Why's it so hard ?
Discussion
For the last couple of weeks I have found myself trawling around various car dealerships in the search of my next vehicle.
It all started after a trip to VMax. The TVR hitting a disappointing 157mph beginning my quest for more speed.
First thoughts pointed me to a Porsche GT3. Reasoning being that I like the rear wheel drive 'fun' that the TVR provides, but with the obvious perk of more speed, better handling & improved build quality.
So with this in mind I head over to Brooklands, Leeds, to view thier 2 GT3's. Both silver, which did not impress, so onwards to Sheffield to view thier red GT3. Mightly impressed by the car, only to be hugely let down by the way the dealer handled me.
So, off to HL Gorners in Wigan I go. Completely different. Mike couldn't be nicer. The Sagaris looked awesome & from the test drive could tell it was going to be something a bit special. Just have doubts.
Next, whilst waiting (still am) to hear from the Porsche dealerships, I take a wonder over to Malton Specialist Cars to look at thier GT3's. Upon arrival I was confronted by a bright yellow 996 GT2, which got me thinking. Surely, this would be a far better buy than the GT3 ? Still has the rear wheel drive fun that I wanted, and can't drop in value much more, surely ? A awaiting a call from a couple of people on GT2's.
Then, to cap it all off, this morning, being all excited & reading all posts re: GT2's all I seem to be hearing is, yes, the GT2 is a brilliant car, but for everyday use a Turbo is superior.
How confused am I at the moment......... Very
I have £70k burning a whole in my pocket, and am wanting to change cars NOW, but this is soooo hard.
Only real stipulations are:
1) goes fast
2) handles well
3) fun to drive
4) must be 'half' safe parked on a street at night
5) won't loose a shed load of money
HELP ME, I'M GOING MAD !!!
It all started after a trip to VMax. The TVR hitting a disappointing 157mph beginning my quest for more speed.
First thoughts pointed me to a Porsche GT3. Reasoning being that I like the rear wheel drive 'fun' that the TVR provides, but with the obvious perk of more speed, better handling & improved build quality.
So with this in mind I head over to Brooklands, Leeds, to view thier 2 GT3's. Both silver, which did not impress, so onwards to Sheffield to view thier red GT3. Mightly impressed by the car, only to be hugely let down by the way the dealer handled me.
So, off to HL Gorners in Wigan I go. Completely different. Mike couldn't be nicer. The Sagaris looked awesome & from the test drive could tell it was going to be something a bit special. Just have doubts.
Next, whilst waiting (still am) to hear from the Porsche dealerships, I take a wonder over to Malton Specialist Cars to look at thier GT3's. Upon arrival I was confronted by a bright yellow 996 GT2, which got me thinking. Surely, this would be a far better buy than the GT3 ? Still has the rear wheel drive fun that I wanted, and can't drop in value much more, surely ? A awaiting a call from a couple of people on GT2's.
Then, to cap it all off, this morning, being all excited & reading all posts re: GT2's all I seem to be hearing is, yes, the GT2 is a brilliant car, but for everyday use a Turbo is superior.
How confused am I at the moment......... Very
I have £70k burning a whole in my pocket, and am wanting to change cars NOW, but this is soooo hard.
Only real stipulations are:
1) goes fast
2) handles well
3) fun to drive
4) must be 'half' safe parked on a street at night
5) won't loose a shed load of money
HELP ME, I'M GOING MAD !!!
You are in a great position!!
I'm not completely sure what I would do. However, whatever you chose, GT3, GT2 or Turbo, you can't make a crap choice.
I wouldn't let a rude dealer put you off. If you want the red GT3, ring the dealer principal, tell him what happened, and then ask for a better salesman meet you next time.
The sensible choice would be a Turbo. Like Daz says, a sports exhaust would be a good idea. I would want an X50 for my 70 grand.
The GT3 has purity on its side. Speed bumps would have to be taken slowly and multistories would be difficult. None of this would stop me though.
