2004 Porsche 911 GT3 New Car Buyer's Guide

What's New for the 2004 Porsche 911 GT3?
The 2004 Porsche 911 GT3 is a bare bones, normally aspirated, lightweight, no-nonsense sports car. Equipped with a 3.6-liter flat six-cylinder engine that revs more freely than the one in the 911 Carrera, the 911 GT3 makes 380 horsepower at 7,400 rpm and 285 lb.-ft. of torque at 5,000 rpm, driving the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. Eighty percent of maximum torque is available at 2,000 rpm, helping the 3,043-pound 911 GT3 to run from zero to 60 mph in a scant 4.3 seconds and from zero to 100 mph in 9.4 seconds. Giant front cross-drilled and inter-vented brake discs, larger than those on the 911 Turbo, work with six-piston red-painted fixed calipers and standard ABS to haul this Porsche down from speed. Aerodynamic body tweaks allow for a 190-mph top speed in the 2004 Porsche 911 GT3, and to endure the rigors of the racetrack the body is reinforced and the chassis stiffened to achieve a 25 percent increase in torsional rigidity over a standard 911 Carrera. Designed to allow for adjustments and to comply with varying track requirements, the Porsche 911 GT3’s suspension employs firmer shocks and springs, and thicker anti-roll bars. Shod with 235/40ZR18 front and 295/30ZR18 rear performance tires, the 911 GT3 rides on lightweight alloy wheels. An asymmetrical control limited-slip differential is standard; options include a Porsche Ceramic Composite Braking system (PCCB) and bi-Xenon headlights. To save weight, the rear seat is removed and the leather-upholstered front seats are redesigned to weigh 20 pounds less. Don’t fret, all creature comforts have not been excised from the GT3: power windows, remote keyless entry, air conditioning and a CD player are standard.

Advantages of the 2004 Porsche 911 GT3:

• Better acceleration than standard issue 911 Carrera
• Handles, steers and stops with the best in the business
• Comfortable front seats
• Throaty exhaust note

Objections to the 2004 Porsche 911 GT3:

• Cheap interior buttons and switches
• Muddled control layout and operation
• Heavy clutch

Editor's Advice:
Likely to appeal only to the Porsche faithful rather than nouveau-riche conspicuous consumers, the 2004 Porsche 911 GT3 is our favorite rendition of this sports car icon. Eschewing frivolities for a back-to-basics performance package, the GT3’s more powerful normally-aspirated flat six, rear-drive configuration, and focus on curb weight reductions add up to a more elemental Porsche 911 experience, and requires a more experienced driver, than other 911 Carrera models.