue, the 60mph ref was more because that's roughly what I end up doing in the 993 for the majority of these types of roads. Thanks for your thoughts

boxsey

3,574 posts

209 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
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Just watch out for the Range Rovers and Evoques coming the other way who won't move over much in case they get too close to the hedge. Or worst still get them muddy!

n12maser

Original Poster:

580 posts

91 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
Ha, I was actually behind a range rover svr the other night & gotta say I really struggled to keep up! Whoever was in it probably sipping a coffee and 1 foot pinned, i'm back there sweating away furiously with all limbs engaged

av185

18,433 posts

126 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
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Perfectly at home on your favourite B road blast. Providing its a 'proper' Northern B road that is biggrin:.

Not too wide either unlike a 458....991 GT3 same width as a GT4 at 1978mm mirror to mirror. These kind of proper driving Northern B roads are both fun and involving in either a GT3 or GT4:

n12maser

Original Poster:

580 posts

91 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
They look so good in white

franki68

10,330 posts

220 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
boxsey said:
Just watch out for the Range Rovers and Evoques coming the other way who won't move over much in case they get too close to the hedge. Or worst still get them muddy!
Had virtually this today , going down a small B road coming to a bend and a huge lorry comes hurtling around the corner , part of it on my side of the road ,literally thought I'm so glad I am not in Ferrari or similar ..

IREvans

1,126 posts

121 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
n12maser said:
Just curious. Not talking about the wide open roads of Wales, Scotland etc, more your typical hedged country lane B roads with generally poor visibility, not much more than 2 car-widths narrow, e.g. home countries.

The gearing is the 991 gt3 looks nice and short, in 2nd gear at 60mph you're at 7000 rpm, maxing at 77mph at 900 0rpm.

What's it like? Is the car too fast and refined to feel like it's been unleashed at those speeds? Is it too wide that you're overly cautious so have to constantly hold back?

fyi I have a 993 manual. the only move I could see me going to in the future is a 991 gt3...this kinda driving is my fav except for track, hence the question. any aircooled vs 991 gt3 comparisons extra-appreciated!
I live amongst the type of country roads you speak of, sometimes narrow, poor visibility at times, often muddy.....and have had a 991 GT3, then a 991 RS, and find the car superb. Some people (who haven't lived with a 991) say its too big, but then a 993 is only a few inches narrower, so cant see how that will make any difference to the way its feels on a narrow road.

In terms of actual width, my Golf Clubsport S is only 50mm narrower than a 991 GT3, (1799mm v 1852mm) and I'm yet to meet anyone who doesn't want to buy a Golf because its too wide...!

The 991 GT3 is one of the most exciting cars to live with - even going slowly feels special, and it's engine feels more exciting at the redline than the RS. Go and get one, you wont regret it. (I know we're all excited about the 991.2 GT3, but I think it'll be like comparing an iphone 6 to an iphone 7...!)



n12maser

Original Poster:

580 posts

91 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
Great to hear clap

Slippydiff

14,742 posts

222 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
IREvans said:
I live amongst the type of country roads you speak of, sometimes narrow, poor visibility at times, often muddy.....and have had a 991 GT3, then a 991 RS, and find the car superb. Some people (who haven't lived with a 991) say its too big, but then a 993 is only a few inches narrower, so cant see how that will make any difference to the way its feels on a narrow road.

In terms of actual width, my Golf Clubsport S is only 50mm narrower than a 991 GT3, (1799mm v 1852mm) and I'm yet to meet anyone who doesn't want to buy a Golf because its too wide...!

The 991 GT3 is one of the most exciting cars to live with - even going slowly feels special, and it's engine feels more exciting at the redline than the RS. Go and get one, you wont regret it. (I know we're all excited about the 991.2 GT3, but I think it'll be like comparing an iphone 6 to an iphone 7...!)
Thank goodness for that, I'll continue apace with my order for one of these bodykits ...... :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laDMqNXN2Vc

hehe

nw942

455 posts

104 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
IREvans said:
In terms of actual width, my Golf Clubsport S is only 50mm narrower than a 991 GT3, (1799mm v 1852mm) and I'm yet to meet anyone who doesn't want to buy a Golf because its too wide...!
What's the Clubsport S like as I am considering replacing my Focus for either a Clubsport S (or a Trophy R)? Thanks