991 GT3RS might have a manual transmission
#17
02-19-2014 | 11:02 AM
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I understand the myriad of reasons why it doesn't make economical sense for Porsche to offer the RS model with a standard manual; primarily driven by R&D costs on the new chassis as well as trending in sync with the technology and advancements offered by their competitors.
But a part of me thinks that people are holding a pessimistic view on this bit of news, so to avoid being disappointed once again, as they were with the confirmation of only a PDK offering on the 991 GT3.
I understand that Porsche is a business, but a business is still a microcosm reflecting the amalgamated personalities and direction of their corporate leaders. Hopefully the human element can see the appeal to consumers and produce the RS with a manual transmission variant and justify it as a design/engineering exercise.
If it does happen, it will surely cause the prices of their used 997 models to come down to more appropriate levels, reflecting actual value and not be overpriced due to the subjective emotional attachment of their owners.
The next few months will be interesting, but thank you for the post and update.
But a part of me thinks that people are holding a pessimistic view on this bit of news, so to avoid being disappointed once again, as they were with the confirmation of only a PDK offering on the 991 GT3.
I understand that Porsche is a business, but a business is still a microcosm reflecting the amalgamated personalities and direction of their corporate leaders. Hopefully the human element can see the appeal to consumers and produce the RS with a manual transmission variant and justify it as a design/engineering exercise.
If it does happen, it will surely cause the prices of their used 997 models to come down to more appropriate levels, reflecting actual value and not be overpriced due to the subjective emotional attachment of their owners.
The next few months will be interesting, but thank you for the post and update.
#19
02-19-2014 | 05:01 PM
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...And to a certain extent I agree with Porsche in using the PDK only. Let's face it, the GT3 and the GT3RS are designed to be Porsche's road-going race cars. The car for weekend race enthusiasts and DE drivers. So as a company they see their responsibility as making the FASTEST possible enthusiast car they can. And whether anyone wants to admit it or not, PDK is simply faster then any manual will ever be. So in Porsche's mind, they've achieved their goal. I've driven the 991 GT3 (and I'm a die-hard manual lover)...and I will tell you this...you'll never want to use a shift lever again after you do. 
#20
02-19-2014 | 06:06 PM
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Of course, Porsche could have made the car even faster than it is now in its PDK guise, even using a manual transmission, first and foremost, by taking hundreds of pounds of weight off, by ditching the RWS, and stripping down the car, thereby improving its power-to-weight ratio, and improving its speed through turns and thus its lap times even if its 0-60/100 times don't reflect it. Then get rid of the CL's and use 19" rims so we can find and properly use slicks on the vehicle. Here's a bet, I'll wager a 997GT3RS4.0 with Pirelli slicks is faster at any track than a 991GT3 with its Porsche-approved rubber.
http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/nordschleife.html
#20 is a 991 GT3: 7.25
#26 is a 997 GT3RS 4.0: 7.27
#21
02-19-2014 | 08:31 PM
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On the Ultimate Track: Nurburgring Nordschliefe
http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/nordschleife.html
#20 is a 991 GT3: 7.25
#26 is a 997 GT3RS 4.0: 7.27
http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/nordschleife.html
#20 is a 991 GT3: 7.25
#26 is a 997 GT3RS 4.0: 7.27
#22
02-19-2014 | 09:44 PM
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It would likely be on the Sport Cups that Porsche designed to go with the car. Anyone wanting a comparison of a car with slicks vs street rubber already knows the answer. 
hilar ious
hilar ious
#23
02-20-2014 | 04:46 AM
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#25
02-20-2014 | 07:27 AM
Of course, Porsche could have made the car even faster than it is now in its PDK guise, even using a manual transmission, first and foremost, by taking hundreds of pounds of weight off, by ditching the RWS, and stripping down the car, thereby improving its power-to-weight ratio, and improving its speed through turns and thus its lap times even if its 0-60/100 times don't reflect it. Then get rid of the CL's and use 19" rims so we can find and properly use slicks on the vehicle. Here's a bet, I'll wager a 997GT3RS4.0 with Pirelli slicks is faster at any track than a 991GT3 with its Porsche-approved rubber.
#26
02-20-2014 | 08:13 AM
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There's a few reasons why I think they're wrong.
For one...there's no way they're going to rev the 3.8L any higher then it does in the current GT3. If anything, they're going to use a 4.0L...that's my theory.
