AUTOCAR 997GT3 first drive
Discussion
Came home to find my Autocar on the mat (goes nicely with EVO) Chris Harris has a first drive on the GT3:
It isn't indepth, but he likes it...
"The new Gt3 is the most capable & desirable high-performance 911 Porsche has produced in a generation - perhaps in its entire history"
... but he thought the tyres were crap in the wet when worn down to 3mm.............
here is the link to a brief video, nice sideways action, sounds fabulous (nearly as good as an AMV8
)this was the same day that Pugsey (Tony) was referring too in his GT3 tyre post earlier, maybe things get hairier when the tyres start to wear.............a point worth noting chaps!!!!
www.autocar.co.uk/popups/video.asp?ar=223144
Link to online first drive overview:
www.autocar.co.uk/FirstDrive_Summary.asp?RT=219357

It isn't indepth, but he likes it...
"The new Gt3 is the most capable & desirable high-performance 911 Porsche has produced in a generation - perhaps in its entire history"
... but he thought the tyres were crap in the wet when worn down to 3mm.............
here is the link to a brief video, nice sideways action, sounds fabulous (nearly as good as an AMV8
)this was the same day that Pugsey (Tony) was referring too in his GT3 tyre post earlier, maybe things get hairier when the tyres start to wear.............a point worth noting chaps!!!! www.autocar.co.uk/popups/video.asp?ar=223144
Link to online first drive overview:
www.autocar.co.uk/FirstDrive_Summary.asp?RT=219357

Edited by grant3 on Wednesday 29th November 19:31
AndrewKillington said:
"the clubsport package is a terrific no-cost option, which borrows the Carrera GT's sensational lightweight carbon fibre seats....."
Jason Barlow
Car
January 2007
enough nit-picking - he thought it was the dogs
Jason Barlow
Car
January 2007
enough nit-picking - he thought it was the dogs
I spotted that, the moron. The CS pack is free.......but of course you pay extra for the carbon seats! So not free then.
johnny senna said:
AndrewKillington said:
"the clubsport package is a terrific no-cost option, which borrows the Carrera GT's sensational lightweight carbon fibre seats....."
Jason Barlow
Car
January 2007
enough nit-picking - he thought it was the dogs
Jason Barlow
Car
January 2007
enough nit-picking - he thought it was the dogs
I spotted that, the moron. The CS pack is free.......but of course you pay extra for the carbon seats! So not free then.
No to mention which, the seats aren't "sensational", they are rubbish. Nicely made, but badly designed.
flemke said:
johnny senna said:
AndrewKillington said:
"the clubsport package is a terrific no-cost option, which borrows the Carrera GT's sensational lightweight carbon fibre seats....."
Jason Barlow
Car
January 2007
enough nit-picking - he thought it was the dogs
Jason Barlow
Car
January 2007
enough nit-picking - he thought it was the dogs
I spotted that, the moron. The CS pack is free.......but of course you pay extra for the carbon seats! So not free then.
No to mention which, the seats aren't "sensational", they are rubbish. Nicely made, but badly designed.
Really ??
What's the issue with them, got me concerned now
G.
glenn mcmenamin said:
flemke said:
johnny senna said:
AndrewKillington said:
"the clubsport package is a terrific no-cost option, which borrows the Carrera GT's sensational lightweight carbon fibre seats....."
Jason Barlow
Car
January 2007
enough nit-picking - he thought it was the dogs
Jason Barlow
Car
January 2007
enough nit-picking - he thought it was the dogs
I spotted that, the moron. The CS pack is free.......but of course you pay extra for the carbon seats! So not free then.
No to mention which, the seats aren't "sensational", they are rubbish. Nicely made, but badly designed.
Really ??
What's the issue with them, got me concerned now
G.
They've got the same shell as the CGT, which was designed by a fool. It is much too narrow across the shoulders, and from the centre of the upper part outwards the shoulder restaints angle forwards.
The result is that even for thin folks they pinch the shoulders forward uncomfortably.
On the CGT, they offered the option of a wider seat. The pisser was that it was only wider on the horizontal part of the seat, and thus entirely failed to address the fundamental flaw of the standard seat.
flemke said:
They've got the same shell as the CGT, which was designed by a fool. It is much too narrow across the shoulders, and from the centre of the upper part outwards the shoulder restaints angle forwards.
The result is that even for thin folks they pinch the shoulders forward uncomfortably.
On the CGT, they offered the option of a wider seat. The pisser was that it was only wider on the horizontal part of the seat, and thus entirely failed to address the fundamental flaw of the standard seat.
Damn. That seems like a fairly major oversight, and a peculiar one given that the average German these days seems to be gigantic. I'm not such a huge fan of the adaptive sports seats in the current line-up, and though I'm not enormous myself, my shoulders are broad enough to be a problem. Is there a solution to this, flemke? I'm sort of inexorably sliding down the slope towards Gt3dom at the moment, and had already decided the CGT seat option would be a box I would definitely tick.
I had exactly the same problem with the M3 CSL seats and to a lesser degree, the buckets in my Mk GT3.
Like you gents I weigh 12 (ish) stone and slimmish but broad across the shoulders Pair of these new Recaros perhaps ? They look to have more width between the shoulders.
Like you gents I weigh 12 (ish) stone and slimmish but broad across the shoulders Pair of these new Recaros perhaps ? They look to have more width between the shoulders.
Edited by slippydiff on Wednesday 29th November 23:56
Harris may say it doesn't work in the wet, but they looked like they were having fun (even if he spun it first timke
):
FWIW, thats me climbing into the black ZCoupe at the start of the video off to indulge in some more of this:
Best fun trackday I've done in ages, although the standing water down the back straight was a bit heart in mouth at times
):
FWIW, thats me climbing into the black ZCoupe at the start of the video off to indulge in some more of this:
Best fun trackday I've done in ages, although the standing water down the back straight was a bit heart in mouth at times

