The world of sport, super, and otherwise superlative cars is awash in impracticalities. But after two years and 50,000 miles (80,467 km), Chris Harris feels he’s found the exception.
The Top Gear host has recently spent some time on the track with his own, personal 911 GT3 Touring, delivering an update after two years of ownership and giving it a bit of a hoon.
“I have a strong emotional relationship with it because it’s a 911. I love the way Porsche do things, it’s robust, I kick the shit out of it, the dog lives in it, it gets covered in crap and then it just keeps going. It has performed faultlessly,” says Harris.
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Indeed, the journalist says he picked this one specifically because of its unbelievable performance that’s combined with its relatively normal appearance. There are no big wings or attention-grabbing splitters, despite the car containing a 493 hp (500 PS/368 kW), naturally aspirated, 4.0-liter engine that revs all the way up to 9,000 rpm. It’s an absolute weapon, but one that, apart from the bright yellow color, doesn’t look any more special than any other 911. What’s more, it’s as reliable as any other car on the road.
Although Harris can point to a few spots of wear, and he notes that the faceplate keeps falling off the manual shift lever, he says that it has held up exceptionally well. It’s practical and bonkers all at once.
“I’m not really interested in just track daying a car. I want to use it on the road,” Harris explains. “I think [the 911 GT3 Touring is] a car you can use every day. I don’t need to go and get to a track to go ‘Oh! Now I understand why I’ve got this car.’ Every day I’m in it and I just think it’s wonderful.”
So, if you have the means, it seems like a Porsche 911 GT3 Touring is just about as exciting and well-rounded as it gets.