The 996 GT2 "Widowmaker" tag. Time to explode the myth.
Discussion
are you okay now?kleonard said:
better before the test drive but could have been worse...was horrible was in hospital for weeks...i think I was lucky to be honest if you seen the car...had to learn how to walk again...never lend your gt2 to anyone not experienced ...I learned the hard way
I think I remember you posting about this at the time. A shocking story, glad you got out ok and can tell the story now.
hygt2 said:
Question: If the 996 GT2 is not dangerous and it does not scare you, why would you want to buy it in the first please??
Discuss.
Discuss.
Eh, what's to discuss ?
The GT2 is a challenge to drive quickly (and all the moreso if they're poorly set up/maintained), it's also a different drive to any of the other 996/997 GT3/2/C4/2S/Turbos, but that doesn't mean it's "dangerous" or indeed "scary".
However ANY turbocharged 460hp rear wheel drive car (without driver aids) can and probably will be dangerous in the wrong/inexperienced hands. But as I've stressed before, driven with a modicum of common sense and concentration, there's nothing intrinsically dangerous or scary about the 996 GT2.
As for the second part of your statement. I don't think I've ever bought a car because it scares me
hygt2 said:
Question: If the 996 GT2 is not dangerous and it does not scare you, why would you want to buy it in the first please??
Discuss.
What a strange statement.... Because it's challenging and deserves a healthy respect, goes like sDiscuss.
t off a shining shovel and looks and feels gorgeous - that's why. Buying a car because it's dangerous is the most bizzare suggestion I think I've ever heard.... Afraid Im with kleonard, and cant explode the myth. The only drivers of my 911's are my mechanic and I. Only once have I ever broken the rule when one day I asked a trusted employee to move the GT2, from one garage to another. It was destroyed within the hour, upended over a kerb through a catch fence, and on its roof into a hill. Total write off. We think he lost the rear in second gear, jumped on the brakes, but hit the throttle because of the offset pedals, and unleashed all 500 odd horsepower which spun him the other way into a kerb and over it went, still in second gear. You wouldnt have believed the violence of it all if you hadnt seen it, as it all happened within 100 metres of a set of lights at which hed been stationary.
I loved that car, it had never bitten me, and wish I still had it. The worst bit was my bloody Porsche mates all telling my wife, "oh yes, thats why they are called the widowmakers", thereby destroying forever whatever chances I had of replacing it.
The arguments with my insurers over the claim just went on and on for months until they worked out that it was hardly a fraud and paid up. All together a disaster.
I loved that car, it had never bitten me, and wish I still had it. The worst bit was my bloody Porsche mates all telling my wife, "oh yes, thats why they are called the widowmakers", thereby destroying forever whatever chances I had of replacing it.
The arguments with my insurers over the claim just went on and on for months until they worked out that it was hardly a fraud and paid up. All together a disaster.
Several years ago a friend of mine had a reasonable but repairable off in his . About 12 months after it was repaired the OPC mechanic wrote it off again properly when in was in for a service . This was actually quite lucky as he got a strong payout from Porsche at a time when GT2's took a big drop at about 3 years old . 120k to 60k or so if I remember correctly .
But ... If that car , a yellow CS was available now ( un crashed ) I'd have it in a heartbeat .
But ... If that car , a yellow CS was available now ( un crashed ) I'd have it in a heartbeat .
simonoz said:
Afraid Im with kleonard, and cant explode the myth. The only drivers of my 911's are my mechanic and I. Only once have I ever broken the rule when one day I asked a trusted employee to move the GT2, from one garage to another. It was destroyed within the hour, upended over a kerb through a catch fence, and on its roof into a hill. Total write off. We think he lost the rear in second gear, jumped on the brakes, but hit the throttle because of the offset pedals, and unleashed all 500 odd horsepower which spun him the other way into a kerb and over it went, still in second gear. You wouldnt have believed the violence of it all if you hadnt seen it, as it all happened within 100 metres of a set of lights at which hed been stationary.
I loved that car, it had never bitten me, and wish I still had it. The worst bit was my bloody Porsche mates all telling my wife, "oh yes, thats why they are called the widowmakers", thereby destroying forever whatever chances I had of replacing it.