However......the best decisions in life are often not sensible ones. Why not get a GT2 in comfort spec? This car would be no more difficult or dangerous to pilot than a modern TVR, and people drive TVRs every day. The Clubsport seats are bit of a pain to climb in and out of, the comfort versions seats are like sports seats in a Turbo. I think the GT2 looks stunning, the nose and tail are aesthetically more pleasing than a Turbo. It looks mean as hell.
So that's what I would do.......get a GT2 comfort spec. Oh yes.....get a sports exhaust, and consider chipping it. DMS can sort this out, or AMD. But at the very least I would want a sports exhaust.
I'm not completely sure what I would do. However, whatever you chose, GT3, GT2 or Turbo, you can't make a crap choice.
I wouldn't let a rude dealer put you off. If you want the red GT3, ring the dealer principal, tell him what happened, and then ask for a better salesman meet you next time.
The sensible choice would be a Turbo. Like Daz says, a sports exhaust would be a good idea. I would want an X50 for my 70 grand.
The GT3 has purity on its side. Speed bumps would have to be taken slowly and multistories would be difficult. None of this would stop me though.
However......the best decisions in life are often not sensible ones. Why not get a GT2 in comfort spec? This car would be no more difficult or dangerous to pilot than a modern TVR, and people drive TVRs every day. The Clubsport seats are bit of a pain to climb in and out of, the comfort versions seats are like sports seats in a Turbo. I think the GT2 looks stunning, the nose and tail are aesthetically more pleasing than a Turbo. It looks mean as hell.
So that's what I would do.......get a GT2 comfort spec. Oh yes.....get a sports exhaust, and consider chipping it. DMS can sort this out, or AMD. But at the very least I would want a sports exhaust.
The GT2 I originally looked at, at Malton had the bucket seats which I would not want. The dealer car had the normal leather seats which was far better for day to day driving.
Agreed that its a brilliant position to be in, but way too hard as they are all obviously amazing.
At the moment, the GT3 has been written off (not literally). My head is saying Turbo, but the heart saying GT2.
Agreed that its a brilliant position to be in, but way too hard as they are all obviously amazing.
At the moment, the GT3 has been written off (not literally). My head is saying Turbo, but the heart saying GT2.
hobo said:
The GT2 I originally looked at, at Malton had the bucket seats which I would not want. The dealer car had the normal leather seats which was far better for day to day driving.
Agreed that its a brilliant position to be in, but way too hard as they are all obviously amazing.
At the moment, the GT3 has been written off (not literally). My head is saying Turbo, but the heart saying GT2.
Then the dealer GT2 with comfort seats is the obvious choice!!
If only it was that easy.
It should be, but £70k is a whole lot of money to me, and this car may be the best car I ever own. I have no kids (at the moment) so only need 2 seats, and can afford a little extra that I probably won't have in a few years. You know, kids, then bigger house, etc, etc.
When I bought the TVR it was really easy. For that money it seemed the obvious choice. This is way different.
Really need to make my mind up though, as I expect I will start pissing a few people off soon if I don't.
>> Edited by hobo on Wednesday 30th March 11:46
It should be, but £70k is a whole lot of money to me, and this car may be the best car I ever own. I have no kids (at the moment) so only need 2 seats, and can afford a little extra that I probably won't have in a few years. You know, kids, then bigger house, etc, etc.
When I bought the TVR it was really easy. For that money it seemed the obvious choice. This is way different.
Really need to make my mind up though, as I expect I will start pissing a few people off soon if I don't.
>> Edited by hobo on Wednesday 30th March 11:46
Hobo,
Having driven my own 911 recently in 'GT2 mode' I can assure you that it is a massively different proposition when the limits are tinkered with.
A 996GT2 is supposedly less lairy than it's forbear but everything is relative.
Don't get me wrong: I certainly would consider it if I were in your position.
The great thing with the 996GT2 is the unapologetic thrust of the damn thing, even the original 462bhp variants which, coming from the banzai world of a T350, is conceivably the sole 911 option.
