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gearshift is amazing for its precision. It is light and positive
and the gate has no lost movement. The slots are fairly close so
you have to be deliberate, but it is spring loaded to the three-four
plane hand, and the shifting mechanism is so well sorted you can
literally use just a couple of fingers to shift ratios.
On suburban roads, the ride is firm but there is enough suspension
travel to keep things relatively comfortable. We did manage to find
one road surface that made the Carrera GT unhappy, but even here,
the tremendous structural rigidity, said to be in the order of 26,000
Nm/degree of twist, showed up as a rock-solid structure with no
steering tremble.
Cantering down long tree-lined country roads under a warm sun,
the Carrera GT is happy at legal speeds. But when you want it to
wake up and blast past slower traffic, then it really comes alive.
There is so much torque on tap, in most cases a downshift is unnecessary
and you can choose the rate at which you pick up the pace.
The steering is power assisted, but you wouldn’t believe
it from the level of feedback and linearity it exhibits. It may
not be quite as good as the best unassisted systems like an Elise,
but as powered racks go, it is unequaled. Quite heavy at parking
speeds, it lightens up considerably once the 265/35ZR19 Michelins
on 9.5J x 19-inch magnesium alloy front wheels get beyond a fast
walking speed.
Jinked around the cones on the test slalom, the GT is very pointy
with a touch of stabilizing understeer to prevent it feeling nervous,
and when you push harder you can feel the rear helping you turn
in without threatening to overtake the front. Stability is certainly
a strong suit, so long as you don’t deliver a big prod of
throttle. The huge rear 335/30ZR20 Michelins on 12.5J x 20-inch
alloys have amazing purchase on a dry track.
The GT looks best with its roof panels off, while its build quality
and fabulous detailing point to a car you can enjoy through simply
sitting in even without going anywhere. It can be a haven when you
need a few moments respite from the daily grind.
More than almost any other supercar manufacturer, Porsche gets
these objective things right. But driving should be a large part
of what the supercar experience is about, and when you do start
the Carrera GT’s charismatic V10 and roll, you will always
come back with a big grin on your face! 
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