I think I want a GT3

[vette78]

Hi folks,

Planning to change my car in the next month/two and i'm slowly starting to come down on the side of a GT3. Other considerations have been:

Noble M12 GTO3R - too impractical - I want to tour Europe in April
TVR Sagaris - too risky - has a Cerbera 3 yrs ago and want to see evidence of TVR issue improvements before going back there
Maserati 4200 - Too `old man` perhaps.
F355 - too old car for the money - potential of stupid bills
Aston DB7 Vantage - Not hard edged enough.
M3 CSL - it may be incredible but it's still an M3 - to me, not special enough

Some of the reasons I'm settling on a GT3 are:
Should feel special to drive
Shouldn't depreciate as fast as other 996's over the next few yrs
Track day ability
It will hopefully keep me from getting bored
Practical-ish (could get a few squashy bags in it at least)
Looks
Sound (with sports exhaust will be awesome hopefully)
Pedigree.

Ideally I want to pay low 40's for an upto 30k miler Mk1 in C.B, S.Y or maybe Blue.

Am I being realistic, and do you think the car is going to live up to my expectations?

Any advice from owners, past owners, and anyone else much appreciated!

Chris

ps - can't believe I might end up with a GT3. Can still remember a fantastic picture of a SY Mk1 GT3 parked up in front of a crop of yellow flowers (rape perhaps?) in evo or similar. Wish I still had it!

[tiny]

I'm going to try and not take that Maser 4200 'old man'comment too personally.

I'm glad I've got the Griff to keep me young! - it must be a Yin and Yang thing

[paulburrell]

It will feel special to drive. Jittery on the road, imperious on the track, the interior noise alone is worth the cash

Depreciation is a bit of a moot point. Given scarcity value it should be better than a stock 996. However MK2 prices have suffered in the last year with the imminent arrival of the 997 GT3. Let your heart rule your head on this issue as they are not a cheap car to run, particularly on track.

It is great on track and has incredible all round ability

Sort of practical if you only plan to use squishy type bags.

Interior sound is awesome. If you wnat to increase exterior sound ensure that Db's don't prejudice your ability to pass noise tests for getting on track.
Pedigree, with an engine developed from the race winning GT1, what do you think?

You should get a good RHD one for low to mid 40's. I have a black one and I understand that there were only 12 rhd made in that colour. There seems to be more choice in silver and red cars but whatever the colour it's still one hell of a car. Make sure you get one with bucket seats and get it warrantied via Porsche, just in case engine explodes(very unlikely)

I promise you that you will not be disappointed.

[S1XXR]

Here's my GT3 story...

I came across a lovely Mk II for sale last November. I was content driving around in a 996 C2 at the time - not thinking about changing. After reading a bit about about the GT3 I was curious enough to go see the car and drive it.

I remember starting the engine and thinking "that sounds serious...I wonder what the ceramic brakes feel like."

Only had a brief test drive - it was a dry sunny day - initial impressions were "wow this feels frisky" and "the ride is really firm - can I live with it as a daily driver? I think so. The brakes are awesome." Managed to break traction in 2nd gear and get it slightly sideways. Decided it was best to bring it back in one piece. Knew straight away I had to have it.

2 months later and I'm absolutely loving it. Learned to cope with the low front clearance. Ride feels normal now. Less composed than a C2 on bumpy cambered roads but brilliant everywhere else. No traction or stability control to get you out of trouble + plenty power + track biased suspension = concentration and respect required at all times!

The power is addictive. 85 in second 117 in 3rd and 143 in 4th in about the same time as it takes to read this sentence! The sound as revs past 6k and the way it charges for the red line is just epic.

Went to Bath and back this week. Stormy wet shitty weather, evil gusty cross winds etc.. 6 hour round trip via M25 and M4. Felt fine afterwards. Average fuel consumption was 26mpg despite some extended high speed runs between the pit lane speed limiters (scameras).

What a great machine and £25,000 less than a new 997C2S.

Like the man says - you will not be disappointed!

[johnfm]

There is probably only one way to get rid of the desire for a GT3.....

..I pick mine up on Friday!

[Steve_M]

S1XXR, Johnfm, congratulations on your purchases, I have just picked my Gt3 MkII up on Monday and absolutely love it, agree with everything you have said, exciting to drive, even at low speed due to superb handling. And definitely livable as a daily drive.

Vette78 as everyone has said before....the only regret you'll have is not buying a GT3

[gfreeman]

All factors bar one have been covered I think....

The respect factor - from even the 'I hate all Porsches and their Poxy Drivers' Brigade

[DJC]

Any reason not to go for a tt?

