RE: Porsche 911 GT3 (996 Gen.1): Spotted

[GreatPretender]

GregorFuk said:

GreatPretender said:

GregorFuk said:

I know many people would say it does not matter but I just can't get to grips with the interior. It's not classically beautiful like an old Ferrari, nor is it fresh and modern. It's a dog's dinner of hard scratchy plastic. I just could not bring myself to pay big money to sit in something like that, regardless of how good it drives.

To be fair though mate, the 997 is hardly a masterpiece either. The interior remains the same as every 911 before it. Functional. It's the driving experience that matters.

You've lost me there, bud.

[161BMW]

Is it just me ?
I think the 996.1 looks very yuck
996.2 looks much more yummy
Quite like the 993s and 997.2s as well

[Dave 321]

Slippydiff said:

I viewed the car during the summer last year. It was advertised for £50k and sold for somewhere between £48-50k subsequently. Not sure if the current vendor has the car on SOR, but either way I'd suggest there's some kite flying going on.
I don't believe they've reached the vendors asking price quite yet, but it is a rare car being CS spec AND having carbon fibre seats trim along with leather to dash and doors.

I have a similar non ClubSport car with Manthey K400 conversion, ClubSport cage, ClubSport lightweigt flywheel and clutch, carbon fibre leather trimmed seats, carbon fibre trim along with leather, dash and door facings, Mk2 6 pot front brakes, Alcon discs all round, Ohlins 3 way adjustable dampers, 996 Cup rear toe links, 997 Cup rear top mounts and Manthey gearshift.

Whilst my car's not a factory built Clubsport, it does sound considerably better/louder (the yellow car has additional silencers engineered into it's system to make it trackday friendly) it's handling/grip capabilities are way above those of the yellow car (the Ohlins are in another league to the KW's and my car runs on lightly treaded Cup tyres) and pulls harder (the advertised car dyno'd at less than 400hp)

Edited by Slippydiff on Tuesday 11th February 19:11

Slippy I think our cars were separated at birth! Mine has very similar spec now except for nomex recaros!

Only 13 black RHD as I'm sure you know

[bobberz]

Brings back a great memory of mine: my dad and I were driving on a (then seldom traveled) road not too far from my house when, suddenly, a red and silver blur was rapidly approaching from behind. We accelerated our Focus to about 85-90 MPH as a red 996 GT3 was street racing a silver S65 AMG. They literally passed us as if we were standing still! The GT3 appeared to win.

I definitely see a lot more 997 GT3s than 996 versions.

The 996 has always been my least favorite 911, though they are now the most affordable (the basic versions). Personally, the 993 is my favorite. It was truly the end of an era, and, IMO, the best looking 911. I think the 991 is the best looking 911 since the 993. That said, I'll always covet the car that got me into Porsches in the first place: an '80s 911 complete with whale tail spoiler that my neighbor owned when I was growing up.

Closest we ever got to Porsche ownership was an early 912 prepped for club racing and street use. It was $7,000 and I told my dad he'd never get that opportunity again (I wasn't even old enough to drive, so I couldn't buy it). Sure enough, he's been kicking himself ever since. Now, chrome-bumper 912s are approaching $30,000-$40,000. Crazy thing is, that wasn't even ten years ago (I'll be 25 in a little over a month)!

[Digga]

j_s14a said:

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.

^The supply does seem to be lower than of recent times.

I'd agree with others (and I'm no expert in the marque) that the car in the OP is prices very optimistically - yes, perhaps speculatively - but who's to say prices aren't going to move?

I'd also agree with those who are pointing out the bargain that 996 turbos represent right now.

[GregorFuk]

GreatPretender said:

GregorFuk said:

GreatPretender said:

GregorFuk said:

I know many people would say it does not matter but I just can't get to grips with the interior. It's not classically beautiful like an old Ferrari, nor is it fresh and modern. It's a dog's dinner of hard scratchy plastic. I just could not bring myself to pay big money to sit in something like that, regardless of how good it drives.

To be fair though mate, the 997 is hardly a masterpiece either. The interior remains the same as every 911 before it. Functional. It's the driving experience that matters.

You've lost me there, bud.

Seriously?

Can somebody help him out or did it go over everybody's head?

[GreatPretender]

GregorFuk said:

Seriously?

Can somebody help him out or did it go over everybody's head?

It was just a simple point, mate. No 911 has ever been bought for its interior aesthetic. Sure, the 997 is nicer inside (relatively speaking) than its 996 forbear, but it's still not a particularity inspiring cabin.

If I were to buy a 996 again, I wouldn't think twice about its cabin ambiance.

[Herman Toothrot]

Other than the looks of 911's which i have always loved I do think they are a bit unremarkable to drive, admit I've not driven many, a modified 993 C2, 996 C4, 997 & passenger on track on a 996 Turbo. Ignoring all the hyperbole completely going on my own thoughts when driving them the 997 felt a far, far more accomplished car than the others but even that didn't feel anywhere near as resolved as a 986 Boxster S. I can't help but feel prices are not driven by anything other than pose value 'I've got the rarest one, last off the original production line etc', common = cheap, rare = expensive.

[marky911]

GregorFuk said:

I know many people would say it does not matter but I just can't get to grips with the interior. It's not classically beautiful like an old Ferrari, nor is it fresh and modern. It's a dog's dinner of hard scratchy plastic. I just could not bring myself to pay big money to sit in something like that, regardless of how good it drives.

360 interiors are gash! The rubber peels off the heater controls and they look like they've done 100k after 30k miles.
Interior gadgets are not why you buy a GT3. Buy a nice big Merc for that.

