997 GT3, what next?
997 GT3, what next?
Author
Discussion

tomvcarter

Original Poster:

1,091 posts

223 months

Tuesday 30th October 2012
quotequote all
Hi, im lucky enough to be the owner of a 997 GT3, its truly stunning and i love it to bits, but after 12 months as usual im beginning to wonder about a change again.

BUT i cant find anything that gives the same bang for the buck...

What other options are there, with a manual box, a sound to die for, and dramatic looks?
Ive tried an R8, that felt too slow and soft.
AMGs fantastic, but no manual box.
Not tried Aston, Ferrari or Gallardo, but i worry they too might feel a little less exciting than the GT3. Am i wrong?

Its a very nice dilemma to have, but i cant work it out.
My other thought is to cut costs and get a Catherham R500, but then worry about loosing the looks, and sound...





Jim1556

1,838 posts

186 months

Tuesday 30th October 2012
quotequote all
tomvcarter said:
My other thought is to cut costs and get a Caterham R500, but then worry about losing the looks, and sound, and practicality, and safety, and reliability, and useability, and speed, and comfort etc...
EFA wink

Don't get me wrong, they're ballistic and brilliant fun, not much will touch them on a tight track, but they're all about acceleration, granted they corner like $hit stuck to a blanket - but not much puff above 100mph due to the laws of physics. Try getting caught out in the rain in one.

I'd love to take mine (R300 equivalent) around the Alps and the Ring but couldn't unless a trailer and a rechargeable spine were involved.

If I had the money I'd be upgrading to a gen 2 GT3... (saving for a gen 1).

Good luck whatever you decide!

Slippydiff

16,416 posts

253 months

Tuesday 30th October 2012
quotequote all
tomvcarter said:
Hi, im lucky enough to be the owner of a 997 GT3, its truly stunning and i love it to bits, but after 12 months as usual im beginning to wonder about a change again.

BUT i cant find anything that gives the same bang for the buck...

What other options are there, with a manual box, a sound to die for, and dramatic looks?
Ive tried an R8, that felt too slow and soft.
AMGs fantastic, but no manual box.
Not tried Aston, Ferrari or Gallardo, but i worry they too might feel a little less exciting than the GT3. Am i wrong?

Its a very nice dilemma to have, but i cant work it out.
My other thought is to cut costs and get a Catherham R500, but then worry about loosing the looks, and sound...




Porsche do a similar product, but with a pair of blowers in the exhaust system. The noise may be different/less strident, but the looks and performance should compensate more than adequately . . . .

Martian O

2,734 posts

192 months

Tuesday 30th October 2012
quotequote all
Slippydiff said:
Porsche do a similar product, but with a pair of blowers in the exhaust system. The noise may be different/less strident, but the looks and performance should compensate more than adequately . . . .
yes

Then stick on a Capristo for the sound!

911Thrasher

2,573 posts

229 months

Tuesday 30th October 2012
quotequote all
Sold my 997.1 RS for a Challenge Stradale and no regrets, very very exciting car even if slower than the RS.

Kidhaa

398 posts

237 months

Tuesday 30th October 2012
quotequote all
Had mine for over 5yrs and I like it more than the beginning, even after driving the RS

Epic machines. If I had to change would be for the 997.2 gt3

drpep

1,761 posts

198 months

Tuesday 30th October 2012
quotequote all
tomvcarter said:
Hi, im lucky enough to be the owner of a 997 GT3, its truly stunning and i love it to bits, but after 12 months as usual im beginning to wonder about a change again.

BUT i cant find anything that gives the same bang for the buck...

What other options are there, with a manual box, a sound to die for, and dramatic looks?
Ive tried an R8, that felt too slow and soft.
AMGs fantastic, but no manual box.
Not tried Aston, Ferrari or Gallardo, but i worry they too might feel a little less exciting than the GT3. Am i wrong?

Its a very nice dilemma to have, but i cant work it out.
My other thought is to cut costs and get a Catherham R500, but then worry about loosing the looks, and sound...




Sorry to say tom but there really is no substitute!

majordad

3,631 posts

227 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
You should ask yourself " what do you do with your gt3 and what would you like to do ". My own answer to this is drives with our club and with friends, both at home and in Europe, a small number of track days ( say 2 per year, good ones like the RS Day at Oulton ) and just the sheer feeling you get while driving it. Chris Harris in his 2007 Autocar Road Test summed it up, when 5 stars are not enough. Maybe a CS Ferrari would answer the question, but would it be as reliable as a 911? I dont know. Maybe an older classic car ?

projectgt

321 posts

190 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
GT2

911god

2,961 posts

215 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
tomvcarter said:
Hi, im lucky enough to be the owner of a 997 GT3, its truly stunning and i love it to bits, but after 12 months as usual im beginning to wonder about a change again.

