996 gt3 or 996 Turbo. Stressed!
Discussion
Good evening,
I am stressing out about buying a 996 Turbo Manual or a 996 GT3.
The GT3 is £10k more but may hold it's value better. However I have seen a few for sale for a while now. I am sure the GT3 will be more of a thrill on the right road, on the right day in the right weather.
The 996 Turbo is £10k cheaper and at the moment seem to sell quicker. However may not hold its value so well as 997 and 991 become cheaper. The Turbo will be more usable and safer on any road in any conditions.
I have seen both cars in the flesh and both are stunning. The Turbo has so much presence and the GT3 looks very special.
I really really can't decide.
I am stressing out about buying a 996 Turbo Manual or a 996 GT3.
The GT3 is £10k more but may hold it's value better. However I have seen a few for sale for a while now. I am sure the GT3 will be more of a thrill on the right road, on the right day in the right weather.
The 996 Turbo is £10k cheaper and at the moment seem to sell quicker. However may not hold its value so well as 997 and 991 become cheaper. The Turbo will be more usable and safer on any road in any conditions.
I have seen both cars in the flesh and both are stunning. The Turbo has so much presence and the GT3 looks very special.
I really really can't decide.
the biggest difference for me other than the obvious power/torque delivery is the steering feel on the GT3. You really notice that it is a lighter car (mine is a CS) with far better turn in (2wd v 4wd).
The turbo is undoubtably suited for the fast A to B journey but has no drama attached as per a 6GT3CS!
The turbo is undoubtably suited for the fast A to B journey but has no drama attached as per a 6GT3CS!
I don't think you'll lose out on buying either a manual 996 turbo or a GT3 as both have moved up.
The 996 GT3 is a far more focused car and on the right road on the right day would be hard to beat.
The 996 turbo is a real all-rounder which is more usable and breathtaking in the wet.
I'd suggest you think how and when you're going to use it, drive both and decide which works for you.
They're both great cars.
The 996 GT3 is a far more focused car and on the right road on the right day would be hard to beat.
The 996 turbo is a real all-rounder which is more usable and breathtaking in the wet.
I'd suggest you think how and when you're going to use it, drive both and decide which works for you.
They're both great cars.
I don't understand how it's a toss up between the two. Have you driven either car yet? They are utterly chalk and cheese. Remember cars are for driving, all this theoretical talk of depreciation and price points is moot. You can't possibly live with a gt3 (IMO) mainly because it depreciates more slowly, you have to enjoy driving it and consider what you'll be using it for very carefully. The two cars (IMO) are not interchangeable.
When I first bought my previous 996.2GT3 I was shocked, yes shocked at how different it was to driving a turbo.
When I first bought my previous 996.2GT3 I was shocked, yes shocked at how different it was to driving a turbo.
Mousem40 said:
I don't understand how it's a toss up between the two. Have you driven either car yet? They are utterly chalk and cheese. Remember cars are for driving, all this theoretical talk of depreciation and price points is moot. You can't possibly live with a gt3 (IMO) mainly because it depreciates more slowly, you have to enjoy driving it and consider what you'll be using it for very carefully. The two cars (IMO) are not interchangeable.
When I first bought my previous 996.2GT3 I was shocked, yes shocked at how different it was to driving a turbo.
I think it is a valid toss up between the two. One is an exciting track car. The other is a devastating road car. I will not use the GT3 on a track and therefore maybe the Turbo is better suited. I watched a video interviewing Walter Rohrl and he said he would have a GT3 for track driving but a Turbo for the road. It is a good decision to have. I should point out I also own a Manual Aston Martin DB9 (which isn't going anywhere).When I first bought my previous 996.2GT3 I was shocked, yes shocked at how different it was to driving a turbo.
Mousem40 said:
I don't understand how it's a toss up between the two. Have you driven either car yet? They are utterly chalk and cheese. Remember cars are for driving, all this theoretical talk of depreciation and price points is moot. You can't possibly live with a gt3 (IMO) mainly because it depreciates more slowly, you have to enjoy driving it and consider what you'll be using it for very carefully. The two cars (IMO) are not interchangeable.
When I first bought my previous 996.2GT3 I was shocked, yes shocked at how different it was to driving a turbo.
Mousem40 is spot-on. I sold my 996.2GT3 to him, as I'd tried to use it as my DD and on reflection that was complete lunacy. It's a wonderful car, though. The turbo, on the other hand, makes a very usable DD. So it all depends on how you want to use it. If it's a special event car, the GT3 wins easily IMHO. When I first bought my previous 996.2GT3 I was shocked, yes shocked at how different it was to driving a turbo.
Jumpingjackflash said:
g7jhp said:
Just seen you're in Glasgow, so the 996 turbo will probably made more sense. 