Get it tuned and it becomes nothing short of otherworldly.
Have you tried Rods' 996tt? With it's sportzorst and that PSM wixardry going on, this is, as Daz rightly suggests, the way most people would logically go.
Having driven my own 911 recently in 'GT2 mode' I can assure you that it is a massively different proposition when the limits are tinkered with.
A 996GT2 is supposedly less lairy than it's forbear but everything is relative.
Don't get me wrong: I certainly would consider it if I were in your position.
The great thing with the 996GT2 is the unapologetic thrust of the damn thing, even the original 462bhp variants which, coming from the banzai world of a T350, is conceivably the sole 911 option.
Get it tuned and it becomes nothing short of otherworldly.
Have you tried Rods' 996tt? With it's sportzorst and that PSM wixardry going on, this is, as Daz rightly suggests, the way most people would logically go.
derestrictor said:
Hobo,
Having driven my own 911 recently in 'GT2 mode' I can assure you that it is a massively different proposition when the limits are tinkered with.
A 996GT2 is supposedly less lairy than it's forbear but everything is relative.
Don't get me wrong: I certainly would consider it if I were in your position.
The great thing with the 996GT2 is the unapologetic thrust of the damn thing, even the original 462bhp variants which, coming from the banzai world of a T350, is conceivably the sole 911 option.
Get it tuned and it becomes nothing short of otherworldly.
Have you tried Rods' 996tt? With it's sportzorst and that PSM wixardry going on, this is, as Daz rightly suggests, the way most people would logically go.
Thats the only thing that is putting me off the GT2. The whole persona surrounding them. You know, the 'Widowmaker'.
Oh, and yes, I did go in Rods TT at VMax. Amazing machine. Is it all a tad too easy ? A bit too good ?
The turbo is the choice for everyday ease of use, plus its probably the fastest point to point car in production today, especially in the wet.
BUT, the GT2 is a different beast altogether as you know. A min 460 through the back wheels with only a LSD and the driver’s right foot to keep things in some semblance of order. I think Guy R has spoken of the everyday usability of his GT2 in the past also. Its worth doing a search on it, or hopefully Guy will appear soon and give the low down.
In the spirit of PH, hopefully Johnny Senna will do a good deal on the operation for testicular enhancement in preparation for the imminent arrival of the winged monster?
Edited to say, everyone else has said the above whilst I was typing it!
>> Edited by MOD500 on Wednesday 30th March 11:59
BUT, the GT2 is a different beast altogether as you know. A min 460 through the back wheels with only a LSD and the driver’s right foot to keep things in some semblance of order. I think Guy R has spoken of the everyday usability of his GT2 in the past also. Its worth doing a search on it, or hopefully Guy will appear soon and give the low down.
In the spirit of PH, hopefully Johnny Senna will do a good deal on the operation for testicular enhancement in preparation for the imminent arrival of the winged monster?
Edited to say, everyone else has said the above whilst I was typing it!
>> Edited by MOD500 on Wednesday 30th March 11:59
MOD500 said:
The turbo is the choice for everyday ease of use, plus its probably the fastest point to point car in production today, especially in the wet.
BUT, the GT2 is a different beast altogether as you know. A min 460 through the back wheels with only a LSD and the driver’s right foot to keep things in some semblance of order. I think Guy R has spoken of the everyday usability of his GT2 in the past also. Its worth doing a search on it, or hopefully Guy will appear soon and give the low down.
Thats the only thing putting me off. I ain't a brilliant driver, and am a tad, how do you say, scared/in ore of the thing. However, I would obviously invest in some training.
Day to day driving. Can it be worse than the TVR ? ride height, etc.
This man is coming from a TVR - ideal training for a GT2. Frankly, take liberties with any 2wd 911 and you're asking for trouble. I haven't done much research, but the 996 GT2 does seem to be THE performance bargain out there at the moment...the question is at what point does it stop falling in value - that's the right time to buy one.
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