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When Porsche introduced the new 911 GT3 earlier this month, one of the most rewarding options was the availability of a manual transmission. Not only did this appeal to purists, but it proves that there is a business case for it.
Reintroduced to the GT3 lineup in 2017, the manual transmission option immediately received critical acclaim. And, of course, it would. Automotive journalists love manual transmissions. But according to Porsche Motorsport Manager Frank-Steffen Walliser, the public’s love for textbooks surprised him.
“We lost several bottles of wine betting on the take rate when we reintroduced the manual option,” Walliser told Autocar. “We were surprised by its height.”
Indeed, the catch rate on the outgoing GT3 was high. Globally, 30% of buyers chose to check the manual radio button. That’s more than the 20-25% of buyers who opt for the manual in the rest of the 911 lineup. Andreas Preuninger, head of Porsche’s GT division, expects that number to rise to 40% with the new model.
Also read: Porsche 911 GT3 2022: laps up to 9k, ring of laps in under 7 minutes and still has license plates
America is a market that is already doing more than its fair share by increasing the world total. According to a Porsche spokesperson, 70% of Americans chose to buy the manual version of the 911 GT3, according to Bloomberg. It’s as if they knew the bet and tried to get Walliser to lose it.
The motorsport official could be forgiven for betting against the manual, however. H-shaped transmissions don’t really show up in racing these days, and in the new GT3 the six-speed makes it a full half a second to 60 slower than the PDK.
On the other hand, 0 to 60 times doesn’t matter as much as how you feel about a car. For a large part of the clients, it seems that the manual conveys a sense of connection and involvement that they are not ready to lose.
Regardless of the drivetrain, it’s not like the GT3 struggles to move on. Even with the manual, it hits 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds (3.2 with PDK). That’s thanks to a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six that can reach 9,000 rpm and develops 502 horsepower and 346 lb-ft of torque.
It is also capable of setting a time of less than seven minutes on the Nürburgring, which is the hallmark of a serious supercar today.
Americans interested in purchasing another manual GT3 can do so this fall.
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