Here is a bit of a behind the scenes fact: the majority of the GT Channel team is based in Southern California. We really love it here and there is plenty to love. Great weather, nice beaches, and year-round surfing (just ask Taro!).

Furthermore, California is a beacon of car-culture. It could even be argued that California is the center of car culture for the entire country.

Depending on where you drive, you could see everything from a pristine restored 1950 Chevy Bel-Air, an immaculate low rider, to a multi-million dollar hypercar all in the same short cruise.

However, there are two things that make it exceptionally difficult to be a car lover in California: CARB (California Air Resources Board) and noise regulations.

The former makes it very difficult for tuners to bolt on power adders like turbos, and even intakes.

The latter makes it difficult to do other modifications that change a car’s engine note like exhausts and ITBs.

For the most part, these two factors only sting the individual car enthusiast or aftermarket companies that make performance parts.

Major OEMs have tons of resources and contacts with state governments to make sure their cars check every box so that they can be sold in the very valuable California market, until now…

Porsche recently revealed the 2022 911 GT3 with a Touring Package. What does the Touring Package do? In a nutshell it smoothed out the edges to make the car a bit more manageable and comfortable to drive on public roads. For example, the giant “swan neck” wing found on the standard GT3 is deleted in the Touring Package.

It also provides an “option” for the seven-speed PDK transmission for those who don’t feel like dealing with 3 pedals at all times like on the standard GT3.

However, at the bottom of the press release for the 911 GT3 with the Touring Package is this heart-stopping bit:

“The seven-speed PDK gearbox will be the only transmission offered in California with the 911 GT3. For those who prefer three pedals and are located outside of California, a six-speed manual gearbox will continue to be available at no extra cost.”

Wait, what?! So, that seven-speed PDK transmission isn’t really an “option” at all for buyers in California, it’s the only way to go.

Why is this happening? Well, it turns out that the manual-equipped Porsche 911 GT3 does not pass the California Code Of Regulations’ noise test. However, the PDK transmission does.

How is this possible? Well there is a great breakdown of the specifics at Road & Track but the short answer is that California is using a very old testing method.

How old is it? The method currently employed by California regulators was first conceived by the SAE in 1984. Yes, that’s correct. The test was created back when Flock of Seagulls haircuts were in and Beverly Hills Cop was the number one movie in the box office.

Obviously, Automotive technology has come a long way since then. The SAE has updated their noise test several times since then with the most recent update being in May of 2020. However, despite that, California Code of Regulations has not transitioned to the newest tests.

Regulators say they’re working on moving to a more modern test but it is not going to happen in time for the release of the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3.

California officials failed to inform Porsche of this issue until just recently after dealers received what was likely thousands of pre-orders.

To remedy this, Porsche has told California resident customers that they can switch to the seven-speed PDK for free. Otherwise they’ll have to cancel their pre-order. The only other choice being to move out of California.

There is also the tried-and-true “Montana LLC” method but no one can really say with 100% certainty if that tactic would work in this case.

What do you think about this issue? Do you think it’s fair for California to do this in the interest of curbing noise pollution for its residents? Or is it an overly bureaucratic overreach? Let us know your opinions on Twitter at @GTChannel.

In the meantime, hit F in the chat for all those California hedge fund managers who won’t be getting their manual transmission 911 GT3.

California BANS New Porsche 911 GT3 With Manual Transmission