2018 Porsche 911 GT3 PDK Automatic

From the April 2018 issue

How you feel in the brief pause between switching off the engine and opening the door tells you nearly everything about a car. In most good ones, there’s a warm afterglow of emotions and contemplation reminiscent of the finest psychotropics. Shutting off a Porsche 911 GT3's flat-six leaves you suspended in silence, a brief respite before the stale adrenaline and paranoia hit. Was that a police car behind me? No way of knowing since the GT3’s spoiler hides anything in your rear view. Did I just get away with putting on a canyon-road clinic at 1.11 g’s, howling through the tunnels and passing everything I encountered? Someone must have called the cops. Quick, close the garage door!

And then the thoughts of the new addict arrive: When can I do that again? How can I buy one of these things? Sell the house? What’s this MacBook Air worth? What if I moved to the desert and lived on ramen? Can I still go to medical school? I should slip a subtle request for a raise into something I write.

My name is Tony, and I’m addicted to the GT3. It’s been 30 minutes since my last drive.

You see, friends, it all happened after 225 miles in a GT3. A man’s will melts when faced with a naturally aspirated 500-hp 4.0-liter flat-six that burns its way to 9000 rpm. The new-for-2018 GT3’s engine features wider crankshaft bearings to beef up the bottom end and new heads with roller finger followers for a lighter and zingier valvetrain. In higher gears, where the stretch from 8000 to 9000 rpm grows to more than a fraction of a second, the churn of its six pistons exactly mimics the characteristic buzz-saw sound of an Airbus A320’s turbofan engines at takeoff. In the GT3, you’re immersed in 99 decibels’ worth of thrust with every run to redline. This six sucks down premium—enough to trigger a $1000 gas-guzzler charge—while flooding your brain with dopamine. The GT3 can stop from 70 mph in 146 feet. I can stop anytime.

In our dual-clutch-automatic test car, the launch-control system bangs off consistent 3.0-second runs to 60 mph. The mighty six revs to 6600 rpm before launching. Release the brake, feel the clutch engage, and the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rear tires, size 305/30ZR-20, hook up. Poof, you’re in the next county. Stay in it and the quarter arrives in 11.1 seconds at 127 mph. The track-ready GT3’s times and $145,650 price fall neatly between those of the more street-focused $121,750 450-hp Carrera GTS and the 540-hp all-wheel-drive Turbo that starts at $162,850. As tested, this perfectly optioned GT3 with heated seats ($700), a 23.7-gallon fuel tank ($140), auto-dimming mirrors ($700), and white metallic flake in the paint ($720) came to $147,910.

To an addict, the price doesn’t seem unreasonable. It’s just a matter of reprioritizing your life to get the money together. After all, it’s a relative bargain. The GT3’s high usually requires stepping up to the really expensive stuff from Italy, the prancing horses and charging bulls. But those cars can’t touch this 911’s ability to balance everyday usability, speed, and steal-your-face handling goodness. Also, everyone assumes you have a problem if you drive an Italian exotic. Provided you’re not too public with your displays of speed, the GT3’s familiar 911 shape helps keep your little issue hidden to the casual observer. If you really want to appear to be a functioning member of society, go for the GT3 Touring option that loses the giant spoiler.

Porsche took the GT3 back after a week. It’s promised me a manual version in a few weeks. I’m totally fine. I always grind my teeth like this.

Specifications >

VEHICLE TYPE: rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door coupe

PRICE AS TESTED: $147,910 (base price: $145,650)

ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 24-valve flat-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection

Displacement: 244 cu in, 3996 cc
Power: 500 hp @ 8250 rpm
Torque: 339 lb-ft @ 6000 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic with manual shifting mode

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 96.7 in
Length: 179.6 in
Width: 72.9 in Height: 50.0 in
Passenger volume: 47 cu ft
Cargo volume: 14 cu ft
Curb weight: 3318 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 3.0 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 6.9 sec
Zero to 150 mph: 16.3 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 3.9 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 11.1 sec @ 127 mph
Top speed (drag limited, mfr's claim): 197 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 146 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 1.11 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY:
Observed: 17 mpg

EPA FUEL ECONOMY:
Combined/city/highway: 17/15/20 mpg