997 GT3 questions from a Porsche newcomer

[ChrisMCoupe]

Always needed to scratch the itch of Porsche ownership, and what better way to do it than a GT3. Currently I own a BMW M6 and a Clio track day toy, but looking to drop down to a single car shortly and hoping the GT3 can tick every box.

Few questions firstly which are quite important to my decision...

1. Can the GT3 be used as a daily driver and if so, how practical is it? By daily driver, I do not commute in it and currently do around 4-5k miles per year, but it will be my only car for trips to family, shops, weekends away etc.

2. How well do you expect the GT3's to hold their value? From what I have seen from the 996 and 997 GT3's over recent years, is just how well they hold their value, which is definitely important to me when looking to spend this much on a car for the first time (budget circa 60k).

3. Would running costs be vastly greater than my current M6. I expect fuel consumption to be a fair bit less (11 mpg avg in the M6), but for everything else a little more?

4. Are the PCCB worth while if I am looking to potentially track the car a few times a year? Also, what other options are seen as must have's on the GT3?

I'm sure I will have a few more questions, but for now I'm just dipping my toe in the water.

[sportsandclassic]

Hi,

997GT3 can be used as a daily drive and with only 5K a year you should be fine on resale.

The running cost's are not too bad..

Limited slip diff rebuild is around £1100
Clutch is £1200
Front brake discs/pads (Alcon with Pagid RS29) around £1800.00 (will last approx 12 full days on 1 set of pads depending on driving style)
Major service £550.00
Minor £240.00

All approx plus vat.

They are very capable on track and as long as looked after will return plenty of enjoyable miles!

[thegoose]

12 full track days on one set of front pads sounds incredibly good - I would expect fewer than half that from a seasoned driver.

[RDMcG]

I have two 997RS and had an M6 for most of the time I have had the Porsches also. Fuel costs: much better. In city conditions I het about 20 on the RS 11 on the M6.

So far (touch wood) there was not much to choose between them on reliability, M6 had one bad event (ECU meltdown,replaced under warranty),997.1RS had a clutch go very early (17000km)..no warranty.I have never had one go like that.

Service costs are about comparable on per visit basis,but I overservice the Porsches so on an annual basis about twice as much. You c, read threads about RMS failures etc though I have
Had no problems. If the car has centre locks there are concerns about them and rumours of a recall plus a more expensive service schedule.
Othere that that they are pretty tough and a radically different experience compared to the M6.

[AdvocatusD]

ChrisMCoupe said:

1. Can the GT3 be used as a daily driver and if so, how practical is it? By daily driver, I do not commute in it and currently do around 4-5k miles per year, but it will be my only car for trips to family, shops, weekends away etc.

2. How well do you expect the GT3's to hold their value? From what I have seen from the 996 and 997 GT3's over recent years, is just how well they hold their value, which is definitely important to me when looking to spend this much on a car for the first time (budget circa 60k).

3. Would running costs be vastly greater than my current M6. I expect fuel consumption to be a fair bit less (11 mpg avg in the M6), but for everything else a little more?

4. Are the PCCB worth while if I am looking to potentially track the car a few times a year? Also, what other options are seen as must have's on the GT3?

I'm sure I will have a few more questions, but for now I'm just dipping my toe in the water.

My GT3 is up for sale but not because it has been anything other than the best car I have ever owned.

1. Absolutely, I toured to Europe in it and it was fun, reliable and comfortable. I have done almost 4000 miles in 9 months. It is also my only car for trips and holidays. Speedbreakers are a pain but only the most Himalayan will actually cause you a proper problem. Just go slow, grit your teeth for the scraping noise that the splitter makes and you're fine. You get used to it!


2. The bulk of the depreciation is done in my view, I've been watching carefully for ages. You will lose a little depending on mileage and specification. I would try to purchase closer to 50k than 60k for a 997.1.

3. Answered by another Pher already but I have had next to no running costs, an extension of warranty and new tyres.

4. PCCB are wonderful. I wouldn't say they are must have, but they are superior to the standard steels. Mine don't squeak and other from the immense stoppping power, durability and yellow callipers they feel standard in every other way. The GT3 really does come with everything it needs!
Any questions, happy to help over PM.

Edited by AdvocatusD on Wednesday 27th February 14:50

[DavidAL]

ChrisMCoupe said:

Always needed to scratch the itch of Porsche ownership, and what better way to do it than a GT3. Currently I own a BMW M6 and a Clio track day toy, but looking to drop down to a single car shortly and hoping the GT3 can tick every box.

Few questions firstly which are quite important to my decision...

I owned a 997 Gen2 car for about 18 months and (much to the horror of some) did 18,000 or so miles in it.. I had a hoot of a time in it.. I drove it through winter (using winter wheels and tyres).. through rain and shine.. Every time I started the motor and drove it it was an occassion.. Maybe not quite Ferrari Stradale type of occasion, but a proper quick car type occasion..

ChrisMCoupe said:

1. Can the GT3 be used as a daily driver and if so, how practical is it? By daily driver, I do not commute in it and currently do around 4-5k miles per year, but it will be my only car for trips to family, shops, weekends away etc.

Yes, it can. And it is practical enough for shopping trips etc.. Lots of spare luggage space behind the seats..

Mine was my only car but you must be aware that it is not as "smooth" as some.. Have you driven one..? Lot different to an M6.... It will jiggle and bobble about as it runs about the road surface.

Two things to consider.. A lifting system on the front is essential for speed bumps and getting up steep ramps etc.. You might consider the ordinary sports seats if you will do more than occasional road use and feel buckets might be uncomfortable for that..