Second...it's NOT going to be manual. Porsche isn't "listening" to customers. Companies like Porsche don't listen to what customers want, they make customers want what they're offering. I'm just being devil's advocate, but you said "sports car with a sports car transmission"....Porsche would say "what's more sports car then a proper paddle shifted manual?"
And to a certain extent I agree with Porsche in using the PDK only. Let's face it, the GT3 and the GT3RS are designed to be Porsche's road-going race cars. The car for weekend race enthusiasts and DE drivers. So as a company they see their responsibility as making the FASTEST possible enthusiast car they can. And whether anyone wants to admit it or not, PDK is simply faster then any manual will ever be. So in Porsche's mind, they've achieved their goal. I've driven the 991 GT3 (and I'm a die-hard manual lover)...and I will tell you this...you'll never want to use a shift lever again after you do.
For one...there's no way they're going to rev the 3.8L any higher then it does in the current GT3. If anything, they're going to use a 4.0L...that's my theory.
Second...it's NOT going to be manual. Porsche isn't "listening" to customers. Companies like Porsche don't listen to what customers want, they make customers want what they're offering. I'm just being devil's advocate, but you said "sports car with a sports car transmission"....Porsche would say "what's more sports car then a proper paddle shifted manual?"
And to a certain extent I agree with Porsche in using the PDK only. Let's face it, the GT3 and the GT3RS are designed to be Porsche's road-going race cars. The car for weekend race enthusiasts and DE drivers. So as a company they see their responsibility as making the FASTEST possible enthusiast car they can. And whether anyone wants to admit it or not, PDK is simply faster then any manual will ever be. So in Porsche's mind, they've achieved their goal. I've driven the 991 GT3 (and I'm a die-hard manual lover)...and I will tell you this...you'll never want to use a shift lever again after you do.
This GT3 is far less of a race car than any of it's predecessors and shares pretty much zero parts with the race car outside of the chassis. You can't run slicks on it, certainly not race-car like. The 997 RS ran the 24 hrs of the nurburgring (and I think finished like 13th overall). That is a race car for the street. The 991 GT3 is nothing of the sort.
Porsche is no longer in control. If they were, we would have a manual GT3 to begin with. VW calls the shots now, so all decisions will be generic ones suited for profits, not the passion the brand was built on.
#27
02-20-2014 | 08:22 AM
N
This GT3 is far less of a race car than any of it's predecessors and shares pretty much zero parts with the race car outside of the chassis. You can't run slicks on it, certainly not race-car like. The 997 RS ran the 24 hrs of the nurburgring (and I think finished like 13th overall). That is a race car for the street. The 991 GT3 is nothing of the sort.
This GT3 is far less of a race car than any of it's predecessors and shares pretty much zero parts with the race car outside of the chassis. You can't run slicks on it, certainly not race-car like. The 997 RS ran the 24 hrs of the nurburgring (and I think finished like 13th overall). That is a race car for the street. The 991 GT3 is nothing of the sort.
Don't worry, the tire market will follow...it always does.
#28
02-20-2014 | 08:57 AM
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It is the company's "responsibility" to increase shareholder value by increasing sales and if sales can be increased by offering buyers like myself the choice to buy a manual GT3 (I would not even consider an automatic sports car) then it is incumbent upon them to do so. I could not give a rats *** about how fast a car goes around a track. I care about how much pleasure I receive while driving it, hence, my desire for a manual car. Suppose Porsche invented a self steering car that got you around the track .003 faster? Would you want it? If you believe the idea is to get around the track fastest then the answer must be yes. However, I think most of us like to put our hands on the steering wheel and steer ourselves whether it's faster or not.
#29
02-20-2014 | 09:32 AM
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Based on your response, you either have reading comprehension issues or like to use the synonym function in Microsoft Word (TM) to obtain suggestions of polysyllabic words to use in your posts, as your response makes no sense.
Last edited by Sfarooq; 02-20-2014 at 10:55 AM.
#30
02-20-2014 | 10:42 AM
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Most people still take the 20 inch shod cars from the factory and buy 18's for track duty. This still driving more demand for 18 performance tires.
20's are more for bling than anything else. Manufacturers want to fill the wheel well and make it look good. This does not leave room for a meaty slick tire.
Slicks are already more fragile and making them low profile will Mean less air in them and even more fragile.
Pro racing is still dominated by 18's and as long as that is the case development for 20's will still be super slow. Slower than the already slow pace for 19's.
Besides, the 991 GT3 couldn't use 20" slicks either.