Anyone gone from a 6GT3 to a 6C2?
Discussion
I am seriously considering letting my GT3 go, I have owned it for 18 months now and due to a change in circumstances shortly after purchasing it, it spends most of its time sitting in the garage and I have only managed 1300 miles in it. The only good thing about that is that prices have rocketed, pure luck and was not why it was purchased and to be honest it is criminal it not being used.
Anyway, now thinking of letting it go and just buying a 6C2 or similar and just use it more as a daily rather than a high days and holidays car which is not happening and in years to come when things hopefully settle down again possibly get back in to another GT (if they are not totally out of reach by then) I know there is a risk of that. The biggest problem I have is I absolutely love the GT3, when I first drove it it just reminded me of being back in a go-cart, that is apart from loving the look of it in viper green.
So how much different is the drive/feel of a C2 compared to a GT3 on the road?
Anyway, now thinking of letting it go and just buying a 6C2 or similar and just use it more as a daily rather than a high days and holidays car which is not happening and in years to come when things hopefully settle down again possibly get back in to another GT (if they are not totally out of reach by then) I know there is a risk of that. The biggest problem I have is I absolutely love the GT3, when I first drove it it just reminded me of being back in a go-cart, that is apart from loving the look of it in viper green.
So how much different is the drive/feel of a C2 compared to a GT3 on the road?
keep it lit said:
Not made this move, and sad to hear you may have to let the 3 go 
But I'd really try a 996T as a replacement instead of a C2 mate !!!
Don't have to let it go, just thinking it might be a good move and just buy a cheaper C2 or something similar that I would be more inclined to use a lot more of the time rather than the GT3 that is just sitting in the garage. It could easily be 2 years before things change and using it frequently becomes a reality. But I'd really try a 996T as a replacement instead of a C2 mate !!!
Trying to get hold of a manual Turbo would be a challenge in itself, and given what they are changing hands for at the moment would I not be better off just keeping the 3 if that was what I decided.
i had a 3.4 C2 and just recently got a 996.2GT3, they are worlds apart, having said that the C2 is extremely competent and possibly easier to press on in along bumpy b roads, you'll miss the engine element of the GT3 and from what i can gather thats the bit that is hardest to recreate, the csr package looks very tempting but does it defeat the object if you want to bank some money and just have a great all rounder daily drive - which the C2 does very well.
I have plenty of time with both. The 996 C2 is a fantastic little car which with some light mods can be quite wonderful to drive.
It is, and will never be a GT3 though. As already mentioned, the GT3 - and particularly the 996 - is a combo of platform and engine. While the platform side can be easily addressed on the C2 the engine side cannot.
As a side bar, it is the character and delivery of the engine itself rather than its power that makes it stand out. I have driven a C2 with a race built engine producing more power than a GT3 and the cars still inhabited different spheres.
(Note this is why I am lukewarm about the GT4. The 3.8 engine in it does not have the requirements to bridge that gap from cooking type cars over to the GT3 type cars. It merely offers more power than the currently available engines.)
The 996 C2 is highly underrated from a drivers perspective and while subjective, I think its oft maligned looks are coming to it on todays roads. It is entirely possible to have a lot of fun with one, especially with a few changes to make it more driver focussed. Coming from a GT3 much of it mechanically will make sense to you. The only caveat is that it will never offer exactly what the GT3 does. You need to work out whether that will be enough given the GT3 currently offers so little opportunity for use.
It is, and will never be a GT3 though. As already mentioned, the GT3 - and particularly the 996 - is a combo of platform and engine. While the platform side can be easily addressed on the C2 the engine side cannot.
As a side bar, it is the character and delivery of the engine itself rather than its power that makes it stand out. I have driven a C2 with a race built engine producing more power than a GT3 and the cars still inhabited different spheres.
(Note this is why I am lukewarm about the GT4. The 3.8 engine in it does not have the requirements to bridge that gap from cooking type cars over to the GT3 type cars. It merely offers more power than the currently available engines.)
The 996 C2 is highly underrated from a drivers perspective and while subjective, I think its oft maligned looks are coming to it on todays roads. It is entirely possible to have a lot of fun with one, especially with a few changes to make it more driver focussed. Coming from a GT3 much of it mechanically will make sense to you. The only caveat is that it will never offer exactly what the GT3 does. You need to work out whether that will be enough given the GT3 currently offers so little opportunity for use.
fioran0 said:
I have plenty of time with both. The 996 C2 is a fantastic little car which with some light mods can be quite wonderful to drive.
It is, and will never be a GT3 though. As already mentioned, the GT3 - and particularly the 996 - is a combo of platform and engine. While the platform side can be easily addressed on the C2 the engine side cannot.
As a side bar, it is the character and delivery of the engine itself rather than its power that makes it stand out. I have driven a C2 with a race built engine producing more power than a GT3 and the cars still inhabited different spheres.
(Note this is why I am lukewarm about the GT4. The 3.8 engine in it does not have the requirements to bridge that gap from cooking type cars over to the GT3 type cars. It merely offers more power than the currently available engines.)
The 996 C2 is highly underrated from a drivers perspective and while subjective, I think its oft maligned looks are coming to it on todays roads. It is entirely possible to have a lot of fun with one, especially with a few changes to make it more driver focussed. Coming from a GT3 much of it mechanically will make sense to you. The only caveat is that it will never offer exactly what the GT3 does. You need to work out whether that will be enough given the GT3 currently offers so little opportunity for use.
And what might be these few changes of which you speak, to make the '6 C2 more driver focused? Interested!It is, and will never be a GT3 though. As already mentioned, the GT3 - and particularly the 996 - is a combo of platform and engine. While the platform side can be easily addressed on the C2 the engine side cannot.
As a side bar, it is the character and delivery of the engine itself rather than its power that makes it stand out. I have driven a C2 with a race built engine producing more power than a GT3 and the cars still inhabited different spheres.
(Note this is why I am lukewarm about the GT4. The 3.8 engine in it does not have the requirements to bridge that gap from cooking type cars over to the GT3 type cars. It merely offers more power than the currently available engines.)
The 996 C2 is highly underrated from a drivers perspective and while subjective, I think its oft maligned looks are coming to it on todays roads. It is entirely possible to have a lot of fun with one, especially with a few changes to make it more driver focussed. Coming from a GT3 much of it mechanically will make sense to you. The only caveat is that it will never offer exactly what the GT3 does. You need to work out whether that will be enough given the GT3 currently offers so little opportunity for use.
fioran0 said:
The 996 C2 is highly underrated from a drivers perspective and while subjective, I think its oft maligned looks are coming to it on todays roads. It is entirely possible to have a lot of fun with one, especially with a few changes to make it more driver focussed. Coming from a GT3 much of it mechanically will make sense to you. The only caveat is that it will never offer exactly what the GT3 does. You need to work out whether that will be enough given the GT3 currently offers so little opportunity for use.
Totally agree. I went from 6C4 to 6C2 to 6GT3 and can say that the GT is more than the sum of its parts. My C2 had KW suspension and Manthey exhaust amongst other things but wasn't a patch on the experience of driving the GT. I would never go back the other way now. The test for me is you're driving the C2 and pull up to a set of lights, a 6GT3 pulls up next to you. Do you look longingly at the GT?
I went from a gorgeous 7.1 GT3 that I simply wasn't using, to a 996 Turbo S that I use now on at least a weekly basis. The GT3 wasn't very usable with a young family, unless I was willing to hack about with the interior. I was on the verge of doing that, but the opportunity came up to buy a house, and the £60k from selling the GT3 was more useful to turn into another bedroom.
5 months later, I ended up spending half the proceeds from the GT3 on the 996, and it's far from half the car. Yes, it isn't anything like as sharp as the GT3, but after 6 months of driving a diesel BMW the 996 felt more than responsive enough. The fact that it has back seats, so occasionally gets used for the whole family, plus the very different power delivery, make it enjoyable in a different way. I now use it for everything from weekend blasts, and the odd trip away with the family, to weekly trips for work; the GT3 was a pure toy by comparison.
My only regret is that my 14k mile 7.1 GT3 comfort would now be worth about £15-20k more than I sold it for. Of course, my Turbo S also seems to be worth £10-15k more than I paid for it 3 years ago, so I can't complain too much :-) Just don't do it hoping to get back into a GT3 in the future, as who knows which way prices will go. Do it if you really want a change now, have a good reason not to have the cash tied up in your GT3, or feel you'll be happy to take your money and run!
Pete
5 months later, I ended up spending half the proceeds from the GT3 on the 996, and it's far from half the car. Yes, it isn't anything like as sharp as the GT3, but after 6 months of driving a diesel BMW the 996 felt more than responsive enough. The fact that it has back seats, so occasionally gets used for the whole family, plus the very different power delivery, make it enjoyable in a different way. I now use it for everything from weekend blasts, and the odd trip away with the family, to weekly trips for work; the GT3 was a pure toy by comparison.
My only regret is that my 14k mile 7.1 GT3 comfort would now be worth about £15-20k more than I sold it for. Of course, my Turbo S also seems to be worth £10-15k more than I paid for it 3 years ago, so I can't complain too much :-) Just don't do it hoping to get back into a GT3 in the future, as who knows which way prices will go. Do it if you really want a change now, have a good reason not to have the cash tied up in your GT3, or feel you'll be happy to take your money and run!
