Diary of a new GT3 Owner
Discussion
This all started about 6 years ago and thanks to a corporate trip to Palmer Sport which I thought was free! On the day we tested Caterhams, stripped out Super charged Jaguars, and what was referred to as a JP2. Which i think were stripped out 911 C2 tip with a GT3 aero and converted to paddle shifts.
All the other cars were all show and power in my opinion. My first time stepping into a Porsche everything felt right. power delivery sharp turn in and just balance. At that point I felt I want one of these and 6 years latter after too many hours researching models test driving various cars and generally finding car salesman fitting the stereo type too well I stumbled on a beautiful GT3 mk 1 Zanzibar Red sat at 911v or prestige cars as they like to be referred to. After a couple of lengthy telephone calls with a guy called Tom and directing me to contact the previous owner I was parted with my hard earned cash. Pretty impressed with 911v and would recommend them. The guys could not do enough. They kept the car stored for me whilst I found a suitable storage facility, put me in touch with a good independent to help with the ongoing maintenance and even went through fitting and sending back various child seats to get the perfect fit.
On to my journey, I have become GT3obsessed over the past few months from buying backdated Porsche magazines featuring GT3 articles and even a beautiful model Zanzibar Red Mk1. Difficult to locate but thanks to EBay parted with further cash.
All in all the free corporate hospitality with Palmer Sport may not have been as free as it first appeared.
First the days of anticipation leading up to pick up the general bouncing around each time my eyes fall on my various screen savers. Not a bad start to my mid life celebration.
Well it is ticking past 11pm and my mind will not shut down. 6.5 hours to wake up to start the journey to pick it up. Let the journey begin!
Approaching Slough station and the anticipation starts. 911v doing a grand job coming to pick me up. Whoop whoop almost with my first Porsche!
A few hundred miles latter and tingle tangle tastic. The car is everything described. It handles sublime. Eats miles without issue. Comfortable. Everything. The sun looks to be coming out so a day in the Malvern hills awaits. Happy happy happy. Let the mid life fun begin!
All the other cars were all show and power in my opinion. My first time stepping into a Porsche everything felt right. power delivery sharp turn in and just balance. At that point I felt I want one of these and 6 years latter after too many hours researching models test driving various cars and generally finding car salesman fitting the stereo type too well I stumbled on a beautiful GT3 mk 1 Zanzibar Red sat at 911v or prestige cars as they like to be referred to. After a couple of lengthy telephone calls with a guy called Tom and directing me to contact the previous owner I was parted with my hard earned cash. Pretty impressed with 911v and would recommend them. The guys could not do enough. They kept the car stored for me whilst I found a suitable storage facility, put me in touch with a good independent to help with the ongoing maintenance and even went through fitting and sending back various child seats to get the perfect fit.
On to my journey, I have become GT3obsessed over the past few months from buying backdated Porsche magazines featuring GT3 articles and even a beautiful model Zanzibar Red Mk1. Difficult to locate but thanks to EBay parted with further cash.
All in all the free corporate hospitality with Palmer Sport may not have been as free as it first appeared.
First the days of anticipation leading up to pick up the general bouncing around each time my eyes fall on my various screen savers. Not a bad start to my mid life celebration.
Well it is ticking past 11pm and my mind will not shut down. 6.5 hours to wake up to start the journey to pick it up. Let the journey begin!
Approaching Slough station and the anticipation starts. 911v doing a grand job coming to pick me up. Whoop whoop almost with my first Porsche!
A few hundred miles latter and tingle tangle tastic. The car is everything described. It handles sublime. Eats miles without issue. Comfortable. Everything. The sun looks to be coming out so a day in the Malvern hills awaits. Happy happy happy. Let the mid life fun begin!
It is great that you got into a GT3 - wonderful cars.
Like Bert, my experience of the JP3 is that they are one of the worst driving experiences on the planet (modesty forbids me for sharing that I have a JP3 trophy from Palmersport
), so I am surprised that is what converted you. End result is good though 
Like Bert, my experience of the JP3 is that they are one of the worst driving experiences on the planet (modesty forbids me for sharing that I have a JP3 trophy from Palmersport
), so I am surprised that is what converted you. End result is good though The Palmer Sports day was my first ever drive in a porsche. I have avfew pics will have to upload latter. What a beautiful day. Sunshine and open roads down into Wales. The car is amazing. It hunts around the road but holds itself in position just feels so solid.. The continuous flow of power is addictive. Totally blown away with the car.
Loved it. Driving it was something else. Gave you a total different view on the quality of roads and how undulated the surfaces are. The car crusies on the motorway without any issues and I clocked over the weekend an avearge of 30mpg which is pretty outstanding.
Next trip is up to Silverstone for some getting to know you time and then back into Wales and up through Snowdonia.
Next trip is up to Silverstone for some getting to know you time and then back into Wales and up through Snowdonia.
BillTheButcher said:
Just read this after you linked in my thread...
Your car is bloody lovely.
One thing I've been meaning to ask about the 996 GT3: it looks really low in all the pictures I've seen of it. Do you have any issues with speed bumps or car park ramps?
I can aswer that for you and the answer is yes. It will ground on every speed bump encountered at less than crawling pace with a full tank of petrol and many car parks are out of bounds, as are car ferries at high and low tide. The individual bumps in the road need to be taken at exactly the right angle too. Also, the ramps on the ferries, dropped kerbs, petrol stations and the like cause grounding. You just have to get used to it. Or do what I did and get rid of the bloody thing.Your car is bloody lovely.
One thing I've been meaning to ask about the 996 GT3: it looks really low in all the pictures I've seen of it. Do you have any issues with speed bumps or car park ramps?
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