996 GT3 FS

[Mitch911]

Steve Rance said:

I would change the diff for a guards unit as a priority in your ugrade list. At the same time change your final drive ratio and you wont need to change your gearbox ratios.

£ for £ that along with passive dampers will be the most effective upgrades for a 997 GT3.

Agree with this

ST brakes are unnecessary IMO, you have a very good setup already by the sounds of it

I also like the centre silencer delete, if you haven't already done that. Depends which tracks you need to get on though

[IMI A]

Kevin-sz0nv said:

The yellow GT3 on collecting cars is mine as someone has pointed out. I am 64 and a true enthusiast. I have a small collection of cars and I have decided to go and live in the USA where my son and daughter live. I have already sold my Lancia Monte Carlo, the Rolls, X19 and my E30 M3. I have shipped my Alfa Spider over to the states for me to use. I bought the GT3 literally as an investment not to use. Because the car had lived in Cyprus and was a holiday vacation car to me was a real plus point. I have spent many trips to Nurburgring, Spa, Oukton Park etc and the GT3s are the Kings of most track days. My view on low mileage ones are if the mileage is genuine there is every chance most of the miles have been spent flat out on a track or more commonly they have been clocked! We all know how easy it is to have a digital odometer altered and lots do on cars like this because of the values, so being originally from an island in the sun to me was good news it came off the same production line as the UK ones but far more important was the ECU read out that the owner had in his folder as this shows the hours and rev ranges. Think about it how many Porches advertised for sale do you see with this in the advert?

I am not saying all GT3s have been fettled in this way but unless that data is available or the owner will allow you to have it read then walk away. I had the inserts changed to yellow leather but I can have them changed back to original at no cost to the buyer. Yes it's been in my garage a couple of years stood but it was fully serviced and looked over when I bought it and has done less than 500 miles or whatever since. I paid 65k for the car and the following year they were and a few still are at 79k. With emigrating the reserve is a lot lower than I paid so as the advert says my loss could be sometimes gain although I believe it's worth what I paid for it still today there isn't another for sale anywhere as good as this and being on the 06 plate makes it pretty unique. It's the right color in fantastic condition and the mileage is genuine and it's led a sheltered life! Darren at unique Porsche has just put on a new alternator and done a wheel alignment if you want an unbiased opinion of the car please ring him as this was only the 2nd time I have used him so their is no affiliation between us. Whoever buys this car I guarantee it will be free motoring with a big profit in a couple of years as naturally aspirated manual analogue cars like this in this condition will go through the roof.....mark my words I have been into cars like this for over 40 years if I wasn't moving I would never sell this car I would just have sat on it and waited.

Have one eye on this car. Is she original panel no accident car? 42 bids she'll definitely sell IMO

Edited by IMI A on Wednesday 16th December 18:48

[Digga]

Mitch911 said:

Steve Rance said:

I would change the diff for a guards unit as a priority in your ugrade list. At the same time change your final drive ratio and you wont need to change your gearbox ratios.

£ for £ that along with passive dampers will be the most effective upgrades for a 997 GT3.

Agree with this

ST brakes are unnecessary IMO, you have a very good setup already by the sounds of it

I also like the centre silencer delete, if you haven't already done that. Depends which tracks you need to get on though

Sorry, for confusion, but the "to do" list is what I am mulling.

The "done" list is:

• coolant hoses pinned
• Guards diff ramps & new plates
• JCR titanium side silencer delete
• Antigravity battery

Plus, of course the Alcon brakes.

Thank you for the excellent and well meant advice though. It's what makes this forum so great.

[Steve Rance]

Digga said:

Sorry, for confusion, but the "to do" list is what I am mulling.

The "done" list is:

• coolant hoses pinned
• Guards diff ramps & new plates
• JCR titanium side silencer delete
• Antigravity battery

Plus, of course the Alcon brakes.

Thank you for the excellent and well meant advice though. It's what makes this forum so great.