Granted I happily admit to being biased as I loathe the GT3 with a passion I can barely articulate, but when I was making this purchase last yr I narrowed my choices between a Vantage, 996tt and a Sagaris. Didnt choose the TT because I already had a 997tt on order and to be perfectly honest Im still not sure why I didnt choose the Aston (I had a chance to own a V12 Aston and didnt take it?? How stupid can you be?) and ended up with the Sagaris. Dont regret a thing, awesome vehicle, good enough to challenge a TT. Its a Porsche forum though so Im not about to expect any support on that one, so for this Im firmly in the TT camp as opposed to a GT3. They look better (esp in Basalt Black), faster, more practical, ride better and they dont have the campest rear wing ever devised. I can think of only aspect a GT3 is a better prospect for than a TT and that's as a track car and Ive always thought that was a damned silly reason to buy a road car for. (Dont worry I have the same argument in that respect with the TVR crowd)

So, er, why the GT3 over the TT?

P.S. None of the above applies to the new 997 GT3 after the spyshots appeared the other day as I think that looks the muts absolute nuts and orders of magnitude harder than the new TT looked.

[runner911]

Picked up my Mk1 GT3 last Weds. Only 5400 miles , mint, and I paid £52000 for it. Worth every penny.
All round performance is nothing short of brilliant.Lokked at a 996 Turbo. Not nearly as much fun.

[kayc]

Get a 996tt...i had a gt3 mk11 which was great for 30minute blasts but thats about all and i sold it after 6 months..to be fair i didnt think the engine had enough torque and therefore mid range accelaration to make it exciting enough unless being tracked or pushed to the cars'chassis limits.Why sit in a very compromised car when the 996tt is quicker,more comfortable,and more usable on the road?I also disagree with people that say the 996tt is boring because the power delivery is far more impressive than the gt3's and just as intoxicating.I had use of a gt2 as well which is an awesome car but still doesnt have the road abilities of the 996tt...

[DanH]

DJC said:

Any reason not to go for a tt? Granted I happily admit to being biased as I loathe the GT3 with a passion I can barely articulate, but when I was making this purchase last yr I narrowed my choices between a Vantage, 996tt and a Sagaris. Didnt choose the TT because I already had a 997tt on order and to be perfectly honest Im still not sure why I didnt choose the Aston (I had a chance to own a V12 Aston and didnt take it?? How stupid can you be?) and ended up with the Sagaris. Dont regret a thing, awesome vehicle, good enough to challenge a TT. Its a Porsche forum though so Im not about to expect any support on that one, so for this Im firmly in the TT camp as opposed to a GT3. They look better (esp in Basalt Black), faster, more practical, ride better and they dont have the campest rear wing ever devised. I can think of only aspect a GT3 is a better prospect for than a TT and that's as a track car and Ive always thought that was a damned silly reason to buy a road car for. (Dont worry I have the same argument in that respect with the TVR crowd) So, er, why the GT3 over the TT? P.S. None of the above applies to the new 997 GT3 after the spyshots appeared the other day as I think that looks the muts absolute nuts and orders of magnitude harder than the new TT looked.

lol. Say what you really think.

p.s. I'll spare you my appraisal of the Sagaris
p.p.s. If you were seriously considering a vantage, I can see why the joys of the GT3 would be lost on you.

>> Edited by DanH on Thursday 12th January 10:13

[gfreeman]

I think you need to decide what the primary use of the car is. My Mk1 GT3 is virtually undrivable on bad roads when compared to an Austin Allegro.

I have never driven one which has had the geometry set for road use only so perhaps someone else can comment on general usability.

However, I did commute to West London for a couple of months and found it totally fine apart from a bit of a strain on the left leg with the clutch, and the right foot for the scameras but then so do most drivers going through Ken's Kingdom!!!

I cannot understand someone loathing the car - must be the first person I have encountered with that view - she sure brings a smile to my face.....

[lsb]

Leave the man alone !! He knows what he wants.

By the sounds of it ( and the cars on his list ) he enjoys cars that offer a raw driving experience, something a little hard edged, where every drive is an experience.

You either embrace that fact or you don't ( in the case of most tt drivers it seems). The 996 tt is a beautiful car, but it would not satisfy the criteria of most gt3 owners ( myself included ), so enjoy your cars for what they are as it gives you what you require, but stop knocking a fantastic car just because it is too uncompromised for your taste.

[Glenn McMenamin]

I just took my MKII out for the 1st blast in over a month last night,
had a flat battery to prove it !!!

The car never fails to disapoint on the thrills front, and it just keeps
pulling and pulling, after a 45 minute hoon, it was time to come home, as my licence and
life was becoming more and more at risk.

A pure fix of adrenaline, much more special to drive the my TT


Don't know if i could live with it every day though, especially at this time of year.

G.

>> Edited by Glenn McMenamin on Thursday 12th January 10:41

[kayc]

Im not knocking the gt3,its a great car if you have a selection of different cars to use.i just find it hard to justify all its short comings when its not even as quick as the so-called luxury sports tourer 996tt.The M3CSL does the same job and that is hard to live with compared to a standard M3 with nearly identical road performance..