The arguments with my insurers over the claim just went on and on for months until they worked out that it was hardly a fraud and paid up. All together a disaster.
I'm afraid that was a schoolboy error on your part, and one which I'm sure you regret. As I'm sure you will agree, its not the value of the car that stops you letting people use it, but the potential for it all to go horribly wrong. I used to let pretty much anyone drive my GTR, it was idiot proof, but my GT2 is a different story. It deserves respect, not because it's dangerous per say but because of what it is. If I had an F40 it would be treated like the GT2, not because its worth £750,000 but because its just too risky.... I wonder how many people who have binned GT2's do so because they just hop in, naively thinking it's just a 911, and treat with with contempt? It's difficult to describe to people just how sensitive you need to be with the controls, regardless of your capability, they think you're being a condescending prick. I loved that car, it had never bitten me, and wish I still had it. The worst bit was my bloody Porsche mates all telling my wife, "oh yes, thats why they are called the widowmakers", thereby destroying forever whatever chances I had of replacing it.
The arguments with my insurers over the claim just went on and on for months until they worked out that it was hardly a fraud and paid up. All together a disaster.
simonoz said:
Only once have I ever broken the rule when one day I asked a trusted employee to move the GT2, from one garage to another. We think he lost the rear in second gear, jumped on the brakes, but hit the throttle because of the offset pedals. You wouldnt have believed the violence of it all if you hadnt seen it, as it all happened within 100 metres of a set of lights at which hed been stationary.
I loved that car, it had never bitten me
Your comments are telling, and actually concur with most other contributors comments (even Karls). I loved that car, it had never bitten me
Losing the rear of car in second gear doesn't just happen if you're using the throttle judiciously. If however you were to flatten the accelerator hoping to get the full effect of the massive surge available (this whilst on cold tyres, an uneven or wet surface) there's every chance it could and would happen. All the moreso if you weren't familiar with the standard car's peaky, non-linear power delivery.
A bit like Karl, I've been in the passenger seat of a 996 GT2 when it was crashed by an idiot driver trying to impress me with his non-existent driving skills. And you're right, it's a very brutal and violent experience.
It was of course "pilot error" and thus completely avoidable.
A friend of mine in Germany likes to use his GT2 in all conditions, he even takes in the odd hill climb - and wins.... Meet Uli:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otK9TlipU9s&li...
Glorious use of the weapon, oh and before you asks yes that is Walter in his car at the Ring.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otK9TlipU9s&li...
Glorious use of the weapon, oh and before you asks yes that is Walter in his car at the Ring.
jfp said:
A friend of mine in Germany likes to use his GT2 in all conditions, he even takes in the odd hill climb - and wins.... Meet Uli:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otK9TlipU9s&li...
Glorious use of the weapon, oh and before you asks yes that is Walter in his car at the Ring.
and be very lucky https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pqcXxfpw2Ihttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otK9TlipU9s&li...
Glorious use of the weapon, oh and before you asks yes that is Walter in his car at the Ring.
Xps911 said:
jfp said:
A friend of mine in Germany likes to use his GT2 in all conditions, he even takes in the odd hill climb - and wins.... Meet Uli:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otK9TlipU9s&li...
Glorious use of the weapon, oh and before you asks yes that is Walter in his car at the Ring.
and be very lucky https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pqcXxfpw2Ihttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otK9TlipU9s&li...
Glorious use of the weapon, oh and before you asks yes that is Walter in his car at the Ring.
jfp said:
I think its safe to say exploring it's limits (or yours) on a public road probably isn't a great idea in a GT2 or anything remotely quick...
fully agree on that one. I'm still learning mine on track, but it is rewarding when you see your times decreasing, and equally frustrating when you feel you've had a really good lap - and then find out it was slower!! lolXps911 said:
jfp said:
I think its safe to say exploring it's limits (or yours) on a public road probably isn't a great idea in a GT2 or anything remotely quick...
fully agree on that one. I'm still learning mine on track, but it is rewarding when you see your times decreasing, and equally frustrating when you feel you've had a really good lap - and then find out it was slower!! lolGassing Station | 911/Carrera GT | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff