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

[GregorFuk]

GreatPretender said:

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.

Again these buyers represent a minority, simple sales figures tell you that.

[redroadster]

Bit of subject but i would like some advice want to scratch porche itch without spending too much £10,000 will be used as fun car does not have to house children so boxster or 996 ? which would you risk the money on and is there any warrantys worth buying which would pay out in the event of a major crisis etc.

[braddo]

GregorFuk said:

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.

What?

The air-cooled cars received constant criticism for at least 15 years for interiors that aesthetically, were very old fashioned and ergonomically, were a disaster.

Some perspective on old Porsche interiors is needed.

[Fast Bug]

redroadster said:

Bit of subject but i would like some advice want to scratch porche itch without spending too much £10,000 will be used as fun car does not have to house children so boxster or 996 ? which would you risk the money on and is there any warrantys worth buying which would pay out in the event of a major crisis etc.

I wouldn't put my £10k in to a 996, there are a lot of dogs around at that money

[CHIEF]

redroadster said:

Bit of subject but i would like some advice want to scratch porche itch without spending too much £10,000 will be used as fun car does not have to house children so boxster or 996 ? which would you risk the money on and is there any warrantys worth buying which would pay out in the event of a major crisis etc.

Like some I used to take the piss out of Boxsters, hairdressers cars etc etc, Then my pal bought one, Then I drove it then drove it some more, Not the fastest but probably the best cars i've ever driven.

I'd buy one tomrorrow if i could and balls to the silly comments.

[redroadster]

Thanks for that i am viewing the boxster as prob the one i will go for ,any body else no about best warranty companies?



Like some I used to take the piss out of Boxsters, hairdressers cars etc etc, Then my pal bought one, Then I drove it then drove it some more, Not the fastest but probably the best cars i've ever driven.

I'd buy one tomrorrow if i could and balls to the silly comments.
[/quote]

[braddo]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I would disagree and say the term "interior quality" as generally used is a pretty broad term, which includes the ambience and user-friendliness as much as physical durability. My impression is when most people talk about interior quality, what it is really about is how it makes them feel.

That is, if it looks good and the controls are nice to touch, it's "high quality" but if not, it's all Japanese and/or cheap feeling even though the actual long-term reliability (let's call it functional quality) may be no different.

Gregor likes the 997 interior because it's attractive and appears good quality, yet you say 997s don't feel high quality because they're not heavy. It's all perception.

It may be that air-cooled 911s' interiors have excellent functional quality (i.e. reliable and hard wearing) and in that strict sense are better than 996s. But when 996s were launched, my recollection is that praise for the improved interior was universal. However, ever since the MkIV Golf, average car interiors have become much, much nicer so the 996's doesn't compare as well as it did 15 years ago.

[S1MMA]

British Beef said:

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!!!!

I have a soft spot for the v8 esprit, especially the sport 350, but let's not get ahead of ourselves, they are not faster then a GT3 (any variant) around a track.


(Track)________(996 911 GT3) (Esprit Sport 350)
Nordschleife________7:54.00___8:13.00
Hockenheim Short___1:13.20___1:15.30
Brands Hatch (Indy)__54.20_____56.50

19 seconds slower around the ring is quite telling, an 8.13 time is the same as a Ferrari F355 or a v10 M5 estate for reference.

[ClarkPB]

I see this GT3 has now sold!

Got to admit it went quicker than I thought it would.

[jackal]

S1MMA said:

I have a soft spot for the v8 esprit, especially the sport 350, but let's not get ahead of ourselves, they are not faster then a GT3 (any variant) around a track.


(Track)________(996 911 GT3) (Esprit Sport 350)
Nordschleife________7:54.00___8:13.00
Hockenheim Short___1:13.20___1:15.30
Brands Hatch (Indy)__54.20_____56.50

19 seconds slower around the ring is quite telling, an 8.13 time is the same as a Ferrari F355 or a v10 M5 estate for reference.

No offence but the Sport 350 is a piece of throaway junk compared to any gt3. Lovely ride and handling of course but the most revolting drivetrain whether in early stevens guise or V8/S350.