Excellent!

That will be a beautiful car

[LaSource]

Heathrow said:

LaSource said:

Sound advice and the usual unbelievably good photography

I would just like to point out that if you've watched any of LaSource's YT vids, you'll know he can really pedal, which I think is a relevant point when comparing track times 996 GT3 vs GT4. For 95% of keen drivers, an out-of-the-box GT4 will be quicker on track regardless of the spec the 996 GT3 is running.

If you're using the GT4 purely on the road - ditch the Cup2s and run PS4S or equivalent, it will be a more involving and enjoyable driving experience IMHO.

You are too kind Still learning (driving and the photos bit), plenty of much better peddlers around.
In some ways there is no great magic to it, just needs seat time and a bit of friendly competition/motivation.

Agree a GT4 will be better behaved/more accessible for the newer driver. It also will be interesting to see how far the GT4 platform can be stretched with mods - throttle intake, exhaust, tune, passive dampers, shorter ratios, etc. There are a few such cars around but still relatively rare given the platform is newer/still under warranty, etc.

[TDT]

LaSource said:

Agree a GT4 will be better behaved/more accessible for the newer driver. It also will be interesting to see how far the GT4 platform can be stretched with mods - throttle intake, exhaust, tune, passive dampers, shorter ratios, etc. There are a few such cars around but still relatively rare given the platform is newer/still under warranty, etc.

At least one other will be appearing shortly, with almost that full house.

[LaSource]

TDT said:

At least one other will be appearing shortly, with almost that full house.

Well, it will only be a real full house if it is also agate grey

[Slippydiff]

A great video of a fantastic car, shot on superb roads. Sandy, you're a very lucky chap

Enjoy :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=B1...

A shame about the litany of myths perpetuated, specifically about the cage requiring the dash to be hacked out and the steering/suspension making all 996 GT3's unpleasant to drive due to the wheel fidgeting.




PS. Nice plate

[isaldiri]

Digga said:

Sorry, for confusion, but the "to do" list is what I am mulling.

The "done" list is:

• coolant hoses pinned
• Guards diff ramps & new plates
• JCR titanium side silencer delete
• Antigravity battery

Plus, of course the Alcon brakes.

Thank you for the excellent and well meant advice though. It's what makes this forum so great.

Dampers before the ST brakes for sure tbh.....a really good set of them tuned to what you want will imo make a far bigger (and superior) driving experience than changing to the ST brakes ever could.

[ChrisW.]

I own both a 996 GT3 MkI CS and a 981GT4.

I've gone in the opposite direction ... the GT3 has had all it's underpinnings replaced with new to give it the suppleness it had when new ...

The GT4 has full Cup car suspension with KW 3 way Clubsport dampers, engine mods by Jens Ehressman with quiet exhaust giving 430bhp and 340 lb ft, F1R BBS wheels with titanium studs saving 3Kg per corner and ST discs replacing the PCCB's ... for trackdays.

Having now retired I have time to really practice and get going again ... regarding the ST's ... it's not the extra braking endurance (they run so cool) ... rather it's the saving on consumables and their resilience if I do end up in the kitty litter.

Edited by ChrisW. on Wednesday 16th December 21:14

[BrotherMouzone]

Slippydiff said:

A great video of a fantastic car, shot on superb roads. Sandy, you're a very lucky chap

Enjoy :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=B1...

A shame about the litany of myths perpetuated, specifically about the cage requiring the dash to be hacked out and the steering/suspension making all 996 GT3's unpleasant to drive due to the wheel fidgeting.


PS. Nice plate

Odd isn’t it? Mine is a joy on B-road; loose grip and fingertips control are all required. Granted it hasn’t got crazy camber at the front but that’s how I briefed 9E to set my car up for my intended use. (primarily weekend/road trip car plus half a dozen track days pa)

Nice car Sandy!

PS great to see this thread is alive with all the usual contributors. Can’t wait to get back out on track next year.

