2000 Porsche 911 GT3 Test Drive

While pre-’99 Porsche 911s have been accurately vilified as demanding, confounding, intimidating, punishing, vindictive, even crude, no one claimed they weren’t exhilarating. Unlike its predecessors, the new 911-code-named 996-is praised as forgiving, stable, comfortable, sophisticated, cleaner, safer, and even quicker in base form, but few assert it is as all-out exhilarating as 911s of yore. But now, the 996 gets an injection of raw excitement in the form of a Le Mans-bred 360-horsepower powerplant and knife-edged, race-tuned suspension. It’s called the 911 GT3 and Americans who want one will need a new suit made of fire-resistant fabric. They’ll also need a helmet and a racing license because exclusively for-off-highway-use-only versions will be imported. Though Porsche Cars North America is considering selling similar 911 variants in the future, no street-legal 2000 GT3s will make the boat-or plane-ride here. Damn.

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