now that's more like it!  Purist nomenclature, for a Purist model in the lineup.

I'm deliriously happy about the normally aspirated engine, an increasingly rare breed when even AMG is reducing production and use (and rumoured to be soon dropping) their glorious 6.3NA V8 and BMW is using forced induction in even their M cars...Porsche's last gen 997 GT3 3.8 and 4.0 engines should go down in the history books; as used in the GT3RS 3.8 and 4.0, it is just pretty bloody marvelous and the epitome of old school engine design and production!  Likely the passing of an era...

a bit saddened by the "standard" PDK - let the Carrera S and Turbos and other standard models use the latest technology; the GT3 should remain old school and pure, a throwback, even, if necessary...

:-(

and the bits that make me go hmmmm....

electric assist steering with four wheel steering

Direct injection

Reading the tea leaves, even with direct injection and a higher redline, the engine specs and on the road performance figures are only marginally better than the 997GT3 (and even less difference from the GT3 RS and RS4.0)...so does that mean ...

hmmm...

Can't wait to get some seat time, mainly because of Lambo Peter's glowing hints about it, but my braiin boggles at how it could possibly be significantly better than the 997.2 GT3RS.

hmmmm...

a tear from my eyes?

:-(

for now.

Some things are purely subjective and don't need no justification; others are just plain stupid.

(above has implications in many contexts, in many ways, both pro and con...

;-)

BTW - single mass vs twin mass flywheels; single clutch vs double clutch - weight, weight, weight.  Things that make you go hmmmmm....

BTW 2 - I've driven a sequential gearbox, still with three pedals (Formula Renault) on the Hungaroring - I really enjoyed it. And it was fast. But that's another discussion...

Thomas,

WRT: BTW I'm trying to make the connection between a single v dual mass flywheel and gearchange mechanism??

and

WRT: BTW2, you've got a bike, they all (well nearly all) have sequential gearboxes. Racecars 'stole' the technology off them. Why? 'cos they shift quickly

And my only words on PDK/DCT. Great technology. Don't like the User Interface. At all

Hi, Ben,

"WRT: BTW I'm trying to make the connection between a single v dual mass flywheel and gearchange mechanism??"

What, the flywheel mass doesn't hang off the clutch pack?

The connection was the issue of weight (that's why I repeated "weight" three times. What? Porsche claims the single mass flywheel in the GT3 RS is used because of weight savings considerations, even though it clatters (when the clutch is out - see, it does have something to do with gear change mechanism ; Lamborghini claims they used a single clutch transmission in the first Aventadors because it saves weight... 

"and

WRT: BTW2, you've got a bike, they all (well nearly all) have sequential gearboxes. Racecars 'stole' the technology off them. Why? 'cos they shift quickly "

Cool, I've never know about a motorcycle transmission that wasn't sequential.  How did it work?

"And my only words on PDK/DCT. Great technology. Don't like the User Interface. At all "

You mean the paddles? or? (not PDK but the Tiptronic rockers were...ahem...and so were the rear mounted buttons on the early steering wheel shift selectors on the 2000's AMG's...)

Cheers,

TM

That sentence on flywheel and clutches and weight wasn't exactly easy to interpret, hence the question. And I have no idea of what claims Porsche made on the GT3RS's flywheel. Nor the claim from Lamborghini. So now it's clarified it makes sense. That said; I would have thought the single mass flywheel would get get of the clatter associated with the dual mass units, and the reason Porsche adopted it was to cope with the torque? But that projects needless doubt onto their dual-flywheel equipped models.

Non sequential 'bike 'boxes: the usual CVT bikes and the odd wierdo bike out there. The 'nearly all' was a CYA qualifier.

And you dragged me back to PDK. Yes, the paddles. And the lack of a third pedal And a lever to move the cogs myself

from what you read on the interwebs rage sights, the dual mass flywheel is more prone to failure than a single flywheel.
they believe they are built on the cheap which is true with any part on any car as you have intimated. built to a budget sounds better though :)

little fantasy of collecting the LAST stick shift model among the respectable marques and looks like a P-car will be popping up on my wish list soon.    3 pedal RULES!

the GT3 RS 4.0 is gonna cost ya!

Life member of the Three Pedal Driving Club.

No doubt I will NEVER be able to shift nearly as quick as the DCT but I don't NEED the saving of that 0.5 second for my weekend driving.   It's jus so much more fun w/ the shift gate and 3 pedals.  

cars will be self driving in the not too distant future.

With all due respect to my friend, I really hope not!

Then, it wouldn't be driving, but rather commuting. Two ENTIRELY different things...

fully agree with you there Thomas(i usually agree with the things you post). if i wanted to commute i would have a 1.2 litre vw polo, but as i have a 270 bhp subaru legacy you know i dont like commuting, i like driving :)

Have you ever seen Bicentennial Man?

Cheers,

TM

and rarely saw it on the tach...but ever since I started getting back into cars, I seem to see the upper reaches of the tach more and more...

It is nice to see there is a "clutch neutral" position for the "flappy paddles" - Lambos and Ferraris have had this for some years now, if I'm not mistaken. Actually, I got used to paddle shifters with "pull both paddles at time for neutral" before I learned that not all paddle shifting transmissions had this feature.

Nope, never driven an X or S type, but then, I've heard horrible things about their build and engineering quality.

What have been your experiences? Always nice to hear long term owner perspectives.

TM

Pictures and videos would be great!

I too look forward, but more and more I find myself looking back as well; there comes a time when things change beyond recognition...

Do you think this internet thing will last?

;-)

(and seriously, I HATE the recent developments in so-called "social media" and its implications...)

Cheers,

TM

hey Fricks, you are quite right which is why we like watches as they have charm and soul, however, we only know each other because of the new technology so its swings and roundabouts.

i try to balance it by meeting the people i feel i have a bond with. its not always possible, but i have good friends in uk and france, the best friend i could hope for in belgium and a couple of excellent friends in US. i hope to broaden the US friendship next year and meet up with some of my LA friends.
we have get togethers whenever possible. a good meal, good wine good conversation and sensational watches all in one night.
perfick :)