Tuesday 11th February 2014

Porsche 911 GT3 (996 Gen.1): Spotted

Cease arguing over the 991 for just one moment, have you seen what a 996 costs now?

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Tomorrow's Chris Harris video will feature the latest 911 GT3 being hooned on British roads, with an Aston V12 Vantage S and Mercedes C63 AMG Black. It promises to be a stunning video, and will no doubt spur on the furious discussion around the 991.

Let the Mezger eulogies begin

Has it become simply too capable for UK road use? Does it need a track to be properly enjoyed? Chris has already proffered his view on PDK, we've all reminded ourselves how joyous the 997 Gen.2 GT3 was, and so now another dimension can be added to the debate.

But as apparently the entire PH community ponders the Porsche GT3 right now, the values of previous iterations seems to have gone largely unnoticed. Take this 996.1 Clubsport for example. Writing our GT3 market watch last year the very best 996 Gen.1 was around £50K; just a few months later and this car is nearly £60,000.

And that's for a car that cost £76,500 new 15 years ago. But there's an even greater indicator to the amazing recent rise in 996 values, with this 997 Gen.1 GT3 less than a thousand pounds more and having covered only an extra four thousand miles.

Nothing much to distract you here!

The 'which 996 GT3 is best?' debate is probably as intense as the PDK one; Harris prefers the Gen.2, the market seemingly in favour of the rarer Gen.1. This 2005 GT3, with half the miles of the 1999 car, is nearly £10,000 less. Perhaps now is the time to snap up a Gen.2 996...

The first GT3 is also Walter Rohrl's favourite, and perhaps that explains the reverential appreciation in which its held. The 996.1 was unashamedly focused and uncompromised, the kind of hardcore and track dedicated Porsche we probably won't see again. The later ones probably were better road cars, but that singularity of purpose and rarity give it undeniable appeal.

With its Manthey engine work and JZM suspension fettling, this car will probably offer and even more immersive GT3 experience. Some may say it's been unnecessarily played with.

But if you want a 996 GT3, it's this or nothing for now in the PH Classifieds. With a 993 RS now at £139,995, are early GT3s are going the same way?

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PORSCHE 911 GT3 CLUBSPORT (996 GEN.1)
Engine: 3,600cc flat-6
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 360@7,200rpm
Torque (lb ft): 272@5,000rpm
MPG: 21.9
CO2: N/A
Recorded mileage: 24,000
Year registered: 1999
Price new: £76,500
Yours for: £58,950

See the original advert here

[hwajones]

I dont get the GT3 thing...
I'd be buying a mint Turbo at half the money?!

[GreatPretender]

Very steep asking price for a 'well loved' and non-standard car. Would expect it to be box fresh for that money.

[Bonefish Blues]

olly22n][ruesmissedopportunity said:

:bangshead:

x2

[Housey]

hwajones said:

I dont get the GT3 thing...
I'd be buying a mint Turbo at half the money?!

Have you driven either? Without doing so it's little surprise you don't 'get the GT3 thing'. You might after a drive of both still prefer the turbo of course, for such a decision is subjective, but I think without driving either it's no surprise you don't get it.

[melvster]

Lush

[leon9191]

I keep my eye on 996 prices in general and they look to be firming up across the board (from my Layman’s point of view) well spec'd low mile examples of the 4S are pushing 25K with a manual box which was Turbo money 12-18 months ago.

I know the issue with the IMS Bearing still hampers prices of both 996 and 997s but I wonder if in a few years a 996 will actually command more than a similar spec 997 as they are that much rarer, in particular good examples of 996 C2s with manual gear boxes stand out like sore thumbs in the classifieds next to the sea of C4S Tips.

[soad]

hwajones said:

I dont get the GT3 thing...
I'd be buying a mint Turbo at half the money?!

Read this

[Richair]

This time last year when perusing 996 GT3's (not that I had/have the means to buy one) they did seem very good value at 35-50K and it seems I was right! In fact I think several times in the pub I think I may have said "If I had a spare £40k it would be a gen-1 GT3..." But I didn't and my chances of ever owning one are now drifting further away

The market seems to move very quickly for certain cars! E30 M3's, s1 Exige's case in point...

[Evo]

Buy a Turbo if you can't afford a GT3, which is what I'll be doing however if I could afford a GT3 there would be no argument at all.

Much more focussed, the car would feel a lot more "special" and a far better investment.

[hondansx]

Found it a very disappointing car to drive; quite happy for this one to go outside of my reach, as per the ridiculously overrated 964RS!

[hwajones]

Housey said:

hwajones said:

I dont get the GT3 thing...
I'd be buying a mint Turbo at half the money?!

Have you driven either? Without doing so it's little surprise you don't 'get the GT3 thing'. You might after a drive of both still prefer the turbo of course, for such a decision is subjective, but I think without driving either it's no surprise you don't get it.

Have driven a turbo, never a GT3

[Sierra Mike]

Well written article and very topical right now. Not only has the 991 GT3 lost hydraulic steering, the Metzger engine and manual gearbox but it has gained an unprecedented amount of technology. It was inevitable that preceding GT3s would become increasingly desirable as the driving experience that was once offered by Porsche is fast disappearing. The earlier ones are more track oriented whereas the later ones offer a good compromise between road and track. Get one while you can ... they're going fast!

Sorry, couldn't help myself!

[Ti22]

Oooh, a car I know well! (detailed it for a previous owner) Lovely thing - especially with the Manthey engine and front half of the cage. (love how GT3's have the carpet cutouts ready for this)

Not sure it's 58K lovely, but my opinion is that 996's in general and especially GT3's are going to be good news over the next 5-10 years.. not that it's worth anything!

[British Beef]

As an alternative, I would punt my money on an Esprit Sport 350 (much rarer, better looking and faster around a track), and with the change an S2 Exige. For me that would feel like much better value for my £50-60k!!!!

[Henry Fiddleton]

And yet most people think the 996 is cr@p...

[Fulla]

hwajones said:

Have driven a turbo, never a GT3

I drove both back to back a few years ago. I had always wanted a 911 Turbo but after trying the 996TT I was left disappointed. Stepping into the GT3 (a 996.2 GT3) as soon as I started the engine I knew this was more what I was looking for.
It felt more alive, more responsive, faster, more nimble etc,etc. The TT just left me cold. I couldn't believe how right the GT3 felt and for me it ticked all the boxes.
Interestingly this was at OPC Reading and after discussing my car history and what I was looking for the salesperson was convinced the TT was for me and really tried to put me off the GT3.
Did I end up getting the GT3.....well no I ended up trading my 996 for a 993, I am not dissapointed in the route I took. However I still want and need a GT3 in my life and maybe one day I will get that 996.(or maybe the 997 GT3).
If you get the chance to try both do it. I think you are either a Turbo person or GT3.

[B17NNS]

70% of the car for £12k?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

[red997]

oh that makes me so happy having sold my guards red mk1 CS last year.

not.

[Dave Hedgehog]

how much longer can this bubble keep going?

[j_s14a]

I'm currently looking to buy a 996.1 GT3. I want a standard car, with sensible miles, and just can't find anything.

I suspect that owners realize that values are going to skyrocket before long.