Thursday 13th February 2014

Chris Harris Vid: 911 GT3 vs C63 Black vs Vantage

UPDATE: Chris's Aston/Porsche/Merc video, updated with an intro from the man himself

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UPDATE: After a technical SNAFU meant Chris's original intro was lost somewhere along the M4 he's rewritten it and the story has been updated accordinly - Ed.

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Lack of downforce rumours exaggerated

We should be thankful that the good people at Porsche UK's Reading HQ decided to suffer a taste-bypass and specify its press GT3 with clear rear light lenses. It does at least give us something obvious to complain about.

There isn't much else wrong with the new 991 GT3. Unless you're one of those 'the engine is in the wrong place' morons, in which case you've never tried to drive a 570hp AstonMartin V12 Vantage S on a damp road. Traction has become quite an important with all this extra horsepower.

My bottom lip wobbled when I gave the Aston back. Gearbox aside, it really does prove that in this age of carbon chassis and electro-cleverness, a normally-aspirated V12 in a compact, pretty body is a delectable recipe. A sodding great big V8 squished into comically widened C-Class Mercedes Coupe isn't bad either.

We covered big miles in these cars. In many ways these are the new supercars. They've faster than stuff that belonged to that genre 10 years ago, they're more usable and can work on street and circuit.

Hope you enjoy watching as much as we did making.

Here's the vid.

 

 

[AlexMG]

I suppose I should put the speakers on full and get a spare set of pants?

[SystemParanoia]

w00p!

[delays]

The head says GT3, but the heart says Vantage.

And as long as Aston tugs at the emotional heart strings, it will remain an incredibly important sports car maker.

[Joeguard1990]

Imagine if you had all 3 in your garage. Now that would be heaven!

[richs2891]

Oh to have all three at the same time.
Could always start with say the Vantage for 6 months then C63 black then 911 GT3 ? 18 months of real good motoring fun ?

The C63 black in the flesh - absolutely amazing.

[squelchuk]

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY GRAND????

FOR A C-CLASS????

I don't care how good that engine is (and it does sound lovely), it can't be £90k better than a C200K.

Can it?

[The Pits]

I hate to admit it but the GT3 does sound exceptional north of 8k.

Just one question. The rear engine placement offers good traction but does it have any downsides?

There must be some otherwise all sportscars should be rear engined which just isn't the case.

[erics]

The Pits said:

I hate to admit it but the GT3 does sound exceptional north of 8k.

Just one question. The rear engine placement offers good traction but does it have any downsides?

There must be some otherwise all sportscars should be rear engined which just isn't the case.

Memories Jonny?

[The Vambo]

Love Harris's work. P1 write up was the best thing I've read in ages.

Turned this off. I just got bored.

All a bit done to death. Bah! Humbug

[bigzarelli]

delays said:

The head says GT3, but the heart says Vantage.

And as long as Aston tugs at the emotional heart strings, it will remain an incredibly important sports car maker.

This is so true and I feel the same. Head is saying GT3, and that sound is exceptional, but my heart still says Aston.

[AndyBrew]

The Vambo said:

Love Harris's work. P1 write up was the best thing I've read in ages.

Turned this off. I just got bored.

All a bit done to death. Bah! Humbug

Are you mad?? a great video thoroughly enjoyed it!

[The Pits]

erics said:

Memories Jonny?

Yes I'd choose the Vantage S if it was a manual. Fortuneately for me it's paddleshift-only so I am spared the agony of wanting one.

As for wanting the original V12 Vantage however, there is no cure!

[Wills2]

Love the sound of the V12VS and the GT3, the Merc engine sounded so flat and one dimensional I know it's just me but they just don't sound that good, all farty exhaust and no induction.

I'd take the GT3.

And that was a great video.

Edited by Wills2 on Wednesday 12th February 21:50

[si_xsi]

sweet Jesus that Aston at tickover in the first minute of the film and the pork at the redline. Love it, great vid. A few twitchy moments on the road too

[H100S]

Normally I don't drink during the week. When I saw this clip was 28 min long I dug out the noise cancelling earphones, poured the Thwaites Lancaster bomber and sat back.

That 911 is just simply awesome but that Vanatage is very special indeed. AMG sounded lovely and deep but the wings are just vulgar. It would be better for being less in your face.

Really enjoyed this. Great end to a stressful day, keep up the good work.

[MDubyaB]

Much better. A return to form and I didn't even notice any bloody muzak.

I don't half want a 991 GT3. White would be fine but, you can keep the rotten clear light clusters.

[Abwalsh]

Nice video, Chris.

My only issue is the price point.

Surely the forthcoming GT3 RS will have a more comparable price tag to the other 2?

I thought the old C63/M3 GTS/GT3 RS 4.0 test was better balanced than this one.

[maxxy5]

you probably all know this but if you have virgin tv you can pair your phone up with the YouTube TV app and watch it like that, great vid, seemed like a step up in scope from the usual?

[AdvocatusD]

Nice stretch of tarmac too.

Can anyone point this out on a map?

[Chicane-UK]

God I wish I'd gone into automotive journalism rather than IT Every single time one of these video's gets posted, I just sigh and wish I had that life.