996.1 GT3 or 997.1 Turbo?

996.1 GT3 or 997.1 Turbo?

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Discussion

Oliie

Original Poster:

41 posts

102 months

Sunday 22nd May 2016
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Hi all

I've recently sold my 7.2RS (having had a good offer I couldn't refuse) and am looking for something to replace it that will allow me to still have a great car to enjoy while also pocket some of the gains from the 7.2 sale.

A 996.1 GT3 (in Zanzibar Red no less...) and a 997.1 Turbo (Tip, GT silver/black and another in white/terracotta) have become available and they both seem like good options to fill the void left by the RS.

The 996 has about 120k miles on it and has had the engine rebuilt. It has otherwise been well kept and looked after by an enthusiast so has a Guards LSD, cup brakes and so on (I know the previous owners). The Turbo has around 50k miles on it but I don't know the previous owner or how it has been cared for.

We have one toddler and have a Discovery Sport as a weekend family car (during the week the missus uses it). So the Porsche will be my daily driver with occasional toddler transport but I don't do more than 10km a day to commute. I would do occasional track days, around four a year, and country road blasts with the Porsche Club every other month. The rest of the time it would be in city traffic.

I also have a Forester STI - my current day driver - which I am selling (400bhp, meth injection etc) and to be honest love boosted cars as these days it is tough to truly enjoy a gt3 on anything but the best of roads in the right condition. But the 7.2RS always felt special just being an object of mechanical art. Strangely I find the organic swoops and curves of the 996 quite attractive although it looks a little narrow from the rear after the 7.2.

The allure of the turbo is of course a newer car, four seats from the factory and the potential to flash Cobb with minimal modifications and get 800bhp with 4wd. Boom!
I have however heard horrible things about the sluggish Tip although given 80 percent of the time it will be driven in the city that may just about be acceptable. I expect the Turbo will cost more overall given the GT3 values have started to firm up, while the 7.1T doesn't have much to justify its current price holding.

If it were your money what would you do?


Edited by Oliie on Sunday 22 May 02:48

g7jhp

6,961 posts

238 months

Sunday 22nd May 2016
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Go and drive them plus try a 996 turbo and 997.2 C2S as well.

9e 28

9,410 posts

201 months

Sunday 22nd May 2016
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Try a manual 997.1 turbo too - clutch is very light and not a chore in traffic.

You'll struggle to get to 800bhp with a flash and zorst - maybe 550bhp. Gen 2 997 turbo very good too.

arcticGT

977 posts

212 months

Sunday 22nd May 2016
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I'll just post a picture, simples.


Mousem40

1,667 posts

217 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
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You want to drive a gt3 80% of the time in the city? With that clutch and gearbox?
Madness I tells you, madness!

I would rather have my nipples connected to a car battery and have a monkey deciding when I needed electric shock therapy.

Get the turbo, absolute no brainier.

hondansx

4,569 posts

225 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
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I did the daily commute with a 997 GT3, with no silencers! Found the ride and clutch fine; just needed to ensure my bladder was empty before a long journey...

I think you would find a tiptronic 997 Turbo very disappointing. I'd probably put that up there as the most anti-climatic driving experiences i've had. I was really glad to get rid of mine; despite the power it was the most boring car i've ever owned and almost put me off Porsches entirely.

So yeah, i'd go with the GT3! You can always sell it if it doesn't work out.

lemmingjames

7,455 posts

204 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
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If Ollies gearbox on his Foz is anything like mine (though mines an XT), then a GT3 clutch will be lighter (unless my clutch is fked - probably is).

How much you wanting for the Foz as mines starting to need stuff done to it (belts) and not sure if its worth the money doing it.

Oliie

Original Poster:

41 posts

102 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
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9e 28 said:
Try a manual 997.1 turbo too - clutch is very light and not a chore in traffic.

You'll struggle to get to 800bhp with a flash and zorst - maybe 550bhp. Gen 2 997 turbo very good too.
Unfortunately no manual 7.1 Turbo's around otherwise that would most certainly be the one to get! Noted on power. I was thinking of a few extras like intercoolers etc. - basically modifications not requiring the engine be removed and dismantled wink

Oliie

Original Poster:

41 posts

102 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
arcticGT said:
I'll just post a picture, simples.

Nice! I tried to do this in my 7.2RS but gave up.

Is the 996 easy to do? Is there a write up for the install? Thanks!

Oliie

Original Poster:

41 posts

102 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
hondansx said:
I did the daily commute with a 997 GT3, with no silencers! Found the ride and clutch fine; just needed to ensure my bladder was empty before a long journey...

