Yes, it’s a convertible with a GT badge. Yes, it’s a series production car. Yes, it’s a bit heavier than a 911 GT3 Touring. No, that doesn’t really matter. The new Porsche 911 GT3 S/C has made lots of people very cross, which is understandable on paper, but in the real world there’s no need for foot stamping, grumpy tears, and upside down faces. Andreas Preuninger and his team, as if you needed reminding, are rather good at their jobs and wouldn’t let something sub par anywhere near the public.
Launched to much fanfare, the 911 GT3 S/C is quite the package, and something that Preuninger and co (so the man himself says) have wanted to build for a while. It’s pitched as a car for people who want the ultimate Porsche experience in the real world – far away from wings, apexes, and stopwatches. In the back you get a 503bhp, 332lb ft naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six, which’ll get you from 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds and up to 194mph. On top of that, it’s got the same chassis set up as the GT3 Touring – including the same spring and damper rates. Barely any less torsional rigidity and downforce than the Touring too. It comes with a manual gearbox only, which might upset those out for a cruisemobile, but it’s the more engaging choice. Also the lighter one.
Keeping heft below 1500kgs was key for Mr P and his team. The final figure is 1497kg, which was achieved using a manual ‘box, magnesium wheels, magnesium panels in its folding roof, carbon fibre all over the place, and much more besides. There aren’t any rear seats either.
While, yes, it’s a convertible GT3, it doesn’t look like a ‘regular’ 911 – far from it. Bits of other GT cars have been borrowed and strategically deployed to make it look rather imposing inside and out. It looks suitably angry.
It sounds angry too. Roof down, you can hear its flat-six as nature intended. It’s a key point of the car – you can enjoy every aspect of it with a little more clear air. Pop it in to ‘sport’ (you have ‘normal,’ ‘sport,’ and ‘track’ to choose from) and the pipes are set to their loudest, the noise is amplified further by your right foot. Progress is smooth, and throttle response instant, it feels glorious.
Its power isn’t the star of the show though. That’s the steering. It’s wonderfully communicative, and, combined with grip provided by the chassis and some sticky rubber, allows you to push further and further than you perhaps should in the real world. It leaves you wondering why most cars don’t, or can’t feel quite like it. It makes corner carving effortless. It’s neatly comfortable on the smooth stuff, too.
In short, the 911 GT3 S/C is a brilliant car. Those who turn their nose up at a drop top GT3 will be missing out on something wonderful. For just over £200,000 before options it’s only for a select few, but those who can will have one of the best resolved drop tops the industry has to offer.
