991 GT3 vs. 997 GT3 RS (G2)

991 GT3 vs. 997 GT3 RS (G2)

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RSVP911

Original Poster:

8,192 posts

132 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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RSVP911 said:
Ok , quick question : Who has swopped out of a 997 gen2 RS into a 991 GT3 ? What are you thoughts ? I have to say I'm very tempted to get a 997 g2 RS , as I'm pretty sure I have no chance of getting a 991 allocation , but more importantly , I just love the purity of it and the fact that they look just bonkers . I guess what I really want to know is , after getting the 991 GT3 if anyone is missing their old 997 RS and wished they hadn't made the change ? Maybe someone is lucky enough to have both and if so, which one would you keep if forced to make the choice ? (I realise this is tantamount to deciding which child you'd have to give up , so sorry to put you in that position) Any advice would be appreciated as I can feel the itch that was buried deep inside surfacing - help !
Edited by RSVP911 on Saturday 25th October 09:54

DT398

1,745 posts

147 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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I have got both. Well, I have a 997.2 RS and had a 991 GT3 that I sold pending one coming to my spec at the end of November.

IMHO, the only thing they really have in common is the GT3 name. The 991 feels pin sharp in terms of handling compared to the 997 but the 997 definitely feels more "alive" iin the way it handles and you really have to drive it more to get the most out of it. You can't just plant your right foot and hang on like you can in the 991. I suppose the chassis development and RWS on the 991 has moved the handling game on and you would expect it to be more precise than the 997. Somehow the 997 feels like a "proper" track car whereas the 991 feels like a modern 911. Having said that, with the same tyres the 991 will be quicker on a track. I personally think the 997.2 RS is a much better looking car than the 991.

If I had to sell one it would be the 991 as I'm sure there will be something fairly similar (just a bit better) along pretty soon. That's not the case with the 997.

Alpinestars

13,954 posts

243 months

Monday 27th October 2014
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Not driven my 991 enough yet so this is subject to change, but first impressions are that the 991 is more polished than the 997.2 RS. The RS has more steering feel and more character. It sounds better until the end of the rev range. I've not run the 991 in enough to get to the top of the range.

The 991 feels similarly damped, better turn in and overall just feels a newer gemeration of car. The PDK is very quick and very smooth, which will suit some and rob character from the car for others.

So far, Harris' review and comparison is spot on (except I don't think the understeer on the 7.2 is as bad as he makes out).

isaldiri

18,418 posts

167 months

Tuesday 28th October 2014
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DT398 said:
I have got both. Well, I have a 997.2 RS and had a 991 GT3 that I sold pending one coming to my spec at the end of November.

Somehow the 997 feels like a "proper" track car whereas the 991 feels like a modern 911. Having said that, with the same tyres the 991 will be quicker on a track.
Interesting that comparison from yourself/alpinestars.

Just a question though, the 991 already comes with cup2s which per michelin are a decent bit faster than the older cups so if anything it already has a slight tyre advantage over the RS? Or I suppose you meant even with the same cup2 the RS would almost certainly struggle to keep up (esepcially without a really good driver).

Alpinestars

13,954 posts

243 months

Tuesday 28th October 2014
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I'd you're interested in lap times, I suspect the 991 will be almost certainly be quicker. I thought the question was more around the feel of the car.

mrdemon

21,146 posts

264 months

Tuesday 28th October 2014
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991 is in another league for lap times so it seems.

isaldiri

18,418 posts

167 months

Tuesday 28th October 2014
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Alpinestars said:
I'd you're interested in lap times, I suspect the 991 will be almost certainly be quicker. I thought the question was more around the feel of the car.
Was more surprised by that comment about tyre equality more than anything so thought to ask really. Feel of the car was of far more of interest to me personally!

DT398

1,745 posts

147 months

Tuesday 28th October 2014
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isaldiri said:
Alpinestars said:
I'd you're interested in lap times, I suspect the 991 will be almost certainly be quicker. I thought the question was more around the feel of the car.
Was more surprised by that comment about tyre equality more than anything so thought to ask really. Feel of the car was of far more of interest to me personally!
Sorry, just to be clear, I'm not even sure that the 991 and 997 could run exactly the same tyres today? I was just thinking more of both cars on "cups". I suspect that even with "more or less" the same tyres the 991 would be quicker. I think there's more grip there for the corners and more grunt for the straights, add the rapid PDK gear changes to all that and the 991 would have it, I think.

I think the 997 "feels" better to drive for the very reason that it does move around a bit more and the handling is not quite as sharp as the 991. There's also a lot to think about getting the car in the right gear, at the right speed and in the right place to turn into a corner and when you get that all right, it does feel special as opposed to just "fast".

Slickhillsy

1,772 posts

142 months

Tuesday 28th October 2014
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Funny isn’t it... Car makers are in the pursuit of the 'perfect car' in terms of capability and handling yet on reflection the soft squidgy bit (us) relish the challenge of an imperfect, demanding yet a deemed more characterful drive...

I know this rule does apply to race cars as there perfection and precision is king, yet for road cars I wonder if there will come a tipping point where manufacturers realise the more tech and aids thrown at a car the less enjoyment & reward we gain. Maybe offering manuals again as part of the ‘Fiorano drivers pack’ lol.

Audi have just had a driverless car do a half decent time round a circuit - seriously is that where we are heading?

Alpinestars

13,954 posts

243 months

Tuesday 28th October 2014
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Totally agree with you Slick. I think there is a drivers' zenith, which is not necessarily at the high point of a car's development. I think that point has been reached for a number of cars.