[steve rance]

DJC said:

Any reason not to go for a tt? Granted I happily admit to being biased as I loathe the GT3 with a passion I can barely articulate, but when I was making this purchase last yr I narrowed my choices between a Vantage, 996tt and a Sagaris. Didnt choose the TT because I already had a 997tt on order and to be perfectly honest Im still not sure why I didnt choose the Aston (I had a chance to own a V12 Aston and didnt take it?? How stupid can you be?) and ended up with the Sagaris. Dont regret a thing, awesome vehicle, good enough to challenge a TT. Its a Porsche forum though so Im not about to expect any support on that one, so for this Im firmly in the TT camp as opposed to a GT3. They look better (esp in Basalt Black), faster, more practical, ride better and they dont have the campest rear wing ever devised. I can think of only aspect a GT3 is a better prospect for than a TT and that's as a track car and Ive always thought that was a damned silly reason to buy a road car for. (Dont worry I have the same argument in that respect with the TVR crowd) So, er, why the GT3 over the TT? P.S. None of the above applies to the new 997 GT3 after the spyshots appeared the other day as I think that looks the muts absolute nuts and orders of magnitude harder than the new TT looked.

Because a GT3 is condom free motoring.................... and the TT insnt.

[Porsche GT3]

Fantastic cars, have had mk1 and mk2. Probably time for another gt3 soon, rs this time.

[gfreeman]

kayc said:

Im not knocking the gt3,its a great car if you have a selection of different cars to use.i just find it hard to justify all its short comings when its not even as quick as the so-called luxury sports tourer 996tt.The M3CSL does the same job and that is hard to live with compared to a standard M3 with nearly identical road performance..

I have but one car. Had I wanted a luxury sports tourer I would hardly have contemplated a GT3.

If I had wanted an estate car I would not have a Caterham on my list.

I wanted a track focussed, mean mutha, that would keep me dry on the outside and moist in my pants. There was only one car on my list.

[silver993tt]

steve rance said:

DJC said: Any reason not to go for a tt? Granted I happily admit to being biased as I loathe the GT3 with a passion I can barely articulate, but when I was making this purchase last yr I narrowed my choices between a Vantage, 996tt and a Sagaris. Didnt choose the TT because I already had a 997tt on order and to be perfectly honest Im still not sure why I didnt choose the Aston (I had a chance to own a V12 Aston and didnt take it?? How stupid can you be?) and ended up with the Sagaris. Dont regret a thing, awesome vehicle, good enough to challenge a TT. Its a Porsche forum though so Im not about to expect any support on that one, so for this Im firmly in the TT camp as opposed to a GT3. They look better (esp in Basalt Black), faster, more practical, ride better and they dont have the campest rear wing ever devised. I can think of only aspect a GT3 is a better prospect for than a TT and that's as a track car and Ive always thought that was a damned silly reason to buy a road car for. (Dont worry I have the same argument in that respect with the TVR crowd) So, er, why the GT3 over the TT? P.S. None of the above applies to the new 997 GT3 after the spyshots appeared the other day as I think that looks the muts absolute nuts and orders of magnitude harder than the new TT looked. Because a GT3 is condom free motoring.................... and the TT insnt.

.... some of us want to live to see tomorrow since tomorrow brings other beauties

[steve rance]

silver993tt said:

steve rance said: DJC said: Any reason not to go for a tt? Granted I happily admit to being biased as I loathe the GT3 with a passion I can barely articulate, but when I was making this purchase last yr I narrowed my choices between a Vantage, 996tt and a Sagaris. Didnt choose the TT because I already had a 997tt on order and to be perfectly honest Im still not sure why I didnt choose the Aston (I had a chance to own a V12 Aston and didnt take it?? How stupid can you be?) and ended up with the Sagaris. Dont regret a thing, awesome vehicle, good enough to challenge a TT. Its a Porsche forum though so Im not about to expect any support on that one, so for this Im firmly in the TT camp as opposed to a GT3. They look better (esp in Basalt Black), faster, more practical, ride better and they dont have the campest rear wing ever devised. I can think of only aspect a GT3 is a better prospect for than a TT and that's as a track car and Ive always thought that was a damned silly reason to buy a road car for. (Dont worry I have the same argument in that respect with the TVR crowd) So, er, why the GT3 over the TT? P.S. None of the above applies to the new 997 GT3 after the spyshots appeared the other day as I think that looks the muts absolute nuts and orders of magnitude harder than the new TT looked. Because a GT3 is condom free motoring.................... and the TT insnt. .... some of us want to live to see tomorrow since tomorrow brings other beauties

I think we all want that. It's just that some of us want more of everything..

Seriously though, the TT is a great daily and a great car. It's just pitched at a different market and I think that on that basis, it's difficult to objectively compare the two. You are either in the market for a TT or a GT3..And both do exactly what they say on the tin.

Steve R