In the era of turbochargers and PDK gearboxes we live in, it’s easy to get distracted. Even mid-tier sports cars are just so supremely quick nowadays, there’s a good chance that many fans forget about the other things which make a car truly special. Fortunately, we have videos like these. One brief encounter with the sonorous wail of the 5.7-liter V10 sitting in the rear of the Carrera GT will have them wishing for the slower, louder, more analog days of the past.
The powertrain is quite compact.
That slinky, elegant, simplistic shape—a little like a lengthened, widened 986 Boxster—is still stunning today. The balsa wood-knobbed shifter, the terra cotta-colored leather, and 996-era switchgear and gauges all take one back to the early ’00s when 600 horsepower was an astronomical amount of power, and not something any breathed-on 2-series could make. But power alone wasn’t what makes the Carrera GT a standout.
The carbon tub, the carbon clutch, the carbon brakes—in addition to being new for the era, they bring the weight down to just ~2,900 pounds. The carbon elements, including that incredibly wide door sill, all add to the sense of occasion. The precision of the chassis and the urgency of the motor are bonafide motorsport. Even the carbon brakes take a little warming before they give the driver any real confidence. That urgency, that hard-edged character, and that hint of danger all offer the talented driver a level of involvement which makes some supercars seem anodyne.
Unlike the Zonda, the Carrera GT had the engine bolted directly to a carbon cradle.
What’s truly incredible is, despite the ever-present rumors of these cars being bloodthirsty, the right set of tires make them manageable. Not a pussycat by any means, but with just enough of an inviting character to encourage the driver to try and master it, the Carrera GT requires work, but is it satisfying.
We can see that through the enthusiasm that flows out of Harry. That screaming motor, the incredible direction change, a rifle-action shift, and the perfect driving position are all easy to observe. He’s a lucky man, and perhaps nobody else conveys how emotive the car is as him. Watch for a detailed history on the car, some trivia, and a ridealong that makes you want to start researching successful bank heists.