[all2ofme]

Slippydiff said:

Mk1 rear wing one of the finest to grace a water-cooled Porsche to date.

Yeahhhhhh!

[LaurasOtherHalf]

marky911 said:

360 interiors are gash! The rubber peels off the heater controls and they look like they've done 100k after 30k miles

Or is it that most of them have done 100k rather than the 30k the odometer shows?

[GregorFuk]

GreatPretender said:

GregorFuk said:

Seriously?

Can somebody help him out or did it go over everybody's head?

It was just a simple point, mate. No 911 has ever been bought for its interior aesthetic. Sure, the 997 is nicer inside (relatively speaking) than its 996 forbear, but it's still not a particularity inspiring cabin.

If I were to buy a 996 again, I wouldn't think twice about its cabin ambiance.

I'd say that places you in a very small minority given how much Porsche have spent bringing their interiors up to snuff.

[m444ttb]

Can anyone put into context what the interior is like? BMW e36 and e46 3-series are the cars Im most famliar with. Better than both in terms of material quality (design is another matter)? or somewhere in between.

[kambites]

GregorFuk said:

I'd say that places you in a very small minority given how much Porsche have spent bringing their interiors up to snuff.

A small minority of new buyers certainly - if Porsche have proven one thing time and time again, it's that they know (and are good at manipulating) their market. It's harder to say how the second-hand market views such things but for some reason I can't quantify, I suspect buyers of 15 year-old 911s probably tend to put dynamics relatively higher and interior plastics relatively lower on their priority lists than new buyers.

[kambites]

m444ttb said:

Can anyone put into context what the interior is like? BMW e36 and e46 3-series are the cars Im most famliar with. Better than both in terms of material quality (design is another matter)? or somewhere in between.

I'd say the 997 is above both BMWs in terms of perceived interior quality; the 996 is probably between the two. It's a very subjective thing, though.

[GreatPretender]

GregorFuk said:

I'd say that places you in a very small minority given how much Porsche have spent bringing their interiors up to snuff.

Well bud, having spent some time in my 997 GT3 this weekend, leather dash or not, the interior is the last thing I would mention when praising the overall package.

Admittedly, my previous C2S did have the Cocoa leather option, which gave the interior some character, but again, I really couldn't give two stuffs about the quality of the plastics etc. As long as it all holds together, I'm happy. It's the drive that matters.

Sounds like you'd appreciate the 991 though. Porsche have seemingly invested all their energy into the interior quality (lots of glitzy chrome and fancy graphics) and seemingly forgotten about making it drive like a 911.

[GregorFuk]

GreatPretender said:

GregorFuk said:

I'd say that places you in a very small minority given how much Porsche have spent bringing their interiors up to snuff.

Well bud, having spent some time in my 997 GT3 this weekend, leather dash or not, the interior is the last thing I would mention when praising the overall package.

Admittedly, my previous C2S did have the Cocoa leather option, which gave the interior some character, but again, I really couldn't give two stuffs about the quality of the plastics etc. As long as it all holds together, I'm happy. It's the drive that matters.

Sounds like you'd appreciate the 991 though. Porsche have seemingly invested all their energy into the interior quality (lots of glitzy chrome and fancy graphics) and seemingly forgotten about making it drive like a 911.

Again. Given these are luxury items I think you are in the minority. Most people would be expecting a high level of quality for their ~£60/70/80/90K when buying a new Porsche. Even if that luxury has a performance slant they'd want it to do more than "hold together". I would say that most people would perceive the interior of the earlier air cooled cars to be of far better quality than the 996, it really was a low point. The 997 was the beginning of the recovery and a vast improvement, and so it continues.

If I only had a small budget and simply had to get my bum in a Porsche I'd perhaps pick up a 996 up a suck up the crap interior (More likely I'd try and find a nice 968CS). But pay 997 GT3 money to sit in a 996? No chance!

[Lightningman]

GregorFuk said:

But pay 997 GT3 money to sit in a 996? No chance!

...or for one that has been completely repainted, poorly, by one of the previous owners.

[ClarkPB]

It's all personal taste at the end of the day.

I love the interior in my 996 (and I spend alot of time in 997's and 991's). The lack of driver aid buttons and pretty much anything else is what the car is about. The nomex recaros, harnesses, fire extinguisher in the footwell and roll cage more than make it feel like a special occasion every time im in it - and that's before I've even started it up and heard that lovely bag of nails sounding engine

The interior could be pink and I still don't think I'd care that much!

Edited by ClarkPB on Wednesday 12th February 13:24

[GreatPretender]

GregorFuk said:

Again. Given these are luxury items I think you are in the minority. Most people would be expecting a high level of quality for their ~£60/70/80/90K when buying a new Porsche. Even if that luxury has a performance slant they'd want it to do more than "hold together". I would say that most people would perceive the interior of the earlier air cooled cars to be of far better quality than the 996, it really was a low point. The 997 was the beginning of the recovery and a vast improvement, and so it continues.

If I only had a small budget and simply had to get my bum in a Porsche I'd perhaps pick up a 996 up a suck up the crap interior (More likely I'd try and find a nice 968CS). But pay 997 GT3 money to sit in a 996? No chance!

Does the buyer of an Exige S or Noble M600 care about interior aesthetic? Same argument applies to the GT3.

I accept that this holds less water when the test is applied to the lower models in the range, but the 911's core principle has always been about what it does rather than how it looks. But that's missing the point: this thread is about a £60k 996 GT3 and not a cooking Carrera.