Also.. If you will run in the winter.. you can get a matched set of winter wheels and tyres.. you need new wheels for this as the sizes are different..

ChrisMCoupe said:

2. How well do you expect the GT3's to hold their value? From what I have seen from the 996 and 997 GT3's over recent years, is just how well they hold their value, which is definitely important to me when looking to spend this much on a car for the first time (budget circa 60k).

Like any car, it's market driven.. and, like any car, it will depreciate.. But, in my experience, it did not depreciate as much as Carerras, Carerra 4s and Turbos of same age/mileage.

Be honest with yourself and be prepared to accept a fair price.. There's always a few up for sale and you can peg your prices accordingly..

By far the bigger concern, however, will be how long it takes you to sell the car. Demand is limited at any time and you'll be needing to find "your buyer" when you sell.. Dealers will offer low trade values because of the risk that they may have to hang on for a long time before selling it.. So you'll be looking to sell privately or do a "sale or retrun".. Mine went back out throught he OPC approved network and still took the best part of three months to sell.. But, by being sensible and realistic, I got more or less the asking price..

ChrisMCoupe said:

3. Would running costs be vastly greater than my current M6. I expect fuel consumption to be a fair bit less (11 mpg avg in the M6), but for everything else a little more?

No idea about M6 costs.

997 GT3 Gen2 Services are at 12,000 mile intervals. £500 to £1000 for basic work at OPC. I averaged about 23/24 mpg in mine, believe it or not, and would see an average creeping up into higher 20's on a motorway run at "normal" speeds.. But track work would obviously knock this way down.

Keep an eye on bodywork and such as, being a GT car, there is no underbody protection, sill guards etc.. Galvanised shell/panels, I think, but, nonetheless, the sills get a nasty rash after a while..

ChrisMCoupe said:

4. Are the PCCB worth while if I am looking to potentially track the car a few times a year? Also, what other options are seen as must have's on the GT3?

My test car at the Porsche centre was on PCCB's and they felt nice.. But I also never really had a problem with the steels on mine.. People who track the cars more than I did would be in a better position to comment here...

From your budget, I'd guess you were looking at Gen 1 cars, which didn't offer the lifting kit.. I found the lifting kit on mine essential for day-to-day use, and I would not buy one without..

ChrisMCoupe said:

I'm sure I will have a few more questions, but for now I'm just dipping my toe in the water.

[ChrisMCoupe]

Thanks for all the replies chaps, some informative stuff especially surrounding the running costs and daily living.

I'm well used to having cars less comfortable than the M6 as a daily, so this wouldn't in any way put me off. I do also have use of the missus car 90% of the time for less exciting journeys, or trips to the tip etc

I have noticed that their aren't a great abundance of GT3's in my price bracket on the Porsche pre-owned site, but I am in no great hurry and certainly willing to wait for the right example. The silver and white ones don't do a lot for me for some reason.

[RJJ]

I had a 997gt3 gen1 for nearly 2 years and put 10,000miles on it so similar situation to yourself.

Took me a while to find the right spec for me as wanted sport seats and no cage, makes it easier accessing the rear area to put small bags.

Everything as mentioned above about servicing, plus I budgeted for a new front splitter every year if it was looking to ragged from the speed bumps, think it was about £150.

Never regretted owning it, howl from exhaust on sports mode is immense, plus I did learn about handling and rwd.

I sold mine back to Porsche, and moved to the darkside in a GTR.

[ChrisMCoupe]

This spec looks almost spot on for me, just a shame it's not in Grey or Black

http://ucl.porsche.de/uk/ucl/clients.start_ipl?fin...

Would you say this is a reasonable price from Porsche?

[Far Cough]

ChrisMCoupe said:

This spec looks almost spot on for me, just a shame it's not in Grey or Black

http://ucl.porsche.de/uk/ucl/clients.start_ipl?fin...

Would you say this is a reasonable price from Porsche?

Is it a comfort spec you want rather than a clubsport ?

[ChrisMCoupe]

What exactly does club sport pack entail? I think I most likely want comfort spec with the bucket seats, is this common?

[birdcage]

ChrisMCoupe said:

What exactly does club sport pack entail? I think I most likely want comfort spec with the bucket seats, is this common?

I just bought a comfort with buckets, best of both worlds and no more swearing when taking a trip away and trying to stow luggage like I had in my RS!!

[DiscoColin]

ChrisMCoupe said:

What exactly does club sport pack entail? I think I most likely want comfort spec with the bucket seats, is this common?

Very common. I would put a caveat on that though - if you are doing a few track days you will eventually wish that you'd bought one with a cage (specifically as that is where you anchor the shoulders of a 6 point harness). However, I ran a cageless bucketted 996 for 5.5 years and did plenty of track time in it, so it is certainly a viable option. But it did make me buy a Clubsport when it came to a successor. I am also a big fan of the folding buckets in my Gen 2 (note that the last time I checked there were a set available on fleabay if retrofitting was an option that you might consider if a car that you otherwise like didn't have them).

My use is pretty much what you are proposing though and a GT3 is eminently viable for it. Put the dampers into sport for speed bumps to minimise the inevitable scraping of the splitter and enjoy the fact that even the most mundane chore is a bit less arduous when you are travelling by GT3. You won't enjoy traffic jams or nasty weather so much though.

[SimonRS]

Get one. If you regret it(you won't) blame me.

I don't use mine as a daily driver, but you easily could if you don't need rear seats.