flemke said:
glenn mcmenamin said:
flemke said:
johnny senna said:
AndrewKillington said:
"the clubsport package is a terrific no-cost option, which borrows the Carrera GT's sensational lightweight carbon fibre seats....."
Jason Barlow
Car
January 2007
enough nit-picking - he thought it was the dogs
Jason Barlow
Car
January 2007
enough nit-picking - he thought it was the dogs
I spotted that, the moron. The CS pack is free.......but of course you pay extra for the carbon seats! So not free then.
No to mention which, the seats aren't "sensational", they are rubbish. Nicely made, but badly designed.
Really ??
What's the issue with them, got me concerned now
G.
They've got the same shell as the CGT, which was designed by a fool. It is much too narrow across the shoulders, and from the centre of the upper part outwards the shoulder restaints angle forwards.
The result is that even for thin folks they pinch the shoulders forward uncomfortably.
On the CGT, they offered the option of a wider seat. The pisser was that it was only wider on the horizontal part of the seat, and thus entirely failed to address the fundamental flaw of the standard seat.
It is ridiculous to describe the seats as 'sensational' however (unless you're refering to the price of £1500 each!)but also completely wrong to describe them as 'rubbish'. All only in my opinion - based on experience - of course. I'm sure much will depend on your shape however. I, for example prefer the narrow seat version in the CGT.
Edited by Pugsey on Thursday 30th November 07:40
Edited by Pugsey on Thursday 30th November 07:40
Edited by Pugsey on Thursday 30th November 08:12
Pugsey said:
I'm a slim, pretty normal shape 6'1" and 12 stone and having done nearly 2000 miles in a couple of weeks IMO the seats are comfortable and the driving position good. There is a very slight sensation of the shoulders being pushed forward if I really feel for it but in reality it's not an issue.
It is ridiculous to describe the seats as 'sensational' however (unless you're refering to the price of £1500 each!)but also completely wrong to describe them as 'rubbish'. All only in my opinion - based on experience - of course. I'm sure much will depend on your shape however. I, for example prefer the narrow seat version in the CGT.
It is ridiculous to describe the seats as 'sensational' however (unless you're refering to the price of £1500 each!)but also completely wrong to describe them as 'rubbish'. All only in my opinion - based on experience - of course. I'm sure much will depend on your shape however. I, for example prefer the narrow seat version in the CGT.
Seat comfort is of course personal, unlike something such as colour choice, which some people seem to think is also an "each to his own" subject.
All I can say is that not a single person amongst the many who have driven my CGT has liked the seat. For me it is the most uncomfortable sports seat or racing seat I have ever used.
It is natural, Pugsey, that you would prefer the narrow to the wide; as I said, it's only wider from the hips along the legs. It's not designed to give a person the necessary width across the shoulders.
It's just designed to accomodate fat asses.
flemke said:
Pugsey said:
I'm a slim, pretty normal shape 6'1" and 12 stone and having done nearly 2000 miles in a couple of weeks IMO the seats are comfortable and the driving position good. There is a very slight sensation of the shoulders being pushed forward if I really feel for it but in reality it's not an issue.
It is ridiculous to describe the seats as 'sensational' however (unless you're refering to the price of £1500 each!)but also completely wrong to describe them as 'rubbish'. All only in my opinion - based on experience - of course. I'm sure much will depend on your shape however. I, for example prefer the narrow seat version in the CGT.
It is ridiculous to describe the seats as 'sensational' however (unless you're refering to the price of £1500 each!)but also completely wrong to describe them as 'rubbish'. All only in my opinion - based on experience - of course. I'm sure much will depend on your shape however. I, for example prefer the narrow seat version in the CGT.
Seat comfort is of course personal, unlike something such as colour choice, which some people seem to think is also an "each to his own" subject.
All I can say is that not a single person amongst the many who have driven my CGT has liked the seat. For me it is the most uncomfortable sports seat or racing seat I have ever used.
It is natural, Pugsey, that you would prefer the narrow to the wide; as I said, it's only wider from the hips along the legs. It's not designed to give a person the necessary width across the shoulders.
It's just designed to accomodate fat asses.
Edited by Pugsey on Thursday 30th November 09:03
Actually, I love the lwt buckets, fitted me like a glove, although I opted for the standard sports seats. Most road test cars have the buckets and haven't noticed any complaints.
Did a 150 mile round trip in mine yesterday (Tetbury-Devizes-Shrewton-Bath etc) over Salisbury Plain. Awesome
It was my wife's first trip in the car and she loved it. She judges a car on how comfortable and secure it feels and doesn't take kindly to 'shake, rattle or roll' (none of which affect the new GT3). She also reckoned that the sports seats were more comfortable than the adaptive sports seats in her 987S.
Did a 150 mile round trip in mine yesterday (Tetbury-Devizes-Shrewton-Bath etc) over Salisbury Plain. Awesome
It was my wife's first trip in the car and she loved it. She judges a car on how comfortable and secure it feels and doesn't take kindly to 'shake, rattle or roll' (none of which affect the new GT3). She also reckoned that the sports seats were more comfortable than the adaptive sports seats in her 987S.
vpr said:
Don't care.......I'd sit on the floor and drive it if I have to.....the car looks awesome.
Trackdeamon.........I was at Bedford that day and if that was you driving that Z4 then you have a serious talent
Yes - those of us who are lucky enough to own one must sound like a lot of ungrateful whingers sometimes! Trackdeamon.........I was at Bedford that day and if that was you driving that Z4 then you have a serious talent

Hang on! - I was feeling sorry for you but I've just looked at your car profile. Very nice.
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