BUT i cant find anything that gives the same bang for the buck...

What other options are there, with a manual box, a sound to die for, and dramatic looks?
Ive tried an R8, that felt too slow and soft.
AMGs fantastic, but no manual box.
Not tried Aston, Ferrari or Gallardo, but i worry they too might feel a little less exciting than the GT3. Am i wrong?

Its a very nice dilemma to have, but i cant work it out.
My other thought is to cut costs and get a Catherham R500, but then worry about loosing the looks, and sound...




Interesting post as through no fault of my own im likely to be facing a simiar dilemma which has got me thinking about going the other way from a 997 gt3 to a 996 gt3.
a 996 ive not driven yet so interested in views from those that have,
Maybe keep the GT3 thing alive by getting a 996 and a fun caterham type car for occasional use.
I have been looing at this for some time that previously sold at jzm with lots of upgrades/work carried out.
http://www.jzmporsche.com/porsche-for-sale/911/996...

Id have this, Anyone know the car??

Edited by 911god on Wednesday 31st October 08:30


Edited by 911god on Wednesday 31st October 08:44

jbmxx

89 posts

213 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
Another vote for the GT2 - moved to it from a Gen 1 GT3 and haven't looked back (actually the way it adds speed you do need to concentrate on the view forwards!)

CK_N4S

468 posts

212 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
I agree with 911god

You have to ask yourself what you want the next car to do that the GT3 does not - and then do a reality check to see if you really are using your GT3 enough!

After having mine only this year, and bought for the purpose of doing the Ring and trackdays I am rethinking my ownership as well - but only in how I can keep the car and not put to many miles on it - and get to know it better.

Even after more than 70 laps of the Nordschleife, other trackdays in Sweden and a 6000 km roadtrip to the Alps this year, I still only feel I have scratched the surface of the cars abilities. And I want to dig deeper.

I appreciate winter is moving in fast, and the prospect of just looking at the car in the garage is grim. But this seems to be the best base for thinking about what you want the car to do and what you want to do with the car. Rather than just skipping along for the next thrill of trying to learn a new toy wink

Whatever you decide, good luck on you smile

CK

Slippydiff

16,416 posts

253 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
911god said:
Interesting post as through no fault of my own im likely to be facing a simiar dilemma which has got me thinking about going the other way from a 997 gt3 to a 996 gt3.
a 996 ive not driven yet so interested in views from those that have,
Maybe keep the GT3 thing alive by getting a 996 and a fun caterham type car for occasional use.
I have been looing at this for some time that previously sold at jzm with lots of upgrades/work carried out.
http://www.jzmporsche.com/porsche-for-sale/911/996...

Id have this, Anyone know the car??
Did you get my Email Dave ?

MadMark911

1,755 posts

179 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
If it was my money - I would be looking for a Gen2 GT3 .... smile

RDMcG

20,886 posts

237 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
My strategy is to simply keep them forever. I have just grown attached to the things.

SFO

5,190 posts

213 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
RDMcG said:
My strategy is to simply keep them forever. I have just grown attached to the things.
I can see how you get to this point

911god

2,961 posts

215 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
Slippydiff said:
Did you get my Email Dave ?
No mate I never received a thing and I PM'd you again

mrdemon

21,146 posts

295 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
HI Tom

cannot be a year already , I remember you buying it when I was also looking (ended up with the 996 GT3 insted)

I would say either go older with a 996 GT3 RS as they are much more hardcore than a 997 and feel more race car like
even my non RS GT3 feels alive far more than a 997 GT3

Or hit that F430 as you will get a nice car for 70k

depends if you want to track it or not.

the safe option is the 997.2 GT3

NIgt3

627 posts

204 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
mrdemon said:
HI Tom

cannot be a year already , I remember you buying it when I was also looking (ended up with the 996 GT3 insted)

I would say either go older with a 996 GT3 RS as they are much more hardcore than a 997 and feel more race car like
even my non RS GT3 feels alive far more than a 997 GT3

Or hit that F430 as you will get a nice car for 70k

depends if you want to track it or not.

the safe option is the 997.2 GT3
You definately have given him plenty of options to think about!!

CK_N4S

468 posts

212 months

Wednesday 31st October 2012
quotequote all
NIgt3 said:
You definately have given him plenty of options to think about!!
All the more reason to tell yourself you really need to go testdrive that 430 and see what it's like.

Just remember that the 430 is not that much faster than a 997 GT3 - but grabs heaps more attention.

CK