Porsche 992 GT3 Touring Manual Cruises Over 190 MPH!
German-based YouTube presenter puts his foot down on the Autobahn, taking this manual 992 GT3 Touring to insane speeds on a wet roadway.
Porsche enthusiasts sighed a collective relieved breath the day Porsche confirmed the new GT3, the 992 generation, would be available with a manual transmission. In a world where dual-clutch autos easily outshine even the fastest manual transmission driver, there’s still just something so pure and proper about driving a sports car with a manual transmission. Though like the 991, the yet-to-be-announced GT3 RS will likely come only with Porsche’s PDK automatic transmission, there’s still plenty of manual excitement to be had with the standard GT3. This video is all the proof you need!
This blissful video comes courtesy of the YouTube channel AutoTopNL. Their channel content involves testing high-performance cars on public roadways for those unfamiliar. However, they differ from most reviews in that they put vehicles thoroughly to the test. This is due to their proximity to the unrestricted German Autobahn. So, if you love the sound of a screaming Porsche flat-six, strap in. You’re going to love this video.
992 GT3 Touring Blends Daily Comforts With Pure Driving Heaven
AutoTopNL host Max Beelaerts gives a quick walk-around tour of the exterior and interior of the GT3 Touring, giving some insight between it and the standard GT3. Afterward, he takes it on a quick test drive before opening it up on the Autobahn.
“On a GT3, you can’t get a panoramic roof, you can’t get a rear seat, all to save weight,” said Beelaerts.
Additionally, he explains that the standard GT3 has lighter glass, and you can not order a touring model with a roll cage. More creature comforts like leather interior are standard on the Touring model. Effectively, it is a more driver-comfort-oriented trim.
Beelaerts first explains that the wet weather combined with slick tires on the GT3 is not a good combination, as one might expect. The point is illustrated perfectly as the rear end slides out on him mid explanation. Despite the unfavorable weather, Beelaerts lets the GT3 run wide open on an unrestricted portion of the Autobahn. It’s hard to focus on his words while listening to the beautiful naturally-aspirated flat-six engine bounce off the limiter and scream its way to 9,000 RPM.
At one point, Beelaerts takes it up to an eye-watering 307 kilometers per hour, which is just a hair over 190 miles per hour. That’s a bold play in the wet with sporty tires!
Manual Vs. PDK Automatic Makes a World of Difference
“I have to say that the PDK is such a good gearbox that the manual feels like a completely different car. It really does. You’re much more involved with the driving, of course, but also with the engine. You’re much more aware of where the power is in this engine,” said Beelaerts.
This, in its own right, is what makes so many car enthusiasts love a manual transmission. Beelaerts explains that driving the manual version requires more thought because you can’t just click through multiple gears at a time without thinking about it.
“When the weight transfers during a shift, you can lose traction, and it happens while you have one hand off the wheel…so, it does feel like a harder car to drive fast than the GT3 with a PDK…which I really like. You have to work to extract everything from it,” said Beelaerts.
So, regardless of the PDK transmission-equipped GT3 being faster both in a straight line and on the track, manual transmission examples are still a wonderful place to be for sports car enthusiasts who want to be more involved with driving. For some, the best lap time isn’t the key. Instead, the time spent lapping a track (or spiritedly cruising a windy road) is all that some enthusiasts need to enjoy themselves when it comes to a manual transmission car.