996.1 GT3 or 997.1 Turbo?
Discussion
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?
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
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 You'll struggle to get to 800bhp with a flash and zorst - maybe 550bhp. Gen 2 997 turbo very good too.
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!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 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 f
ked - 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...ked - 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.
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.
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!
Just when I thought I already had a touch decision to make!
All - thank you for your input... and of course the PH-calibre banter!
I am actually leaning towards the '97 993 C4S. I know that's completely different to the original options but allow me to explain.
The 7.2RS will always be a high benchmark for a track derived car for the road. In this respect I can't help but think I will be a little underwhelmed with the 6.1 GT3... it's a car with a similar philosophy but I feel I will be underwhelmed with the lack of power given what I was used to. While the rawness would've made up for it, this particular car I saw had 180k km on the clock and needless to say needed some freshening up. It has been repainted different colours at least 3 times and had 8 owners so is a little like the village bicycle. Given all of the factors I also think it would be hard to sell in the future if/when the time came.
The Turbo in tip just didn't do it for me. It seemed blunt and dimwitted. I think the fact that the used market discounts tip cars relative to their manual equivalent (even considering tip was more expensive when new) summarises the situation well. I just can't see a 997.1 tip turbo being coveted in any way in the future... for sure the PDK would be the go-to option if one didn't want the manual. So it leaves the car in a bit of a no-mans land.
And that brings me to the 993. This will be a nice contrast to the 7.2RS (I've not driven an aircooled before) and brings a different set of expectations and driving sensation to the table to the point that I wouldn't compare it to the other cars I have, and therefore will be judged and enjoyed on its own unique merits. The fact that it is currently owned by someone who counts a 911R, 7.3 4.0RS, 991RS amongst others in his garage speaks volumes about the care it has received by an enthusiast owner. Which for a mint condition 993 is icing on the cake.
Once I take delivery I'll be sure to post driving thoughts... and to see if it really was the right decision or not!
I am actually leaning towards the '97 993 C4S. I know that's completely different to the original options but allow me to explain.
The 7.2RS will always be a high benchmark for a track derived car for the road. In this respect I can't help but think I will be a little underwhelmed with the 6.1 GT3... it's a car with a similar philosophy but I feel I will be underwhelmed with the lack of power given what I was used to. While the rawness would've made up for it, this particular car I saw had 180k km on the clock and needless to say needed some freshening up. It has been repainted different colours at least 3 times and had 8 owners so is a little like the village bicycle. Given all of the factors I also think it would be hard to sell in the future if/when the time came.
The Turbo in tip just didn't do it for me. It seemed blunt and dimwitted. I think the fact that the used market discounts tip cars relative to their manual equivalent (even considering tip was more expensive when new) summarises the situation well. I just can't see a 997.1 tip turbo being coveted in any way in the future... for sure the PDK would be the go-to option if one didn't want the manual. So it leaves the car in a bit of a no-mans land.
And that brings me to the 993. This will be a nice contrast to the 7.2RS (I've not driven an aircooled before) and brings a different set of expectations and driving sensation to the table to the point that I wouldn't compare it to the other cars I have, and therefore will be judged and enjoyed on its own unique merits. The fact that it is currently owned by someone who counts a 911R, 7.3 4.0RS, 991RS amongst others in his garage speaks volumes about the care it has received by an enthusiast owner. Which for a mint condition 993 is icing on the cake.
Once I take delivery I'll be sure to post driving thoughts... and to see if it really was the right decision or not!
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