I think you would find a tiptronic 997 Turbo very disappointing. I'd probably put that up there as the most anti-climatic driving experiences i've had. I was really glad to get rid of mine; despite the power it was the most boring car i've ever owned and almost put me off Porsches entirely.

So yeah, i'd go with the GT3! You can always sell it if it doesn't work out.
This. It's what I have heard so many times about the tiptronic, but have yet to try for myself (I've only tried a 991 Turbo PDK). Thanks for the real world experience!

Oliie

Original Poster:

41 posts

102 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
lemmingjames said:
If Ollies gearbox on his Foz is anything like mine (though mines an XT), then a GT3 clutch will be lighter (unless my clutch is fked - probably is).

How much you wanting for the Foz as mines starting to need stuff done to it (belts) and not sure if its worth the money doing it.
I'm not in the UK, but recently sold my FSTi for about 10% more than what I paid for it three years ago. That said it is a very well sorted car - running about 400bhp and a full whiteline upgrade, Tiens, Methanol etc. Overall I love the car but just need to consolidate the garage a bit...

arcticGT

977 posts

212 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
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Oliie said:
Nice! I tried to do this in my 7.2RS but gave up.

Is the 996 easy to do? Is there a write up for the install? Thanks!
All mounting points are there Ollie, only the 7.2 cat be done I think due it being single skin in the rear seat wells.

Porsche911R

21,146 posts

265 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
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Oliie said:
Hi all

If it were your money what would you do?
get the 7.2 RS back or buy a 997.2 GTS :-)

Oliie

Original Poster:

41 posts

102 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
arcticGT said:
All mounting points are there Ollie, only the 7.2 cat be done I think due it being single skin in the rear seat wells.
Oh nice! The car is actually registered four four people on the log card so this is great if easily done.

lemmingjames

7,455 posts

204 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
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arcticGT said:
All mounting points are there Ollie, only the 7.2 cat be done I think due it being single skin in the rear seat wells.


This is what under the carpets look likes on a 996.2 '3 encase your wondering. Every now and then a 996'3 pops up with rear seats in.

Re the Foz, prices over here rose quite a bit a couple of years ago but steadied off and are slowly coming down.

fredt

847 posts

147 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
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arcticGT said:
I'll just post a picture, simples.

Sorry for threadjacking, but I want to do this in my GT2.

Could you give details on what is involved?

Oliie

Original Poster:

41 posts

102 months

Wednesday 25th May 2016
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lemmingjames said:


This is what under the carpets look likes on a 996.2 '3 encase your wondering. Every now and then a 996'3 pops up with rear seats in.

Re the Foz, prices over here rose quite a bit a couple of years ago but steadied off and are slowly coming down.
Excellent, thanks. The front seat doesn't fold forward... Do you find it slides sufficiently to get an adult in the back.. Or just kids?

Slippydiff

14,813 posts

223 months

Wednesday 25th May 2016
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Mousem40 said:
You want to drive a gt3 80% of the time in the city? With that clutch and gearbox?
Madness I tells you, madness!
The only thing that's mad is the assumption you've made that all the 'boxes and clutches are abused and shot. They're not.
A 996 GT3 box, whether Mk 1 or 2 that's been driven properly, and hasn't been fitted with some POS quick shift is a joy use be it out on the open road, on circuit, or around town.
Likewise a fresh clutch with decent (new) fluid, new release bearing ( and more importantly new crosshaft needle roller bearings) should be smooth (and whilst not Nissan Micra 1.0 litre light) more than manageable enough for most.

Post such as yours (and others who post that all 996 GT3's tramline, bumpsteer and are hopeless on the road accordingly) do these cars a great disservice.
Properly maintained (and they're not cheap to do so) 996 GT3's drive beautifully on the road when set up properly by someone who knows what they're doing. Poorly maintained, abused examples that aren't set up properly are just awful to drive (and hard work into the bargain).

lemmingjames

7,455 posts

204 months

Wednesday 25th May 2016
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Oliie said:
Excellent, thanks. The front seat doesn't fold forward... Do you find it slides sufficiently to get an adult in the back.. Or just kids?
I have buckets in mine so i guess it depends on how flexible you are. Should i at some point in the future have kids or get some friends and do the rear seat conversion, then ill be fitting folding buckets up front.

Oliie

Original Poster:

41 posts

102 months

Wednesday 25th May 2016
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So... as if the decision wasn't already hard enough, a 993 C4S Manual has made itself available to me. It's a slight premium to the above options, but it is as good as showroom condition as one will get, in midnight blue. I've always been a sucker for the 993 wide body curves and although I would prefer an arena red turbo, the C4S is as close as I will currently get with what is locally available.

Just when I thought I already had a touch decision to make!