Pete
r4_rick said:
i had a 3.4 C2 and just recently got a 996.2GT3, they are worlds apart, having said that the C2 is extremely competent and possibly easier to press on in along bumpy b roads, you'll miss the engine element of the GT3 and from what i can gather thats the bit that is hardest to recreate, the csr package looks very tempting but does it defeat the object if you want to bank some money and just have a great all rounder daily drive - which the C2 does very well.
Agree on all points. Well said. 
fioran0 said:
I have plenty of time with both. The 996 C2 is a fantastic little car which with some light mods can be quite wonderful to drive.
It is, and will never be a GT3 though. As already mentioned, the GT3 - and particularly the 996 - is a combo of platform and engine. While the platform side can be easily addressed on the C2 the engine side cannot.
As a side bar, it is the character and delivery of the engine itself rather than its power that makes it stand out. I have driven a C2 with a race built engine producing more power than a GT3 and the cars still inhabited different spheres.
(Note this is why I am lukewarm about the GT4. The 3.8 engine in it does not have the requirements to bridge that gap from cooking type cars over to the GT3 type cars. It merely offers more power than the currently available engines.)
The 996 C2 is highly underrated from a drivers perspective and while subjective, I think its oft maligned looks are coming to it on todays roads. It is entirely possible to have a lot of fun with one, especially with a few changes to make it more driver focussed. Coming from a GT3 much of it mechanically will make sense to you. The only caveat is that it will never offer exactly what the GT3 does. You need to work out whether that will be enough given the GT3 currently offers so little opportunity for use.
Thanks for the comprehensive reply, I know it won't be the same but if it actually gets used it would be more rewarding.It is, and will never be a GT3 though. As already mentioned, the GT3 - and particularly the 996 - is a combo of platform and engine. While the platform side can be easily addressed on the C2 the engine side cannot.
As a side bar, it is the character and delivery of the engine itself rather than its power that makes it stand out. I have driven a C2 with a race built engine producing more power than a GT3 and the cars still inhabited different spheres.
(Note this is why I am lukewarm about the GT4. The 3.8 engine in it does not have the requirements to bridge that gap from cooking type cars over to the GT3 type cars. It merely offers more power than the currently available engines.)
The 996 C2 is highly underrated from a drivers perspective and while subjective, I think its oft maligned looks are coming to it on todays roads. It is entirely possible to have a lot of fun with one, especially with a few changes to make it more driver focussed. Coming from a GT3 much of it mechanically will make sense to you. The only caveat is that it will never offer exactly what the GT3 does. You need to work out whether that will be enough given the GT3 currently offers so little opportunity for use.
pete said:
I went from a gorgeous 7.1 GT3 that I simply wasn't using, to a 996 Turbo S that I use now on at least a weekly basis. The GT3 wasn't very usable with a young family, unless I was willing to hack about with the interior. I was on the verge of doing that, but the opportunity came up to buy a house, and the £60k from selling the GT3 was more useful to turn into another bedroom.
5 months later, I ended up spending half the proceeds from the GT3 on the 996, and it's far from half the car. Yes, it isn't anything like as sharp as the GT3, but after 6 months of driving a diesel BMW the 996 felt more than responsive enough. The fact that it has back seats, so occasionally gets used for the whole family, plus the very different power delivery, make it enjoyable in a different way. I now use it for everything from weekend blasts, and the odd trip away with the family, to weekly trips for work; the GT3 was a pure toy by comparison.
My only regret is that my 14k mile 7.1 GT3 comfort would now be worth about £15-20k more than I sold it for. Of course, my Turbo S also seems to be worth £10-15k more than I paid for it 3 years ago, so I can't complain too much :-) Just don't do it hoping to get back into a GT3 in the future, as who knows which way prices will go. Do it if you really want a change now, have a good reason not to have the cash tied up in your GT3, or feel you'll be happy to take your money and run!
Pete
If I needed the money my decision would be so much simpler, it is just about if I would use something like the C2 a lot more.5 months later, I ended up spending half the proceeds from the GT3 on the 996, and it's far from half the car. Yes, it isn't anything like as sharp as the GT3, but after 6 months of driving a diesel BMW the 996 felt more than responsive enough. The fact that it has back seats, so occasionally gets used for the whole family, plus the very different power delivery, make it enjoyable in a different way. I now use it for everything from weekend blasts, and the odd trip away with the family, to weekly trips for work; the GT3 was a pure toy by comparison.
My only regret is that my 14k mile 7.1 GT3 comfort would now be worth about £15-20k more than I sold it for. Of course, my Turbo S also seems to be worth £10-15k more than I paid for it 3 years ago, so I can't complain too much :-) Just don't do it hoping to get back into a GT3 in the future, as who knows which way prices will go. Do it if you really want a change now, have a good reason not to have the cash tied up in your GT3, or feel you'll be happy to take your money and run!
Pete
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