[Slippydiff]

BrotherMouzone said:

Odd isn’t it? Mine is a joy on B-road; loose grip and fingertips control are all required. Granted it hasn’t got crazy camber at the front but that’s how I briefed 9E to set my car up for my intended use. (primarily weekend/road trip car plus half a dozen track days pa)

Nice car Sandy!

PS great to see this thread is alive with all the usual contributors. Can’t wait to get back out on track next year.

I'm guessing that he was holding the wheel rim in a vice-like grip and fighting the car/it's steering in a vain attempt to keep it tracking straight. Should've just let it breathe ...

[BrotherMouzone]

100% this ^^^

[Sandy59]

Cheers guys, that was recorded quite a while ago, August I think. The steering can be a bit 'engaging' which I quite like, that road is really nice but not the smoothest to be honest. Can't remember him talking about having to cut the dash for the front cage, never heard that before. Another couple of interesting Porsche reviews to come soon I believe.
Yes as was pointed out the reg does suit the car

[Harris_I]

My dash has been cut through but then it is an FIA welded cage, not the clubsport cage. I had the clubsport cage bolted in previously and that doesn't require any butchery (in fact, it hardly does anything for rigidity).

[Harris_I]

ChrisW. said:

regarding the ST's ... it's not the extra braking endurance (they run so cool) ... rather it's the saving on consumables and their resilience if I do end up in the kitty litter.

Very true for the GT3 as well. Even the standard brakes when used well have strong enough retardation that it's really the tyres that are the constraint. Outright retardation is not night and day different just by changing the disks, but the long term cost of running is massively cheaper on floating steels (I have Alcons and they are hard to kill!), and there is an improvement in heat management over a long stint.

The single biggest difference in braking performance was the human element, I found. Having come back to the track after a few years' absence, I was braking too early and cooking my brakes.

[Kevin-sz0nv]

For the gentleman who asked if my yellow car ion collecting cars is original undamaged not repaired or whatever purse let me aspire you it is as good as they come! It seems some people world rather have a C16 made for UK sticker under a bonnet that might be the car's 2nd and the low mileage with no provenance than an imported car that has led a sheltered life off the same production line as a uk one! They tend to forget that every Porsche for sale in the uk has been imported.... From Germany!

[Digga]

What a superb thread! Fascinating, all of it.

Thanks for those offering direct advice, but also thanks to those just being so generous with revealing the nuts & bolts of how/what their GT cars have been developed.

It's good to see so much development being done with the GT4's now too. I can see why people keep Porsches stock, but at the same time, they miss out on so much fun.

[Heathrow]

Harris_I said:

Very true for the GT3 as well. Even the standard brakes when used well have strong enough retardation that it's really the tyres that are the constraint. Outright retardation is not night and day different just by changing the disks, but the long term cost of running is massively cheaper on floating steels (I have Alcons and they are hard to kill!), and there is an improvement in heat management over a long stint.

The single biggest difference in braking performance was the human element, I found. Having come back to the track after a few years' absence, I was braking too early and cooking my brakes.

I run Performance Friction front discs and pads on the GT3 which have been pretty faultless on track although the grooves do make for some noise the longevity has been good. I tend to find I'm noticing the looseness of the rear tyre temps before I notice the brakes temps. Does anyone have any experience of both Alcons and also Performance Friction on the GT3?

[CorradoB]

What a wonderful set of 75+ pages of discussion.

This is definitely contributing to growing the desire of a 996 GT3. I have been looking for a decent (not garage queen) mk1 CS across Europe for so long, but it's proving to be much harder than I expected.

I can see things appear definitely easier (or at least more transparent in terms of online visibility) in the UK, but I am too used to driving on the wrong side of the road to be willing to consider RHD cars

Thanks to all the posters for the great contributions, and please do keep sharing...

Cheers,
Corrado

Edited by CorradoB on Thursday 17th December 13:33