Ha Ha exactly! 
I have no interest in track driving but for entertaining road driving the GT3 is perfect. And with no nannying systems bar ABS every input (or mistake) is your own. You may not be the quickest but you'll have the biggest smile every time
I have been fortunate to have owned both cars. GT3 is a special car for lots of reasons,noise on full throttle,experience on the road,the stance,it's just exciting.. The turbo on the other hand was simply very very quick in all conditions. They are very different cars.
Driving a GT3 now as an everyday would not be something I would consider, the turbo on the other hand, no problem. That aside, I still hanker after a guards red manual Turbo with the Aerokit.
Driving a GT3 now as an everyday would not be something I would consider, the turbo on the other hand, no problem. That aside, I still hanker after a guards red manual Turbo with the Aerokit.
What are you going to use it for? As you say, turbo is more real world day to day - but if that's not your intended use, that hardly matters.
I wouldn't want a turbo as an occasional car, I don't think it's exciting enough even though it is very fast. I think the turbo and DB9 overlap much more than a GT3 and DB9 would. If it's a sunny weekend car, GT3 definitely.
I wouldn't want a turbo as an occasional car, I don't think it's exciting enough even though it is very fast. I think the turbo and DB9 overlap much more than a GT3 and DB9 would. If it's a sunny weekend car, GT3 definitely.
julesGB said:
I disagee! Since you're already in Glasgow just head north and you have one of the very best GT3 playgrounds anywhere on Earth!
I have no interest in track driving but for entertaining road driving the GT3 is perfect. And with no nannying systems bar ABS every input (or mistake) is your own. You may not be the quickest but you'll have the biggest smile every time
I know exactly where that road is I think??? Is that the A93 just before Lecht Ski School? I have no interest in track driving but for entertaining road driving the GT3 is perfect. And with no nannying systems bar ABS every input (or mistake) is your own. You may not be the quickest but you'll have the biggest smile every time
Totally agree with the GT3 proponents. Self interest here - owner of 996.1 CS K400
One of my best friends had a heavily fettled 996TT - DMS this and that, Manthey KWs, GT2 6-pots, BBS E28s wheels... It was insanely fast and yet so boring compared to my GT3. I also don't get this whole thing that 996TTs are really quick in the wet. So GT3s must be really slow then? If your driving on the public road requires/needs the safety net of 4wd (dubious benefit) and PASM, then either you are going too fast for the conditions or you need some driver training. And no, I am no driving God either
For a daily - sure, the 996TT wins hands down and I like the styling a lot. But for a car that you want to drive the best roads in the UK on a Sunday morning - the GT3 is in a different league...
One of my best friends had a heavily fettled 996TT - DMS this and that, Manthey KWs, GT2 6-pots, BBS E28s wheels... It was insanely fast and yet so boring compared to my GT3. I also don't get this whole thing that 996TTs are really quick in the wet. So GT3s must be really slow then? If your driving on the public road requires/needs the safety net of 4wd (dubious benefit) and PASM, then either you are going too fast for the conditions or you need some driver training. And no, I am no driving God either
For a daily - sure, the 996TT wins hands down and I like the styling a lot. But for a car that you want to drive the best roads in the UK on a Sunday morning - the GT3 is in a different league...
Jumpingjackflash said:
I think it is a valid toss up between the two. One is an exciting track car. The other is a devastating road car. I will not use the GT3 on a track and therefore maybe the Turbo is better suited. I watched a video interviewing Walter Rohrl and he said he would have a GT3 for track driving but a Turbo for the road. It is a good decision to have. I should point out I also own a Manual Aston Martin DB9 (which isn't going anywhere).
I understand fully, because I was where you are now a couple of years back. The one good thing is; there's no 'wrong' answer, as they are both great cars and both run the Mezger engine which has far fewer problems than the cooking 996/7 engine and is also , in itself, a pretty classic bit of engineering.Both cars, even if you buy good examples (FFS, please get a PPI) will take some cash to keep running and, IME, as there's more to go wrong with them, the turbos lose that battle. However, they're cheaper to buy and are definitely very, very usable, even in a 'four seasons in one day' climate like Scotland. No doubt, you can use a GT3 year round, but would need to be a bit handier at the controls!
I'd say the savagery of the n/a GT3 engine is the one thing that could pull your heart strings in that direction, but overall, how wrong can Walter Rorhl be?
Cheburator mk2 said:
I also don't get this whole thing that 996TTs are really quick in the wet.
I have to say IME they are staggering in the wet.I've done some wet driving in RWD stuff, on track days, sprints and hillclimbs, and the way the 996tt puts power down in the wet is superb and very satisfying. It's hard to explain exactly why, but the PSM does seem to allow it to be lively, whilst always retaining control.
Admittedly never tried a GT3 though.
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