The GT3 Class.

I was fortunate enough to go on a recent photo shoot up in the Glendora mountains with two of the finest Gt3’s I’ve seen . After a quick glance at these two cars you can see why in addition to the beautiful backdrop of the Glendora mountains that this is picture perfect. The Gt3’s you see here have been meticulously taken care of, just eye candy for the owners garage. I guess if you are in the income bracket where you can have a Gt3 as a weekend car , you must be doing something right. But back to the car’s, they are both GT3’s but one is a late model 2001 996 Porsche Gt3 (Dark Metallic Grey) and the other is the newer successor a 2004 997 GT3 (Silver). Honestly if I had to choose between these two cars hands down I would go with the 997 every time. I mean its just so sexy, the fact that Porsche has a patent on this unique shape with its sweeping lines and its unmistakable bug eyes, that can be pointed out in a parking lot full of Sport utility vehicles is a unique feature to have . And for some reason every time I come across one I just fall in love with it all over again. Don’t even get me started how the German’s seem to always extract more horsepower out of that 3.8L flat six is mind boggling. The Photo shoot was a blast, our Photographer Mike Febbo had a vision of what he wanted and the end result was nothing short of spectacular. These pictures don’t do the cars justice , if only these pictures had a sound clip to go along with, the high pitch sounding 997 and the low burble of the 996 both naturally aspirated was just music to my ears. Hearing these two cars going thru some the tightest twisties of the canyons was amazing. With out further a due here are some of the pics. Enjoy!

Heads or Tails - The Porsche Coin

This week I have driven two very different but both still perfect Porsches. How can two Porsches very different but yet still perfect you ask. Well they are two sides of the same perfect coin I suppose. One is raw, primal and menacing. The other is refined and suave, the pinnacle of automotive technology.

The first 911 is a 2009 997 Carrera S PDK modified by Shark Werks out of Freemont California. The second is a 934 replica based on a 1978 930 turbo built by Autokennel in Costa Mesa California. They are both rear engine, rear drive with the classic 911 shape. They both have flared fenders and are powered by flat sixes. This however is where the similarities end.

The Carrera S is probably one of the best cars built today. It’s comfortable, fast, easy to drive and sexy as hell. The new PDK gearbox is a pleasure to use. It rips off shifts faster than you can possibly imagine. At the same time, it can be as smooth and refined as any automatic out there. Seven speeds means the car is never out of its powerband, and the big seventh returns exceptional highway mileage. The car has launch control, active suspension, stability management, climate control and beautiful iPod integration. This particular car wasn’t equipped with them, but air conditioned seats are even an option. Modifications include a retuned ECU, center exhaust section, Techart Aerokit, HRE Wheels and H&R Springs. Its flat-six is putting out an estimated 410hp at the crank out of its 3.8-liters. Not too shabby for a naturally aspirated engine.

The 934 replica is an incredible example of a project car turned up to 11. The engine was built by the legendary ANDIAL Motorsports. The suspension is all 935 components with monoballs and heim-joints at every pivot point. It only has four forward gears, but the clutch and shifter actuation is amazingly smooth. All the controls are heavy. A small person would have difficulty driving this car because they would be physically exhausted after twenty minutes in the car. The clutch feels like a piece of workout equipment with every actuation. The brake pedal feels like the ball of your foot is right on the back of a brake pad pressing against the rotor, again heavy, but wonderfully tactile. There is no power steering in this car so turning those big front tires is like hauling an anchor up out of the water. If you have never driven a well setup air-cooled 911 you have no business ever commenting on steering feel in a car, you simply have no basis.

Experiencing cars like this back-to-back makes you realize how far we have come technologically. It also makes you realize that when it comes to the actual driving experience, nothing has changed. What makes a great driver’s car is still the same. Tactile feedback between road, car and driver is key. Responsiveness to every command the driver gives and the ever-elusive soul is also a must. Both of these cars fit that bill, just in very different ways.