Well….duh.
People who buy 911s are, for the most part, at least somewhat interested in the driving experience over any kind of status or its boulevard posing abilities. Porsche’s are like that, this one in particular. And as we move down the trickle, we find the 911 GT3 and its typical buyers who are even more discerning and demanding.
More than speed, they’re choosing the GT3 over the many (very many) other variants of the rear-engine sports car because they pine for purer thrill, a thrill that’s been diluted slightly by the removal of a manual transmission when the type-991 generation 911 GT3 was introduced.
Upon the facelift, the Zuffenhausen outfit also unveiled the 911 R, a back-to-basics take on the GT3 RS minus the big wings, additional aero, and came only with a manual transmission. More of a handful, and visceral enough to make even the most cynical enthusiast grin and giggle with abandon.
The problem, though, was that 911 R was a limited run model while simultaneously offering the most sought after driving experience of the whole range. Pretty soon, the car was being bought and sold for ridiculous prices, putting what is arguably the best-of-breed 911 even more out of reach of the fans who would appreciate it most.
The level of demand was bordering on hysteria as Porsche was leaving a huge gap in the market, a gap they quickly saw (or saw all along) as being one they could capitalise on. To fill it, they introduced the 911 GT3 Touring Package, which follows essentially the same formula.
It uses the same 4.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-six as the standard GT3, an engine that’s actually newer than the one in the 911 R, producing 373kW and revs out to a 9,000rpm crescendo. While the R makes use of more exotic material such as carbon fibre and titanium, the GT3 Touring keeps things a little less rarified in part to keep costs down.
Despite being first shown at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, it wasn’t until the GT3 Touring’s North American debut in Los Angeles that we finally have confirmation of the motives behind the move. Road and Track reports that Porsche was troubled by astronomical price 911 Rs were being ‘flipped’, with the GT3 Touring meant to dispel that exclusivity.
"We did not expect this, let me say, crazy reaction concerning used car prices,”said Porsche’s head of 911 development, August Achleitner. "Because some people are making only money with the car. We don't like that,”
"If [the GT3 Touring Package] helps keep the prices a little bit lower for the average customer of our cars, it's better," he added. "Of course, there are some specific customers who are a little bit disappointed, but it's ok, we can live with this.”
With the R now being so valuable, there’s less likelihood that owners will use it in the manner fitting of its abilities - and that’s a real shame - to preserve the components from wear and keeping that odometer from spinning up, keeping that value intact.
In addition to the 911 GT3 Touring Pack, Porsche have also more recently introduced the 911 T, a car based on the base 911 Carrera, but featuring less weight and a manual transmission. Power comes from a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre flat-six that delivers 272kW and 450Nm. Again, a more back-to-basics approach but merged with a more affordable entry point.
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